1 Family x 12 (November)

This past weekend we took the kids to a college football game and we got to check a few firsts off the kids lists.  First tailgating, first football game, and first stadium!  It was cool, but actually a beautiful day for being outside.  Temperatures in the low 40's and sun made for an overall great day for everyone.  The kids did better than expected and they really were good sports!  I'll do a full post on the day later, but for now, our family photo for November.

Halloween 2019 - otherwise known as that time it showed 6 inches on Halloween

Well guys, we did it!  We trick or treated, in family Halloween costumes in 25 degree weather and 6 inches of snow.  Last year when the kids begged Ryan and I to dress up for trick or treating we were the only dressed up adults.  So, we set down ground rules for 2019 that included mandatory family costumes for our group.

I wanted to be A League of Their Own...I mean, come on, we have three girls and one Tom Hanks...how cute would that be?  Turns out Ryan said the kids wouldn't understand the reference (he was right), the girls wanted to be witches...and, those costumes would have been horrible in the snow, so we landed as Hocus Pocus. 

Of course the kids were too small for the cute licensed costumes so we went with these cute light up numbers from Walmart.  Ryan was Binx the cat (tell me, why do guys always get the warm, comfortable costumes!?) and I was Bette Midler trying to pull our rag tag group costume together with a good wig and a "real" Sanderson Sister costume.  Well, at least the pictures turned out cute!!

Our group was ADORABLE walking down the street...albeit cold!  The Brackemyers went as the Wizard of Oz (yes, for anyone that recognized it...that IS an old Sally Ritterbusch original Jamie is wearing.  I was a scarecrow long ago and boy do some of those old costumes come in handy!).

The Rasmussen's were the characters from Up.  You can't quite see them in the picture, but Hattie was even carrying a cute little bundle of balloons.  That is until she promptly let them go about 3 houses in, JUST before we were able to snap this adorable group picture below.  Amazingly, she didn't shed a tear, just watched them disappear into the sky and moved on.  I think the candy helped!

All in all, I can't say trick or treating was a "success" this year.  I mean, it happened, which is a miracle, but it was cold, and wet and the power wheels didn't do well in the snow...the kids lasted for probably less than an hour and there were some tears...but, it is what it is.  Maybe next year will be our year?!?  Oh, and, get ready for it...Halloween 2020 is a whole group costume.  Now we just have to figure out what we can do with NINE total girls and 3 guys.  Any ideas!?!

Carving Pumpkins

The weekend before Halloween we had some of our favorite people over to carve pumpkins and start getting into the Halloween spirit.

The kids scooped their own goop (mostly) and carved their own pumpkins (mostly).

For some reason every year when we carve pumpkins its dark outside, and the lighting in the house is hard on the camera and my pictures ALWAYS come out a little fuzzy...but, they are what they are and I'm posting them, because there are memories in here that I will want to look back on someday.

BUT!  I did get smarter this year and a few days later I made the girls sit outside with their pumpkins so I could get a few good clear shots of what they carved.  I can hardly believe that Hazel isn't a tiny baby anymore and Abby is in SECOND grade.  It goes fast guys, real fast....

1 Family x 12 (October)

Last year when we all agreed to do family Halloween costumes I knew my October monthly family photo would be a hit....if only we'd have known we'd be wearing snow boots and snow pants.  I guess that's what makes the memories so great?