Weekend Athletics

(These are our men before the race started.)

We had a really fun Friday and Saturday.

Drove down south with some good friends, sans children, for Scott and Steve to compete in their first sprint triathalon.

I believe we've just started a new tradition of athletic events we'll do together (aside from running).

We went out to eat, got frozen custard, swam in the pool, stayed up talking late.

Relaxing and enjoyable.

(Before jumping in the pool to begin.)

Steve placed 2nd in his age division, and Scott placed 3rd in his.

It was a lot of fun.

We had some good laughs.

Made a good memory.

Definitely want to do it again.

And...do you want to know who won the giveaway????
Lisa Judd! 
Congrats!!

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween Party
October 31, 2011
Menu: White Chicken Chili, Beef Chili, Cornbread, Salad

After trick-or-treating: Donuts and Hot Cider

Below is a smattering of photos. We had a costume contest, and Becca graciously accepted the task of doing prizes. Every child got a balloon with a glow-stick bracelet (and the title they won written on their balloon). There were three adult winners that won, respectively, a funny glasses/nose/mustache set, a squishy, synthetic bat, and a Halloween sound stick.

Spider Woman

Award: Best Character

Our Resident Giraffe

This was a pretty hot costume. We laughed and laughed. I mean...check out those teeth.

Winner: 1st Place, Adults
(Also, see Benji up there with Papa.
His award? Most Powerful.)

Award:Fanciest

Jester Sue

Prison Mobster

Baroness, Award: 2nd Place, Adults

Check out his back and it explains it. Love the dirty gloves, etc.

Award: 3rd Place, Adults

Giddyup!

Insert: Witch's cackle

Award: Scariest

Our Resident Sherlock

Award: Most Clever

Should we send him to Hogwarts?

Award: Most Magical

Cute face

Award: Most Royal

What's up, Doc?

Award: Most Eggcellent

Trick-or-treating with cousins

Presenting Awards

I hope you had a fun Halloween too.

And don't forget to enter to win the free getaway here. Remember you have to comment on that post after referencing her site via some form of social media. (I personally want those snowflakes.)

FREE GIVEAWAY TUESDAY

This is what it looks like outside this morning.  Leaves strewn everywhere.  I love this sight.

It's wet and rainy and blustery.

But yesterday?  The weather was perfect.

The perfect night for a fun party and going door-to-door in the dark.

We had some really good laughs.

I love cousins and sisters and parents and yummy food and excited children.  I'll have to post the recap tomorrow.  I hope that you had lots of fun with your little spooks, or any little spooks who visited your door.  I hope you played a trick or ate a treat.  Or both.  Or that you made it to a really fun Halloween party, or cozied up with a good movie in comfy pajama pants.  That sounds nice.

BUT...now that it's officially November 1st, Halloween is officially behind us and I feel that we can let Christmas in the door.  In my neck of the woods, the temps are supposed to cool down this week.  We're supposed to have snow this afternoon.

So, might as well snuggle up with a cup of cocoa and discuss our free giveaway.

My friend Shelly has started her own business in time for Christmas decorating.

Want something to hang in your window?  Or a lovely gift to give away that you paid $0 for??

She's offering this set for free.

Want to be included in the drawing?

All you gotta do is share her link (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShellyBdesigns) on your blog, facebook, tweet or other form of social media.  (And you probably wanna go check her stuff out, anyway.  I particularly am a fan of her stained glass nativity, pictured below.)  

Then, leave me a comment here, on this post, so we can verify you've shared the link.

That's it.

We'll draw from your names on November 11th at noon and post the winner.

Hope this starts getting you in the spirit.

And if you need any mood music to go along with it, check out this brand new album.

Was previewing it today on iTunes and was pretty much smitten with several tracks.  I just might have to buy it.