Halloween 2016.

We came. We saw. We have a lot of candy to eat.

A proud lion(ess)

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A rascally, trash eating raccoon

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The cutest pair of trick-or-treaters I saw all night

From our house to yours, happy Halloween!

Halloween...it's coming!

Welcome to our house of horrors. If you're terrified of ghouls, floors that need mopping, and a cat with a fungal infection, DO NOT COME IN HERE. On second thought, come right on in!

Googly-eyed wreath.

Who do all these eyes belong to? And, why are they looking at me?!

So that I can remember for next year, I thought I'd photograph a few of this year's Halloween decorations. I'm not necessarily a crafty person. Sure, I can make things but given that I'm left-brained, and a retired accountant, I'm not always that creative. But, with two little ones, it's fun coming up with new ideas and turning them into reality. Consider this my paper trail!

Here are my shares -

Door monster. He's a friendly fellow complete with candy corn nose.

He's a Pinterest inspiration and was very easy to make. So easy, in fact, I thought about putting them upstairs on the bedroom doors in a future year.

Halloween tea light holder and mini pumpkins.

Some people have those Christmas villages. I don't. But, I do think it would be fun to have a Halloween village at some point. If I can find a few more cute, coordinating houses like this one, I will have my mini village on the dining room hutch. Wait, we do have some small plastic coffins. Maybe next year, my mini village will include a cemetery. Ideas!

Birds. We CONTINUE to have a problem with wildlife in our house. Ha ha.

Two years ago, we had an unfortunate problem with three mice in our house. They were eradicated and have not returned since. Thank you, Orkin. However, after the mouse incident, these guys debuted. I sent a picture to my sister and remarked that we had another animal problem. She thought they were real. I'm so funny.

Scrapbook paper bunting.

Hopefully I'm not setting the bar too high for myself. The little ones and I get a kick out of Halloween decorating. We even have a few decorations that Honey gave me from my youth. I guess I could say my love of Halloween and decorating goes way back.

Happy Halloween week to all!

Fall Fun

With no football games this past weekend, it was a good weekend to partake in some Fall fun.

We visited the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield [http://www.botanicgardens.org/content/our-gardens-chatfield-location] pumpkin patch.  Chatfield State Park is just a short drive from our house and nestled right up against the foothills.  It's a pretty cool place and we plan on returning again some time.

Headed out to the pumpkin patch.

The all important debate over which pumpkin(s) are the best.

Sawyer in his pumpkin cart pondering whether he wants a round or oval, big or small pumpkin.

A girl, a boy, a pumpkin cart, and three pumpkins.

I thought this was cool just because it showed the grandness of the patch.

"I'll do it."

The pumpkin probably weighs half of her weight and is as large as her torso.

Our house is mostly ready for the great Halloween holiday.  All that's left is to pick up our candy and get out for some trick or treating.

Catching up

Halloween - The picture's a month late in being posted but who doesn't like a duck enjoying a Kit Kat bar or two?  By the way, she has her father's sweet tooth and likes lollipops and chocolate.

Thanksgiving - All of Mommy's family spent Thanksgiving at Honey and Poppie's house.  We spent lots of good time with Uncle Jerky, Aunt Sandi, Emery, Camden, and Bailey the dog as wel as Auntie Kate and Aunt Trish.  Madelyn partook in her first Turkey Trot and enjoyed sweet potatoes, apples, bread, milk, and fruit cup for the big feast.  The next day we cheered our Huskers on to victory while watching on Poppie's new 46" TV.

Cousins - As Grammy put it, Madelyn hit for the cousin cycle when the last of all the expected babies arrived.  Within one week, Kate (Lindsey and Alasdair Reid), Jack (Katie and John Olenberger), and FINALLY Ben (Kate and Tim Gilbert) all arrived in good health.  We haven't met any of our new relatives but are so excited for their arrivals.

The great pumpkin

Our inaugural visit to May Farms pumpkin patch in Byers, Colorado. We opted out of the hay ride and corn maze this year. How should we carve Madelyn's ghost pumpkin?