A busy...and spooky... time of year

The fun part of Halloween starts when you pick out your costume. First Riley thought about going the political route.

Hmmm. President Obama?

Or maybe Bill Clinton?

A ninja warrior, perhaps?

After lots of fun choices, Riley decided on a Haunted Scarecrow so I headed online to track down a costume. After finding a scarecrow costume from the Wizard of Oz, Riley decided that it would be okay to use as long as we made the face look like a scary pumpkin. While shopping for costume makeup for the pumpkin Riley found this fun skeleton that you can stick in your yard. It was all white but he wanted to paint the bow-tie and top hat so we headed to Momma Lynns for a little help in that department. He says Momma Lynn is a wonderful painter.

Then we played around a little with the makeup.

Does anyone else see a hobo clown wearing a top hat?

Today was Riley's school Halloween party. I had signed up to help the class with their celebration so Riley and I woke up early and got him all ready in his costume.

Of course, what would be the fun of going to school all made up if we didn't stop by Grandpa's post office first and show off a little?

Not only did he get some fantastic treats from Grandpa, but Annie showed up while we were there too!

After that, it was off to school where Miss Rowley read the kids a fun and spooky Halloween story.

Then it was time for the activities. Three other moms came and brought fun stuff for the kids to do, so the kids divided themselves into 4 groups and rotated between the stations. Here is Isaiah's mom. Her game was tossing bean bags into halloween buckets for candy prizes!

Here is Riley and his group at my table. We glued candy corn onto pumpkins to make jack o' lantern faces.

Here are some of the finished products.
After the fun class party, and the kids getting to run around outside for recess, the school had its annual Halloween parade. Here is Miss Rowley leading her class through the gym.

And here is my wonderful Riley! Doesn't he look great?

After all the fun and excitement, and maybe candy, he came home feeling sick, sick, sick, so he is upstairs on my bed with the puke bucket trying to recuperate enough to go out and do it all again in two days. Ya gotta love Halloween!

And finally...

To cap off red ribbon week we ended with crazy hair day!

Crazy Hats in abundance..

In continuing with red ribbon week it's crazy hat day!

It's crazy sock day!

It's crazy sock day at Riley's school and this is his outfit, tucked
in pants and all!

A pirate treasure...Arrr!

Rachel was able to track down a pirate on her recent trip to the Bahama's who gave her a treasure map in a bottle for Riley. Well today he was able to get out into momma Lynn's garden to dig up the buried treasure.

This is a kid who loves to dig in the dirt, if you can't tell. Once he got the treasure out, we took it inside to open it.Among his many buried treasures, he got a sticker book...Some rope, because pirates like rope...And of course....Money and Chocolate!

VACATION 2009 - FIRST STOP PENNSYLVANIA

SATURDAY

We were up at the butt crack of dawn and on our way to the airport. A quick hop down to Phoenix Arizona to change planes and then off to D.C. where Rachel was waiting to greet us. It was pouring rain so we didn't do much sight seeing but had great sea food down by the water front, drove past some of the monuments on the mall and then headed for Rachel town house for some needed shut eye.

Could that be Katrina..............no it's just our Rachel.

She's singing in the rain, just singing in the rain.......

Here we are in front of Rachels town house.

SUNDAY

We are off to Pennsylvania to visit the town that Lynn grew up in, "Somerset" and hopefully to meet up with some old friends of the family. The leaves are just starting to turn and the drive was beautiful.

Here we are in Somerset.

A Gettysburg war memorial

The Local Bank

The court house

This is the Jr. High School that Lynn attended, however it is now a rest home.

On the street where you lived.....Hmmm kinda catchy someone ought to write a song about that.

This is the house that Lynns parents lived in when Lynn was first born. Her aunt Bess lived on the other half.

Her Grandmother lived above the garage in the back.

Later they built this beautiful home and this is where Lynn grew up.

Jack and Arlene Walters lived just around the corner. These were her parents best friends and their daughter Lou Ann was Lynns best friend.

Happy Reunion

They hadn't seen each other in over 30 years and yet within minutes it was like they had never parted.

A lot of love, laughter and tears.

What a beautiful day.

We went to the cemetery to do a little genealogy

Later we drove out to the crash sight of flight 93 that went down during 911. Here is a chapel that was erected near the sight.

The National Park Service is in the process of procuring land to make a fitting memorial at the actual crash site. These are tributes left by visiting people.

This is the Hospital where Lynn's mother worked and was head nurse. All in all this Sunday was one of the best Sundays we have spent in a long time.

MONDAY

Today the adventure continues with a quick breakfast at McDonalds and then a trip out to Gettysburg.

Lynn & Fayrine are trying to domesticate Rachel. Her is proof that she can sew.

Arrival

We spent the morning going through the museum, ate lunch and then met up with our personal guide "Mike Valone". He got in and drove us around the battle ground and told us the story of the battle at Gettysburg. This monument signifies the unification of the Nation with an eternal flame on top. The monument is made out of granite from the north for the base and sandstone from the south for the top. This is where Jackie Kennedy got the idea of the eternal flame for JFK's grave.

Each State has erected a monument honoring their boys that died in this great battle. I believe this is Pennsylvania's.

This is a view of the battle ground from "little round top"

Hanging with the Unions boys.

Here we are in the National Cemetary where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address.

If you look closely you can still see the bullet holes in the side of this house.

Relaxing after our day at Gettysburg

We ran into a couple of spooks that were getting ready for the Haunted Gettysburg tours.

Last shot!

TUESDAY

Today was spent in Lancaster County Pennsylvania where the Amish live.

Hand made furniture

Quilts galore

Horse and carriage

Beautiful Farm land and really nasty Root Beer! Ned says it's not to bad once you get past the yeast and the kerosine.

We found this cute little shopping area that is like an amish version of Gardner Village. Lots of cute shops and a whole lot of character. This boy is making fudge.

A little dancing in the streets.

Quilting at the drop of a hat.

A simpler life style. Sometimes I think they have the right idea about life.

What the heck!!!!!!!!!!!! Who would name a city that.......

Mowing Hay

Wouldn't that be easier with a horse?

We found this cute little 50's diner so we had to see how many we could cram in a phone booth just to keep with the spirit of the place.

They also made good hambergers

and Malts