Chicago

I really look forward to, what seems to have turned into a tradition, making the annual trip with Corey to Chicago for his budget reviews in the late fall. Last year, Ty and Carrie were able to make the trip with us, which was a blast! This year it ended up just the two of us and Corey knowing how much I wanted to see "Dirty Dancing", was able to finagle great tickets for us!

Over our 10 years of marriage, food has become our hobby and not just food......GREAT food, which in turn has lent us the nickname, "Food Snobs". This night was no different, we had dinner at a restaurant called 312 Chicago, which happens to be managed by a friend of ours, it was amazing! Then off to the show! Super fun and entertaining (even Corey loved it!), if you have a chance to see it, I would highly recommend it!

Our last night in Chicago we went to Sushi (ever try super white tuna? DELISH!) then to a renowned comedy club called The Second City. We had never heard of it but when we walked in we instantly recognized tons of the alumni pic all over he walls, everyone from Alan Alda to John Candy and Steve Carell to Tina Fay got there comedy start here! I could never explain how seriously funny it was! My cheeks hurt and my belly ached from all the laughing! I really hope to see these Comedians around someday, they were great!

Sushi - Yum Yum!

PS -After all of this I really need to make sure my mom knows how grateful we are to her for being able and will in to come stay with our kids while we went and played. She is a wunderful woman and our children adore her and are so lucky yo have her in their lives!
Thanks again Grandma Marj!

Punkins, Parades, Cousins, Leaves, Trick-or-Treat, and FIRE

Punkins

For family night, we carved our punkins, much to Corey's dismay. Corey wishes every year that the kids would just plan forget about carving pumpkins. The smell and texture of the inerds hits the gag reflex and it's all down hill from there. So, with the fans on and the windows open wide, we attempted to spend a bit of quality time as a family. Dad cut off the tops, then retreated to his happy place while and mom and the kids scooped out the guts. Incidentally, Jorie and Malik love the inerds and have no problem, but Rhys on the other hand may have a bit of the dads weak stomach. He tried so hard but I think he may have turned green.

Parades

Malik's Halloween parade was on Thursday, due to the fact that there wasn't any school on Friday this week. I'm pretty sure I don't have any shy children, including Malik, he walked the whole parade acting like a Transformer and ate up all the attention, he was Bumblebee this year and acted the part to the T.
Malik and his friend Tyrell

Cousins
We are so lucky to have cousins! Jorie especially eats up all the attention that Cedar and Tannen give her. She has so much fun with them and they are so good to her. Jorie and the girls had a blast playing in the leaves all afternoon before we went trick-or-treating. So Cute!
Tannen, Jorie and Cedar
Trick-or-Treat
Traditionally, the kids and I go to dads work and trick-or-treat around the hotel. The kids eat it up, they get so much attention from everyone. Hanging out at dads work is always a highlight for the kids. Then later, that day all our cousins came to play, have dinner and go trick-or-treating. We were such a heard walking up and down the street, not unusual though, we are for sure the Martin heard when we are all together. I wouldn't trade it for he world, I love my family!
Optimus Prime (aka:Rhys) Ladybug (aka:Jorie) Bumblebee (aka:Malik)
Trick-orTreating at Daddy's hotel
CousinsIvy and Jorie
Uncle Papa (or Uncle Kevin) and Jorie
(she started calling him Uncle Papa tonight, so so cute)

FIRE
After we all had our fill of trick-or-treating, we went back to our house to light the fire pit and have hot chocolate in the circle (good thing, it was a chilling 65 degrees out!) All in all it was a great day and a super fun night. Thanks all for helping us make fun memories!
Rhys and Cam
Malik and Christian