Halloween 2012

Once again this year I volunteered to coordinate the neighborhood Halloween block party.  And once again Domino's had our pizza order a half our late, which made things quite interesting trying to get the pizza back, the party set up, kids dressed, pumpkin lit, etc all way after the party was supposed to start.  Anyway, it all worked out (as it always does) and the kids had a blast!


Neighborhood Kid Picture

Right after the pizza and a group picture the kids sprinted off down the street in a big pack going door to door.  We usually lag behind and go after the pack, but I promised Savannah she could go with everyone else.  Thankfully, I was smart enough to volunteer to stay home and hand out candy while Dave took the kids around with "the pack"!

I tried my best to get a picture of my two, but they weren't exactly cooperating because "the pack" was getting ahead of them.  But unfortunately, with me getting a late start I didn't get the pictures before hand and insisted on taking a few!  I took a few pictures and then they were off with Dave.

Dinosaur and Tinkerbell

I enjoyed chatting with a few neighbors and then retreated to the warm house to hand out candy to the 5 kids that came.  Then the phone rang.  It was Dave and I could tell he was having a blast.  Just kidding.  He says "Savannah's screaming because she can't keep up with the pack, I'm carrying Peanut's pumpkin because it's too heavy, and Peanut has to pee.  AND they are wanting to go all the way to Katie's grandma's for hot chocolate.  What do I do?"  I asked him where he was and apparently they had already made it through our neighborhood and were on the way out to the main street where we don't know anyone.  So I just told him that he'd have to unzip Preston and let him potty in someones yard.  Don't tell! :) 

After trick or treating (check out Savannah's shoes)

When they got back, here is the additional report I received from Dave:
* Apparently Preston's dinosaur costume looked a lot like an alligator.  So after a few houses, instead of "trick or treat" when someone would open the door, Preston would immediately say "I'm a dinosaur"
* Savannah's shoes were hurting after getting half way down our street, so she borrowed some shoes from Ms. Molly's house (check out the after picture and the red shoes).
* Peanut had a runny nose at Mr. George's house after having a melt down about something and had to get a tissue there
* Who knows who's yard Preston peed in
* And we still have to go to Katie's grandmas for hot chocolate . . in the car with Preston's dinosaur tail on!

I guess I made the right choice to stay home! :)  Here is Dave's creation this year.  He is quite the pumpkin carver. 

Fun Filled Saturday

We started the weekend by sleeping in until 7am and then slowly made our way to the annual Brookhaven 5k.  A sweet friend of mine volunteered to watch Savannah and Preston at the race so Dave and I could run together.   I had forgotten how super difficult the course was, but thankfully Dave ran with me the entire time and coached me up each and every hill.  I improved my time by a bit, finishing in 25:05.  We stayed around awhile and talked with our friends before heading home for a full day of fun.

I promised Savannah a trip to the mall for some girl time and new shoes so right after I showered we headed out.  She got some new sunglasses for her bear Magical, some new shoes for herself and we even picked up part of a Christmas present while we were out.  We made a quick stop by Harris Teeter and then it was home for naps.    

Savannah and Magical with her new sunglasses

 After nap time we promised the kids that they could assemble the Halloween mansion that came in their package from Grammy and Papa.  Dave had to help with the assembly of the house, but the kids loved doing the stickers.

Working on the Halloween project from Grammy Papa

The finished Halloween house

Savannah also worked on her community worker school project that is due this week and then helped rake some leaves while Dave cleaned our gutters.  I got quite a few things checked off of my list, finished the dishes and laundry, and made a yummy chicken pie for dinner.  All in all it was a fun and productive day! 


 

 

 

 

Coloring Progress

As a math teacher I rarely find interest in any art (or reading to for that matter) that comes home . . .but today this one sheet caught my eye.  Preston has finally grasped the concept of coloring in the lines.  Although he has a ways to go with his coloring skills, this is the first art work that I've noticed where he is definitely trying to stay in the lines of the pictures.  Way to go!!!

