The Masquerade Ball- A Murder Mystery Night

This year for our annual Halloween party we decided to do a murder mystery night and chose a Masquerade Ball as our setting for the event. It was SO much fun. But I seriously think that the party turn out has little to do with us and almost everything to do with our friends who got SO into their parts and made it such a hilarious, fun evening.

It was formal wear so I asked my mom if she would send me one of my old dance dresses from High School, I had little hope that it would fit, but thought I'd give it a shot anyway...and what do you know almost 12 years later and I still fit into my very first formal dance dress:).

I saw this mask on Pinterest and was dying to have it for the party, but I wasn't going to pay $40 for it, so my amazing friend Alicia free-handed the design for me on to some material that we cut out and sprayed with glitter:) I think it turned out awesome!

Me= Ms. Elizabeth Abby: host of the ball and owner of Abby Manor , Ryan= Cheque Penne: french banker

Mike= Sherlock Tracy: homicide detective, Cher= Roxy Rich: heiress socialite

Amber= Mag Niffie: a rude optometrist, Ryan= Tele N. Ewe: a reporter

Abby= Blondie Fawn: a Hollywood has been, Kyler= Jackey T. Pressen: owner of the local dry cleaner.

Laura= Jamie Bond: secret agent, Ethan= Hal Hammy: Jamie's partner

Melanie= Pepper Keegrip: , Kent= Mike Robes: a neurotic biochemist

Aimee= Yena Verz: a astronaut who is a former genius, Dane= Luke Food: comedian and food inspector

Dustin= Bill Shananagan: an obnoxious football coach, Alicia= Pawnie McQueen: professional chess player

Nikki= Dolly Dee Seiner: a doll maker, Kacey= Bryan Seafoam: radio disc jokey

Richard= Bameril Lacrosse: chef and restarant owner, Charisse= Cha Cha Merengue: professional ballroom dancer

The Whole Gang!

Victim ended up being Sherlock Tracy who came back as a ghost:)

Murderer was Bameril Lacrosse- dirty rat:)

We party it up around Halloween.

Jase loves his costume. He's even got the Funny Mario voice down.

"It'sa mee a Maaario, I'm a going to wiiin!"

Pumpkin carvin'

We've got the ward party (which the YW were in charge of this year- which means I was helping out...whoa what a crazy night).

Then the neighborhood parade/movie party. However, we left a little early, I think Hocus Pocus is a little too much for 3 year olds.

Then we have the BIG party that Ryan and I throw every year. Post coming soon.

Anderson's in town

Ry's parents and little sister Kendall came to visit us for a few days. It was loads of fun!

We went to see the new Footloose movie- which I loved. I've gotta find a dancing place in Boston- I miss dancing SO much!

Then of course we had to go to our favorite place, Breakheart, for a little walk.

We also hiked up to the top of a Boston mountain- aka small rocky hill- and saw a beautiful view of trees in all directions! It doesn't even look like there is anything else around- yet this place is literally one block from busy neighborhoods and shopping centers. The foliage is just so thick and everywhere.

We played at the park there for awhile too.

Then we drove up to Salem.

I'm not a huge fan of Salem around Halloween. I mean people there are CRAZY. In Salem people dress in costume the entire month of October and they take costumes to a whole new level...or you can just walk around with blood smeared all over you.

Seriously, is it any wonder Jase has been crawling into bed with us in the middle of the night saying he's scared?!

The next day we took a little longer of a drive to one of the best orchards in New England called Honey Pot Hill Orchard.

You go on a little hayride which has a few different stops. One in the orchards when you climb little wooded ladders to pick from the tippy tops of the trees. Another takes you to the farm area where you can get all sorts of yummy treats including the BEST apple cider donuts and there are plenty of animals to look at and a hedge maze.

Seriously the cutest little place.

Then Kendall had to go back to school and Greg and Kristan stayed at a timeshare in the Burkshires (western Mass) and traveled around for the week doing "Leaf Peeping." Then they came back to see us one last time that weekend.

We went to another park and picnicked with some hot cocoa and Dunkin Donuts:)

Thanks for coming fam! We love seeing you guys and we had a blast!

All the Fall festivities

I'm sure I've said this a million times, but Fall in Boston is SO great. It's my favorite part of living in New England. There is always something fun and festive to do. The weather is beautiful and the colors are breathtaking.

We tend to hit up our fair share of apple orchards and this year we started at Russell Orchards.

Maycee saying "burr" when the breeze hit:)

Then on October 1st a few friends got together and we took the boys to the fall festival at Breakheart.

(Jase, Logan, Gavin)

They learned how to make Apple Cider

Started hunting for candy in the hay pile and end just throwing hay at each other

decorated pumpkins

and more- it was a fun start to fall.