Halloween visitors (and not just trick-or-treaters)

Finally carving pumpkins before trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating with our neighbor friends that were visiting their Dad for the weekend. We miss them. We didn't have as many trick-or-treaters as we usually do. Tina and Merlin (Kevin's brother) came for a weekend visit. We enjoyed sitting around the fire pit after trick-or-treating.

Everyone (but me, I was working) visited the Serpent Mounds. The Serpent Mounds are earthworks shaped like a snake. They were built by the Fort Ancient culture in 1000 A.D.

Aren't the trees beautiful?

Halloween party

Wonderful friends and family+cute costumes+yummy food+kid activities+trick-or-treating through out the house = fun party

Chester and Pat practicing for their up-coming trip to Hawaii.

Jim, Lori, Jana, Junie and Leah as the Three Blind Mice

Us - a few sweet ones and one . . . not so sweet one!

Raelynn the aircraft carrier with her zookeeper, pirate and butterfly.

Mary Jo with her gorgeous date! (Hannah, her daughter)

The other kids in the picture are Connor the Ninja, Kylie the wizard and Lindsey the puppy (Brian and Mindy's kids)

Alayna lost her first tooth

Don't be feeling sorry for the guys

While the girls where at the doll store, the guys (Kevin, Troy and Nolan) went to the Purdue vs Northwestern football game. I think they enjoyed that activity a whole lot more than standing around holding bags at the doll store.

The next day, we visited the planetarium before heading home. WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Alayna's American Girl birthday party

THE BIG DAY!!! We have been planning to visit the American Girl doll store for many months. Amanda and Alayna (and their cousins) were so excited!! They had saved their money and they were ready to spend it. The first order of business was to have Alayna pick out her birthday present - her 1st AG doll. She had looked over the magazines many times and looked at the store online, but she hadn't decided. I thought it would take hours for her to decide, but I was pleasantly surprised. We walked around the store once and looked at every doll. She decided she wanted a character doll and then she decided on SAMANTHA. I asked her why she picked Samantha and she told me it was because she looks the most like me and that she was going to be retired. Samantha and AlaynaAmanda and her dolls - Kirsten and Jess

The other girls (Kerry, Raelynn, Brya and Thea) joined us later in the morning. Thea knew which Bitty Babies she was going to get. Brya decided to get Samantha also. Then the kids had fun shopping for all the other things they wanted. We enjoyed our lunch in the pink, black and white restaurant. The American Girl store has thought of everything - little booster seats for the dolls at the table, little plate and cup, and the restrooms have a place to "hang" your doll.

Brya and Samantha

Thea and her twins A girly-girl lunch - 7 people and 6 dolls : ) Shopping and shopping and so many decisions to make.

Other activities included professional pictures, viewing picture on the big screen, paperdoll craft, hair styling class and carrying big bags back to the hotel room.

What a day! By the time we left, Amanda and I had been in the store for over 7 hours. Everyone was a little tired, but happy. HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY ALAYNA!

Good night girls!

For more pictures - see Raelynn's blog at http://www.projectwait.blogspot.com/