Fall Festivities

I really love this time of year. The colors, the cooler weather, the fun festivities...And let's be honest- Halloween is the gateway to the Holiday Season! Devin is holding me back from busting out the Christmas music. I love, love, love it. We have begun the season in full swing around here.

Witchapalooza 2011:

Last week we attended Witchapalooza at Gardner Village for our 4th year in a row. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a little bit sad, because this is the first year we celebrated without Linda. I know that this is just the beginning of what is sure to be a hard holiday season in that regard. I almost really want to be in Ecuador (beyond the obvious reasons why) to miss this first Christmas without her. We'll see how things turn out.

However, I am happy to report that we all still had an amazing time and that we celebrated our inner witches fabulously. The costumes were incredible, the food amazing, and the play as funny as they come. It is really a fun event that you should all check out if you are in the area. Here are some snapshots from our 2011 event: (no picture will ever, ever rival this one though. Go ahead. Check it out. You won't be disappointed. Promise.)

Ry-Ry and Avery. 2nd Generation of Witches. They have a long way to go before they are as witchy as some of the rest of us...

How do you like my hair? I had Ryen all but convinced it was real, but she is a smarty pants and figured out that it is a wig. If only my hair were that delightful on a regular basis!

Sue and her girls. Sue's costume was awesome...but that's what you get when you are an avid online/T.V./infomercial shopper. The best of the best! Even her shoes were officially Witchy.

Jen and our mom. Where is her costume you ask? Yeah. I am asking the same thing. Still.

Oh this is totally out of order and not even part of Witchapalooza- but everyone got to see beautiful Charlie on the way up when they picked up Ry and I can't help but share this picture because it is so.stinking.adorable.

Pumpkin Patch:

 
Monday we went to a cute little (free!) pumpkin patch in a neighboring city with my cousin Sarah and her hubby Daniel, plus their little neighbor boy. We saw some animals (Hallie refused to pet them until the very end, but Jace didn't mind!), climbed some hay bales, did a hay maze, and then picked ourselves some awesome pumpkins. We won't mention that it was right about then that I started to feel ill, very ill, nor that I threw up promptly when we got home, ruining our fun night of chili and pumpkin carving. No, we will focus on the fun parts, such as these:

Conquering the hay bale! Sorry these pictures are bad again-- back to the phone. But that sure is cute of Hallie and her daddy, right?

The best I could manage of the kids. Hm. I think I should take up professional photography, don't you? Not even one looking at the camera. Oh well, they are still darn cute and that's all that matters. (the children, not the pictures.)

Jace really enjoyed eating the hay. Oh, and on a similar note, he ate an entire (large) leaf today. Mother of the year, right here. No wonder he wasn't hungry for dinner.

Hallie and her very own pumpkin. Hand picked and all. Now, just getting around to carving it before Monday!