Pumpkins turn to Jack-O-Lanterns

Last night after school, we grabbed our pumpkins and got together to carve them into some smiley, gapped-tooth sometimes scary faces!

Elliott was quick to get his hands in there!

Matigan thought it was slimy! Lots of ewww, gross - but then she set out to accomplish the task.

The final products.
Of course Matigan's had to look like a girl and Elliott's was scary!

Hot Dogs, Marshmallows, and Friends

Sunday night our church small group met out at our friends farm for a hot dog and marshmallow roast. The wind was terrible, but we bundled up and still had a great time.

Matigan and I on the hayrack ride. Jenny and Matigan snuggling. Matigan was wearing capris and sandals. I just can't convince her that summer is over, and we need to change the way we dress now that it is cold. So I have given up trying! I guess she will just have to learn the hard way.

Going for a hayrack ride!

Smile boys!

Purse Swap

Okay ladies in the purse swap - this is my purse. To find out what this is all about click here.

I'm so excited to have a different purse each month. What a great idea!

Trick or Treat!!!

Well we survived parent-teacher conferences, so we treated ourselves and the kids to a trip to Manhattan to celebrate "Trick or Treat in Aggieville" and the homecoming parade. The kids loved getting to dress up and get some candy. Hey, it's always a good time when candy is involved!

Elliott was excited that some of the college kids knew he was Tony Hawk!! I wonder how much longer he will still want to dress up? This may be the last year?!


Matigan didn't really want to be a witch, but we had everything she needed and it was simple - of course she couldn't just be a witch - she told everyone she was the queen witch!

Fun in the children's section of Varney's!

Meeting of the Star Wars characters - Kaleb wanted to fight every Darth Vader he saw - it was hilarious! Can you believe I've never seen a single Star Wars movie? It's just not my thing.

I wanna be a Rock Star!

After the Trick or Treating, it was time for the parade!

McCain and Palin were there!

My pick for the best Greek float!

Of course - what's a homecoming parade without Willie!

Starburst was there promoting their new gummi candies and they had this van that opened up to look like the inside of a garage. Anyway, we have the whole "garage band" thing a try. Our band the K-Biscuits (Kris' nickname at his fraternity), played "We're Not Gonna Take It." The kids thought it was great because we all got t-shirts and lots of free Starburst Gummies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!

We love you Mom and Grandma - we are lucky to have you! Enjoy your birthday while you are on vacation! Hope you are having fun! Can't wait for you to be back.

FOUND!!

Matigan has this bear that is old, tired, worn out, but well loved. She has had it since she was born, and it has been lost before, but never this long! One week - one week without someone's ears to rub between her fingers, one week without the one thing that can comfort her, one week without the one thing that helps her go to sleep - it was a long week. I know that we need to get rid of bear, but it is almost as much of a comfort to me as it is to her. I don't think I ever had that blankie or bear that I was that attached to, but I did have a friend who had her "blanket" that she still took overnight with her when we were in high school - I wonder if she still has it??

Matigan with Grandpa and Bear - look at those baby cheeks!

Anyway, we looked everywhere for Bear - we traced our steps, asked people we had been with, tore the house apart, only to come up empty handed - then I did one final search and bear was found! We have these curtains that are long and kinda "puddle" on the floor behind one of our sofas. I had looked behind there before, but didn't actually pull the curtains up, but this time I did and there he was. Kaleb and Matigan had been playing behind there using the sofa as a stage for a puppet show and . . . the rest is history.

As I said before, Bear is very old - in fact I purchased a new "Bear" a few years ago to put in Matigan's hope chest that she could someday maybe even give to her child - so I pulled out the new bear and compared. The kids could not believe that Matigan's bear could ever have looked like the new one. Matigan once told my mom - "Bear is old and falling apart, but I still love him so much."

I am so glad that we found bear if for no other reason than I would hate to see her loose something that has been so important for 5 years! I think it is something she needs to hold onto.

And the Race is On

My title refers to the Chisholm Trail 2 mile run that Elliott participated in this past weekend; however, it is also the way my life feels lately. It seems as if we just run from one place to another -- even when we aren't going somewhere, there is so much to do at home. And I only have two kids - I can't imagine having more!

Anyway, the pictures show Elliott in the race - he actually ran the full two miles. I was very proud of him. He wanted so badly to win the all-expenses-paid trip to the Great Wolf Lodge, but instead he won a giant flying disc. Maybe we'll just have to plan our own trip!