here it goes:
our favorite tradition of all, the annual donut party, was last monday night. we started planning this sucker in august and worked right up until the day of! the cabin is going bye-bye in a couple of months so this year was the last time we could use it for the party. thats why, we went all out this time around: bigger decorations, way more donuts and the BEST spook alley ever. (i can say that because we subcontracted the preparation of the spook alley to our good friends, the johnstons!) it all started with these invitations. i worked so hard on them that after making seventy my fingers were sore for days.
tagg, of course, was the star of the show. he had worked so hard the day of the party that he conked out for most the actual event. however, like most hot-shots, he made a late appearance and basked in the attention from the crowd.
these are my pride and glory. they are the infamous pumpkin ghosts. those are REAL carved pumpkins under there. we made eight different ones and placed them all up the driveway. 
craig went a little nuts carving this particular pumpkin's mouth. it was pretty much all mouth. the lighting in the driveway was my favorite part of the entire party. 
my mom and tagg, in the kitchen. they make such a cute pair.
the skeleton looked kinda cold, so i let him borrow my halloween quilt.
i loved this halloween tree.
i loved this halloween tree. 
craig was helping to set the mood. 
the festive mantle in the cabin's living room.
tagg and me, in our matching skeleton get-up.
there is SO much time and preparation put into these donuts. you have to start the process of making them at nine in the morning. but there is nothing like the smell of homemade donuts in your home.
my cute aunt megan, slaving away over the hot oil. and yes, hundreds of donuts are fried individually in one little pan.
the finished product. SO worth the effort. these babies get snarfed up so fast we cant make them fast enough. and every year, while we are rolling out the dough we think "there is nO WAY we are going to go through three hundred plus donuts" and every year we run out.
my mom and holly. they stood at that window and passed out donuts for hours. they had a great time!
tagg got a little taste of a donut and loved it! i had to distract him with the lights so that he wouldnt beg for more.
for some reason, i get a kick out of the the dry ice in the apple juice every year. i love the effect it makes. i am like a five year old, ok?
not the most aesthetically pleasing picture, but i wanted to document the crowd.
i loved that orange rope of lights. however, it didnt give off very much light. we never really solved the problem of poor lighting in the backyard....... oh well, it gives off the spooky effect, right?!
our good friends, bart and jill, and bart's younger sister. we were so glad they came and brought little holden (their month old baby boy). he had the cutest dragon costumer ever!
the foot. my favorite part of the spook alley. to tell the truth, that thing had been down there since last year's party and REAL mice had nibbled on it. very authentic!
this was the mirror room. it had a strobe light in it and some kid with this evil clown mask on jumped out at people. people hate clowns.
so that about does it. we had a fabulous time at out donut party this year. we love making yummy food and entertaining with all of our friends. we are incredibly sad that the cabin wont be around next time, but i am already thinking of ways to transform my moms house for next year!
