Halloween Pumpkins

Every year, its a tradition for our family to carve our Halloween pumpkins the night before Halloween. We use assorted different stencils, cookie cuttters and wooden hammers, and lots of cutting tools. We each always do our own, except our dad gets out the pumpkin goop.

This year, I (Ethan) made the phamtom (third from left). Kelsey made the traditional pumpkin face (like she always does). Our mom made the haunted tree on the left that looks like a spider, and our Dad made Domo. In case you don't know who Domo is, he looks like this.

Ethan's Halloween

I (Ethan) had a good Halloween. I was dressed as "Brainwashed" -- basically a brain dude. I went trick-or-treating with my friend Aaron. He was supposed to be a Jedi person. First we do my neighborhood, and then we do Aaron's. Our dads take us around. We always like to go to this certain house in my neighborhood because they give out big candy bars. I like to get Three Musketeers bars, and Aaron likes anything Reece's.

Land Party

The day after Halloween, Courtney, Emily, Taylor and I (Kelsey) headed out to a piece of land that Courtney's family owns for a 7th grade girls Halloween party. We spent the whole morning and some of the afternoon working on making the place as scary and Halloween-ish as we possibly could. Then we all went back to our houses to put on our costumes before heading back out to the Land in time to finish up last-minute decorations and begin greeting our guests. After everyone (minus a few people who came late) was there, we started our first activity - a scavenger hunt. Taylor and I lead the Pink Team while Courtney and Emily lead the Blue Team. Our Pink Team ended up winning and won the prize of a bix box of glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces. Then we had our costume contest. We split everyone up into 3 groups, plus an extra group for the Best Model Walk. We gave each category winner a Starbucks gift card. Then we ate and sat around the fire and talked. Once it was dark out, we went on the Haunted Trail. We had people jumping out from behind trees and mannequins of ghosts hanging from branches. Once everyone was back (no one was taken captive by the monsters!), we went on a hay ride around the land, which I think everyone enjoyed. Then we sat back down at the campfire and told scary stories until parents started arriving to pick everyone up. After that we cleaned up and headed home for some well-earned rest.

Kelsey's Halloween

This Halloween, we both invited friends over. I (Kelsey) had two of my best friends, Alaina and Taylor, over. Ethan had his friend Aaron come trick-or-treating with him. I was a 50's poodle skirt girl, and Ethan was a mad scientist. First, we went around our neighborhood (Ethan and Aaron went with our dad and Aaron's dad, while Taylor, Alaina, and I went a seperate route). Then, once we were done, the boys headed over to Aaron's neighborhood and we trick-or-treating there. Us girls went over to another two of oour other friends' neighborhood and saw their haunted garages and a haunted barn. Then we went back home. Alaina and Taylor, and then eventually Emily and Courtney, from the other neighborhood, spent the night. Ethan stayed over at Aaron's and slept over there. Lots of fun was had by all!

Kelsey's Volleyball Team

My (Kelsey) volleyball team just finished our first season as CC Knights! We had a fun season and learned a lot. Our record was really spaced out; we would win a couple in a row, then lose a few in a row. After the regular season ended, we competed in the City Tournament. The first game we played the Benton Central Bison, who we had lost to just a couple days before, and won! We heard a rumor that they were undefeated, so we were very proud of ourselves. The next day we played The West Lafayette Red Devils and lost in the 3rd set. But we were still happy that we at least made it to the final. I think most of us are playing again next year, and hopefully we have a great season!

Edward's Apple Orchard

Last weekend, our family, Grandma & Grandpa Reder, Aunt Erin, Uncle Erik and our cousin Cassidy went on our annual trip to Edward's Apple Orchard. We drove up to Grandma and Grandpa's house the night before and met Aunt Erin, Uncle Erik and Cassidy at Edward's. First, we ordered some delicious donuts and apple cider. Then we went to the little "museum" (a barn with some old farm equiptment that they used years ago). After that, we decided to treat Cassidy to a trip to the petting zoo. She couldn't stop giggling at the pigs, who tried to stick their noses through the gate so they could sniff her, and the goats, who did pretty much the same thing! Then we checked out the store that is filled with apple-(or other fruit) related items. There is apple jam, apple candles, apple dip, and lots of other things. We bought some fudge (one of the few non-apple foods there), spinach dip, some sort of sugary corn-popcorn thing (I can't remember what it's called!), and some other stuff. After we checked out, we took some family pictures in a playground by the museum and then headed back to Grandma's, where we spent the rest of the weekend.

A really good book!

I (Ethan) am reading a really good book right now. It is called "The 39 Clues." It is the first book in a series that I think will be great.

In the story, Dan and Amy (brother and sister) go on a clue hunt. THey have to find 39 clues to find the treasure. I'm not finished reading it yet, but they are looking for clue number two at the moment. I don't know how many clues they will find in a book, but I plan to read the second one for sure. It's a great mystery slash adventure book.