Best Friend Weekend in Columbus

Katie Gardner, RoseAnna Batty and I have been best friends since our wild and crazy dorm days as Snow College freshman way back in 2000.  We have managed to stay close despite the fact that we have never, ever lived in the same cities (and now states) since the glory days.  Needless to say, it's a rare, rare occurrence for all three of us to get to spend time together but the stars aligned and it happened for 4 glorious days the first weekend in November.  RoseAnna flew out to Columbus where Katie lives and I drove out and met them there.  We had such a blast acting like we were college freshman again, doing things like dressing up to go pick up RoseAnna from the airport, having dance parties and staying up into the weeeee hours of the morning talking.  It was perfection.  The following are a few pics from the trip.  (Sadly, I did not take nearly enough pictures.  Too busy having fun I guess!)

 Carolyn-Kate was so darling with the babies.  They loved playing with her!

 RoseAnna's baby, Sophie, is exactly 2 weeks older than Ava and they are the best of friends already

 A lovely lunch at Max and Erma's

 Ava and Sophie were holding hands in the car - for real.  We didn't pose them like this, I swear!

 Precious 

 Who are those good lookin' dudes you ask?  Oh, just Katie and me all dressed and ready to go pick up the Batty girls from the airport.  We have a tradition of going to the airport dressed up, so of course we had to do it this time too!  (It was actually quite disturbing how little time it took us to look like this.  What does that mean?)

Best Friends

What a wonderful weekend!  Too bad it can't happen more often, but we certainly live it up when we get the chance!  Here's to next time ladies!

Halloween!

Even though Ava is still too young to grasp the concept of trick-or-treating, let alone eat candy, we decided it would be fun to still take her out.  Let's be honest here, it was really for me.  I wanted another chance to dress her up in her darling costume and to celebrate Halloween the way it should be celebrated - trick-or-treating!  We went over to the Stone's neighborhood with the Reynolds and the Skousens and had a great time!

 The pre-trick-or-treating shots

 (this one taken by Dan Stone as is evident by the much higher quality!)

 Ava and Dean spent most of the night observing the fun from the stroller

 I had a great time watching the kids (Luke Reynolds the spider, Scarlett Stone the shark and Jane Skousen as Hello Kitty along with Jill Skousen) run up to each door and do their thing.  Such fun!

 Ava started getting tired but hung in there while her daddy held her and snuck her candy.

Celebrating Halloween was even more fun this year than normal since we had Ava to share in the fun!  We are already looking forward to next year!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

We have heard tell that the Great Pumpkin Patch is amazing, but we hadn't ever been there ourselves.  Our friends, the Stones, invited us to go with them the Saturday before Halloween and all I can say is, How have I lived in Illinois for 6 years and never been there before?  We have been missing out!  It was AMAZING!  I love all-things Autumn-y and Pumpkin-y so this place was pretty much heaven!

 Ava giving Drew a kiss - too cute!

 This place is seriously amazing - the decorations are incredible.  I could walk around there all day and just look around!

The following pictures were taken by our friend, Dan Stone (gotta give credit where credit is due, right?).  It sure is nice to have a photographer with you to get great shots like these!

 Little Dean-O and Ava having fun in the pumpkins!

Since we were in the pumpkin mood, we came home and carved a pumpkin and I think it turned out pretty great if I do say so myself!

 The pumpkin master, hard at work.

The finished product

What a perfect Autumn-y, pumpkin-y day!

Ward Halloween Party

Our ward has an annual trunk-or-treat/chili cook-off every year and it is probably my favorite ward activity.  I love, love LOVE Halloween anyway, and it is so fun to see everyone in their costumes and eat some great chili.  A perfect evening in my opinion.  I'm happy to report that this year did not disappoint!

 I bought myself a brain Jell-O mold this year (something I've wanted for a very long time!) so I just had to make a brain Jell-O for the party, complete with worms!

 Ava's little buddies - William Bednar and Dean Stone

 Ava had the most fun hanging out in the bed of  Drew's truck during the trunk-or-treat 

 Our friend, Anna McClure, and Drew handing out candy

 A farmer and his little watermelon (Doesn't Drew look a little too natural for this to be considered a costume?)

 I dressed up as a "Real Housewife of the Mahomet Ward" along with some other fabulous ladies.

Too much fun!  Can't wait for next year's party!

Papa and Grandma Come to Visit!

My parents came out to visit us in early October.  We love when they come because it is pretty much non-stop fun!  Of course we had to visit our favorite little town, Arthur.

 A beautiful road-side stand

 Papa and Ava

 Ava with her cute grandparents

 Oh look!  I was there too!

 Ava loves to ride on shoulders.  I love her make-shift "handles."

We took a little weekend trip to Kirtland, OH while my parents were here.  The weather was beautiful, the historic sites were fabulous, and the company was even better!  

 (again on the shoulders)

My dad and Ava on a swing at Lake of the Woods park.  

My parents are such great grandparents and truly love to spend time with their grand kids.  It means so much to me that they spend the time and money to come out here and visit.  When I asked my dad what he would like to do while he was here he answered, "Play with Ava, read to Ava, feed Ava, take Ava on walks . . . you get the idea."  I couldn't ask for more than that!  Thanks for coming out Mom and Dad!  Let's do it again . . . . SOON!