Birthdays, Injuries, Scary Times and a New Home

Last weekend we were able to get most of the family together for our annual Halloween/Birthday celebration. Caleb and Camber were not physically able to make it but joined us by Skype. Nellie moved into her new home the week before so she hosted the festivities. As always, it was a costume party and everyone dressed up. In attendance were Mom and Dad, Grandma Marcell, Grandma Georgie, Bud, Gabe, Taylor, Brody, Becky, Joe, Hannah, Connor, Zayne, Cooper, Alyssa, Rachel, Dean, Jag, Nellie and Zoey.

Saturday started with putting up decorations in the back yard. We had ghosts, skeletons, monsters, tombstones and severed body parts.

We didn't remember inviting this one and no one seemed to know who it was. They didn't speak much.

The festivities started with bobbing for apples. All of the kids participated except for Taylor as she had green makup on and was afraid to get the green in the water.

Just as we started bobbing for apples, Becky decided to try and amputate her finger. Fortunately she was not successful but did spend some time in the emergency room. Fortunately she was able to return but for some reason she thought she was number one!

Vampire Nellie was thirsty throughout the evening. For some reason she kept eyeing everyones neck, even Zoey's. Finally she just had to settle for Gob of Gum Rach.

Bud was leisurely sitting on the deck and out of no where came "The Hand"! Don't worry, he is okay. The hand didn't get him and eventually we got his heart started again.

Can you guess who these people are?

Hobo Grandma G

Carrie Underwood (aka: Hairy Underwear)

 The Original Funnyman

 Farmer Grandma M and the Dead Viking

 Who can forget Captain Underpants?

 Gypsy Judy

 Ninja Turtle Whit

 Brody the Conquerer

 Pumpkin Dog

 The Three Mousketeers, or maybe just one.

 Hmmm. Did we invite this person? Who was this. Did we do a body count afterwards? Okay, its just Serial Killer Bud.

 Cowgirl Hannah

Nerd Joe

 Farmer Grandma

 The One Legged Vampire

 Either Taylor had a bad reaction to something she ate or else this is Witch Taylor

Undercover Cop Dean. His costume was so good, we never found him.

 No party would be complete without Just Dance. Christina had brought Just Dance 3.

Nellie was sad as she left her old apartment. It was her and Zoey's first home.

 On Sunday, after everyone left, Nellie and Dad went to Watkin's Mill for a little walk with Zoey. It was a beautiful day. Zoey got a little muddy.

On Tuesday morning we were able to dedicate Nellie's new home. For some reason, we didn't do it while everyone was there.

Mom went home on Sunday morning but Dad stayed until Tuesday afternoon and went to Louisville until Saturday. Mom and Dad are now happily back together in Portland.

End of Vacation and Back Home

On our last full day in Kaua'i, we went snorkeling at a couple of different places. Both were great and we got to see lots of fish. We took several photos.

Have you ever wondered what dad looks like underwater?

The first place we went had some larger fish and they were very friendly and kept coming too close to the camera to get all of them in the photo. Here is one where he was swimming away.

 Here are some where he was closer.

We did get to see a wide variety of fish.

On Sunday, after we went to church, we went back to Pearl Harbor to see if there were any modern ships in port, like aircraft carriers. There was not so we headed to Diamond Head Crater. It is a popular tourist spot and we had some time to kill before we went to the airport. We got there too late to go up into the crater as they were closing. We drove to the beach just below Diamond Head and watched the surfers going out. We got some great photos of the sunset with sailboats in the background as well as of the lighthouse. To the right down the beach was the sunset and to the left down the beach, the moon was rising.

We are back home and missing the relaxing time. We are looking forward to being back in KC this coming weekend. This week, Patti Buhler and her friend Judy Lyons came to stay with us while they attended the Quilting Expo in Portland. We didn't have a lot of time with them because they were exhibiting at the show but we did get to spend a little time catching up and visiting.

The house is pretty much put together now. The pictures are all up and the boxes unpacked. Dad was able, with Caleb's help, to get the home theatre set up and running and we watched our first movie on it. We will need to upgrade our DVD player to Blueray in the near future but we are good for now.

It has rained since we returned from Hawaii and we hope the rainy season is not here already. Ugh! The sun came out for a while today, Sunday, hurray!