Halloween Fun

Saturday, October 21st - Papa and Mima held (what has become) their annual Halloween party for the kids. This year, on Friday, the kids and Papa did the decorations!

We started with pumpkin carving - Mickey ears, Mike Wazowski, paw print, cat silhouette, and cat face.

Then we had a ghoulish dinner - zombie brains, Hallo-wienies, guts,

mummy wrappings, vampire fangs, eyes, evil blob, witch fingers, ghost food

blood, more blood, & creative desserts!

After dinner - apple bobbing 

Kellen begged and begged me to bob for apples, too. So I did! 

Thanks to Kevin for the advice to push the apple against the side to get leverage.

Piñata!

Then some Michigan football watching while we waited for dark for the outdoor treasure hunt! Such a fun time!

Thursday, October 26th - After an already long season (and this week especially) of Kevin having musical rehearsals, with this night being the opening night. Around 4pm, I opened up the cabinet under the kitchen sink to find my caddy of cleaning supplies FULL of water. Not quite Halloween fun. I admit, it pushed me over the edge a bit. And now we are the owners of a new garbage disposal. Thankful that the caddy contained the water and the damage wasn't worse!

Saturday, October 28th - Trunk or Treat at church. Always a fun time!

Halloween! The horse and dog had a great time despite the COLD! We joined up with friends from the neighborhood, friends who used to live in the neighborhood, and other friends that came over to our neighborhood just to be with us. All from school, most from church. It was fun for the grown-ups to be with friends, too!

Tomorrow is pumpkin puree making day! And trying to not eat too much candy day!

P.S. Day after Halloween - Jenna challenged Kevin to a contest with Extreme Sour Lemonheads. Who could keep it in their mouth the longest! Turns out they're both pretty tough - it was a tie! (See video 5998 in Fall/Halloween '17)

P.S.S. Between  Papa & Mima's party, trunk or treat, and trick or treat, entirely too much candy was obtained! Some trading occurred and then their favorites were put in a gallon bag. The rest will go to work.

Fall Break

Thursday, October 5th - First day of fall break. Papa took the kids to the North Pole, the Cliff Dwellings, and Rudy's. Meanwhile, I went to BSF, lunch with a friend in my group, parent/teacher conferences for both kids, took a nap, and worked my first shift since the beginning of June. (My shift was supposed to be 7-11:30pm, but I didn't get to leave until 12:45am, then shower and feet icing. Finally sleep at 2 am.)

Friday, October 6th - The kids let me sleep until 8am, so I did get 6 hours of sleep, but I still look tired in these pictures.

We did our first fall baking - pumpkin bread! 

Coloring together

Jenna lost her lower right cuspid - her 10th tooth to lose!

Dry erase drawings during piano lessons

Saturday, October 7th - Kevin's only free Saturday in October due to musical rehearsals and performances. So, we took advantage of the beautiful morning and went to our favorite - Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.

Jenna didn't get the memo that this is a smiling picture. Silly girl! 

It was lots of fun wandering through the maze and finding the stations to punch our map card.

Madilyn came with us since Grant was playing baseball games. 

Hay ride! 

I love the rows and rows of orange with the green corn stalks all around! We've also loved watching the Monarch butterfly migration over the past few days.

Monday, October 9th - Kellen lost his upper right lateral tooth - his 8th tooth to lose!

Also Monday - First snow of the season! Kevin got a 2 hour delay which we were glad for - one, because he could get a little break (we were all sad that he wasn't on fall break with us) and two, so I could sleep in after working until 11:30pm Sunday night.

Jenna went with Papa for a special one-on-one day and overnight. Kellen and I made cookies and watched movies together. And I did laundry and tried a new soup recipe.

Tuesday, October 10th - Jenna, Kellen, Papa and I went to the zoo. It was a beautiful day - a little crisp, but the sun felt warm. The kids loved petting the goats.

In the Loft area, Kellen got to give food to a turtle. And Jenna was able to both prepare food for

and feed a lizard. They also had the skunks out - free and running about. A really cool experience.

And the giraffes - always a favorite. Then home in time for a nap before work.

Wednesday, October 11th - The kids let me sleep until 8, then we went for free breakfast at Chick-fil-A. Back home to pack for spending the night at Papa's house and packing a lunch for the park. Lunch at the park, then flu shots, then Papa's house. I enjoyed an afternoon and evening to myself while Kevin had parent/teacher conferences.

Thursday, October 12th - I went to BSF, then met the kids at Papa's house for lunch. Then we went to Longneck Pumpkin Farm. The kids had a blast burying each other in corn.

And tether ball was a hit, too!

A little "speed" before dinner. 

Friday, October 13th - Jenna and her friend got together to practice their jump rope routine for talent show auditions on Tuesday.

Kellen has become interested in jump roping, too.

Piano lessons, then LPHS football. "P A R T Y. Party on the Rangers' side. Where is the party? The party's over here!"

Saturday, October 14th - Kevin had musical rehearsal until noon. So, we had a pretty relaxed day at home. Jenna and Kellen held their first meeting of "monkey club."

In the afternoon, Kellen got out his volcano making kit that he's been saving since Christmas.

Sunday, October 15th - Church, then lunch, then a hike. We saw more of the migrating butterflies and one landed on Kellen's hat!

Their "Circle of Life" rendition.

Seven Bridges Trail - with poses at each of the seven bridges. Plus an extra pose to make the collage even.

I turned back after the third bridge because my feet were starting to hurt (frustrating) and I was scheduled to work at 7pm. Over half way back, I got a call that I wouldn't be needed after all. I kind of wish I had stuck with the hike, but probably best I didn't. Glad that a nice person offered to take a picture of Kevin, Jenna, and Kellen at the last bridge.

On the way home, we stopped at Costco. And then the kids asked if we could go in to Rocket Fizz. It's a store with all kinds of different sodas and candy. We each picked one soda - Orange Cream, Pumpkin, Blueberry, and Strawberry. Fun to try something new.

Back at home, the volcano was dry and ready to erupt. Pretty fun! We had a full and fun Fall Break!