our first (annual?) halloween party!!!

we decided to throw a halloween party this year

just for fun

and it was a lot of fun!

we finally got the kids' costumes together RIGHT beforehand 

henry is a puppy, noah is an astronaut but was supposed to be frankenstein..

eleanor is a butterfly, hazel is cinderella and olive is belle

 we got a little caught up with party planning and costume prep and we never fed our kids dinner

so when the party started they were starving and went to town

 to drink we had water, spooky punch and spooky soda

 for dessert had cream puffs, chocolate cupcakes, ghost cookies and chocolate chip cookies

tom and alisha (a deer and a hunter

 jerry and jenni

 my flash ruined this picture

but it's the kids watching a movie in the garage with the projector

 and the enormous tub of popcorn we popped for them

 courtney and ryan (a hunter and his trophy wife)

 mandy and jake (cast away and our second place winners)

 and the back

 angela and jex

 pretty hazel

 brinley and avery

 christina and eric (disco dancers and our first place winners)

getting ready to vote on the kids costumes

 all lined up

 and us!

mary poppins and bert

it was such a fun party!

it turns out we didn't completely over-invite like we worried

we had plenty of room and plenty of food

and everyone had a lot of fun

i would happily make this a new tradition to throw this party

pumpkin carving fhe

last night was our annual pumpkin carving family home evening

we grew our own pumpkins this year which made it way more fun

and way less expensive 

 we had family pictures taken early in the evening 

so we got started a little late

but the kids still had fun

 we got some pizza after pictures and i made caramel dip for apples

 michael turned on halloween music and noah and hazel danced together

 i love eleanor watching so intently

 noah's finished pumpkin

i love this family of mine

and all of our little traditions

our trip to seattle (part two)

saturday we woke up to this pretty view outside our window

and grandpa kelly showed the kids his sweet accordion skills

 with a side of harmonica

 then we headed outside

 my parents have a really pretty piece of property

 the hot walker (aka awesome electric swing) wasn't working very well

 but luckily michael was willing to propel it himself

the kids loved it

 henry thought talking with the dogs was the best

 my dad gave the kids an electric wheel barrel ride

 michael and i hopped in, too

when the kids were shown how much property my parents have

olive said, "they have a small house and a big backyard" :)

we liked seeing the horses

 then it was time for a tractor ride

the kids loved riding in the bucket

 i hopped on the back for a little ride, too

 and the moment hazel had been waiting for came

pony rides!

 my mom was so sweet to take all the kids on their rides in the rain

 my dad built a fire and let the kids roast some marshmallows

their house is way too fun

it's like a farm disneyland

 we spent the evening at the olsons

henry didn't mind his wagon ride from grandma one bit

 building towers with legos

 henry thought he was so funny with this mr potato head hat on

 and climbing on their table

 grandma olson was so sweet and made chocolate chip cookies with the girls

we enjoyed all the leftovers on our drive home the next day

 we were all pretty tired

 michael and his dad enjoyed a game of cribbage 

 and we got a 4 generation picture with great grandma shirley

 sunday morning we got up early

packed up and hit the road for our long trip home

we sunrise was so pretty

 the kids loved all the water and bridges we went over

 we were happy to catch an earlier ferry than we were originally planning on 

 olive may have regretted not listening when we told her to bring a coat on the ferry

 seattle was gorgeous, as always

 the kids were troopers on the way home

but after being gone for four days and having to drive the 11 hours in one shot

we were really happy to be home