HAYRIDE TRICK-OR-TREATING, DESPITE THE RAIN!

The rain finally started to slow at 5:25pm. Trick-or-treating in Vicksburg was set for 6-8pm. We made the call at the last minute, threw on our costumes, and headed down to Dawn and Stirlin's house to jump on the trailer with them. The kids were SO HAPPY that the rain stopped. I'd been constantly asking Jay "What time is it?!" as I looked out the windows at the raindrops, and around 5pm Cora replied (in her creepiest, scariest, most ghostly voice) "It's time to go trick-or-TREATING!"

 Rainy skies make for pretty sunset colors...

 Feeling the wind in our hair (or ears...)

 The crew for the evening (blurry in my attempt to capture Stirlin's festive lights)

Even though we explained that candy had to be checked before eating it on this adventure (unlike at the zoo and church party, where we just let Cora eat whatever she wanted as soon as she got it), she still managed to consume an insane amount of sugar in the two hours that we were out going door to door...

Candy for each hand is the way to go!

Al rescued a tiny kitten from the road and Dawn promptly adopted it. Though Cora tried to convince to let us take it home... It's the sweetest little lover!

The elephant got a turn to dive. Good thing he's ATV Safety Training Certified!

All that rain had turned many lawns into mud puddles, and Dawn and Stirlin's was no exception. Unfortunately Al got stuck (he'd parked in a tricky spot with a steep incline), but the kids were highly entertained with the rescue mission.

 Another awesome October is in the history books and it sure was a good one!

RAINED OUT SAD FACES

Pretty much everything for Corps Day was cancelled last minute due to rain. Torrential downpour, actually. The kids were beyond bummed... They had been promised a day at work with us, filled with candy and cupcakes and bouncy houses. Instead, they came to work (because we'd already promised them, and because their school had a tiny field trip that would have then required us to take annual leave to drive them to and from...) and watched a couple movies. Jay set up a projector to make the lounge more like a movie theater, but they were still pretty sad to be missing out on the anticipated fun. We bailed at lunch and took them for fast food where they could run out their pent up energy (rage...) on an indoor play set. Then we all came home for naps in preparation for trick-or-treating (while praying that the rain stopped in time)!

ESSAYONS CHALLENGE 2013

Soaking wet from the incoming storm, dirty from the mud, exhausted from the body weight exercises (uphill walking lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, bear walk, mountain climbers, jumping jacks, etc.) and the many hills on the course, yet super happy to have been able to get out there and get it done! Thanks for running with me Sophie!!

PARTY IN THE GYM!

Michelle invited us to celebrate Halloween at her church's annual trunk-or-treat event (though this year there were no trunks, as the party was moved inside their gym to avoid the impending rain), something we've really enjoyed in the past, so we went over after work/the gym. Our kids tried out every single game (and it took a LONG time because there were lots of people there, so long lines) and spent at least an hour going between the two bouncy houses/slides, and by the time we left the kids were worn out but also hopped up on sugar. Ah October, how I love you...

First face paintings. Cora took it very seriously...

Dinner break! Hot dogs for the kids (and take out from Rusty's for us!)

Have you ever seen more pure joy? (He ate two of those...)

James was "hugging" on Cora, so of course I snapped a photo...

EL HALLOWEEN LUNCHEON

That's our director in the back, dressed as Medusa. You may remember that she went as a KISS member last year.

At the back of this one you see Sheriff Sequestration and Deputy Furlough...

WIN-WIN

Cora's coach had to work late, so her team didn't have practice. No worries, she prefers to play with her daddy's team anyway. She lasted about 30 minutes, following directions and putting forth actual effort. When she started goofing off, we just pulled her from the field and gave her snacks. Win-win.

 

Practicing their goal victory dances. CUTEST THING EVER!



ANOTHER MILEAGE MILESTONE

Best way to celebrate your first 16-mile (2 hour and 50 minutes) run? Breakfast with the girls!

We have just a few more mileage milestones to hit before January (namely, a couple of 18-milers and a couple of 20-milers) and I have to say, marathon training is going great and I'm really enjoying all this time on my feet! There's no better way to chat with your buddies than spending 3-4 kid-free hours each weekend running and stretching and refueling!

HALLOWEEN BASH 2013

Our pumpkins: Transformer, evil pumpkin, and Hello Kitty witch by Jay, square-eyed pumpkin by James, toothy pumpkin by Denise, and silly smile pumpkin by Cora

 We had an equal amount of sweets and appetizers at this years' party. Here are a few of my favorite Halloween themed treats:

And you can't forget the s'mores. Always a hit with the kids!

There were also Mummy Dogs and meatballs and creepy deviled eggs and sweet potato casserole and a few different dips with chips and crackers and veggies and fruit and plenty of things I'm forgetting, I'm sure. The Oktoberfest keg (homebrewed by Jay and Sandy!) didn't make it through the end of the party, it was so good. We had folks inside and outside, eating, drinking, and being merry. The kids rode bikes and played on the playset. The adults chatted in the carport and around the bonfire. Everyone had their fill and went home happy, so we'll call it a huge success!

We really had a great turnout this year! So many awesome costumes, so many good friends and coworkers. Pretty sure we got a photo of everyone except Suzanne (our newest coworker, and she came as Tigress). In order of their arrival/willingness to pose in front of the photobooth...

Karen as Dorothy (and her boyfriend)

Team Mitchell as a Full House (baby #3, the Ace of Hearts on MB's belly, is due in a few weeks!)

The Jungs as characters from Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The Gattles as the Flinstones (big brother Grant wanted to be Spiderman)

Lauchlin and Olivia with Lauchlin's sister and boyfriend, as the Wiggles, with Grady as Captain Feathersword

The Kennedy's as the Riddler, Poison Ivy, Batman, and Robin

Team Lindsay as What Does the Fox Say?!

Keri going to bat (did you know that Vaseline and coffee grounds make an awesome fake beard?)

Heather and Farmer Beane as a deviled egg and Sugar Daddy

Fiona, Bill, and Alec as a family of bats (loved their umbrella wings!)

The Sanchez crew as a group of robots (Transformers and otherwise)

Mason and Marie as Bob the Builder and little ladybug

Dave as the Swedish Chef and his girls as Ariel and Mary (from Little House on the Prairie)

Michael (bat biologist) as Batman. He has a pet bat too, but James had confiscated it...

Philip (Army PT guy) and Elizabeth (Jack Rabbit) with Kara as Hello Kitty and Alex as Ironman

Dawn as Wonder Woman with Coltin as Batman and Emma as Supergirl (Stirlin was out late hunting and couldn't make it over in time, but he has a superhero costume as well that we expect to see on Halloween!)

The Costume Contest Winners!

 Thanks so much for coming out guys, the party was a blast and we're already looking forward to next year!