Halloween Storytime

Time for our library's Halloween story time and trick-or-treat!  Our little cow and butterfly were ready for action!

 There are SO many people that show up that Ms. Mary uses a microphone and a very large story.

 A selfie of the crowd behind me!  (Us veterans know to arrive early for a good seat.)

Britta was entranced.  (And she got warm so we took off her cow jacket.)

After trick-or-treating around the inside of the library, we are lead outside to trick-or-treat up and down our city's downtown area.  Shopkeepers hand out treats and police and firemen are on the scene to direct traffic and keep everyone safe.  We have SUCH a fantastic town.

Juliana's Preschool Halloween Party

 Preschool Halloween parties are so cute.  The kids and their little costumes are darling and any type of game impresses them!

 This is one of Juliana's teachers, Mrs. Marshall.  (She was also one of Kari's teachers.)  I just love her.  She just radiates joy and love for teaching and her little students.

Pumpkin Carving

Everyone loves the idea of carving pumpkins...

 But no one likes the removal of the pumpkin guts.  I know there are families out there that LOVE this part, but not mine.  Oh well.  We have other gifts and talents.

 Poor Em.  I think someone flicked a pumpkin seed at her.

 Emily does, however, have a talent for the actual pumpkin carving...and multi-tasking.  She watched Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse while carving long after everyone else had called it a night.

 And here are the finished products!  Yes, Emily did that awesome Barbie one!

Go Fish

It is so cute watching my children play games together.  (Especially when Britta is involved bc then no one plays to win which means no tears or fighting when someone else loses!)

Just look at how cute they are together!!

Playing Hooky--Vala's 2015

Family Fun Day!  We had the kids play hooky for a day and took everyone to Vala's pumpkin patch!  It wasn't crowded and we had the run of the place.  

 The little kids all like the cheesy story-book place (and I suspect the big kids are ok with it too...)

Em and Christian liked the big-wheel bike races.

Cubby and Ju Ju pedaled around as well.

Kari decided she was freezing and snuggled up to watch with Britta.

 Britta LOVED the corn pit.  Just look at that joy!

Intense rubber-ducky races.

 Everyone enjoyed the giant bouncy pillows...even Kari came out of hibernation for the fun.

...And then she went back to freezing.

The slides were lots of fun too--Kari was all smiles, Juliana...not so much.

I love this picture of Britta and me.  She's just too sweet!

 Lastly we wandered down to this little obstacle course area--which was the perfect size for Kari and Juliana.

We actually didn't even make it out the patch part of the pumpkin patch...but we did grab a few pumpkins on our way out!  Yay Vala's!

Halloween Preview--Emily

Em got invited to a Hallween party and this year she's going as a purple minion from the movie Despicable Me 2.  I think her costume turned out so great!  She had a lot of fun at her party too.

Picnic in the Park

My mom loves picnics.  (Honestly, who doesn't?)  One beautiful evening she called us all together for a picnic dinner in the park.  My sister brought her camera and skills along and captured some great pictures of the kids and the fun times they had hitching rides on Uncle Kyle's motorcycle!

 My lovely Britta, getting so big!

Em had her turn first (of course)!

My fire-cracker, Juliana.  (And can you see Kari's little scowl in the background??)

A very wistful-looking Kari.

 Christian was up next!

 Erin captured a small sampling of the chaos that these four girls bring to the table.

Such a happy grandpa.  Britta just LOVES him!

 Yup.  That's Kari...

Grandkids, minus Kari, who was having her ride.

 At last it was Ju Ju's turn!!

 We also played at the park...

 ...picked flowers, played games...

 ...and took a walk around the duck pond.

We are so lucky to live so close to family and that my mom makes the effort to coordinate our schedules so we all get together!