Halloween Fun

Halloween was a whole week long event! Monday we carved pumpkins, Thursday was Lillian's pre-school party, Friday I helped at Cynthia's party and watched the school parade- then that night we went to a party at the YMCA, Saturday was our ward party and Sunday was actually Halloween night. I couldn't believe how many trick-or-treaters we got! I guess it is different when you live on a busier street and not a cul de sac in an small out of the way neighborhood.

Carving Pumpkins:









Fun times! For all the weekend events, Tyler dressed as Winnie the Pooh (in a bee costume), Lillian Cinderella, Cynthia a nurse, and Marcus as Iron Man. Jon and I did an easy costume the night we went to the YMCA- we both dressed up as doctors! I realized that scrubs ARE really comfy. As always Jon looks HOT in his scrubs and white coat- - though it wasn't much of a COSTUME for him since he is already a doctor . . . At the ward Halloween party we dressed up as a prince and princess.












I had fun volunteering in Cynthia's classroom on Friday! Cynthia's class and some of her friends:




At the YMCA - fun going to the haunted house (in the locker room) and getting faces painted - - even Tyler (it's a little bee)!








Halloween is always so much fun- except for the candy wrappers I found EVERYWHERE for the next week or two. Tyler always seemed to find a sucker or two lying around- - that kid sure has a sense for finding candy! The smell of Halloween candy always brings me back to being a kid and the fun it all was. I do have to say I was a bit homesick though on occasion throughout it all- usually my parents would come visit, or we would visit them- but they at least got to go visit my sister in Utah. I did miss them so much though! Michigan certainly hasn't disappointed us. . .

Pre-school Halloween Fun

Lillian LOVES pre-school! October was an especially fun month, with there field trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Party (including hallway trick-or-treating!)

The Pumpkin Patch trip- which was actually to Deneweth's nursury- and many of the activities are done inside the greenhouses, which was fun, and definitely warmer. They had a inflated haunted house, train ride, painting pumpkins, and a little maze in the tall grass. Needless to say, Lillian had a blast, along with all the other kids.







Lillian and her best friend at school!


All Dressed up for her Halloween Party- can you guess who she is? Yep- Cinderella!


Trick-or treating in the Hallway:




What a fun time!

our house

I finally have pictures of the inside of our house- - well, parts of it. Some of you had asked for some pictures . . . I hosted a Pampered Chef open house (that is why there is an extra table in the living room)- - so my house was nice and clean!

The living room and dining area:




After going through the little dining area, you reach my little kitchen:


Through the dining area into the hallway is our bathroom and two bedrooms, one painted pink (the girl's room) and another in shades of yellowish brown (Marcus' room)- - I didn't take pictures.

Upstairs we have a nice loft master bedroom with our own master bathroom and large closet (this is where Tyler sleeps- his pack n play fits in there!).



I love our 1930's home- it has a definite charm. Though I would love to have even more room in the future, this is great for us for now, and that basement makes all the difference in the world! We worked hard to fix up one of the rooms down there so we would have a place for visitors to stay- and my sister got to break it in just last weekend!

Amazing what some sheet rock, a little paint and a carpet remnant can do for a room.

Bye, Bye leaves . . .

Now that it is mid-November, things are looking pretty bleak here in Michigan - - though the process of the leaves falling off the trees was a fun one for our family. We have a huge gorgeous tree in our front yard and we had fun cleaning up the leaves as a family. Jon and I have done lots of fall clean-up in the past- especially when we were managing apartments in Spokane- - and the job was so huge it wasn't fun. Our little front yard here, with the help of our children who have so much fun jumping in our leaf pile made the chore a wonderful one! All we had to do is say, "kids! Let's go make a leaf pile!!" and many feet came running. Tyler was especially facinated with the leaves, and Lillian was definitely our most enthusiastic. For the last few months we can't walk outside without her wanting to walk through a leaf pile or crunch leaves. To be four years old! After these pictures were taken, the next day the lawn was completely covered again. I loved seeing the fall colors out the small window of our top floor when I woke up every morning. Now it is looking pretty wintery here, though no snow yet, just many cloudy and foggy cold days. Goodbye to green until next spring.













A few days later another huge pile! Lillian was the only one home this time.