Octoberfest

We have THE best neighbors ever.  My girls think they should love there.  They call them Aunt Mel and Uncle Tom and until about two weeks ago they had "grandma" next door as well.  Because I don't have any family in town it is so nice to have people next door who think my children are special.  Aunt Mel spoils my girls.  She has two boys who are Cameron's age and a nephew that she raised who is now in the military but no girls so she gets her girl fix with Lauryn and Clara.  Grandma died about two weeks ago.  She was 87.  We miss her.  Grandma loved to get hugs from her girls and the girls loved grandma.  They are special people and we feel very blessed to have them as neighbors.  "Uncle" Tom is a Civil War actor.  He travels a few times a year and does Civil War reenactments.  I have always thought it would be fun to watch one.  Last weekend they did one out at Spring Mountain Park so we decided to go.  We couldn't go the day of the actual battle so we went on the day they did all the demonstrations.  It was a beautiful day and Cameron didn't have school so it was nice to get out.

 Of course the girls loved these pretty dresses.

 Uncle Tom is the second guy from the left.  This is  big hobby for him.  He has been doing it for years.

 This is Lauryn in the camp.  These men and women come out here and camp in these tents for three or four days.  They love it.  I still hope to see one of the battles someday.

on to Halloween...I had NO time for costumes this year.  I swore I would always make my kids their costumes but I couldn't get it done this year so I took the girls to Walmart and let them pick whatever they wanted. I tried to talk them into being Glenda and the wicked witch but they both wanted to be the wicked witch.  I even told them I would dress up as Dorothy.

 They opted for bat girl and a kitty instead.

 Cameron is the most clever costume guy.  This year he wanted to be an eagle.  So...an eagle he was.  He carried a sign from door to door that said "trick or treat" on it because you know eagles can't talk.  People at the door would look at him with a little sadness in their eyes until he said "thank you".  Then they just looked confused.  It is never a dull moment with him.

 Bat girl at the preschool parade. I am so grateful they are in preschool and not kindergarten.

 A cute little kitty at the preschool parade.  Have I mentioned that I am so glad we didn't put them in Kindergarten.  (:

An Eagle at the Elementary school parade.Apparently the beak was bothering his nose.  

 This year marked ten years of trick or treating with these amazing friends.  Some have come and gone but for the most part this has been our group.  I know I have already said it in this post but I love my neighbors.  I feel safe with them around me. Look at this play group for my kids right out my front door.

 The three cutest little kids on the block.
And lastly...I have a dear friend from my mission who lives in Maine.  I have kept in touch with him for the 20+ years that I have been home.  I have gone to visit him several times and he has come out to visit my family.  My siblings all know him and we all love him.  He is a special guy who I love dearly.  He recently had a violin made from a birch tree on his property for Cameron.

Who does stuff like that?  What a treasure.  I don't know if Cameron will actually ever play it because I ordered a hanger so I can display it on my wall.  I love it.  It is one of the most sentimental gifts I have ever seen.