Happy Halloween!

Fall in Nebraska can be fantastic or ridiculously cold. Handing out candy to cute little kids coming to my door bundled up battling the snow on halloween just doesn't seem right. My little kiddos had their own Halloween fun. Olivia trick or treated with her BFF Makayla. Reagan had her squad over for dinner, pictures and laughs. While Emma hung out in her dorm room watching Netflix.

Reagan's Squad

Stephen Curry . The Purge Scary girl . Lifeguard . Pig in A Blanket

The Purge Scary guy . Sister Grace . Chill Dude (whatever that is)

Olivia

A Box of Nerds

This & That in October

Olivia is part of a city wide singing group called Sing Omaha. This is not an audition group however there is tuition and weekly rehearsals. Olivia says it's pretty "hard core" but she loves it.

Here is a small group of musicians singing the Star Spangled Banner at Werner Park. 

Emma's final fall choir concert. Here she is with the varsity choir. 

New director...New guidelines...New sound

She's loving choir her senior year!

I wish I could get more pictures but they exit the stage in their robes, hang them up and come out in their dress clothes. Watching Emma perform on stage nearly brings tears to my eyes.

State cup is an exciting time when Reagan gets to play against local teams and sometimes even good friends. Here she is with Alexa and Ashley right after a hard fought battle on the field. EGA played 5 games over 3 weekends and had only one goal scored against them. Reagan scored in 4 of 5 games and our team won the state title for the 3rd year in a row. #ThreePeat #Champions #NebraskasBest

Reagan with her best friend Emma. What kind of dorks request a picture of themselves holding hands on the field during the game? Oh my! Actually, these silly girls make me smile.

Chris and I participated in a pumpkin carving contest. We did not come in first or second place which only awarded bragging rights among friends but we were still very proud of our creation.

We utilized 2 pumpkins, toothpicks for the scary teeth and a bottle for the nose.

Pumpkin carving at home.

The only Halloween picture I took. What's wrong with me?

Reagan and friends were fruit. Olivia trick or treated with big sis Em and then joined a friend from another neighborhood. In her words, she was a masquerade. 

A Spooky Orchestral Outing

Vala's Pumpkin Patch is a big deal in Omaha. Back in 1988 the Vala family opened a little pumpkin patch (I am assuming) to off set their income as farmers. Fast forward almost 30 years, that little patch of land with a few fall activities has turned into an amusement park of sorts. I love fall and pumpkin patches but this place is way too commercialized for my liking, not to mention the $18 entry fee is ridiculous! None the less, if we can find discount or free tickets, we partake. 

Last night the Millard elementary orchestra students performed a couple scary pieces. Liv and I enjoyed a little extra time at the patch, sharing stories, hot cider and a popcorn ball. One on one time with any of my girls is always very special.

Halloween

N E R D

C A P T A I N

A M E R I C A

SUPER HERO

TEAMMATES

Even Bella got dressed up

Halloween Havoc

As much as I really, really, really love fall, I don't love Halloween. There would be no tears shed from me if we skipped Halloween altogether. However, I have children and they love dressing up so I do my best to not be the Scrooge of Halloween. It's not that I think we are all going to eternally perish if we participate, it's not the candy, I'm not sure what it is. As much as I enjoy shopping and being creative I do not like buying or creating costumes. It is so much pressure. Maybe if my kids would just be what I want them to be...you know the super cute costumes on Pinterest like a bag of jelly beans or walking waffles maybe even a jellyfish. No, that's never what they want to be. (really I'm ok with that) This year the girls were Luigi, an Evil Minion and Michelangelo. Not very creative but at least I don't have a zombie bride, witch or some other representative of evil.

Kind of a family picture

By the time we took a family picture Reagan was already gone for the night, we filled her spot with Em's friend Alaina. No, the evil minion does not have a cigarette in her mouth...early candy eating.

A Hunter and his Deer

My Ninja Turtle is the Orange One: Michelangelo

The clock is ticking way too fast today. I have one hour until I need to be in the school parking lot but I have several hours of stuff to do. Maybe I shouldn't have had lunch with my mother-in-law today...nah it was worth it. Blessings to each one of you reading my post. May you feel God's grace pour out on you whether you accomplish your daily tasks or not. After all, He is more interested in your heart than your to-do list.

Halloween with the Raabes

 Ewww!  The Pumpkin Goo!

 

 Every year since my oldest was around 4 we have been getting together with our bible study friends for dinner and then trick or treating. It's fun for the kids and for the parents. This picture represents 8 families.

 My girls.

Emma and her friend Kaylee didn't get to "trick or treat" but they did get to walk around with all the little kids and their payment was in the the form of chocolate. What great kids we have!

 Great job girls coming up with a cute, easy and cheap costume.

I like the homemade costumes so much better anyway!

Reagan and her good buddy Gabby

 Second year in a row that Olivia wanted to be a jaguar. 

post trick or treat veg-out