The BIG Reveal!!

Every year our costume reveal is much anticipated. Everyone tries to keep theirs a secret until the very last moment. This year we were all so busy that I wasn't sure we would pull it off, but, pull it off we did!

Olivia was Theodore of the Chipmunks, Kristin was Remy from Ratatouille, Caitlin was a hunter and John "the hunted".

Becky's MIL was Sherlock Holmes, Todd and Becky were "Lego" My Eggo, Hannah was Alvin and Morgan was Simon of the Chipmunks.

Jennie and Elton were Jack and Jill AFTER the hill, Harrison was the Slasher, Hud was a farmer and Presley was a fairy godmother.

Hannah, Morgan and Liv were the Chipmunks.

Buzz and I were "Nerds"...what more is there to say?

Here we are with our seven grand children-plus one. With 5 grand daughters, I guess we had better get used to this!

The whole, crazy gang. I love this bunch and I love that they still find time in their oh so busy lives to go along with this tradition to make their old Nana one happy camper!!!

Tomorrow will be full of errands and Wednesday we are off to St. Pete to see some of the homecoming week activities as well as celebrate yet one more Halloween...I can't wait! Have I said how much I love this time of year?! Next post won't be for awhile but I know I will have many photos to share when we return. Stay tuned.

Whew Again!

What a fabulous week we have had. Our hearts and home have been full of family and friends! I had a wonderful time at my open house catching up with so many long-time friends from my teaching days at two different schools. So much fun in fact that I forgot to take even ONE photo. But, never fear, I made up for that this weekend with our traditional crazy family party!!

After ALL of the obligatory, traditional photos the fun and games begin with the Cheeto-head Toss. Everyone loves this game!
 

Then we were on to Slurping Body Parts. The kids love this because the gummy parts are on a plate covered with whipped cream and they use only their mouths to retrieve them.

Of course, there is more than one way to use body parts!

Everyone wants to play doughnuts- on-a-string-especially this year when Becky and Todd brought "hot out of the fryer" Krispie Kremes. They were so good!!

Several of the gang would not call it a party unless we bobbed for apples.

Good thing we had extra apples because Jasper decided to join the fun!

Of course, we had lots and lots of food. I managed to snap just a few shots before the crew got into it all!

After all of the games and with full bellies, we headed in to put on our costumes for the "big reveal". I will show you all of that fun in my next post. Stay tuned.

Wrapping It Up

So I am really getting down to business today. In less than one week I am hosting two rather large Halloween events and I AM NOT READY! If they were both only family I would not be quite so obsessed but one is for people I used to work with who haven't been to my house in years-come to think of it, the last time it had a really good cleaning may have been for their last visit-lol.

I am doing what I talk about occasionally...looking at my house with "new" eyes. Things that I have looked at forever are finally being SEEN as they are...yikes! Time to hit the ground running! But, before I do, just a few more things to see.

Because all of our guest rooms will be full the weekend of the costume party, I like to put out some decorations in them as well.

After looking at these pictures, I realize that this is where I mostly use decor that has been around awhile and is not necessarily my favorite any more...but, it still looks good and brings a sense of celebration to these rooms as well.

I also just realized that this one bedroom is also the place where I store most of my "green" decor when it is not in use-like in October. There really is no rhyme or reason-another of those places where I put things and really don't "see" what it looks like until I try to show you my breath-taking decor! lol I really would never put these things together if this was anything but a guest room but I guess my theory is if it is green, it will go-at least for a bit until it has a turn to return to front and center in the public parts of the house! And, if you are staying in one of my guest rooms, I must know you and like you so hopefully you will cut me some slack.

When I looked at this picture, I realized that the little witch in the cross stitch I do many years ago looks just like the little ceramic witches that I did even longer ago-ahhh, serendipity!

I didn't include a picture of our last guest room. It is the grandkids' "dormitory" and right now is FULL of things I am anticipating needing for one or other of my parties. It also serves as my office and sewing room, so you can kind of guess why no pictures of this space are leaving my camera today. Suffice it to say it is decorated. The little kids spent last weekend here and they love it. Kid approved is always good.

The sun room is just about as it was last year...another place where I tend to put the displaced decor. But, I don't like to have a lot of elaborate decor  or vignettes in here because we use this space all of the time and it does get old constantly having to move things just to use a flat surface...even if it is Halloween!

I love this spot. Wish I had more time to spend there but when I do, I am in heaven!

We have a busy weekend and will be squeezing in chores in between so I will be missing in action for a few days but I will be back-and hopefully full of tales of all that I have accomplished since last we visited. Stay tuned.

Tradition!

We are back in town from our trip up to daughter #2 and even though my to-do list is soooo much longer than my "to-done" list, I thought I would check in just in case anyone was missing me-lol.

We had a lovely visit and got to the pumpkin patch with these girls for the 19th year! Yikes, where does the time go?!

Even though the pumpkins are no longer larger than the girls, it is still fun to see what shape and size pumpkins they will choose each year. After deliberation and purchase, we are off to Scarecrow Row.

After a nice dinner and home to watch some of our favorite shows, this tradition for this year was "put to sleep".

We are home again and back to a week full of appointments. I am trying to use the time in between to get a few more things ready for the two parties next week...so much to do, so little time! But, we are making sure we take the time to "smell the pumpkins" as we go. October will be gone much too soon!

Thought I would give you a quick peek at the guest bath this year before I go.

We are getting near the end...won't be long before October is but a memory also. We are trying hard to fit in everything we can! Stay tuned.