A Halloween Visit

 My mom came to see the last 2 regular season meets for Austin and Erik. KLAAs last week and Regionals yesterday, which also happened to be Halloween. And Halloween definitely was on the back-burner for us this year, though my mom thoroughly enjoyed being here for the holiday. She enjoyed going to my preschool with me and celebrating Halloween with my cute 4-years-olds. Other than that, we hosted the XC team pasta party on Friday night, which happened to be the night of the Ward Halloween party. My tap class actually performed for a community cancer fundraiser on Thursday, so at our usual dress-up-class-before-Halloween we had a dress rehearsal. Finally, the regional meet was on Halloween, though it still allowed Austin and Erik to go out that evening with friends.

I really enjoyed hosting the boys again this year. They're such a nice group!

We gave them the option of dressing up. Erik and a fellow cow. 

Jason was on breadstick duty- those boys eat a lot of breadsticks!!

Fantastic Seniors!

My bestie dance friends. We really didn't need to dress up with these gold jackets flashing around!

Kade worked the Pumpkin Factory this month, as he usually does. He also worked on Halloween at Zumiez and enjoyed seeing the kids at the mall trick-or-treating. He still loves Halloween!

Scarier this year!

He was Rigby at Zumiez.

At KLAA's, Austin kept up with the ranked 4th and 6th runners in the state for most of the run. He came in 3rd, but now knows he can keep up with those guys for when he goes to States. Erik's KLAA was his worst race this season since he had a stomach cramp, but he still finished strong and learned from it. 

The front guys. Brandon Cloud is one of the fastes runners in the state!

Second time around.

The top finishers!

Erik looked better at the end than in the middle!

Yesterday, was the Region 6 meet where Austin came in for an easy 1st place, definitely qualifying him for States next week. His team came in 3rd, to the dismay of some, since they could have taken 2nd. Erik ran in the PROM race yesterday, which stands for Post Regionals Open Meet, which is where all the rest of the runners who wouldn't qualify for States compete for fun. Erik was back to his usual awesome running form and took 3rd on for our team and 14th overall. 

A teammate of Austin's made these posters for some of the seniors. 

Austin decided to "showboat" his 1st place win. He may not have another chance!

Our 3rd place team!

Erik- looking good at his usual place!

An excellent finish!

Jason was feeling a little emotional with Austin's last run at Willow Metropark. 

After they recovered at home a bit, they went out with friends, either to trick-or-treat or party with friends. Jason, my mom, and I watched football, a movie, chatted with my neighbor, and handed out some candy. It was a fun, yet slightly different Halloween!

The previous Saturday my mom and I went for a Michigan hike. 

Before the parties. 

MF Doom again for Austin before attending his friends' parties. 

Erik- at a party last weekend. 

Trick-or-treating on Halloween. 

Victoria and Cole's pumpkins with another couples'.