Birthday Wishes!

I know that this is my second blog post today but I wanted to pay homage to my bestie!  

So, enjoy some of these beautiful pictures of her as I say...

Happy Birthday, Karen!

Digging for garnets in St. Maries, Idaho

I know that she isn't fond of this photo but it's one of favorites 

because it shows off her fun-loving personality!

Halloween 2010

Karen and me during last year's Halloween party. 

The Pirate and the Bumble Bee...sounds like a kids book!

 

I am so proud that my bestie has an Elementary Education degree

and blessed that she was able to be my daughter Elizabeth's preschool

teacher two years ago.  This was her first graduating class! 

Elizabeth's birthday dinner September 2010

(P.S. Made a personal sacrifice to post this picture).

Karen with husband Chris (aka H2)!

Showing off her fun-loving side again at the

American Cancer Society's Relay For Life 2011.

Chris and Karen with Karen's mom Rusyl and step-dad, Kirk.

They are wonderful people :)

The beautiful bride with her sisters Dawn (left) and Kaycee!

Halloweens past...

Karen and watermelon friend Verity!

Halloween 2000. Dawn, Ansel and Karen.

Proof of our undying love for each other...and cocktails!

Karen with 4-H steer, Opie at the 1996 Lincoln County Fair.

Karen showing her crafty side :)

Chris and Karen at our wedding October 2003.

I could literally go on and on with photos of my bestie but I think you get the picture (no pun intended).  Karen is fun and spontaneous, hard working, creative and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.  So, Happy Birthday, Karen!  I miss you and wish I could be there to celebrate but it'll just have to wait a couple more weeks!!

   

Happy Halloweeeeeeeeen!

On Monday, like most other families, we prepared for the traditional "begging for candy".  Unlike year's past, however, this year did not include a trip to the usual decorations, punch recipes or a trip to the liquor store!

Our Halloween kicked off with a party at school which I helped out with.  I was in charge of a game so I made a pumpkin face and some noses and had the kids play "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin".

Not bad for free hand, huh?

The kids also playing the mummy game where they wrap each other in toilet paper!  Elizabeth broke out of hers while I was replacing the batteries in my camera (stupid camera) but I managed to get a photo of her wrapping up her friend Sammie.

Eating rice krispie goodies, courtesy of me!

Elizabeth coloring her Halloween cup.

After the party, we went home, had some homemade chicken noodle soup, 

then headed out to terrorize the neighborhood!

While we were out and about, we discovered a fabulous house full of the Halloween spirit!

I know the video is a little dark but I hope you can see how cool it was!

Pictures of more uber-decorated homes!

Yo Ho!

 

Dancing?

We met at least three cats during our outing...no black ones though :)

Once we got home, Elizabeth and I posed for a picture in our costumes

then took inventory of the booty!

Rare picture of the photophobe butterfly with her witchy captor!

Plenty of candy for all three of us to be sick :)

All in all, it was a fabulous evening of tricks and treats!  

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!