Monster Mash aka Our Super Massive Halloween Party

So, my friend and I planned this really awesome Halloween(Costume required) party...had all these brilliant ideas, all these cute decorations, and alllllll kinds of RSVP's!  We were planning our little hearts out, decorations, food, drinks, games, contests, dj's, the whole package...assuming we had, oh let's say-LESS than 80 people...I think our original guesstimate was around 70 at most...HA! As our RSVP list grew to almost 130 people a mere 24 hours before the party (I know, right?! Did you faint, too? Sheesh...) so did our anxiety about getting everything done-having enough food and drinks and still having money to survive on! Well thankfully, quite a few of our friends really rock...They offered to help out in any way they could, we had friends bring food, goodies, ice, and some who actually stayed and helped clean up the mess!! It turned out to be one awesome night, filled with fun and hysterical laughter as we watched all of our kiddos dance to the music, light show, and fog the DJ so(too)often delighted them with! ;) And, it turns out, we have some pretty creative friends-GREAT costumes all around!! Enjoy! (Thank you to everyone who made this night awesome!)

Falling for Fall

Just a peek at some of the beauty Fall brings in Ohio...we thoroughly enjoyed it this year! We live for Fall! Visiting the local parks, hiking, playing in the leaves, picking pumpkins, hayrides, bonfires, enjoying the outdoors in pants and long sleeves(without sweating!) and best of all, Buckeye Football! I have to make a separate post for Halloween... :)

Baby, you're a firework!

       As I've previously stated (Same time last year!) I'm pretty much in love with Independence Day...it is the ultimate display of patriotism and wraps up everything that is Summer, American, and Family fun, I love it! Our 4th of July weekend is always packed full of food, fun, family, friends, and fireworks, and this year was no exception...we went to 3 separate fireworks displays, enjoyed a great cookout or two, baked and ate tons of fun "4th of July food" i.e. Star cutout brownies, miniature apple and cherry pies with star cutout crusts, and star cutout watermelon!! (Okay, so I went a little crazy with the cookie cutter this year, but hey-they were all smashing successes and everyone ate them up! I'm a firm believer that the more fun food is, the better it tastes!) Oh, add to the list of great 4th of July foods: Deep Fried Pickles! One of the local displays also had a carnival set up with fair food-brilliant!

*warning: Another pic heavy post-maybe I should just add a disclaimer in my blog description "A blog full of pic heavy posts..."and cover them all!

The Food: 

The fun, family, and friends:

Our little matchy-match family on the 4th of July ♥

And the Grand Finale....THE FIREWORKS!

(Okay, the first 3 photos are not fireworks, but they were taken while waiting on the display to begin!)

We couldn't see the American Flag during the National Anthem, so this gentleman borrowed his daughter's and proudly displayed one for us all to salute! Thank you, kind Sir! It was greatly appreciated, and very patriotic of you! God Bless the U.S.A!

And finally, the 2nd place winner of the Best of BOOM photo contest and the $1,000 photo: 

♥

John Adams wrote to his wife, saying Independence Day will be "The most memorable epoch in the history of America." "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." I concur, John Adams, I concur. 

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