Bachmann BOO BASH!

We didn't get to hold our 4th of July party this year with friends so we decided to have a HAlloween party which I've never done. In fact I hate all the decorations and things. I had the worst time at the dollar store picking them out and then I didn't even put them up until the day of my party because I didn't want to look at all the wired and funky balck and orange decor around my house every day. Only hours after the party was over, I took them all back down again!

We had TONS of food and everyone brought plenty of drinks! We had about 30 people totally show up and what made it fun was all the costumes!! We had some pretty creative ones! We had a bon fire in our fire pitt on the deck, we had a bunch of games going too that kept us awak until 3am! Here are some snap shots of the evening.

Melissa and Bob were from the movie JUNO. You should have seen Bob's shorts! HA!

The Maragni couple were Secret Agents for Laura Bush (GW Bush's daughter who lives in Baltimore)

And here is AJ, trying to do a skit while asking Brittany (the Penguine) to feed her some amazing Oero Pastachio Dessert she made.

The Delware Gals!

Somehow there was only ONE picture taken of my outfit... not the best, and I made the dress too!

New APPLIANCES!!!!

So, we have been wanting new kitchen appliances since we moved in the house. The current ones are the originals with the home (8 years old) and a "nice" almond color to match the counter tops. So I finally saved up enough money in my "house fund" and I did ALL the research to the features I wanted, the prices and where to buy it. I looked at Home Depot, Sears, Lowes and Best Buy.

I ended up with Frigidaire (made by Electrolux) from Lowes. So AJ was excited and we went to go see them in the store to make sure they looked ok and had the specs we saw online (of course, I went in with product numbers, and pictures and specs of EACH item and asked the guy to show me each one, he was impressed I was so organized!).

So AJ was so excited to take a before and after movie of our appliances (hope they work). AJ and his father took 4 hours to install everything themselves but it saved us about $800 instead of paying to have Lowes install them. Thank you, Honey!

Next step, granite counter tops, being installed after Thanksgiving with new warm colored walls (the stainless steal appliances and the mint green walls make it look too cold). Stay tuned!

Angie's Birthday Party

My sister-in-law, Angie Thuman, turned 30 on October 10th and AJ planned a night out for her at a local restaurant. We drove up to Padonia Station in Timonium and met AJ's other sister, Stephanie, Angie and of course their husbands. Her favorite local band was playing that night (but didn't come on until 11pm... so late for most of us). But we stayed and got to hear a few of their songs,... very loudly.

I guess that's the sign you're getting old if the music is loud and the band is playing way past your bed time! But Angie and Stephanie had a great time! We all pitched in to get Angie an amazing mp3 player that does EVERYTHING and a gift card for her dinner and drinks for the night. Here are some pictures to share the memory!

SIBLINGS! Angie, AJ, and Stephanie

US!

Baugher's Farm

AJ and I got invited to participate in his family's Fall tradition this year. They go to Baugher's Farm which is another orchard/farm up in Westminster, MD. We ate at a very country resturant where Mattie and I got a little board so did a few poses for AJ.

Then everyone headed out to the petting farm where all the goats and donkeys and chickens walk around in this big area where you can feed them. I figured out quickly they didn't like me and AJ kept making me try and hug one for a picture. He even tried to get Tim, our brother-in-law to put him in a head lock... we have a picture of the attempt!

This is me a little frustrated...

Finally, I suckered in a different goat to tollerate me.

Alexa, Stephanie and Tim's daughter, was super excited for the ice cream!

All in all, it was a beautiful Fall day to be outside. The only thing AJ wanted was a cup of apple cider and every place we went on the farm was totally out of it! Needless to say, he was mad. HA!

Last of the Flowers...

So like I mentioned in a previous blog, we re-landscaped our backyard once we put the fence in. But I didn't get a chance to take the pictures right after we planted the flowers so you can't see how small they all started. You can't see the sun flowers in these pictures but I caught the other flowers just before the first frost, look how huge they are!!

Fall Camping!

So we went back to our FAVORITE cabins in Shannadoha Valley a few weeks back with my brother and his family. It was just as we remember but better with crisp fall air and all of the leaves were changing on the mountain side!! Not only did AJ and I get to spend more time with our CUTE little blonde neices, but we got to relax too! AJ got the girls excited every day about finding sticks to build a big bon fire int he fire pit the cabin had out back.


It was beautiful! Just to name a few of the activities we did: Visited an apple orchard, fed some horses, went to a republican pig roast (hey, it was free food), of course went hiking, and relaxed in the hot tub when we had time! Here are some of the snap shots!

New Hair and Some Flare!

So, I finally bit the bullet and got my hair done by a "real, professional" hair salon. I have been procrastinating because being a blonde, or at least trying to be a blonde, takes frequent "touch-ups" which, of course, cost money. So For the past 4 years I've gone to Hair Cuttery for my highlights. After having my friend Brittany over (also a "touch-up" blonde), her hair looked so good and I was determined to just bite the bullet even if I could only afford once a year.

I went to this wonderful new little place my mother (not a blonde) goes to all the time and her prices weren't too bad from the flyer. After she finished and even gave me a cut that just made my hair look so "neat" I gave her the biggest tip ever! (and for those of you who know me, I'm NOT a big tipper) My hair felt light even those she let me keep my length and trimmed up my long, growing out bangs. It looked so good! AJ was really excited to see me since he loves my hair as blonde as it can be. So here is my salute to you all those other "touch-up" blondes out there who pay rediculous amounts of money for a good hair cut, I believe I am convinced (even those my little sister has told me this ever since she entered high school almost 10 years ago) it's worth it!

I made AJ take a few pictures of it all curled to show my mother who loves my hair that way. This is for you Mom!