Art & Peg's 50th

Lynn and John threw a wonderful 50th Anniversary party for their parents over the weekend.  It was a lovely brunch with delicious food and fun with the whole family.

John and Marc- half brothers

       

The guests of honor

cousin Chris reading to the kids

Catherine and Chris

        

Hazey and Ashlynn taking a selfy

Art and Peg have always amazed me with their love for each other.  They are so devoted and tight as a couple.  In the nine years that I've known them, they've never seemed even slightly annoyed or short with the other.  I can only hope John and I will have such a strong relationship after 50 years!

Halloween Fun

Introducing Ladybug Princess and Monkey Boy.  These were the original costumes chosen for Halloween 2015.  However, there were some game day changes as the week of Halloween progressed.  

At the Jericho Elementary School Halloween dance, the kids even got faces painted:

The next day, Hazey went as an astronaut and Cal stayed with the Ladybug Princess:

Then there was the arrival of about 6 new costumes from Aunt Paula:

 Halloween wouldn't be complete without pumpkin carving.  John took it to a whole new level this year:

And we couldn't miss the pumpkin glow on Ciley Hill Road:

Halloween day was busy with a lunch party at the Feiss' house:

Followed by a UVM Soccer game:

Pre-Halloween dinner at the First's house:

And Trick-or-treating in Richmond.  This time Hazey was a monkey in an astronaut suit, but Cal kept with her original costume:

Halloween is so fun with these two in the house.  They love it and they make me like it just a little more than I usually do.  You see, I haven't sorted out how to deal with the gluttony of it all.  The excessive amounts of candy drive me crazy.  However, this year, Hazey's friend Levi introduced a new concept.  Levi gives all his candy to his parents and gets to pick out a toy instead.  When I asked if these guys wanted to do that, they jumped at the option

So the day after Halloween, we hit the Jericho Toy Store and they each picked out a $10 toy.  And I gave all the candy to my students as prizes for the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, John and I managed to get out for our own adult Halloween party.  I always sort of dread costume parties because I never seem to have a very good costume.  This year, our friends Cath and Ty gave us an old couples costume they had used-- Cop outfits.  John refused to even look at the costume until 15 minutes before we went out of the door.  He was insistent that he couldn't wear the costume because of the obscenity of the shorts (on him).  

Fall Fun

The smell of dried leaves brings me back to my own childhood.  It makes me want to bury myself in them and laugh like these little guys.

  We have had such a gorgeous fall-- gorgeous colors and even some snow on the ground!

Spending time with old friends:

Pulling on the snowpants:

We also had some late fall help/visitors while John was at a conference in Portland, OR:

and the snow didn't last.  It was bright and sunny again for Hazey's Fall Fun day at Poker Hill School:

Watching MMU Girls Soccer in the state tournament:

Time flies when you are having fun!  Cal and Hazey continue to add so much fun to our lives.  They have their moments, but mostly, I feel so lucky to see who they are becoming.

Maine!

There is nothing like getting away and going to an island.  We are fortunate to have dear friends who own a home on Chebeague Island off the coast near Portland, ME.  Three years ago we went out to celebrate Alex's 50th birthday and this year we were invited back to celebrate his 53rd birthday.

The adventure started with a boat ride out to the island..... in the rain. 

We got there late, but when we woke up in the morning, this is the view we had to enjoy for three days!

And here are amazing hosts-- Alex and MJ Johnston

For the first time in weeks, we were able to just hang out.  We played games, went for runs, explored the coast, and read.  It was exactly what we needed.

There is something about islands-- just getting to them can be a motivation, but once you are there, it's the best!