MARSHALL NOOSE
by Suzanne
We have had an eventful October. I went out of town with friends to cabin in Sonora for a weekend Girl's Getaway, then barely escaped having jury duty the next week. We hosted a "Newcomer's Potluck" for all the new people in our ward and also threw a big Halloween Party for 300 in our church parking lot. We had a dunk tank, carnival games, and all the chili and hotdogs you could down. Our little local family got together for a pumpkin carving bash. Mini McKay's pumpkin took 2nd place at their ward party, as did his costume. The Ryan Marshall costumes were wonderful! Garrett was Peter Pan, Kelli was Wendy, Brooklynn was Tiger Lily, Maddy was Tinker Bell, McKay was Captain Hook, and Ryan was the funniest. He was John. Looked real cute in his night shirt, black hat and big round glasses. John wore his wet suit and scuba gear (in anticipation of being in the dunk tank), I was the Cat in the Hat, Allyson was dressed in 80's fashion, and Ken came as himself. He was the scariest!
In the midst of our Halloween festivities we celebrated Ken's Birthday with a delicious birthday dinner at Ken and Allyson's house.
We are gearing up for the holidays! Planning on a trip to Oregon for Thanksgiving, so there will be no Turkey Bowl this year for the first time in about 30 years! I'm just about finished with my Christmas shopping. Are you?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Motschiedler Madness
October was Ken's birthday (the big 4-0!!!) so I surprised him with a long weekend in Yosemite. We had a romantic dinner and then spent the next day hiking. It was a beautiful, sunny day andthe falls were flowing from the recent rainfall. We ended the day with massages back at the spa and drove home to have pizza and a movie. It was perfect.
Allyson had a lot of fun dressing up for halloween on two days at the school. (Check us out onFacebook - search for Bluff View in Fresno.)
She even managed to stay in costume for a pumpkin carving festival at the parental's. Check her out with Snorkel Bob:
Now on to the next month of fun, parties and more food! Peace out.
La Familia Duran
by Elizabeth
Gramma Wars. The “other gramma” wanted to take MY grandkids trick or treating so I devised a plan to sabotage her. I encouraged my grandkids to overload on the candy that they had gotten the night before at the ward social. “Here kids, eat some more of your candy, these ones are really good.” Four kids on a sugar high, that should deter her from encroaching on MY TIME with MY grandkids.
Devious thoughts. Worked too. THEY. WERE. CRAZY. Seems the “other gramma” is better at these Gramma Wars than I am. I know because the “other gramma” bailed at the last minute and so I got to keep the sweet darlings. Hmmmmmm. And a Happy Halloween to you too!Actually it was really fun being with everyone and doing all the Halloween stuff. Even the throw up part was okay cause Louie cleaned it up. Now on to the next activity: SHOPPING! Only 50 more days till Christmas!
WARD WIDE WEB
Jeremy's school won the National Blue Ribbon Award! He got to take a trip to Washington D.C. to collect his award and took Jennifer along for the ride. Check out the family blog to see pictures and watch short video clips from the trip. wearethewards.blogspot.com
Jennifer had a birthday in October! She turned the ripe ol' age of 31 and celebrated with the family. Check out her new birthday present - a new bike!
Trevor and Logan had a blast one Saturday at the bike park out behind Woodward Park. There is a track with lots of hills for bicycles. Check out their moves!
Jackson had a great Halloween. He got to dress up 3 times this year! Once was for preschool when he got to take a trip to the pumpkin patch. And who else would he dress up as than a Thomas the Train character.
Lizzie carved a Jack Skellington jack-o-lantern for Halloween this year. It turned out really cute! She is our sweet girl that loves all things Tim Burton style - her favorite movies are The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride.
