First Annual Trunk or Treat!

This year marked the very first Trunk or Treat at 

Maddy's school!  

It was a huge success!

Even the chilly temps and cold wind blowing

did not deter the trick or treaters or parents!

Over 50 trunks participated!

Great turnout for the first year!

A live band, loads of candy,

hot dogs and chips -- what a party!

As you can see, Maddy and her friends

were Ninja Turtles!

One of Maddy's friends had been searching

Pinterest for weeks trying to find a semi-easy

costume!

Didn't they do a fabulous job!

They spray-painted aluminum foil turkey roasting pans for their shells!

So cute!!

And bonus,

the first junior high dance was held after

trunk or treat and was a costume party/dance!

Sweet to have the first dance with . . . 

boys (!!!)

as a costume party! :)

Such  a great costume!

The teachers and our parish priests, 

including Monsignor Tucker, participated!

A little weird to see them without their white collars!

Father Mills, Father Zimmer and Monsignor Tucker

The girls -- I mean Ninja Turtles are hoping to win

Best Costume!

Happy Halloween!

Halloweekend!

Hello friends!

How was your weekend?

Busy getting costumes together?  Buying candy?

Yes, me too!

Need a cuddle?

Maddy put together her costume and her niece, Janie,

is also Lambie of Doc McStuffin's fame!

We can't wait to get the Lambies together!

We visited the outdoor mall's Halloween 

festivities! 

Some scary and creepy folks there hired by the

mall to "entertain!"  

That person in the red totally creeped me out and would

not get out of the photo!

Maddy did a great job ignoring her!

Coldstone Creamery was giving out

scoops of cotton candy ice cream!

Miss M declared it deliciously yummy and

perfect on a day that we hit a record

high of 86 degrees!

It was hotter here than at my sister's in

Jacksonville, Florida!!

Maddy and I also went to the annual

Boo at the Zoo!

Oh my -- waiting while the hot sun baked on 

her black hair for an hour was not fun!

But . . . the fun commenced once we entered the zoo.

The Grand Wizard Zoo Director

She collected all kinds of goodies and all kinds

of advertisements and coupons

from local businesses.

I say, hand over the candy, forget the paper stuff!

But you know me,  

I'm kind of bossy and cranky that way!

Who knew that Wells Fargo had a dog named Jack??

More fun to come this week with

Trunk or Treat at school on Thursday

and some real trick or treating on Friday!

Have a Happy Halloween Week!

Last year as "Where's Waldo" at work!
Miss you H&S friends!

Dear Fall!

Dear Fall -- 

Guess what I Like about You this Year?!

Every single thing!

Yes, even the warty-looking pumpkins!

Oh my word - we have been blessed with 

the most beautiful fall weather!

Earlier this month, it was quite chilly out,

but I refuse to turn the furnace on until at least November.

My advice . . . put on a sweater, a vest or your robe! 

An oldie from 2011 - because I love that girl AND that vest! :)

And the last two to three weeks - warm and sunny and up to the 70s!

Absolute perfection!!  

Trees are turning color,

leaves are falling,

my hydrangeas are blooming,

kids are raking leaves (ha ha)!

Another oldie from 2012

Plus, Halloween candy on the shelves and on sale!!!

What more could we ask for?

What an incredibly beautiful season!

Hope there's a wonderful weekend in your future!

2011 -- finding a beautiful leaf!

What Does the Fox Say?

What does the Fox say?

Evidently the fox says . . . 

Do cartwheels!

When your Mom is attempting to get a photo

for the Christmas cards! :)

Having some fun photo shoots
while the weather cooperates!

A Trip Down Pumpkin Patch Lane!

We have been visiting the same pumpkin patch

for years and years!

Since the boys were little . . .
 and that

was quite a while ago!

October 2014

Roca Berry Farm has expanded and added more fun and activities 

every single year.

This year, ghostly paintball and scary forest rides!
  Booooo
(I'll pass, thank you!)!

Pumpkin Patch 2014 - The Jumping Pillows!

So, let's take a trip down pumpkin patch lane,
shall we!

Painting a pumpkin in 2012

Sitting with a friend - October 2011

 A collage of sorts - from October 2008

Back to 2014 and Funnel Cake -- Yum!

The 60s Revisisted!

Mr. Tennis and I went to a wonderful performance last Saturday!

So, here's a little Public Service Announcement for you!

If you learn they are performing near you,

run, do not walk, 

and get tickets as fast as you can for

The Midtown Men!!

Photo from The Midtown Men

Can you say Fabulous Fun!

Incredible band, amazing voices and harmonies,

greatest hits of the 60's

and very cool choreography!

Plus, the guys are definitely some eye candy too!

The singers were in the original Broadway hit Jersey Boys!

We were in the 3rd row!  Perfect seats -- they donned corn heads for their encore!
[Photo from their FB page]

It was so much fun!

If they were headed this away again next week, 

I'd go again!

Lucky me -- I nabbed one of their

CDs and am introducing Maddy

to those great hits of the 60s! 

Don't worry . . . 

I promised her I would try not to sing along.

A Few Things

Hello Friends!

Are you ready for the weekend?

Yes?  

Me too!

Guess what . . . I saw that lunar eclipse

the other morning!

Ooooh -- it was so very pretty!

And very early too.

I saw it on my early morning run -- I was so glad

I didn't snooze too long.

Yes, I was that goofy runner that kept stopping and pulling out

the iPhone to try to get a decent photo. 

It was kind of far away, so my iPhone didn't really capture the beauty! 

The weekend ahead looks busy and there

is lots of yard work to do.

There's always lots of yard work to do! :(

Before I head off to work this morning,

here's a funny photo from the zoo.

Maddy has just gone through a sprinkler 

on a very hot day there and

I guess that camel was a little curious 

and about to give her a nudge!

Have a wonderful weekend all!

The Pumpkin Patch Substitute!

Coolest little owl -- he could turn his head almost totally around!

A visit to our nearby pumpkin patch

was scheduled for Saturday . . .

but

it rained over 5 inches last week

[can you imagine the mud?]

and 

the temperature on Saturday morning was 34 degrees!

That's 2 degrees from freezing people!

It warmed up a bit,

but not enough for us!

But, go figure, a local nursery was having a 

fall festival. 

Yippee skippee 

perfect substitute for the real thing!

Pumpkins and owls and fall stuff!

Unfortunately there was no funnel cake

so we will be making a trip to the real pumpkin

patch soon!

There is no substitute for funnel cake!

Well, Hello October!

Hello October!

Is is just me or does it seem like I was just greeting September?

I blinked and then the month was over!  

So long September!

Now that fall is fully underway,

we are enjoying all fall has to offer!

Especially gourds!

We used to dry and shellac them
 when I was young  --

voila,  a maracas or two or ten!

Kamree's friend Ava, Kamree and Maddy

Hayrack Rides!

Fun times with 

Jodee and Kamree last weekend!

And fall means church festivals!

We joined Philip and Catherine for a quick visit to one nearby.
Sadly, Maddy was too big for the train,
 Harry was too little, but
Janie and Walt were just right!

We are hoping to get a visit in to the pumpkin patch soon!

Looking back -- October, 2011 pumpkin patch!