One Last Question Mom . . .

We have the hardest time getting Preston in bed at night.  He always "needs to ask one more question."  Usually it's about the fireworks at Carowinds (that we saw once on July 4th) or wanting to ask about my favorite part of Disney or the beach.  Last night I had  meeting at church and when I got home he was in bed but heard me come in . . . so the questions started yet again.  We just tried to ignore him and when we came upstairs to go to bed this is what we found.  He was sound asleep in the hallway, superman cape and all, with his foot through the railing and his blue B on his neck.  When I asked him about the picture this morning he said "that where I wait for you guys to stop talking to each other."  Guess that was a pretty long wait buddy!

Daddy Daughter Date!

I have to say that Dave is unlike any man I've ever met.  Although he practically bleeds orange for the Clemson Tigers, he gladly agreed to tape the rest of the game today (leaving with only 8 minutes to go) so that he wouldn't be late for his daddy daughter date with Savannah. They're off to see You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Imaginon uptown.

Fall Challenge Run

Today was Savannah's first challenge run of the school year. She woke up super excited and couldn't wait to show us how fast she could run. Dave even decided to go into work late so he could help count laps, so for our little Gracie Bell, the entire family was there to cheer her on!

She's on the run!

These two little buddies, Preston and Luke, loved watching the kids run

Mrs. Safran's class picture

 

 Savannah did great and ran 5 laps in 8 minutes.  So now the goal for the spring is to beat that number of laps.  I think next time we'll run with her to give her a bit of encouragement. :)  It was a fun morning watching the kids run, play, and of course have popsicles!

A Saturday Adventure Uptown

So excited for Disney on Ice to start!

This little guy loved watching the fire trucks as we ate outside at Brixx

One of the highlights of the morning was playing at 7th street station

This weekend we took the kids to see Disney on Ice at the arena uptown.  I hate to say it but we rarely go uptown, mainly because Dave and I hate the traffic and one way streets and also because we ALWAYS end up taking several wrong turns.  But since we had nothing else on the calendar we made it an all morning event. The kids enjoyed the Disney show (although Preston was pretty much done after intermission) and then we went to Brixx for lunch.  It was a bit chilly out, but we opted ot eat outside anyway.  It was super fun spending time as a family uptown.  However, the kids were exhausted when we finally got home. They both went right to bed and slept until I woke them up at 5:30pm!

It's Only Monday . . .

This week is going to be CRAZY for our family.  At dinner last night I braced everyone with the news of how busy things were going to be straight from our calendar.  And actually, I thought today was going to be the easy day. 

But as it turns out, shortly after breakfast Preston started crying saying his ear hurt.  He has only had 1 ear infection in his life, but it was so sudden and dramatic that it was almost God saying "go to the doctor now"!  Thankfully I made an appointment and got him in as quickly as we got dressed and ready to go.  Never mind he was covered in dry erase marker from Savannah's easel (his entertainment while I was running on the treadmill, I guess).  We got there as quick as we could, only to wait for over 1/2 hour in the waiting room.  Ahh!  Then we got the news that he indeed had an ear infection, one that according the doctor, wasn't even borderline.  I guess that prompted the doctor to write a pretty high dose of an antibiotic because the pharmacist wouldn't fill it without first checking speaking with the doctor; and then the insurance wouldn't cover it without a certain override code. Poor Preston!!!  Anyway, after 3, yes THREE, trips to the Harris Teeter pharmacy we have his medicine.

Preston with Mr. Josh

Preston was dead set on going to his My Gym class because it was their first award day and since the doctor said he wasn't really contagious I finally caved and said he could go.  (Mainly because I had 3 errands to run while he was there.  Bad mama, I know.)  He had a blast and survived a class of all girls too.

So now I should be typing the 2 mystery shops I've done today or responding to the 55 e-mails waiting in my in box or maybe even getting the house ready for tutoring tonight since Dave is working super late, but I had to share this cute picture of my sweet boy Preston!  He is  a trooper for sure!  Let the week begin . . .