Halloween 2011

With Halloween being on a Monday this year, by the time Halloween actually arrived the kids were a little partied out.  I told Reagan we were going to a party and she said she didn't want to dress up anymore!  Party Friday, Saturday and Monday was a bit much for her but once I got her to school she met up with some cute friends and had a marvelous time!  All the little princesses playing outside waiting on the parade to start.

Mr.Patterson - our principle - had a little accident last year and fell off a latter trying to clean his rain gutters and really did a number on his leg.  He missed months of school with surgery.  We are glad he can laugh about it this year!

Brandon's teacher - who is not much taller than he is!

Brandon - our Karate Kid!

Kiersten - our Mad Mad Scientist!

Reagan with Clare and Kate White

More sugar!!  Yummm.

Austin was a KENTUCKY Superfan...I was a referee this night(although really everynight!)

Church Trunk or Treat

We've recycled our cutest costumes and Reagan dressed up as Tinker Bell this year.  She looks remarkably like Kiersten did just a few years ago.

Our good friend Lori was in charge of the production this year and still found time to dress up!

Kiersten and her bad hair day  - actually a mad scientist, but without her glasses...which made her look a little crazy.

Hard to tell, but Brando was dressed up as the Karate Kid.  The hollywood remake of the movie has created a whole new generation of karate wannabes.

For some reason, Marci and I try and find a costume every year for the Trunk or Treat.  Marci was the Sorcerer's Apprentice and I was (am??) Mr. Clean.  The funny guy in the background is our bishop and could not help but try and improve our picture!

All the kids do a little costume parade and Reagan found an escort (the bishop's daughter) to walk her across the stage.  Cute girls.

Carving Pumpkins with McKenzee and Bronson!

What is Halloween with carving pumpkins?  I guess still Halloween, but not near as much fun.  We put Kenzee and Bronson to work, using their youth and enthusiasm to carry the day.

When a new member of the family shows up in a Steelers shirt, and actually knows and likes the players, we know we found a keeper.  All the kids had fun, but Reagan was not sure about the slimy insides and putting your hand in a pumpkin.

Sharp tools, round objects, slimy hands...a recipe for an emergency room visit, but we prevailed again this year with no lost digits and smiles all around.

The finished products.  We have so many squirrels in our yard that they tear apart our pumpkins long before Halloween.  Last year we put red peppers on them, but it did not work.  This year we sprayed them with a clear coating, and it worked marginally better.  However, out nice indian summer took its tool quickly and we limped into Halloween with partially intact pumpkins

Six Flags - Fright Fest 2011 with McKenzee and Bronson

McKenzee and Bronson came and spent their fall break with us in Chicago.  They really wanted to go to 6 flags while they were in town so we got a sitter for the 3 younger ones who did NOT want to go and headed to FRIGHT FEST.  Basically normal six flags with scary goblins walking around, FREEZING cold and DARK.  It is a totally different experience riding Raging Bull in the dark and freezing cold.  

I was worried that 5-11pm wasn't going to be enough time to ride all the rides but the lines were no more than 20 minutes and we rode ALL the major rides at least once.  By the last ride, my almost 40 year old body was finished with roller coasters for the year!  We had a GREAT time. 

I did a horrible job taking pictures of  Kenzee and Bronson while they were here.  That is so unike me but I did snap these pictures of us with my phone at Six Flags Fright Fest.  We also did lots of fun things like:

Giordano's Pizza

Portillo's

Garrett's popcorn

The Bean

Water Tower Place

The Field Museum

Wrigley Field

Soldier Field

Woodfield Mall

Thanks for coming to visit us and next time I will take more pictures!  

Preschool Fall Party

Reagan's school had a fall party complete with Halloween costumes on October 19th.  Talk about having to be prepared for Halloween.  Thankfully she is child #4 and we have a pretty extensive costume box built up.  She picked Tinkerbell for this party, which is the 1st of 4 times she got to dress up this year!  

 

McKenzee was visiting us this week so she got to join in on the festivities.  I am not sure why I don't have a picture of her but we had a great time.

Reagan's best friend - Clare (or bear bear) 

Reagan's Dance Class - Parents Day

So, I had the great opportunity to take Regs to her dance parent observation day  this year.  Marci was working and I was able to work at home and take an hour to attend dance.

It was really fun to watch the girls do their little moves and interact with the teacher.  They were all very shy and it took the teacher quite awhile to get them moving.

They would dance toward the mirror and be entranced with themselves, could not take their eyes off themselves as they twirled and jumped.

Of course, pirouettes are a must in dance class.

Our cute little Regs and Clare Bear. 

 They have such a good time together and constantly ask for each other.

Matt's 39th Birthday

My birthday gift from the county, a huge check for showing up for jury duty.  Luckily I did not have to serve on the jury, but had to spend the entire day at the justice center, waiting, waiting, waiting....

I think I have looked 45 for at least ten years, so I'm hoping I can look 45 for another 15!  When I tell people I'm 39, they really think I'm joking, like when you tell someone they are celebrating their 39th birthday for the 10th time.  I have to say "no, really, just 39!"

The cake may have tasted even better than it looks.  Cream cheese frosting on top of a carrot cake...mmmm.

The kids always have fun celebrating a birthday, not important whose, just a celebration. Playing with the camera is a fun time!