Halloween Party

This evening we hosted our very first Halloween Party for many of our friends. I cannot even explain how much fun we had! And I cannot even explain how much fun I had prepping all the little games, decorations, food, treats and more! Cary and McKinley definitely got in on the act too, McKinley was a big helper with the treat bags, he absolutely loved stuffing them! McKinley also enjoyed helping me make cute little bean bags for one of the party games. Cary helped with decor - he's so handy! And he definitely saved the day in mounting the GIANT cat face for the games - whew!

We were lucky to entertain such guests as D.J. Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba, Indiana Jones, Dorothy & the Lion, Spider Girl, Curious George, a ladybug, Dracula and lovely witch, two 50's era sock hop dancers and many more! It looked pretty cool to see all those kiddos dressed up in our backyard, so much fun!

When it was time for the games to begin we started with the pumpkin ring toss, then the can toss game, and finally the huge black cat face was attacked by bean bags! It looked like everyone, young and not as young, enjoyed themselves with the games.

We had lots of food too, my favorite were the spooky cupcakes! Yay for Baesler's! The cupcakes were delish and looked awesome once we placed the wraps and picks in them. LOVE it!

The night came to an end just after I read a funny ghost story, "Big Hairy Toe". Let's just say that was the show stopper for the little kids. We rounded them up for 'circle time' and I told the story, and every.single.time. I said "Big Hairy Toe" the kids erupted into hysterics. And there were a LOT of "Big Hairy Toes" in the story. I almost couldn't finish for laughing so hard! While people were leaving we threw on "The Great Pumpkin" for posterity...it's a classic. The kiddos were curled up together with popcorn cones in hand...it was precious.

We are blessed with such wonderful children in our lives - and their parents too! We loved having everyone over and hope to do it again next year.

Happy Halloween!

Lynn

P.S. For the record, I do NOT wear THAT much make up all the time - lol. Cary and I dressed as Rock Stars! By the time we photographed ourselves Cary had peeled his full-sleeve tattoos, gloves and chains off...no fair!

FIELD TRIP!!!!!!!!

First of all, I cannot even believe I am writing about a school field trip. Can McKinley REALLY be old enough to do all of this? Can I be old enough to be a field trip mom? Yep, sure can!

I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that the 3 year olds were being invited to the fire station, field trips are usually reserved for the 4 year olds only. I was truly thrilled for McKinley, who I knew would be pleased as punch when he found out where we were going. I was right...and this morning when he requested to wear his fire fighter helmet and boots I knew it was on! And can I just say how thrilled I was to have the opportunity to BE a field trip mom? OMG, so awesome. When McKinley asked last night if I would be staying with him on his special school day I could have cried when his face lit up after he learned I would be coming with him ALL DAY. That is something I will always treasure.

The other really cool part of the day was that we got to ride the city bus to and from the station - another favorite of McKinley's. So we arrived on our big red bus and were immediately met by a bunch of fire fighters peeking outside the garage doors at ALL THESE CHILDREN headed their way. And they thought the kids would be intimidated by THEM...other way around! The kids talked to some paramedics, and some fire fighters and as we were learning about all the cool things on the fire truck both the ambulance and a fire truck were called out on a run. It was pretty cool to watch them run (really, really fast!), turn on the lights and sirens and GO! Thankfully, it was not a fire and the fire truck was back very soon.

We toured much of the fire station and watched a fire safety movie. The trip ended with each child receiving a badge, a fire helmet and lots of other goodies from their new friends. Everyone was so well behaved and had a great time! I am so thankful to have had this chance to be a part of McKinley's first big trip.

Lynn

Zoo Boo #2!

It's time again for the annual Zoo Boo! We were so excited to have the opportunity to go again, but before we hit the zoo we had two lovely family gatherings to attend. This week my Aunt Gayle & Uncle Bob were in the Indy area for a wedding, up from Tennessee. We planned an early breakfast, but were forced to meet a little later than we planned due to heavy rainstorms on our way. I think everyone had such a great time, and I know McKinley got a real kick out of playing checkers with Aunt Gayle and opening his brand new 'smart' golf balls from his Great Aunt & Great Uncle.

