A Frankenstein, a Dementor, Cleopatra and a skeleton.  The kids worked really hard on their costumes, if they weren't sewing, they were collecting pieces to get a costume just they way they imagined.  There were four Halloween parties between friends, cubs and brownies, which meant costumes needed to be done way before Halloween night. This eliminated the all night the night before- can't say I wasn't disappointed.  Trick or treating with friends was lots of fun- cold but fun.

Carving1

Pumpkins and Ghosts

pumpkin toss, pin the wart on the witch, yummy food, good friends!
Happy Halloween!

Never Enough

We love having them over.  Even though there was lots of chatting, fire time, playing, staying up late, wrestling, tire chasing.  It doesn't see to matter how long the visit is....it's not enough.  There are always plans for next time.  

Celebrating

The makings of a tradition.  Soup, cider and potluck treats around the fire (a really big fire).  Lots of friends.  A climbing tree to share.  Dusk to dark. A beautiful fall night. Easy and thoroughly enjoyed.

The Path Less Travelled

The fall colours draw in a lot of tourists, bus loads.  There is no doubt that its an attraction worth seeing, the colours are truly amazing.   Sometimes though, I wish we had it all to ourselves.  Without giving it much thought we headed off to walk a few trails in Algonquin park which is noted for it's view.  Busy would be an incredible understatement.  As we walked along the trail there were times we were single file like school kids amongst lots of other people.  One the kids commented that we were like ants taking food back to our hole lol!

With a little more thought put into our second trail we headed to a mostly coniferous one.  While we weren't in the thick of colour we were still surrounded with fall beauty and enjoyed a much less travelled trail.  

Happy Birthday!

 

Happy Tenth Birthday Ben! 

Such a sweet, gentle soul! 

We love you!

It was a joy to spend a day hiking, surprise gifts through out the day, cooking together. 

Thankful

Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. Really. Our expectations for the day revolve around little else other than getting together.  Again this year we had my extended family join us for a wonderful day.  Most of the thirty people drove a few hours to be here, which was a great gift in its self. We were all thrilled to meet the newest addition to our clan who happened to be in town visiting from B.C.  Many of us get together for Christmas and the occasional big birthday bash, so it was nice to spend the day together.

The weather was warm and sunny, perfect for a scavenger hunt played by all ages.  There was lots of tree climbing, soccer games, chatting, making ice cream in the ball, and lots of yummy potluck goodness, dessert outside.  I was floored to be able to fit all thirty of us around three tables in the kitchen/living room!!  We had time around the fire as the night approached and people headed home.  It was a day with wonderful reminders of how much we have to be thankful for. 

A Few of My Favorite Things

What could be better then a yard full of big trucks, heavy equipment and machinery? How about being able to get into and explore all of them, including the horns?  How about going with just Dadda? and then going out for lunch and to a big oldies car show!  It doesn't get better then that I am told!  I don't know who had more fun, Dadda or Shai!

A Great Day

This was a great day.  No trip to somewhere special, no meeting up with friends, no fabulous activity planned by me, or any other extraordinary factor that usually equates a great day.  This day the sun was beautiful, the leaves glowed with colour, the leaves were piled high and we were wise enough to enjoy it.