HALLOWEEN PAJAMA PARTY

The storm pushed through all day, with strong wind and rain most of the time, so we had to cancel hayride trick-or-treating and instead planned a little Halloween Pajama Party (or lounge wear for us adults... "Going to a party in my Activewear!") at the Hancock house.

The girls and boys mostly stuck to themselves and we were there for 4.5 hours, so it's safe to say we had a good time. When we got in the car to head home, Cora said "I had so much fun!" Then as we tucked her into bed not 15 minutes later, she was complaining about how it wasn't a fun Halloween because she didn't get to trick-or-treat (despite multiple parties and candy opportunities). We let it go, then reinforced the Pinkalicious credo "You get what you get and you don't get upset" the next day.

James, on the other hand, was plenty pleased to spend an evening playing with Will and Coltin (and getting to use Nerf guns!), eat a cupcake and some candy, and crash into bed a couple hours past his usual bedtime.

SPOOKY SPRINT

It starting raining before the race (and a big storm was scheduled to come through all day on Halloween), plus my hip had been acting up all week (it's been giving me trouble for a few weeks, but was significantly more bothersome this past week, meaning I hadn't run in 7 days in an effort to fix whatever hip flexor issue I have going on), so I planned to run this 5K at an easy, conversational pace with some friends and just have fun getting dressed up and running in the incoming storm!

I found Forrest Gump at the starting line (AKA David. AKA Pack 107 Leader.)

Lori and Lee with me at the starting line. Gaurav ran with us as well.

Apparently lots of people stayed home out of the storm (with almost 700 registrants, there were only around 200 at the starting line), because my easy, conversational pace still earned me 3rd place in my age group and this cute little scared-looking skeleton trophy...

HALLOWEEN CANDY HUNT

October isn't over yet, so there was more partying to do!

This party was held at a Lego League friends' house and the kids spent the majority of the evening running wild with foam swords, then "hunting" for Halloween candy in the dark. It was fun, and we all ate too much junk food...

Ready for the hunt!

(These were just some of the kids - not everyone was as eager as these wild ones were for candy!)

RED RIBBON WEEK

Western day: Give Drugs the BOOT!

Camo day: You won't see me doing drugs!

Hippie day: Say "Peace out" to drugs!

Jersey day: Team up against drugs! 

(They said they're on Team Soccer, Team Lindsay, AND Team Crazy)

THURSDAY WHIRLWIND

Ice cream and chocolate-covered marshmallows after school (to celebrate days of good behavior colors, as well as to pick up something sweet for my grandma, who suffered a very bad fall earlier in the week)

Somehow (busy week/month with too much holiday fun?) Cora fell asleep on the way home, so James carried her backpack in (as always, BEST big brother!) and I carried her in, and she snoozed deeply on the couch for well over an hour, until I woke her for dinner before soccer practice

Last soccer practice of the fall season!

(And soon the whirlwind weekdays will reduce in number!)

PUMPKIN PARTY

We rushed home from dance, changed Cora into something more bouncy house friendly, got James to pick a costume (harder than you'd think!), and met daddy downtown to play carnival games (with each tied to a different Bible story), eat free hot dogs, and bounce around for a couple hours!

(She was determined to have her picture taken by the photographer in the photobooth, all by herself)

In case you can't tell, the kids went separate ways once we were inside the church's gym, so Jay and I split up too and just did our best to keep up with them!

DRESSED-UP DANCERS

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Happy Anniversary David and Taryn - we love you!

COSTUME CRAFT

What better day to have the kids put together the costume crafts that Auntie Robyn brought them back in March than a rainy day near Halloween? They LOVED putting them together (and tied the "feathers" and stuck the "spines" and everything in between all by themselves, so they were very proud). Sometimes rainy days are just the best days...