Halloween

Halloween started with a quick trip to Violet's school to watch her and her classmates parade around the gym in their Halloween costumes.

How the teacher can get all these kids together for a group photo is beyond me.

While Melissa stayed to help with the Halloween party, I took Lincoln home. I thought I might have trouble keeping him entertained for a few hours but he was the best little boy. I've found that if you let the kids push the button, you can get a somewhat memorable selfie.

By the time Melissa got home, I felt more like Lola and Khloe - ready to take a nap.

The fun continued after I left with the kids making ghosts with their foot prints...

And other Halloween crafts while waiting to go trick or treating.

Violet even made Mummy dogs for dinner although she kept calling them "Mommy" dogs!

Pumpkin Carving

Jamie is so creative when it comes to carving pumpkins for Halloween.

Can you guess what Violet and Lincoln were for Halloween? (Tinkerbell and Peter Pan!) But let's not forget the forever lovable Mickey Mouse!

A Bass Pro Halloween

So many businesses are having activities for kids during the holidays. Melissa and I took Violet and Lincoln to Bass Pro for their Halloween fun.

The store was decorated in a Halloween theme and had a few stations where they passed out candy. I stood in line to at the fudge counter hoping they were passing out pieces of fudge - but no luck.

There were also crafts for the kids and a bean bag toss.

Jenn and Randy were in town for a wedding so they stopped by to get in on the festivities.

We expected a large crowd but the event lasted several days and not many people showed up for a Saturday afternoon.

They also had a Halloween parade. The kids marched around the store while I kept browsing the Columbia jackets. What a fun, safe and warm activity for a cold pre-Halloween treat.

Worlds of Fun

With Melissa in Vegas, I tagged along with Jamie and took Violet and Lincoln to Worlds of Fun. It's been maybe 15 years since I've been there. I remember when Worlds of Fun opened. We all stood in line to put in applications for the coveted jobs to be given out for Kansas City's newest attraction. I didn't get a job but remember spending many summers standing in line for hours to ride the jaw dropping attractions.

Now they have an area specifically designed for children called Camp Snoopy. Violet has been to Worlds of Fun many times so she's a pro at picking out the best rides.

Even Snoopy was dressed for Halloween and kids were swarming all over him to get their picture taken.

Snoopy,Woodstock, Linus and all the Charles Schultz characters have always been a favorite with our family.

Going as soon as the park opened meant there weren't lines to stand in waiting to ride. Violet wanted me to take her picture while we were waiting for this ride to start. We were the only ones on the ride and I think the ride operator was waiting for other people to get on. She's pretending to fall asleep waiting for the ride to start.

Jamie and Lincoln were in the boat in front of us.

The park right now is decorated in a Halloween theme. We were told this monster was talking but when we got closer, he never said a word.

Violet wanted to ride this ride by herself. Fine by me. I was still trying to recover from the spin of the tea cup ride.

Michele and I have always joked about Lucy and the psychiatrist visit for five cents. I couldn't pass up taking this picture.

This is another shot of the elaborate decorating for Halloween that we passed on our way to find the Finish Fling which supposedly is being torn down this year.

Lincoln is still a little small to ride most of the rides and Jamie is too tall to fold his legs up in order to get into the ride to ride with him. But Lincoln enjoyed going to the small houses set up to hand out Halloween candy. That is if you got it for him.

Although Worlds of Fun is an exhausting day of adventure, I love seeing Violet and Lincoln have so much fun. Maybe that's why they call it "Worlds of Fun"!

Owl Hollow Fall Farm Fest

For the first time since Violet was born, Melissa jetted off to Vegas to meet up with Jenn to attend the Britney Spears concert.

She was excited to go but a little apprehensive about leavin Violet and Lincoln behind.

After Jamie dropped her off at the airport, we took the kids to the Owl Hollow Fall Farm Fest in Lone Jack. Owl Hollow Farm is an equine assisted intervention program for children. Their Fall Farm Fest is a charity event to raise funds to continue their program.

Not quite the upscale Fall festivals found around Kansas City but perfect for entertaining small children. This was a photo booth so kids could have their picture taken with this small pony.

Violet had fun winning prizes by tossing balls into cups, pinning the tail on a donkey and knocking cans off a table.

And no farm fest is complete without a petting zoo.

This burro was so friendly. After I gave him a few pets, he kept following me around for more.

Michele & The Pumpkin Patch

A visit from Michele is almost like a holiday. I rush around trying to get everyone to attend a dinner and plan exciting activities.

Old Chicago was my pick for dinner. Their menu ranged from old style pizza, to hamburgers, to chicken wings.

I had the opportunity to get a rare picture of just me, Michael and Melissa.

And being the good uncle that he is, Michael entertained Violet and Lincoln while the rest of us finished dinner.

The next day we went to Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch in Liberty.

The farm has been opened to the public for over 25 years and offers a variety of entertainment for kids. Violet is a pro at feeding the animals but Lincoln just throws the food when the animal gets too close.

There's even entertainment for adults or possibly adults finding their own entertainment.

Lincoln was in an unusually social mood and played rodeo rider with Michele. Neither Lincoln or Michele could rope the iron cow horns.

It's always a wonder to me how easy it is to entertain kids. Put out a few animals to pet, set up some carnival like rides and fill a pit with corn and you've got yourself hours of fun for kids and adults.

Lunch with Aunt Pam and the Firemen

Melissa called this morning and said she was meeting Jamie's Aunt Pam for lunch and asked if I wanted to join them. After being in the house for the entire week, I thought this was a good opportunity to get out.

Melissa then let me know that Jamie was working at the fire station in Blue Springs and was going to join us. We were surprised when we saw the ambulance and fire truck pull into the parking lot.

While on vacation earlier this year, my friend and I stopped for lunch and she offered to pay for lunch for a young man in the military as a way to honor those in the service. I remember thinking what a nice gesture. So I decided to buy lunch for the entire Station 2 crew. It's ironic that we had lunch at Firehouse Sub. I'm also pretty lucky the subs are rather cheap. Cheap but good.

Luckily we made it through lunch without the guys being called out on an emergency.

Golf Tournament

Golf is a sport best played on a regular basis. Not as a once a year event.

So my body is telling me this evening after playing for 6 hours in an annual golf tournament. I don't think there's a muscle in my body that isn't aching. I like playing golf but it's a very frustrating sport. No matter how hard I try, I'm never consistent in getting the ball from point A to point B.

It isn't surprising to know we didn't win the tournament but we didn't lose. Yes we had the highest score (which in golf is not a good thing) but we actually tied with 2 other teams for last place.

Fall Yard Work

Almost done with the Fall yard work. Bushes trimmed, magnolia planted.

Just needed a little muscle to finish up. Now those nasty thorn bushes are gone. Thanks, Michael!