After breakfast we began our trek to Carmel for my Godfather's 70th Birthday Open House. There were so many people and it was really great to see everyone! I think my Godfather had a really special time...my favorite part was when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him as he stood in front of the cake with his two granddaughters under his arms. What a special moment!

Next, it was on to Zoo Boo where we met the Semmler family. Due to the craziness of the day and again some weather delays we were a little late meeting everyone, but when we arrived McKinley and Savannah were so thrilled to see one another all dressed in their Halloween costumes. Those two are just precious...

We had a lot of fun with pumpkin bowling, trick-or-treating, riding the train and the spooky backward carousel. As always the Zoo festivities are so wonderful, and the company is the best!

I admit, after three really big events we were all really, really exhausted (and I think you can totally tell in our family photo from zoo boo) but it was so worth it. McKinley fell fast asleep on the way home and when we finally arrived I simply put him in his pj's and let him sleep all night through.

We love October, no matter how packed our schedules!

Lynn

Flying Bats, Race Cars and parties, OH MY!

Yeah, so this is the busiest weekend EVER for us...LITERALLY.

This morning was yet another awesome build & grow clinic where McKinley and I made an adorable flying bat! SO CUTE! This one was a little harder than I expected, but we still did it! And it's really cute...

After Lowe's, I stopped by for a special treat for McKinley - a Starbucks Hot Chocolate! Yum! They have a kids size, which I discovered a few weeks ago, and it's the perfect size for McKinley. Though...confession...I ordered a tall this time so we could share. hahaha We met up with my Mom and stopped off at Toys R Us for their Lego Party where McKinley made a cool lego car that he could race with the other children's cars. We stayed until the party was over, many of the other children had already left. I'm so glad we stuck around playing with the legos because the TRU staff gathered bags and loaded them up from the HUGE box of legos from the party. Each child who was still there when the party was over got a massive bag of legos! I couldn't believe it! The bag must weigh 3 pounds! McKinley was really excited and I know he'll put good use to the legos. And as my Mom pointed out, I will have hours of fun plucking them out of the container on the vacuum...hahahaha. Seriously though, I'm sure we will all have fun with them!

After lunch at Panera we headed home for a brief rest before Karen & Dennis' annual fall gathering. The Semmler Family came again this year and we had a great time. All of the parents stood outside the playhouse watching and listening to our children play various pretend things together. McKinley was our server and came to take our order and continued to check on us throughout our 'meals'. The funniest part was when Marianne, Karen's daughter was giving McKinley her 'order', first asking for a cheeseburger...McKinley exclaimed, "We don't have any cheeseburgers!" So, Marianne went for a grilled cheese - which is what I ordered. "We don't have any grilled cheese!" Okay, so Marianne asked what they had and McKinley replied, "Ohhhhh, pancakes." So, pancakes it was! Funny kids...

We had a really busy but wonderful day and I'd say McKinley definitely made out like a bandit. I love the fall and all the awesome activities on the agenda!

Lynn

P.S. LOVE the photo above! McKinley requested I take a pic of him with his hands in his apron pockets with all the patches on his apron. One year ago this week we began attending the Build & Grow Clinics! I'm amazed at that little apron and it's proud owner! And that Mr. Serious face? LOVE! Looks just like his Daddy!

Love me some Project Runway...

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LUUUUUUUUUUUUVVVV Project Runway. I've watched every.single.episode from the premier. I've adored Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, Heidi & Nina forEVER....and have definitely had my favorite designers (and some I felt need not be on the show at all) through the years. So, one can only imagine the sheer joy I felt when my Mom called me and explained that 'some designer named Anthony from some show about fashion' was coming to Terre Haute for the annual Style Show put on by my sorority.

Seriously, honest to crap...nearly peed my pants.

No way.

ANTHONY WILLIAMS??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LUUUUUUUUVVVVV HIM!

I think my voice reached that high octave that is specifically reserved for either utter panic or disbelief. Maybe both!

