60 Reasons to Love the Halloween Weekend

60 reasons to love the Halloween weekend:  I could easily share 60 photos from the Halloween weekend. I could share double that number. I took 138 photos, to be exact. But loading 60 photos into the blog would make everyone's computer run too slowly. And, let's face it. With a 3 year old and a 14 month old involved, there were a fair number of outtakes anyway.

But there were definitely 60 reasons to celebrate!

1. First of all, we got to celebrate Randy's 60 years on October 30.

 

2. The kids and granddaughters were home for an extended weekend.

3. We got 0.75" of rain on Randy's birthday. It was the best present possible.

Nephew Derek, son-in-law Eric, niece Abby, Jill, Randy & Brent

Randy & his "much younger" sister, as Kathy would like everyone to know!

4 through 44 or so. We celebrated with lots of friends and family.

45. There were party hats and noisemakers, two essential party ingredients, according to the 3 year old, who helped me shop for decorations.

46. There were balloons, a hit with the 14 month old.

47. We had family photos taken bright and early Saturday morning. (Let's hope for good results despite an overcast, chilly morning.)

48. Grandpa had expert help feeding the "livestock" on the farm.

49. Kinley made a new friend and christened her Cozy. The name seems appropriate when you look at the two new friends together. That kitty was patient!

50. Listening to Kinley talk to Cozy, saying, "Kitty, kitty! You're so pretty!"

51. Listening to Brooke talk to the kitties. I have no idea what she was saying.

52. Discovering yet another musical prodigy.

 

53. Having the cutest Ariel around stay for trick or treating in Stafford.

Trick or treating is serious business!

54. Having her sidekick, Flounder, stay, too!

 

 55. Watching the girls play together and seeing Kinley watch out for her little sister.

56. Going to church with the whole family.

57. Watching Kinley during children's time at church and helping her take communion.

58. Having a snooze after everyone departed (after getting things sort of, kind of back in order). Kinley wasn't the only one with a power nap this weekend.

59. Having plenty of leftovers for Sunday supper - no cooking required!

60. Watching the Royals win ... even if they kept me up way past my bedtime after a full weekend and a time change.

Hide and Seek

As I dashed out of the house to run an errand for Randy, I glanced to my left and saw four little kittens nestled in the crevice between the house and the back steps.

And when I got back there were 11. YES, 11!

I texted a photo to the kids and sent it in an email to my Mom, but by the next time I looked, not a single one remained. Two litters of kittens are playing hide and seek. Or maybe it's their mothers. I need a scorecard!

I found some hiding in the window well.

 A few were more clever at hiding behind the screen mesh for a little camouflage.

Some had moved by their mom for a snack.

Others were hanging out by the cat food bowl. Maybe they were waiting on their mother, too.

Randy's mission is to tame some of these kitties so they can make their way to my parents' farm in Pratt County. It's a mission he is always glad to accept.

He already had a good start with a kitty we named Fluffy. (Or maybe it was Fuzzy. It depends on which one of us you ask.)

At this time, Fluffy (AKA Fuzzy) is nowhere to be found.

And this big guy isn't talking.