Halloween Happenings

What a fun week we have had! We started the week off with an Halloween Party for the 5 and under crowd we hang with. This was a NO ADULTS ALLOWED party - in other words, parents go out on a date and we hang with your kids. The kids had a blast with fun games, crafts and great kid food. Here were a few of our guests.


Later in the week the kids had a Noah's Ark party at school where they got to dress as an animal on the Ark. McKaden looks like she thoroughly enjoyed herself - look how dirty she is! - as the black cat on the ark. Max went as an alligator [I thought it was a dinosaur costume until the kids informed me it was an alligator]. I don't have any pictures of him in it, as he was too hot to wear it:(



We of course continued in the tradition of Daddy and kids pumpkin carving night! Great job!




AND the highlight for ALL of us was serving at Trunk or Treat this year. We have heard there were a couple of thousand people who came though this years event. We thought it would be fun to serve as a family, with our small group, and let our kids do the serving. For three hours these kids handed out candy to other kids and shared the love of Christ. It was awesome to see these kids do this - there were a lot of proud parents that night as we watched our kids. Max and his friend Mattea got a little sidetracked - but had lots of fun. McKaden was a champ and actually searched out kids to make sure they got candy. Camrie, who is only ONE, was so focused on giving out her candy - it was adorable! And Kyle did not want to trick or treat himself, but wanted to keep giving out candy.

Do NOT turn your back

Do NOT turn your back on these two! "Lower the safety bar!" is what I hear from the other room. My mother alarm went off as I ran into the room to see McKaden just about to push Max down the stairs. When I told them that they could not do that they looked at me like I was crazy - there WAS a safety bar [too many trips to Disneyland for these two].

Rake and Run -or stick around

Did our own version of Rake and Run this weekend. The tree's this year have had some amazing color - I am sad to see the leaves go. Mac and Max helped Dad by cleaning up the leaves around our neighborhood. It was worth it all when a neighbor, who does not usually smile, stopped and grinned! Yes!

Max's pumpkin hunt

Max had fun with his class at the pumpkin patch too. He liked looking at the animals but was not so fond of the smell - I think he gets that from his Aunt Linda. While out in the fields I noticed Max wandering off by himself -when I asked what he was doing I found out that he was trying to find the BEST pumpkin and did not want anyone to follow him. This is serious work!


And the winner is ...

My how you have grown

Wow! Time is going by fast ... McKaden in 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006. Sigh.


Left side photo is this year, 2009 and right side is last year, 2008.

And Max - last year he was wearing 24 month size clothes when he started school - now he is in a 4T! My baby has grown up!

McKaden at the Patch

Today was McKaden's school trip to the pumpkin patch. When we left our house it was pouring rain - so we put on our boots, raincoats,sweaters and headed on out. When we got the patch the sky cleared up and the trip was a success.

This was the pumpkin of choice - not too bad.

Oktoberfest 2009

We made our annual pilgrimage over to Leavenworth for Oktoberfest. The kids had a great time enjoying their German heritage [why does that make me laugh everytime!?], eating some great food, playing on the inflatables, throwing rocks in the river and enjoying the fall weather. We LOVE this family tradition!