HAPPY HALLOWEEN

BOBA FETT, ARIEL & HSM CHEERLEADER

TAKING TIME OUT FOR A PHOTO OPP

WAITING FOR OUR FRIENDS

THE GREAT CANDY SWAP

All you can eat...

Grayson had the opportunity to go out to dinner with his friends family last night. When he came home he was elated. He said, I am so stuffed, I wont be able to eat breakfast tomorrow. I ate a mini hamburger, two pieces of pizza, mashed potatoes with gravy, french fries, chocolate & vanilla ice cream, some chocolate ball thing, a coconut cookie & a few other desserts. Where did he have such a feast? Well it was none other than Golden Corral. Our poor kids have been deprived all this time, because Derek & I both despise buffets. We have many reasons for not visiting these eating establishments, but we will save them for another day.

Carving Pumpkins

Last year we didn't get to carve pumpkins. Derek was living in Illinois, while I was trying to sell our house. The day before Halloween the kids & I were on our way home to carve pumpkins & the realtor called & asked if we could show our home. So instead of carving pumpkins we ended up driving around waiting FOREVER for this family to leave. It all worked out in the end though because they ended up buying our home. This year I was not going to let pumpkin carving escape us again. (Mainly because the kids were so sad about not being able to do it last year.) We all had a great time, except for the part where you have to reach your hand into the slimy pumpkin & get all the guts out. This was so disgusting to Abby & Lindsey. We were so proud of Abby & Gray, because they were able to carve their own pumpkins this year. Good Job Peeps!! Derek was especially proud of his pumpkin this year. He drew on a spider & a spider web. This was pretty intricate & took A LOT of time to carve.

The cinnamon bears have arrived!

All of us Mid-westerners would like to give a big WHOOP WHOOP (imagine us lifting our arms as we say this)to Jen P. & Grandma & Grandpa Jim for bringing Cinnamon Bears to Illinois. I received these tasty, chewy treats on Thursday & ran outside to share them with my neighbors. It seems that about 95% of Midwesterners give these little bears a thumbs up!! I haven't had a chance to share these dipped in chocolate, but I plan on doing this soon.

A day at the farm

The kids & I went pumpkin picking at a farm with a few of our friends. The farm was huge & had tons of stuff for the kids to do.
Pumpkin picking

a petting zoo, huge hay bales to climb,

a cannon that launched pumpkins 2000 feet, wagon rides, yummy doughnuts & cider,

some funky corn launching gun,

a corn maze & a corn pit.

I love fall

This is the view from our front yard. Isn't it beautiful!!


Fall is absolutely the best time of the year, I love everything about it. I love the crisp air, the beautiful trees changing colors, raking leaves, picking pumpkins, pumpkin everything...breads, cakes, muffins, cookies & pies. I get excited to be able to wear sweaters again & of course being able to pull out my brown sweatpants to wear to the bus stop!!

Cinnamon...what?

So a few times a week after our kids hop on the bus, a few of my neighbors & I go walking. One day we were talking about appetizers. (I mean who doesn't talk about yummy, gooey, cheesey appetizers when they are exercizing?) So I said, "Have you guys seen the chocolate fondue fountains?" They all say "Yes..." Then I say, "One of my favorite thing to dip in the chocolate fondue is cinnamon bears." They all look at me like I'm a total idiot. "What, you know little cinnamon bears...red...chewy...hot?" Again, I get nothing. That's right people they have no idea what I am talking about!! They have never heard of a cinnamon bear. I cannot believe this. Where do I live that they have never heard of a cinnamon bear? But wait it gets worse. So yesterday we are out for MOB (moms only breakfast...except for now it should be called MOB&L Moms only breakfast & Lindsey.) Some of our other friends are with us & some how we got on the topic again of cinnamon bears. So I am trying to explain again what they are. "They are like gummy bears, except not so chewy. Kindof like Jelly Rings. (crickets) Like orange sticks...you know the jelly stuff inside the chocolate covered orange sticks? (Again, crickets.) That's right, they don't even know what those are. They have never heard of those either. No cinnamon bears, no jelly rings & no orange sticks. What the Junk!! So I have checked Target & World Marketplace & come up empty handed. I love you friends in Gurnee & if it is the last thing I do I will find these items & share them with you.