A 12th Birthday Party

 Halloween this year fell on a Saturday.  It also fell on the full moon.  Reagan decided to have a Halloween birthday party this year, since.. you know.. it's only once every seven years that it falls on a Saturday! 

She wanted to go Trick or Treating, as she had never gone before. (I know.  It's un-American.  My kids have only ever gone to the Chassell VFW Halloween party, but that was cancelled this year, so... trick or treating it was!).   I had to encourage Reagan and her friend to actually go up to strangers' houses, because they were too nervous to do it!  I gave them the low-down from my years of expertise (Look for lights on, and Halloween decorations.  That means they are open for business).   99% of the houses just had a bowl of candy sitting outside this pandemic year (only 50% of the houses even participated, and kids were few and far between), so we felt very safe.  We went up and down one street before picking up some pizza and heading home, to meet up with the rest of Reagan's friends for a sleep over.  Check Trick or Treating off the bucket list.

Don't think these girls got much sleep, but they certainly had fun!  Reagan asked for a "chill" birthday this year (read NO THEME, and NO GAMES).  Fine by me.  I did nothing but buy pizza and bake an enormous Strawberry cheesecake.  I can handle that!

Confirmed Tween sighting... all girls sitting together, but staring at screens.  BAH Humbug.

Halloween at Work and School

 The boys are back to virtual schooling online (this is one crazy year!), but us girls are still venturing out into the world, and in that world, it is almost Halloween!  Reagan dressed as a ringmaster, and I went as Hermione Granger wearing the Sorting hat.  

A Deer and a Car Met on the Road....

 And the car won.  But barely.....

Poor deer.

Brunch

 Grandma and Grandpa Aho belong to the Miskowabic Club and treated us to brunch!  WOWZA is that place delicious!  Such a cool, historic place, and such fantastic food!  It's such an event eating there!

We got a picture of Reagan with each course.  There were MANY courses.  We'd be eating and nearly full, then they would bring out another whole plate of food!  And then dessert!  

What She Wants for her Birthday

 Reagan, for her 12th birthday, asked for a budget to redecorate her bedroom.  She bought frames and paint, and fake flowers and shelves.  Stay tuned for the final result, but this girl has got pizzazz when it comes to decor, that's for sure!  And the awesome thing is... she wants to do it all HERSELF!  I can get on board with that.

Finally - Friends Get Together

 Pandemics cause long droughts in the socialization department, that's for sure.  I see these girls at work, but have done nothing social with them outside of work since July.  Liz is moving on to new adventures, and so we gathered to say goodbye, but also to carve pumpkins.  Because that's what we do.  It was so much fun!  How I enjoy these ladies!!  And how I will miss my friend Liz!

Jennie's first pumpkin carving... ever!

Feast Day Fun: St. John Paul the Great

 

This is one of my favorites.  JP2 is a personal hero of mine.  To celebrate his feast day, we had polish sausages and sauerkraut, and read about his amazing, inspiring life.

Saint John Paul, pray for us!

Grandma and Grandpa Head Home and Reagan gets pierced.

 We spent the afternoon in Marquette, before having to take Grandma and Grandpa to the airport.  How we will miss them!  Two weeks went by way too quickly.  

As long promised, Reagan had duly lived 12 years of life (minus a few days), and so was finally allowed to get her ears pierced.  She has been begging for years, and now... it's a done deal.  At first, I could only find tattoo parlors and body piercing stores to do the deed, which I was NOT excited about at all, but then... thankfully... a kind lady in a quiet hair salon appeared on my google search, and was available.  Much better.   The girl didn't even flinch, and claimed no discomfort whatsoever.  Our baby is growing up!  Dad still doesn't know how he feels about his little girl getting pierced.  Reagan, playing into his worst fears, immediately said she felt the need for a cigarette and a tattoo.  HA!

Our last meal for awhile.  Boo Hoo.

Our fall has turned to winter overnight.