fun with friends

So much has happened in the last month, much of it I wanted to blog about but with Grandma's passing I got interrupted.  We have had two very fun get-togethers with our close friends and "small group".  The first was a "Minute to Win it" game party.   Bryce did a lot of hard work and came prepared with something like 12 games for us to complete.  We competed as pairs (couples, except Bryce and Gene since their wives were both gone for the evening).  Amazingly Justin and I actually won the evening!!  It was quite a laugh.  We also had our fourth annual pumpkin carving event.  Here are some pics from the fun.  (In our other small group we were asked "what do you like to do to get yourself out of a "funk" or a down mood?"  My answer was hang out with my closest friends.  I love these people! :c)) 

There is a coin at the toes of the pantyhose.  You have to get the coin out without touching hands/arms. 

 Blind folded you have to walk around and pick up a ball that is placed on a very unsteady pedestal. So, in other words catch the ball before it hits the ground after you run into it!

 With a balloon, fill it and blow cups down the table and off the other end.  IF they fell off the sides they had to be started over.  It's harder than it looks!!

 Begin with 6 pencils, on the back of your hand throw them up in the air and catch all 6.  Increase by 2 pencil increments up to 20 successfully in 60 seconds.  Very hard!  Let's just say Justin had a hard time even getting started.... :cP

 Pick up 5 paper bags off the ground with your mouth, without touching the ground with anything but your feet.  The bags were 10", 8", 6", 4",  and 2" tall.  Unbelievably, I was the only one to get all of them.  Who knew I was so flexible!!!  Here is Bryce getting awfully close.

Carvin' some Pumpkins!!!!

 Curtis trying some pumpkin.  He then walked around eating more as the night went on.  We figured it was just added fiber.  :cD

 Kyla and Kaelynn bonding as baby girls do!

 Teaching Morganne about pumpkin seeds, and then thanks to Gene and Bryant we got to eat some too!

 The finished product.

 It's supposed to be a golden retriever.  I was not impressed.  Too much work for the result.  (I followed a stencil.)

 The kiddos, round one holding round two.  :cP 

And, I was asked to take some family pictures of the Gosewehr's.  It's always fun taking pictures of friends.  I didn't take many but here are a few of my favorites.  Just because the moment arose, I cought a pic of Gene and stuntman Dylan.  Check out the air under Dylan.  This kid is fearless!!!  (that is both good and bad sometimes!)

 Isn't LeighAnn gorgeous.... 

Lastly, some BIG news for us is that Morganne, as of about 4 weeks ago, is totally potty trained now!!!!  I had decided that I wasn't going to push it at all and really wasn't going to worry about it until she was three.  One night she told Justin that she wanted to go on the big potty so of course he took her.  And that was it, she has gone ever since and has only had 3 accidents in 4 weeks!!!  Amanda, our daycare lady, has even sent home all of Morganne's diapers because she doesn't even use them for naps anymore.  We were so nervous about potty training because we thought it would be a struggle.   Talk about the easiest potty training time possible!!

We were also blessed today to have Daddy home with us. So, after a special treat of donuts for breakfast, we headed to the zoo!  Our first trip to the zoo since just after Kaelynn was born.  Being a Monday and overcast weather there was hardly anyone there.  Surprisingly, we actually ran into Livie and Tammy too!  Unfortunately, many of the animals were napping while we were there but it was a very good trip and we couldn't have asked for better weather!  Our renewed zoo membership was a gift from the Hicks' for taking their family pictures. We greatly appreciate it!!!

Hope you enjoyed the many pictures!!