Fraidy Cat 5K and Meow Mile

Races are so addictive!  After watching me at the ZooRunRun, Delaney really wanted to do one.  So, I talked with our friend Linda, whose daughter, Cassie (Kate's BFF), also likes to run.  We decided to look for a 1 mile run for the girls to participate in.

It was a cold morning, but the race was awesome!  It was in a small suburban town and the race was also small (not overwhelming with lots of participants).  Delaney, Katie, and Cassie did awesome!  Cassie came in tenth for her age bracket, and first of the three girls.  Next came Katie who was leisurely jogging with a new friend, Riley.  Delaney was third, and looked like she was struggling with her breathing and coughing a bit.  I participated in the 5K and shaved 2 minutes off my Zoo race time, and averaged about 9:38 minute miles this time around!

Afterwards, we went to a local restaurant for lunch.  Thanks Mom and Dad for the meal!!!  And especially for coming out to support us!

They all loved it, and are already signed up for another race on Thanksgiving morning.

Annual Bengston's Family Photo

Here is our annual family photo...

Bengstons 2012

WOOHOO!  Our Annual Bengstons Pumpkin Farm trip.  I love going here.  We all do.  There's so much to do, and I think every year we find more fun to have!  When we left, it was cool, but nice and sunny.  Within about 30 minutes of our arrival the sun started to set and it got cold fast!  I think we would've stayed for a few more hours had we brought hats and gloves.

We still had a great time!

A very cool pumpkin totem pole

Rowena fell asleep on the way to the pumpkin farm.  She was a little cranky when we first woke her, but perked up as soon as she saw piles among piles of pumpkins!

Watching the pig races

The kids always enjoy sticking their heads in these "picture taking" paintings

Delaney and Charlie took Daddy on a train ride, while Katie, Rowena and I went on the Frog Hopper (which afterwards I felt sick).

The family really had fun on these (although Kate did complain about how "baby" the rides are...I had to remind her we weren't at Great America).

 

The girls acting silly while getting cold waiting for the Honey Pots

 Katie and Delaney really spun this fast.  Thankfully Rowe could handle it!

 I talked Kate into going onto the Frog Hopper again since Delaney missed the first time.  She pretended she was bored.  After a while, the people waiting in line were all yelling "look, she's smiling.  She's having fun." She tried even harder to hide her face.  At the end she was cracking up.

 We ended our day on one of those fun big slides (my fave of the day) and then hopped in the corn kernels!  I was cleaning these out of pockets for days!!!

Halloween Extravaganza!

I love that Halloween has become such a major holiday!  There are parties and decorations galore!

We started our Halloween celebrations (yes, we have several) tonight.  First was trick-or-treating and a party at Grammie & Poppy's complex.

Here we have:
Katniss Everdeen, Black Widow, Birdo, and Dumbo

 Trick-or-Treating

 Getting ready for the costume parade

...Dumbo was a hit!

 He even won "Funniest Costume"

 Face painting

 Decorating cookies

 Pin the Wart on the Witch

 

Bobbing for apples

 After watching the first two, Delaney got a smart idea, and went for the stem!

 Katie dove right in and got it on her third try (my very slow camera didn't get a good shot of her coming out of the water, but after she put it in her hand--boo!)

Then, we left that party early to head to the school's Monster Bash

Here we did a cake walk (via musical chairs) and we also participated in Trunk-or-Treat (but we went through that quick and I didn't take pics)

 The last hour or two was spent dancing in the gym.  Rowena met a new friend, Evelyn, who also happens to be in her preschool (just a different class).  This little girl is also the little sister of Delaney's good friend in the next picture.

 Carter (brother of E), was being shy with the picture taking.  His parents tried to encourage him, but he wasn't having it.  His face turned brighter red than his costume, when Delaney kissed him goodbye on the cheek.  His dad was pretty proud!

 Delaney with her Bestie, Kyla and Jennifer

 Kate with her friend Nate