Finishing Fall

I've had this post in my drafts since October, but because of technology issues, busyness, and laziness, I'm squeaking it in before the end of the year.  I want to blog about Christmas and can't let all of these memories be lost. 

During the last week of October, which was possibly one of the craziest weeks of our lives, we brought home our puppy Raider.  Sam is pantsless because I had to stop and let him potty in a parking lot and he still ended up with wet pants, underwear, socks, AND shoes.

 

 

During that crazy week, Avery finished her soccer season with 3 games in one week.  She had a great time and even stuck her foot out to kick the ball some.  In the last few minutes of the last game, she took a shot to the head, but the trophy and cupcake perked her right up.  I learned I was not made to be an extra-curricular mom.

 

We had a costume photo shoot before Halloween in case that night was too rushed.  We then carved pumpkins and had s'mores.  The last two pictures are from Halloween night.  We trick-or-treated at Ned's parents' and granddad's then trick-or-treated with friends in the busiest neighborhood in town.  Sam had a scary encounter with a Ninja Turtle at our first house, resulting in me carrying him the rest of the night.

 

 

We met Anna and Elsa at Austyn's birthday party.  Sam could not step away from the train table for a picture.

 

We puppy-proofed the house.

 

Ned and I attended the gala for school and had a fun night.

We celebrated a long-overdue Saturday at home in mid-November with pajamas and a Christmas movie.

Yaya and Poppa saved the toy flyers.

 

 

Mondays are our late days to get home, and we were surprised with our trees up the Monday before Thanksgiving. 

 

We said goodbye to our Sammy dog the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving break started Tuesday at noon for us, so we celebrated by redeeming a Book It! coupon and shopping for Christmas decor.

We watched the parade Thanksgiving morning before having lunch at Mimi's.

 

Toes came after naps since Ned would be hunting the next morning.

 

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my dad's sister's house with my uncle's side of the family also.  We are a big, loud, hungry group.

Next up will be December happenings and Christmas festivities, and my goal is to get them in before 2015 arrives.

Homecoming 2014

Avery participated {and thoroughly enjoyed} her first spirit week and homecoming at school.  The themes were superhero day, red, white, and blue day, Disney day, color clash day, and blue Friday.

 

 

Friday night before the game there was an alumni dinner and homecoming parade.  The lower school walked around the football field in front of the homecoming court.  It started pouring rain as the parade ended.  We hung out for awhile under the dinner tent but left really early since I had been sick.

The next morning there was a fall festival at school, so we took the kids to play and have lunch.  I sent Ned and the kids home and worked the game for Avery's class for awhile.  Avery and Sam both surprised us by climbing and coming down the big slide.

It was a busy and fun week, so fun that it almost made the sinus infection and pink eye that I started with that weekend more bearable.  Almost...but not quite!

Making Tracks to Great Destinations

Two weeks ago we packed up and left after lunch on Saturday for a little adventure with Thomas and Percy.  We took Avery to ride Thomas when she was three, and it was such a fun time.  Avery's love for Thomas at that age does not hold a candle to Sam's obsession, so we knew we had to go back.  This year they brought Percy along!

We got to Salisbury, NC around 5:00 p.m. after an uneventful trip including an outlet mall stop and naps in the car.  We went right to Olive Garden to eat, as I had been looking forward to that meal for awhile.  Poor Sam though was having bathroom issues that were not resolved until we got to our hotel, so dinner was kind of hectic.  The kids slept well while Ned and I kind of wished for morning.  I had been sick with a cough for several weeks and spent part of the night on the couch so that I wasn't coughing all over Avery.

We made our way to Krispy Kreme the next morning for some breakfast before our big day.

Crowds were much lower than our first trip, but it was early on a Sunday morning and there had been a wreck on 85.  We got pictures with Percy easily then had our pick of which caboose we wanted to ride in.  My family forced me to get over one of my many fears and climb a ladder so that we could ride in the cupola.

After our ride with Percy, we went to meet Sir Topham Hatt.  Everyone was excited until a little girl in front of us lost her mind.  Then Sam lost his when he got in the tent with Topham Hatt.  Even Avery wouldn't stand beside him.  I can't say I blame either of them though.

We did a little shopping and sight seeing after that, and then it was time for our ride with Thomas.

After that fun adventure, it was time for some Panera before heading home.  It was a fun fall trip, and it was sad to think we may be out of the Thomas stage by next year.