Happy Halloween

More to come tomorrow!

Pumpkin Patch

Our school district had to cut ten instructional days from our school year, due to lack of funding, so we had to cut our annual trip to the pumpkin patch out of our routine.

I thought, well if we can't GO to the pumpkin patch, let's BRING the pumpkin patch to us!

So a bunch of friends from school piled into the truck and drove to Hermiston where we met this wonderful woman. She and her husband grow pumpkins and sell them to the local markets. When she heard what we were trying to do, she said she wanted to donate ALL the pumpkins to us!

Colleen showing me the way into the pumpkin patch.

This is Mathew, a former student of mine. He, his brother, and mom came to help.

I wanted to have some fun on the drive over, so I decorated the pick up and played "Monster Mash" to help set the mood.

Driving into the pumpkin patch.

Leigh jumping right in and loading the first pumpkins.

Rosalie collecting some cute little pumpkins too.

We were a well oiled machine. We made a little relay line to load the pumpkins into the trailer.

Playing the Pumpkin Toss...."catch Colleen."

Now they are playing "Hot Potato."

This is Mr. Krusow, the farmer. He was so cute. He kept searching the field to find more pumpkins to add to our supply.

Rosalie cleaned each pumpkin before it went into the trailer.

Colleen, Stanley, and I before we said good-bye.

Mathew's job was to stack the little pumpkins in the back of the truck.

On our way out I noticed this beautiful path and Rosalie was coming my way. Being the playful gal that she is, she grabbed a handful of leaves and gave them a toss.

I think we have close to 300 pumpkins in here.

I think these gals are beautiful. I love the work they do with our little ones at school.

I had both these boys when they were in second grade. It is fun to see them growing up and helping us pull off this great surprise.

We gathered again bright and early in the morning, while it was still dark ,and we had so much fun unloading the pumpkins.

It was so much fun watching and listening as students arrived.

I couldn't wait for my students to arrive so I could tell them about the surprise.
They were so excited when they found out that the pumpkins were for them.

This is the best pumpkin patch experience I have ever had.

It was extra special because we were able to involve everyone at school. Every student took home a pumpkin and we still had some left over for all the adults to bring home a small one.

Thank you to the Krusow's for their generosity. This was a very special day that many of us will remember forever.

If you want to see pictures of my students with their pumpkin, visit my school blog, http://www.schimelnews.blogspot.com/

or the newspaper article at:

http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=99373

Ice Cream

This summer, I thought it would be cute to get some pictures of Miranda holding and eating an ice-cream cone, so we went to the store. I carried the strawberry ice-cream (she loves strawberries) and she carried the box of cones. She was very happy, as were all the other shoppers at the grocery store that day. How often do you get to see someone so precious carrying a huge box of ice cream cones?

The plan was to go outside and take a zillion really cute pictures while she SAT eating her yummy ice-cream....wrong. She didn't even want to hold the cone! She just wanted to play outside some more.
So as she ran around the yard doing all kinds of crazy things while Kylee held her cone and every once in awhile, she would come over for a bite and then run off again. It was her little game.
Not at all the way I envisioned it all going down.

But it sure was fun. Too bad that is the last time I got to use my new Nikon camera.

It quit taking pictures and I had to send it in to the manufacturer. Mind you I have only had it 4 months.

They say it isn't covered by the warranty either, so they get to keep my camera until I finish fighting them to cover it. RRRrrrrrrr. So for now, I use my back up camera that has been steady and true....a Canon. (Take that Nikon!)

Mud Wars

There are many things I love about the fall, but mud wars has to be the most entertaining.

Kylee is on the "Irresistible i-candy" team. Rhett (Kylee's Mr. Oooo la la) had a football game the same night, so we caught a little of his game before the tug a war started.

Then as soon as he was done, he (#66) headed over to watch Kylee.

The "before" picture.

A few friends from the team.
My favorite picture of the night.

Off they go to do battle.

Look out...here they come. I think they would trample anyone in their way.

Tugging their way to victory number 1.
Then winning another round.
Celebrating the victory and placing third place out of 14 teams.

The "after" shot.

After it was all over, the kids all jumped in the pit. Well, some got dropped in. Kylee carried Codi over and gave her a friendly lift into the mud.
Does this make you want to take a shower?

Rhett, Kylee, and his sister, Lindsey.

Football & Concession Stand

Kylee is in charge of the FFA concession stand this year during the football games.

She has recruited her boyfriends brother and sister to help her, which adds to the fun.

This is Pat (Rhett's brother) with her.

It was a perfect fall day so we went to watch Rhett's football game the other day. He is number 66, the player making this tackle.