Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2008!!! Alvin, Simon and Theodor sent this picture to their Grandpa Tom for his October 31st Birthday. (side note... we removed our wood stove this fall and are sending it down to Grandpa Tom for his shop at the coastal house.)

The kids love the newest Alvin and the Chipmunks movie that came out last Christmas and have been planning on dressing up like them for Halloween for the last several months. They had a blast this year!!!! Even more so because they were very excited to have Grace join them for the annual "Candy Carnival" put on by our church. It was a great success and the kids absolutely make a hall on goodies. They didn't even bother to go trick or treating in the neighborhoods.











Here, Josh is showing all the children how they really need to get the right crank on the ball for the bowling game.

Pumpkins X2

We carved our pumpkins as a family last Sunday. BUT Cousin Grace came to town on Tuesday and revealed to us that she had not yet carved a pumpkin so we had a second round for her just before Halloween. This was a pivotal year in the carving festivities... The kids designed their own faces on paper and then Dan and I transferred the pictures for them, but the best part was that they ALL carved them by themselves....woohoo no more hand cramps! Dan and I both agreed this was the best year all in all for the kids' designs. Maddie drew a really cute care bear face and Sophia chose that to be hers and it tunred out great! And of course Dad...the Blazer fan was very creative too. I think the kids were awe over his fancy design.

Family from Home!

We had the privilege of housing Conner, Trisha and Alicia for a weekend while they were up here for the wedding of a college friend in Coeur D'Alene. The kids were ecstatic to see some of their favorite babysitters from back in the day!! Funny to watch the kids, even as they are older now, they love these guys just like family. They were hanging on them all the time they could and begging them to come watch all 3 soccer games. Thankfully they were (as always) gracious and went along and cheered them on with Dan and I. Poor mom-to-be Alicia...very close to her a due date was keeping right up. As always, it was a blessing to have them be here and a reminder of how much we miss everyone from home! We love you all a ton!