Happy Halloween!

Trick-or-Treating fun!!  Tonight we had so much fun!!  Reagan, Rylie, Cheryl, Kristin and Lizzie came over to trick or treat in Princeville with us!!  Nana and Mamaw came over to see all the kids too, and Mamaw went trick or treating with us.

Baby Bat needed a pick me up before heading out!

Cousins!

Ready to go!

Hmmm, what is in here?

Running up to the doors!

and running back to show us their loot!

The really spooky house in Princeville-so festive!

Baby trick or treating-so cute!

After trick or treating we came back home and had chili and mummy dogs for dinner-mmmmmm!  The girls (and Cole) had a great time!  It was one of the best Halloween nights we've had!

Family Fun

After a bad day at work yesterday, I took a personal day to spend with my family.  We haven't spent any significant time together, just the 4 of us, in over 4 weeks.  Alan had been away part of this week and I felt like I couldn't deal with anybody at work today-so I took family time to recuperate.  It was so worth it, just what I needed.  I think with a couple more days off and some good time spent with my kiddos, I can be prepared to go back to work with an improved attitude by Thursday.  Today we had a quiet morning around the house and then went over to my in-laws for lunch.  The kids all dressed up in their costumes to show Grandma Alice, Mamaw and Papaw.  We ended up with some pretty great pictures of the kids and their grandparents!

A witch, a ladybug, Minnie Mouse, Bam Bam, Pebbles and our little bat

Happy Halloween!!

Alyvia, Cole, Mamaw, Reagan, Rylie, Kinsley, Papaw and Brenner

The kids and Grandma Alice

Creepy halloween eyes!

We came home in the afternoon, relaxed some more and then went to my parents for dinner.  It was a relaxing day...just what the crazy doctor (because that's where I was headed) would have ordered for me. 

As much as I enjoyed my family time, another 'almost' family was first and foremost in my thoughts today.  I hope their family days will come soon.  We love them and will continue to pray for that. 

Wildlife Scary Park

Tonight Alyvia, Colson and I met Kristin and Lizzie at Wildlife Prairie Park for "(not-so) Scary Park"!

My "bad-evil" witch

The kids all put on their Halloween costumes and we walked through the woods over the scary troll bridge, took a "spooky" train ride, saw part of a magic show and then took a hay rack ride to trick-or-treat!  I have some more pictures on my camera and hope to post them later!!  The kids had lots of fun and got a good start to the Halloween weekend!

Evil-Bad Witch Alyvia and Lizzie Red-Riding Hood

The cutest kids at Scary Park

Good Friends :)

Dancing to "Thriller"

Baby bat dancing

Pumpkin Carving 101

Tonight, after I put Cole to bed, Livi and I carved pumpkins together!

Alyvia liked using our carving knives a little too much!

Ewwww-pumpkin guts!

Livi and I had a fun time together and I think our 2 pumpkins turned out pretty good :)

It was a little chilly and Livi had to hide inside!

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween Party

Colson and I went to Alyvia's class today for her Halloween party!  The kids got to bring their costumes and dress up for the party.    When we got there, they were doing the craft, making Halloween necklaces.

Then we took a group picture and they listened to a story.

The kids had a cupcake snack (which Colson desperately wanted) and got LOTS of treats!  Livi had lots of fun at her party and Cole and I were happy we were there too!

Stirring Up Trouble

Alyvia and Colson are really starting to play together-I love it!  Alyvia is really good with Cole (for the most part) and she plays so nice with him.  They are such good kids :)

How sweet are they? 

Red & White Scrimmage

Tonight was Bradley basketball's spaghetti dinner and red vs.white scrimmage.  The kids and I went with my family since our daddy is still working in the field :(  We had lots of fun and the kids were really good!  We had a yummy dinner with Nana, Papa, Uncle Shane, Lindsey and Aunt Anne.  Uncle Shane had to go to work before the game and Un Cha came with us to the game. 

Go Bradley!!

The cutest BU cheerleader!

 The only bad part was at the end when I got stuck in the parking deck for 35 minutes with two tired kids :(  I have no idea what the hold up was, but we got out and home...finally.  We are super excited about the upcoming BU basketball season and about our new coach, Geno Ford!  Go BU, Go Go BU!

Weekend with Friends

The girls that I was the best friends with in college were all in town this weekend for our 5K and it was so great to see all of them!  Kathy actually moved back to Peoria over labor day weekend, but I haven't been able to catch up with her until now.  Jonna and Jenny and their families came into town on Friday evening.  We all met at Granite City for dinner, 6 adults and 6 kids!  I love that Jonna, Jenny and I all have girls and boys the same age.  The girls are old enough to remember each other and they always pick up right up as friends every time they are together-it makes me so happy.

Alyvia and Evie at dinner

One of my favorites-the girls at dinner!

Livi and Addy, silly Liv

Evie, Alyvia and Addy outside the restaurant

Friends-Addy, Evie, Alyvia

 After dinner we went back to the hotel the Parkers and Baedkes were staying at and took the kids swimming.  I had my hands full with two kids by myself, but Livi worked her puddle jumper and it worked out.  It was worth it because they had lots of fun!

Me and my water baby

The girls and their boys

After swimming the girls got in their p.j.'s

Silly girls

Posing in the elevator

I have great memories of these girls mommies and I probably have similar pictures of us in college somewhere!  I hope these girls are always friends and we can look back on these pictures when they are in college together :)

I took the kids to Nana and Papa's to spend the night so they didn't have to get up for my race in the morning.  We had so much fun with our friends and we hope that we can visit again soon!  

And just because she's gorgeous....