Pumpkins - Pumpkins - Pumpkins

I was supposed to go to work last night - the key word being "supposed". I decided carving pumpkins was WAY more important than going to work. Kayla really got into it this year which made it even more fun! She helped get the ooey gooeys out and Jim and I did the cutting and carving. We found these really cool patterns online and they were pretty easy. See the pictures below for the fun and the final products.

Jim and Kayla Scooping the Ooey Gooeys

Jim Scooping

Kayla Scooping - Ewwww!

Getting Started

Mom & Kayla's Pumpkin (Spider) / Jim's Pumpkin (Scary Face)

Mom & Kayla's Pumpkin

Jim's Pumpkin

Sunday Ooey Gooeys and Soccer Games

The girls and I started a new family tradition this year. While Jim was out of the house watching the Redskins football game, the girls and I made Caramel Apples!!! It was so easy and a lot of fun...and they taste pretty darn good too! We have decided that this is going to be something we will do every year the weekend before Halloween.



After the caramel apples, Jim came home and since it was such a nice day outside, we decided to take the girls to the park across from Kayla's school. Jim taught Katlynne how to throw a football while the younger girls played on the tire swing. Afterward, we all participated in a casual family soccer game (Katlynne and Jim won). We all had a lot of fun and we were sad when we had to take Katlynne and Kelsey home.

Why I Love Fall....

~~ Please Click On This Image To Fully Enjoy It ~~

I often hear many people complain about how short Washington Summers are becoming and I must admit that this past year I was one of them. It just seems like there weren't enough hot days to enjoy the Summer months while the kids were out of school this Summer.

However, the past three or four weeks, I have been reminded just how glad I am to say Good-Bye to Summer and Hello to Fall! I absolutely LOVE this time of year and even though I often think about moving to get away from the Washington weather, this time of year brings me back to reality and I am reminded exactly why I LOVE Washington weather.

~~ These Red Trees Are Right Outside Kayla's School ~~

I am dedicating this post to all the reasons I LOVE the Fall in the Great Northwest.

1. Staying snuggled up in bed on the weekends

2. Wood fires in the fireplace

3. Hot chocolate and popcorn

4. Walking down the street and seeing leaves fall from the trees

5. Breathing in the cold air

6. Umbrellas and Rain Boots

7. A rainbow of leaves on the trees

8. The smell of rain

9. Blue skies, sunshine, and kids at the park

10. Slippers and bathrobes

11. Pumpkins and Halloween

12. Baking pies

13. Turkey and stuffing

14. Flannel Pajamas

15. Living Room camp outs

16. Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes

17. Game and Movie Nights

18. Pumpkin spice scented candles (and all candles in general)

19. Seeing my breath outside

20. Sugar cookies

The most important reason why I enjoy this time of year is because it marks the beginning of many holiday celebrations with my family. I get so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years because I have such a great family and I LOVE spending the holidays with them.

~~ Gorgeous Tree at the Park ~~

~~ Massive Tree in my Parents' Backyard - Where Our Tree House Once Stood ~~

Halloween With The Browns

I know it's been a while (like 2 months a while), but I told you in the beginning that blogging hasn't exactly been my strong suit over the years. However, I am trying and I think I finally have enough news to keep you reading for the next 15 - 20 minutes. Please - try to enjoy.

Since we don't ever have all three girls together on Halloween, we made plans to celebrate this dark and scary holiday with all three of them a week early. As it turned out, my parents' church was hosting their annual "Trunk-or-Treat" event the same weekend so we got the girls all dressed up and headed down for the festivities on Saturday. The pictures may be a bit small, but can be viewed larger by clicking on them.

~~ Halloween Dinner ~~

~~ Kelsey was a Ketchup Bottle and Katlynne was a Surgeon ~~

~~ Kayla was a pink Lady Bug ~~

~~ All Three Girls - Ready To Go ~~

~~ Great-Grandma Dressed Up Too!!! ~~

After dinner, it was time to head out to the parking lot where people had decorated their trunks and the kids went "trick-or-treating" from trunk to trunk (hence the event name "Trunk-or-Treat"). It was a lot of fun and we got a lot of comments on our decorations. I believe I heard one gentleman say as he was walking away: "that's the best one here"! We got together a few fake body parts and wrapped them in bloody gauze and had Katlynne dress up as a deadly Surgeon. She handed out chocolate eyeballs and gummy body parts to those who dared come near.

I have to mention that we may have permanently scarred one little boy. He hesitated before walking up to the car and had the following conversation with Katlynne:

Little Boy: "What happened to this guy?"

Katlynne (not realizing the little boy seriously thought the body parts belonged to a real person): "We had to cut him up."

Little Boy (eyes bigger than before): "How come?"

Katlynne: "Because he died from cancer."

Little Boy (as he's walking away): "Mom! They cut up a guy who died from cancer!"

~~ Kayla, Katlynne, Kesley, and Grams ~~

~~ Katlynne Playing the Deadly Surgeon ~~

~~ Gruesome - But Creative I Must Say ~~

~~ Katlynne Getting Ready to Hand Out the Goods ~~

And so ended the lovely Halloween festivities. I am realizing at this moment that we never set aside time to carve pumpkins this year!!! Now I'm bummed - but hopefully we'll have time this week to at least carve a few with Kayla before Halloween actually hits us. Happy Halloween!!!