My own little piece of paradise

We returned from our terrific Florida vacation rested, thankful for a wonderful week as a family, and sad to leave the warm sunshine. The kids had an awesome time at Kennedy Space Station and got to meet an astronaut who flew on Apollo 15. If you want to know how long ago that was, look it up!!!

Then we headed to Cocoa Beach where Ethan built sandcastles, Makenna played footies in the sand, and Kaleigh chased the waves of the ocean. We also spent some quality time swimming in the two resort hot tubs and pools, eating ourselves silly, and shopping. Lastly, we decided to take in SeaWorld. The kids all loved riding the "Polar Express" and seeing all the animals. Mom and Dad liked the free "Hospitality Room" sponsored by Busch. LOL :)

Happy 1st Birthday Makenna!

I can't believe our baby is already a year old! Where o where does time go? We celebrated our little turkey with a turkey dinner with family. Then Makenna dug into her very own birthday cake which she loved to pieces literally.

Then to top off the evening, we got a text that Ryan's cousin Jennifer went into labor and delivered her baby girl, Lyndsi Deanne, tonight. She even weighed in at almost the same exact weight as Makenna. What a special day!

Spooks come out at Night

The beautiful weather and Makenna's first Halloween turned the season into so much fun. We started out visiting a pumpkin patch in early October, carving jack-o-lanterns, and then Fall parties at school and trick or treating!

Ethan asked me to be his room mother for school so Ryan helped and we had a "Mad Scientist Lab" where the kids got to feel brains (stewed tomatoes), kidneys(jello mold), heart (jello mold), fingers (green olives), and stomach (cold, slimey spaghetti).

Then we did a Jump for Apples instead of an apple bob. The kids had a blast!

The girls and I took in the local Monster March downtown and visited all the businesses. They had over 2,000 kids preschool to 5th grade line up to trick or treat. It was the largest they ever had but it took forever.

Several of the area churches also sponsored "Trunk or Treat" this year. The kids got way too much candy between this and visiting family. Kaleigh went as a butterfly; Ethan a judge; and little BMak went as a snuggly little lady bug.

Happy Halloween to all and to all a good Fright!