Pumpkins and Paintbrush Cookies

I have good memories of making paintbrush cookies every year with my Mother and sisters. It is a tradition that I have carried on with my girls. I know that my sister's have carried it on with their families, also. As we were going through some of my Mother's belongings, we found the old cookie cutters that we used with the paintbrush cookies. My sisters and I divided the cookies cutters between us. My girls always enjoy making the paintbrush cookies, but this year they thought it was extra special to be using some of the cookie cutters that I used as a child! It meant a lot to me, too!
After we were through with the cookies, Karrie and Ashley carved their pumpkins. They turned out really cute! What a fun night!

Going to Grandpa's

Tonight we went to my Dad's house, so he could see the Grandkids in their Halloween costumes. In the past, my Dad and Mom would take turns going to mine or Amy's house on Halloween to see the Grandkids trick or treat. This year my Dad won't be able to go to either, so the kids wanted to show him their costumes. Mike dressed in his scary costume, too. My Dad got a good laugh at Mike and Karrie's scary costumes. The kids had a good time being with each other and their Grandpa Shaw!

My Dad's Birthday

My Dad turned 68 on October 2oth. This was his first birthday in 45 years without my Mother. On Sunday, October 25th, we got together with Amy, Wes and the girls to celebrate his birthday as a family. My Dad's request for dinner was my Mother's chicken, cheese and rice casserole. I cooked it and Mike made an angel food cake. Amy, Debbie and I gave my Dad a counted cross stitch of the Shaw coat of arms that my Mother had made for him. We came across it while going through her things. She made it years ago for him, but had never gotten it framed. So, we had it matted and framed for his birthday. I love you Dad and I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point

On October 16th, Mike, the girls and I went to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point. It has a corn maze and other fun activities to enjoy. We went on a hayride, a train ride (driven by a tractor), found our way through the corn maze, and last but not least, we went through the haunted corn maze. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs! I was almost deaf after the haunted corn maze, from Karrie's constant screaming, but she was so funny that Mike and I were laughing at her reactions the whole way through the maze. Ashley didn't see much of the haunted corn maze, as she had her head buried against Mike. We all had a great time and it was nice to have a family night out!