Pumpkin Patch 2011

Aunt Julie bought the family a pass to the McGee Ranch Annual Pumpkin Patch this year.  We have driven by it in the past but in the hustle and bustle, never made it in.  This is the cutest little ranch in Las Vegas.  The kids got to ride the horses, go on a hay ride, feed the animals and pick out their very own pumpkin.

 Thanks Auntie for such a good time.

Kadee & Cole's Halloween Birthday Party

The treats were all made, the pizza ordered, the games set up and the haunted house ready.  The kids had a FANTASTIC birthday party We had lots of yummy treats.  All of the kids came in super cute costumes. 

When everybody had arrived we started playing games.  First off was the eyeball relay, then the mummy wrap.  This was hilarious.  Some kids were able to make super cute mummy's out of toilet paper.

Then it was time for bobbing apples.  This was so fun to watch!  All of the kids tried so hard.  Some retrieved apples in no time at all, but others were not able to catch an apple.  Chance patiently waited his turn and with a little help from mommy was able to get an apple.

After everyone dried off we played, "Guess the Body Parts".  We carved out 5 pumpkins and put each of the following ingredients in a pumpkin; grapes for eyeballs, spaghetti for guts, baby carrost for toes, a cauliflower for the brain and a peeled tomato for the heart.  The kids grossed out as they reached into each pumpkin to try to guess which body part they were feeling.

After we were done with the games we had pizza and then got ready for the haunted house.  It turned out super spooky and the kid spent probably 30-45 minutes just going back and forth through it.

We finished up with a dance contest.  The kids and all of their guests partied like rock stars and had a BLAST!!!

Halloween Party Prep

Both Kadee and Cole decided to postpone their birthday parties so they could have one big Halloween Birthday Bash!  We were sooooo excited!  We love Halloween and this just gave us one more reason to celebrate such a fun holiday!
Charlie was really excited for this birthday party and had been bouncing ideas off of each other for the last couple months.  Of course my mom and sister stepped up to help me out.  I have a tendency to "over do" things so they always offer their time and most of all their energy!

I decided to take it easy on the food and actually order pizza and cupcakes, but I could not pass up making some treats for the party.  What's a Halloween Party without carmel apples?  The kids had so much fun dipping and decorating these yummy treats!

Grandma made rice krispie ghosts (we dipped in white chocolate) and pumpkins.  We also made spiders out of chocolate covered marshmallows and chocolate vampire teeth suckers. 

While we made the treats, Charlie and Uncle Pete started constructing the haunted house.

Greek Fest 2011 - OPA!

Unfortunately, last year we missed the Greek Festival due to other things going on at the same time, but we were bound and determined to make it there this year. Myself, the kids, aunt Julie and Grandma and Grandpa Syrros all headed out for some good food and good times.

On our way there we thought the weather was going to get the best of us. Although the sky was mostly sunny, one small cloud opened up and it poured on our way to the festival. Once we got to the church though the rain stopped and upon entering the church grounds we knew our evening was going to be filled with lots of fun and lots of food.

The kids played in the children's area and of course had a blast. Then it was time to enjoy the food.
GyrosGreek Fries

Dolmathes (which were ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!)

Pastitsio SpanakopitaAfter dinner, we had to take in all of the YUMMY desserts!

Loukoumathes Baklava Kourambiethes and my ABSOLUTE Favorite,
Kataifi

The church (St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church) was absolutely beautiful that night lit up in all its splendor. We left with our bellies full looking forward already to next year! OPA!

Sock Hop 2011

I started volunteering on Cartwright Elementary's PTA when Kadee started Kindergarten.  Three years later I am now Vice President and have taken on the Sock Hop event the last two years.   I love this event.  All of the kids dress up in their 50's attire and the PTA provides free Rootbeer Floats and Ice Cream Sundaes.  The kids and parents all seem to have a great time!

Our Volunteers from Silvestri Middle School Honor Society

 

Volunteers Dishing Out Ice Cream Sundaes

This year's Sock Hop was crazy to say the least.  I honestly think we had two to three times more people in attendance than last year. 





I literally had to run to the store mid-way to pick up more supplies.  I was so busy from setting up to cleaning up that it was all kind of a blur to me but I am pretty sure everyone had a BLAST!  Charlie helped me out with the kids, well really only Chance, Kadee and Cole were out dancing and playing the entire time!