The Ward Halloween Bash

This year the young women and young men were put in charge of the ward 

Halloween activity.  We started out the night with food and games.

 

 Collin got his face painted too.

 

 

 We even had a magician.

Then they enjoyed trunk-or-treat.

  

And topped off the night with a walk through spook alley.  Some liked it so much they walked through three or four times.  I was lucky to have Misty and mom come help me with the party.  Misty passed out candy from her car and my mom participated in the spook alley.

 

 

 We borrowed Collin's costume from his cousin Ethan.  I needed something to match him and ran out of time but my super hero sister whipped me up this Betty Rubble outfit!  She did such an amazing job and really helped take a lot of stress from me.  My sister is so AWESOME!

 

Halloween night all the grankids that live close to nana and papa get together for 

pictures and a trip around the block trick-or-treating the neighbors.

  

 This is Collin's first real experience walking up to the door and putting out his 

bucket.  Nana and papa are passing out their candy when we get back.

Next stop, a quick trip over to grandma and aunt Cheryl's so they can see how cute Collin is.

Our last stop of the night is at aunt Misty's ward party so she can take Collin trunk-or-treating.

2012 Fall Vacation

  Each fall we take a trip somewhere to the east coast to enjoy the beauty of the season. This year we started out in Atlanta, GA a few days, drove to North Carolina for the weekend and then returned to Atlanta anther two days and went home.  We started out exploring Atlanta by visiting the History Museum which included a tour of this old mansion and an old farm homestead.

 

 The tour guide told us that this house wrapped up filming for the next Hunger Games movie just days before so keep an eye out for it.  I wonder if it will be the house that the government gives Katnis when she returns to District 12.

 That night we had dinner with Mark's aunt and uncle who live in Atlanta and then went back to the house to visit.  Aunt Jill was having fun putting tape all over Collin and he to this day loves to grab the tape from me and stick it on his nose or hand.  Ha ha, thanks aunt Jill!

 

  Day 2 we visited the Coca Cola headquarters downtown.  This polar bear mascot was so cute trying to make it comfortable for Collin but he would not have it.  Terrified and fascinated by him all at the same time he loved admiring him from a distance.

 

 

 Oooh, buttons to push!

 They are holding an Olympic torch.

Next stop was the wonderful Atlanta Aquarium.  The best we had ever been to.

 

 This is an albino alligator.

 For dinner we checked out the largest drive-in in the world.  Saw it featured on a TLC show.  Disappointing.

Collin getting used to hotel life.

 

The 3rd day we visited the headquarters for CNN.

Right before the election, and this place was buzzing with energy.

 

Here we visited the home of the woman who wrote 

Gone With The Wind right here in her living room.

Our last stop before heading to NC was Stone Mountain.  Uncle David met up with us.

 

We stayed with Mark's sister Julie and her family for the weekend.  Saturday morning Mark and Matt went golfing while Julie and I took all the kids to the children's museum and we had so much fun.

 

 

 

Later on we played ball.

 And walked around the neighborhood...

 ...and enjoyed the decorations.  I love the spiders taking over this house!

 

 Topped the dessert and some wrestling!

Back in Atlanta we enjoyed visiting Martin Luther King's grave site, home, church and visitor center.

 

Then we spent the rest of the day at the Atlanta Zoo.  The animals were so friendly and photogenic.

 

 Uncle David came with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Our last site before heading to the airport on the last day was the Museum of Natural History.  Jill and David met up with us there.  We really enjoyed the special exhibit on Genghis Khan and the IMAX movie on polar bears.  Collin got scared a couple of times but liked it too.