Halloween Party at Grandma's

My mother insisted that we celebrate Halloween this year as a family even though she would be out of town on the 31st. We gathered for pizza and games (7, 11 or doubles) over the weekend. Rather than bringing a favorite candy bar to add to the pot, people brought their favorite treats. My mom brought a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory caramel apple for herself and chocolate turtles for my dad. My sister brought chocolate caramel popcorn from Artichokes and Company. The rest of us brought the usual stash of junk food: OREO's, sour cream and cheddar chips, and a host of candy bars. Joey walked away clearly victorious winning both items from RMCF and a handful of candy bars. Apologetically, I asked my mom if she wanted her treats back and she sheepishly smiled and pulled out a hidden stash of of turtles and apples "just in case" she didn't win. Smart woman.

10 Minute Pumpkin Fest

Two weeks ago, my family made the 90 minute drive to Thanksgiving Point during rush hour traffic to attend the Scarecrow festival. The kids were just getting into the swing of things when we realized we were at the Pumpkin Festival, not the Scarecrow Festival. You'd think this wouldn't be a very big deal, (especially after paying the $10 admission fee and finally seeing your kid smile after a long drive in the car), but it was to my mom who quickly got our money refunded and we made the walk to the South side of Thanksgiving Point to attend the Scarecrow Festival. This festival is a charity event, but not as much fun as the Pumpkin Festival, which in my opninion is worth the entrance fee.

Here are some pictures from our 10 minute stay at the Pumpkin Festival. Sammie and Owen climbed into the "cow train" and headed out into the pumpkin patch. As they were returning, I suddenly realized that Sammie was alone in the car. I panicked, obviously, and wondered how Owen had escaped and where he was now. With a wildly beating heart I ran to Sammie and found that Owen had slid down into the seat and was noosed by the seat belt. Only mildly relieved.

Sitting happily before the ride.

The rescue mission.