Halloween Festivities

Our first Halloween activity turned out to be a visit to Chuck E Cheese!  We were all set to go (everyone in the car, except me), when all the kids came running back in the house shouting that they needed costumes on to get free tickets!  We scrambled around quickly and came up with this.  Worth 100 free tickets?  Maybe :-)

The day before Halloween we finally found some time to carve pumpkins.  The big kids all designed their own faces for their pumpkins and helped carve.  Gavin touched some gooey stuff, but overall wasn't impressed with the whole experience.  He did have some fun playing with his own tiny pumpkin afterwards.  He even colored on it a little bit with washable marker.

We trick-or-treated at Grandma and Papa's house with all the cousins Saturday night.  It was a beautiful night and the kids are stocked up on candy till at least  next Halloween.  Brynn was Pikachu, Jonas was Olaf, Bransen was young Anakin Skywalker, and Gavin was a tiger.  

Sunday was Trunk or Treat night at Trinity.  It was a great evening with kids, fun, and fellowship.  This time Gavin was a lion (too bad we didn't have a bear costume that fit him...)

 (It's all a blur...those kids were moving fast!)

Another great year, and the kids had lots and lots of fun.  Now on to focusing on one of my favorite holidays...Thanksgiving!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

We had a fantastic summer, filled with many adventures and memories.  Here's our summer for you in snapshots.  No big descriptions or multiple pictures, because we did too much and I didn't post enough!

My parents rented a huge house in Swain so the whole family could vacation together for a few days.  We played games, had campfires, and swam and boated in the pond that was on the property.  It was Gavin's first vacation!

We went to Disney!  We spent 4 days in Disney and 3 days at our resort.  It was awesome, and although I'm sure I had the most fun, we all enjoyed it.  

We went to the zoo a couple times and visited Larkin Square to eat lunch with Aunt Lisa.

Bison's game with the church crew!

Of course, we had a bunch of water fun.  Pool time and fun in the creek.

Chautauqua County Fair

Camping!  It was surprising how well Gavin did on this trip!

Boating with good friends!

Erie County Fair - Bransen got to be in Gary the Silent Clown's show!

Fantasy Island

 Hiking and adventuring in Zoar Valley

Our favorite campground - Stonybrook!

The kids also went on a couple vacations with their other parents.  Jonas went to New York City and Black Lake, and Brynn and Bransen went to Alexandria Bay.  What busy kids!  We sure had a great summer together as a big happy family, and we hope you did, too!

Trinity's End-of-the-Year Events

It's nearing the end of the school year already, and summer is on it's way.  The kids are excited, but Jonas is actually a little sad too.  He loves his teachers and friends at Trinity, and he is looking forward to each school day he has left to visit with them.  Thankfully, Trinity has some pretty fun stuff at the end of the year to give the students some time to have fun and socialize before they part ways for the summer.

Field Day

Jonas earned 2 third place ribbons for the relay and the dash, and a first place ribbon for the tug-of-war.  I am proud of him for how hard he worked and especially for his good attitude.

I had to include this one because my niece Bethany is so adorable.

 The whole class!

School Picnic at Pioneer

Every year Trinity has their picnic at Camp Pioneer.  It is an awesome day with games, swimming, and devotions.

Jonas and his class played some fun games that Mrs. C. organized for them.  They made marshmallow catapults and shot mini marshmallows at targets, made marshmallow and spaghetti towers, and raced to throw the most marshmallows in baskets.

After lunch we spent some time down at the beach (Gavin's first time!).  The water was freezing, but Jonas still swam a bit and played in the sand.  Gavin did not appreciate me putting his feet in the water (he screamed), but he did like feeling the sand.  It pooped him out and he decided to take a little snooze.

Before the kids went back to school, we all gathered at the Chapel in the Woods for a devotion.  How can you not end a beautiful day like that by giving thanks to God?

Sport's Banquet

Jonas participated in Trinity's "Mini-Hawks" basketball team this past winter.  He received a cool basketball pin for his efforts.

Thanks for all your hard work, coaches!