Well, that was July.

This is now...

I met him.

I talked to him. A lot.

I even jumped up and asked him a question during intermission in front of the entire audience...and he called me 'GO GEOUS'. OH yes. In that wonderful Alabama meets Atlanta accent he is so well known for. I think he even had a pretend hair toss in there too...ahhh, I love him. He's awesome.

I would say he is one of my top 5 designers - if not #1 - of all 8 seasons so far.

It was fabulous to have him there.

All he talked about was "Reeeed Lobsta" and the sisters from the hosting chapter took him to Red Lobster afterward. They were there for four hours.

I won't lie.

I totally stalked him.

I made Cary drive there...I wanted to go in so badly, but I wondered what kind of line I would be crossing.

Freaky celebrity stalker?

Ehhh, whatev!

Awesome day, awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynn

Anniversary #6 and a Build & Grow Clinic!

Happy Anniversary to US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This evening we had a lovely date night at my favorite local restaurant, Louise's. Delish! Afterward we shared some coffee at Starbucks. We had a great evening just being together!

It has been 6 awesome years and I am so happy to be Mrs. V. I love being married - especially to Cary, not that I have anyone to compare the whole experience to - hahahahaha! I am so thankful and grateful every second of every day to have Cary in my life. He is an amazing husband, an unbelievable father and just a good man...period. So, cheers to us for 6 years! Time sure is flying by, so you KNOW we're havin' fun!

Back track to this morning! McKinley and I hit Lowe's for another fun Build & Grow Clinic, how fun was this? McKinley really enjoyed creating this piece because he did a lot of it on his own. I still guided him with the instructions, but he is able to hammer the nails into place and is even anticipating the next step. He loves this - I mean, look at that smile - and I feel very lucky that we have found such a cool thing to do - and free! Heck yeah!

Happy, Happy day!

Lynn

A Grand Day!

Today was just plain awesome.

Cary was off all weekend and T.H. had some big things in store for the Vernon fam! Friday we had a little road trip planned, just some nice quiet time in a favorite little city...but Saturday was BIG!

Today was the GRAND OPENING of the T.H. Children's Museum, the T.H. Street Fair AND the farmer's market! We hit all three! Early in the morning we began at the outdoor festivities around the Children's Museum - because the line was so stinking long! Soon, we were pretty hungry for lunch, so we walked to George's Cafe for my new favorite veggie sandwich - a Lebanese grilled cheese - falafel, hummus & gyro! OH YEAH! That was insanely delicious and I cannot wait to go back!

After lunch we headed back and hit the street fair and the kiddie games, McKinley had so much fun. We walked around the farmer's market, inside clabber girl, and took a horse & wagon ride with our favorite guy...and Bud, the horse. SO FUN!

Finally, we were brave enough to go for the still-way-too-long line at the Children's Museum. This line literally wrapped around the block. Cary and McKinley entertained themselves with ice cream, a hay maze, a bio-fuels truck and face painting while I stood in line...hmmm...what's wrong with this picture? Just kidding! I didn't mind a bit because I get McKinley and all the fun to myself EVERY Saturday, it's the best thing EVER for me (and McKinley!) when Cary gets a chance to do it. They had a great time...and I'll admit that I had a little tear in my eye when I looked at my boys, both smiling ear-to-ear and laughing together and making amazing memories.

At last we were inside the museum and off we went! Three hours later we were exhausted, hot and our ears were ringing from the ridiculous amount of people! It was great! McKinley loved everything. I loved it when McKinley and Cary made it count when they took a silly photograph to commemorate the day. There was a tree house, a race ramp, a giant dinosaur, digging, ball launching, mechanical pony rides...and the most awesome WATER TABLE!!!!!!

After all that fun we were starving again! So, we again walked to more of downtown's yummy offerings. Pizza at Wise Pies! It was the perfect way to wrap up our tour of downtown. We dined al fresco and even got to see one of McKinley's classmates and her family!

We will all sleep well tonight. What a fantastic weekend and a wonderful thing to see come to fruition for T.H. Awesome!

Lynn