Happy Halloween

From our house to yours

 Happy Halloween

Halloween (Part 2)

I don't know how the time keeps getting away with me.  

I never finished posting the Halloween decorations. 

Since Halloween is tomorrow I decided it's now or never and since the outdoor 

decorations are Mike's department, I wanted to document all his hard work.   

So here it goes.

if you look close you can see Koby in on the act with his werewolf eyes

the same pumpkins we've had since the kids were little

as it fades Mike keeps spray painting it

it's traffic alert neon orange now

we can't have Halloween without Charlie Brown at our house

and I really love that all of our coach lights turn into pumpkins

(they are just those inexpensive trick or treat pumpkins with the

bottom cut our and a slit down the back to wrap around the light)

and the moon cooperated by being full just in time for the trick or treaters

our jack o lanterns come out from hiding this time of year

I made a halloween runner for my table this year in a pretty orange/black print

and if you knew my "skills" on a sewing machine you might know what an 

accomplishment this is for me.  My mom helped me figure how to cut it out

and after I finished it she came by and gave me the seal of approval.  

Yeah me!

and finally my candy holder, which is sadly empty

  so I'm on my way out to pick up lots of candy as my neighborhood 

has many sweet little cuties and many scary trick or treaters

that will be ringing my doorbell tomorrow

***********************

And on a more important note on this 

Halloween Holiday

 Please keep everyone's families, friends and neighbors in the northeast in your prayers as we are now learning of how 

bad the devastation has been from  Hurricane Sandy.

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

                                 Happy Birthday to our precious Taylor on her Sweet 16 Party

Her mom and dad gave her the best ever sweet sixteen party

It was at a local night club (turned into an age appropriate venue)

DJ, dancing, photo booth, lots of food, soda and dessert buffet

too many pictures and too friends to get everyone I'm afraid

 but I think I got a good cross section here

not only are her friends as cute as can be, they were the nicest group

of high schoolers I've ever been around

4 hours and not one problem

they were as sweet and precious as they come

okay, enough of the grandmother comments.... 

Taylor's "god sister" Anslie

it was so special of her to come down from North Carolina to surprise Tay

I know she really appreciated that her cousins came

aren't they just adorable

(and I'm not one bit biased)

they were all born in the same year

:-)

another cousin picture with Sarah

And below is a group of friend photo's from the "photo booth"

and finally a shot of them on their way home

Taylor was one happy girl

Remembering to be grateful in all things:

851.  sweet friends

852.  parents who work hard to make special days for their children

853.  a fall evening in Orlando

854.  dinner out with my hubby

855. finding the good in all things

856.  making ghost pizza's with Dylan

857.  the worker's who came together to pull off Taylor's party

858.  cousins who go out of their way to make your birthday special

859.  Anslie

860.  a phone call from Makenzie excited to tell me she lost 2 

teeth in one week

861.  missing front teeth in time for the holiday pictures

862.  Eli passing the embassy clearance today

863.  to my precious Taylor for whom I first learned what to love a 

grandchild felt like

Joining Ann's place for Multitudes on Mondays.

Happy Birthday Dylan

Happy Birthday Dylan

you're a "big" 4 year old boy

you love:

army men

dinosaurs

trains

playing laser guns with Poppy

Momma, Dad and Sister

your cousins

legos

Legoland

Halloween and Christmas movies

bedtime stories

going to football games

sword fights

going on the boat with Daddy

olives

small tomatoes

pizza

marshmallows

bath time

Auntie

you're not crazy about:

taking naps

going to bed at night

cleaning up your toys

being told you can't do something

Favorites:

colors: for now it's purple and pink 

(usually it's green)

food:   pizza

snack:  olives 

movie:  Toy Story movies

book:   I Love You Stinky Face

On you Fourth Birthday you wanted a Dinosaur Party

 dinosaur masks for the dinosaur egg hunt

dinosaurs were lurking throughout

birthday family shot

love the look on Caleb's face

the big 4

I'm thinking he's excited about his cake

don't you love how the other kids make the "blowing out the candles" face

They're off to the dinosaur egg hunt 

time to open presents

love his four year old "smile for the camera" 

after kicking soccer balls around for a while......

it was time for cake and ice-cream

and finally the pinata

this was one of the biggest and strongest pinatas I've ever seen

we even had these two (above and below) "professional" baseball players 

taking mighty swings at it

next resorting to swords

then both swords and  bats

finally after a little help from the Dads, out comes the candy and toys

I just love how my sweet nieces always make sure they help the little ones get their fair share

ALWAYS

the party group (minus 6)

and as always, the silly face pose

I couldn't help but notice the sweet little girls on each end seem lost on the concept.

I think their wondering "what in the world are these kids doing".

That's the way the little ones in our family roll.

What a great job you did with the party Melissa.

Fun was had by all.

Remembering to be grateful in all things:

837.  a beautiful fall day (in Florida) for Dylan's birthday party

838.  little ones happy for the birthday boy

839.  silly faces

840.  the low humidity this week

841.  people who can talk calmly about politics

842.  no serious injuries in Ryan's accident yesterday (that totaled his car) 

843.  Makenzie's first soccer goal

844.  little brothers who cheer for their big sisters

845.  hayrides

846.  learning to forgive yourself, then move on with the lesson learned

847.  a visit with my mom and sister with lots of laughs

848.  gno tonight

849.  my lovely friend who takes such good care of her Dad

850.  being here to enjoy my precious grandchildren

Joining Ann's place for Multitudes on Mondays.