Trick or Treat!!!

The Neighborhood Crew!

We survived trick or treat night 2010! And we lucked out with perfect fall weather. I love where we live...we always get TONS of trick or treaters! I planned for 350 and this is the first year that I didn't run out of candy! We have our routine...I love handing out the candy and Tio loves taking the kids around. Some years we switch roles, but I'm a sucker for seeing all the neighborhood kids dressed up and talking with them about their costumes...they are always SO excited! Fun stuff!

This spooky witch was hanging out at our neighbors' house, complete with a bubble machine in her cauldron.

Emma really got into her roll as a hula dancer...she has the moves, she just needs the Hawaiian beach!

On to the next Halloween festivity...we're all in a parade tonight. The fun keeps on going....

Carving Away...

I LOVE this picture! I captured my kids carving away out in the yard, diligently working on their own unique pumpkin creations. This moment is too sweet...and I have this sudden urge to freeze time and keep them exactly like this forever...

Whitetail Festival

I LOVE FALL!!!! Especially when you have the perfect day to spend at the Whitetail Fall Festival...which has become a favorite annual outing for the Paci's. Each year it gets better and better!

The kids' favorite activities this year included the rock climbing wall, archery, and paintball (guess who loved the paintball?)

Claire surprised us on the rock climbing wall...she just scampered right up past the older kids that were with her...it didn't even phase her how high up she was. I think we have a dare devil on our hands!

Emma had good luck on the archery range, popping a balloon and winning a prize. Pretty cool!

Joey, of course, loved the paintball, and would have stayed there all day if it wasn't for a very tempting obstacle course nearby.

There just wasn't enough time to do all of the fun activities, but we did make time for a ride up the ski lift to take in the

view. Did I mention that I LOVE FALL!?!?

Haunted Gingerbread?

Now this is what I call fun...a Haunted Gingerbread House! Leave it to Grandma to find something so cool!

This was a total group effort. Emma rocked the icing, Joey handled the pumpkin shaped gumballs, and Claire mastered the candy corn. Not too shabby!

Of course, the best part was when I caught Emma squeezing a tube of black icing into her mouth....yum, yum!

Let the Halloween Festivities begin!

Soccer Saturday!

So, if you've wondered why it's been SOOOO long since my last blog post....see the above picture. That's right, we've been in full soccer swing, and this year we added Claire into the mix!

As I type this, we're almost to the end of the season, so I can no longer complain about the three different teams, the three different practice times, the three different game schedules...nope, I'm not complaining a bit...hallelujah I'm almost done!

I really don't mind, though. I mean, look at these pictures...you can tell they're having a blast! The teamwork, the exercise...I wouldn't trade that for anything.

But I'll admit, it will be nice to have one or two Saturdays to sleep in...wait a minute, that's WAY too much to wish for :)

If I had a hammer...

Move over Amy Matthews...there's a new carpenter in town! Look at this girl...on the filthy garage floor surrounded by power tools...and she couldn't be happier!

Claire had a BLAST watching the guys work on the door today. The word that comes to mind is obsessive. She constantly asked if she could help, so Uncle Jim put her to work hammering nails into a board. She was diligent! What you see here is only the beginning. I bet she had at least 50 nails in that board before she was through.

Of course, she wanted to display the board in her room, but I convinced her that it would be safer to keep it in the garage (I can just imagine the trail of nails through the house!)

I think we've stumbled upon raw talent here....I'm picturing her own show on the DIY network! Daddy will be so proud :)

...and now we have a door!

My husband is a wise man, he knows when he needs a little help with a DIY project. He called in the troops, meaning, Grandpap & Uncle Jim came to lend a hand!

They turned Tio's hole in the wall into a real-live-functioning door. Now we can actually walk from our kitchen into our garage. How exciting!

Of course, you need to be careful when using said door...that first step is a doozy!!!!