Halloween

Last year during Halloween we were in the process of moving, so we didn’t really get to trick or treat. This year, however, Shelli and Zoe hit our neighborhood running. They met up with all the other kids in the ‘hood while I stayed back and gave out candy. It was pretty chilly but that didn’t stop 7 kids from hitting every house they could and screaming, “TRICK - OR- TREAT!”

Zoe was a pirate by day for her school parade and by night, she was a mime. I love seeing all the kids in costumes, at home and at school!

Little Baker

Confession:

Our chickens are spoiled and we make them cornbread - Weekly!

Howl-O-Ween Camping

This weekend was the one camping trip that Zoe waits on all year. For two weekends in October our favorite campground turns into a ‘Haunted Forrest’. This year was a little different than past years since we didn’t have our camper. We sold the camper this summer in hopes to buy one a little bigger but with the new house, we just didn’t get around to it this year. Instead, we bought a huge tent. All I can say is tent camping is not my favorite way to camp; I very much missed the camper. I got so used to playing board games on the kitchen table, IN THE CAMPER, coloring with Zoe, doing crafts after the sun went down, & just having a door to close. Either way, we made the best of it by decorating our campsite and enjoyed all the festivities they had to offer.

We always have fun walking around to all the different campsites trick or treating. Everyone decorates and it’s neat to see what everyone has done. We dressed the dogs up and took them trick or treating with us, they even scored some treats too! Zoe was a “Pirate Princess” for the camping weekend but she is saving her special costume for Halloween night – It’s a surprise! 

Last year, Zoe and I signed up for the haunted trail walk and she loved it, or course screaming and laughing the entire way.  This year she asked Shelli to sigh her up again, and we were all set to go… Well, for whatever reason this year when it came time for her to go, she wanted NO part of it. She said it sounded too scary and she did not want to go. I couldn’t believe it! This is something she talked about all year and the time was finally here and she refused to go.  So we sat at our campsite around the fire and listened to screams and chainsaws and more screams, until around 10pm.

Last year wasn’t as cold as it was this year, it was around 45 degrees after the sun went down but the wind was whipping!  In the tent it was a little warmer but it was still chilly.  We had a heater but it hardly felt like it was on. The wind was blowing so hard we didn’t even sit in front of the fire pit for long. We spent the evenings in the tent staying warm reading and cuddling with the dogs.

It’s always fun to get away from everything for a weekend. Shelli was out of town last week for work and will be leaving again soon so any time we can just get away and have family time is priceless!

High School Soccer

Zoe has been playing soccer now for two years and she really seems to enjoy it.  We have found that Zoe has a passion for goal keeping.  We have taken her to clinics for goal keeping, and she’s even had a few private lessons. Zoe loves being in the goal......
Well, with that said, I happen to have the goalie of my high school girls soccer team in my 2^nd period study hall and let’s just say Zoe has been pretty smitten with her. Zoe really looks up to her and I think it’s sweet.

Last week, Grace brought me a gift to give to Zoe and told me NOT to peek in the gift bag.  Of course as soon as someone says NOT to look, you have to look! I waited until lunch and I peaked in the bag to find the sweetest note along with a (very stinky) CB West soccer jersey. I knew with every fiber in my body when Zoe saw this she was going to flip with excitement. Tonight we have a BIG soccer game at school and Zoe was able to go. The best part is that Zoe wore the jersey of the goalie that she thinks is so amazing. They were twins and Zoe thought that was extra special!!!!

I guess it’s one of the perks of working at a high school, and having an amazing kid that is oh so blessed.

Beach in the Fall

This weekend we met up with some of our closest friends in Sea Isle City, NJ. We rented a huge house and spent the weekend laughing, frolicking on the beach flying kites and picking up shells.  We enjoyed big family meals, and lots of quality time. In total there were 11 of us, 6 adults and 5 kids. We had so much fun and of course the weekend flew by. The weather wasn’t great but we made the best of it, we're hoping next year we will have better weather.  After this weekend we all agreed this will be a yearly get together.  A new tradition that we will all look forward to every year.  

Apple Picking

This afternoon we stopped at the local farm to pick a few apples.... They are $1/lbs. We must have got more than we thought because by time we took our basket to get weighed - we had 9 lbs. It was fine with us because none of them will go to waste. There is nothing better than fresh apples. They are so crispy and yummy. We even sampled a few in the field.... Shhhh!!!

                                                                    We love Fall!!!!

We got Eggs!!!

We got the chickens about 5 or 6 weeks ago and today we got our FIRST egg! It was very exciting. We cannot wait until all three of them are laying.