1st Annual CRC Thanksgiving

The first *hopefully* annual CRC Thanksgiving was a success! Grant, Ace, and I were so happy to host almost 30 people.

Thanksgiving attendees: Ace and Susie Stillwell, Jess Davis, Tia/Montana Walsh, DD and Big John, Nina and Papa, CJ Gullickson, Preston & Hannah (+ Eisley & Parker), Erin & Grant (+ Cadie, Ranger, Colton), Whitney & Daniel (+ Wes), Charlotte Flowers, Monty Hamm, Jerry & Susan Hamm, Sabastian (Ace's friend), Joy Hutchings.

The rain dampened (pun intended) some of our plans, but we made the best of it. Activities included hayrides, a firepit and talent show on Wed. evening, cutting down a Christmas tree from our property (Thanks Ace!) which Nina picked out, making Christmas ornaments (thanks to DD for bringing the supplies), hanging out and playing games in the shop, putting together a 1,000 piece BU stadium puzzle, tours during breaks from the rain, watching football and stand-up comedy, and a very muddy Hamm bowl football game. Ranger was the winner of the air hockey tournament and Sebastian was the winner of the corn hole tournament. 

Memories:

• Talent show hilarity including animal sounds by Big John, yoga moves by Whitney, whistling by Charlotte, tongue to nose touching by Nicki and Susie, elbow clapping by Ace and lots of smores consumed by all.
• Tia sleeping with Cowboy, the dog, in the shop.
• Puzzle crew led by Jess with support from Susie, Cadie, and Erin.
• SOOOO many Krispie Kreme donuts provided by DD.
• Enjoying the new hot tub.
• We dedicated the "Ni-Pa Pavilion" in gratitude for Nina and Papa paying for the construction.

"Grant, Erin, and Ace,

What a wonderful family time you all created at the farm! It could not have been better! Thank you for all of the time, energy, planning, and communication you poured into it. The food was delicious and the many events made such a fun time! 

With love and gratitude, DD / Mom and Big John" 

Happy Halloween!

Monday isn't the most fun day for Halloween, but we had a great time leading up to it over the weekend. Then, Colton even convinced me to let him sleep in on Tuesday morning! He made it to school before 10am, but he did sleep in a bit.

Cadie was Tessa Gray from the book "The Infernal Devices" and we worked so hard to get her costume right. She enjoyed walking around the neighborhood with Channing and two of her rowing friends and also scaring people at DD and Big John's with the ghost. Jack Ranger was a banana and three of his friends, Hunter, Jack and Charlie went as Bananas too - what a bunch! Colton was Tails from Sonic and he had fun catching up with Nico and his older brother and parents. I was a spider for part of the time, and once Grant joined me we wore our mildly inappropriate matching shirts.

Other Halloween festivities included a Fall Festival at the UP pool that Cadie, Nina, Colton and I went to. Another AMAZING birthday party for Alexander Cobb which was Harry Potter themed. Of course, pumpkin day at school and I was thankful Colton was willing to not go too overboard and we made a double-decker witch pumpkin. We also had a fun evening at Mandy and Parkers watching Hocus Pocus 2 in their backyard.