Halloween 2013

We had an awesome Halloween week! This year, Adelyn was a Fairytale Witch and James was a ghost, Spiderman, and Batman. I started out wanting them to match- ghost and witch. The ghost costume was a bust- he tripped the whole time and was frustrated with the lack of arm control. From there, it was JUST put him in WHATEVER he'll wear (he's not very into dressing up!). 

It's become an annual tradition that we eat at Lynn and Ricky's around this time of year. Lynn goes nuts with her Halloween decorations! The cousins all wore their costumes. 

Conner is the FedEx guy- HILARIOUS!! 

Crazy kids!

We decorated our pumpkin. Adelyn enjoyed it

James....not so much.
I didn't take a picture of the Jack O Lantern- it was your boring triangle eyes, nose, and toothy grin. 

Dean and James were both Spiderman at Oak Grove's Trunk or Treat. Love their thrilled faces

OG Kids! James loved the BIG tractor pulled trailer ride!

Trick or Treating from Pastor Garry

They had face painting. I tried so hard to get Adelyn to choose a something small for her cheek. That wasn't happening. 

The kids had their school parties on Wednesday and Thursday (Adelyn's was actually on Halloween)

James dressed up as Batman for his party day

James with his sweet teachers, Mrs. Teresa and Mrs. Greta

On Halloween morning, I *attempted* pumpkin pancakes. They were actually healthy- I snuck in some leftover acorn squash

I was on the committee for Adelyn's class party. I thought the gal in charge chose great, semi-healthy snacks- nuggets, string "ghost" cheese,  "pumpkin" mandarin oranges, mummy pops, and mummy juice boxes. Seth and I did the oranges and juice boxes. We wrapped the boxes in muslin and hot glued the googly eyes. I kinda felt a little nuts doing that, but the kids loved their spooky snack!

Adelyn with her sweet teachers, Mrs. Gail and Mrs. Nancy

We've started ballet again. The first class was Halloween afternoon, so Mrs. Sandy said they could come in costume!

We ate Halloween night dinner at the McDonough's. We trick or treated with them last year too. I love her kids' Dracula and Mummy costumes!

The weather was very comfortable. I was actually warm by the night's end. All that walking around!  

Bryce and James rode a little and walked a little

They live in a large neighborhood and it was a party! There were people everywhere! Cullen and Adelyn were full force ahead. It was so much fun! Much more happening here than on Fast Lane with it's 10 residents :)

Fun with Nana and Grandeddy

My mom came in town two weekends in a row! Seth was out of town both times (a MacLaren event and a lumber convention in Vegas), so it was a huge help having her around! One weekend she came, it was just her, the kids, and me. The next weekend my dad joined her because it was Grandparents' Day at the preschool. Both visits were wonderful!

The first weekend, schools had a little fall break and the kids were out Friday Oct. 18th. We headed down to Stone Mountain for the day! The kids had fun at the Pumpkin Festival!

They had pumpkins dressed up all sorts of ways! These are the hikers that Adelyn loved

James is getting so good at the ropes course! Just a few months back we were here and he wasn't doing half this good!

Adelyn is an old pro! She is so funny on the zip line.

I have only hiked Stone Mountain once, right after I graduated from college....so it's been a while! We took the cable car to the top. It was pretty cool!

Riding to the top

We made it! It's cool to see downtown Atlanta in the background. If I could repeat this day, I would. The weather was absolutely perfect. 

Sometimes they love each other

The next Thursday and Friday were Adelyn and James's Grandparents Day. My parents stayed until Saturday. One day after naps, we went to Uncle Shuck's. They have giant tractor wheels to climb, a huge corn maze, a small maze for little ones, tractor rides, corn cob shooting, and pumpkins!

Shocker....James LOVED the giant tractor wheels!

The little maze was made out of soy bean plants

Adelyn attempted the cob shooter. Her aim was not too bad and she hit the truck a couple times

Uncle Shuck's Redneck Lounge

My kids are BLESSED with awesome grandparents! Seth's parents come see the kids several times a week and Brenda keeps them while I tutor. We are so thankful for the love!

Fall Fun!

On Wednesday, I met James and his class at the school's pumpkin patch. He basically just threw the pumpkins. :) He did smile and let me take the cute picture of him. 

This past Friday, we took the kids to the Fair with Seth's parents. We got there around 4 so there wasn't a huge crowd. We stayed for about 3 hours. Adelyn would ride anything she was tall enough for! The Superman ride was her favorite. 

Mini Roller Coaster

Bigger roller coaster- notice it's just her and another girl up front

James and Adelyn on the helicopters

Daddy and Adelyn on the Ferris Wheel

Daddy and Adelyn on the ride what whips you round and round

Nose picker on the boats. He was adorable on this ride! The boats went up and down and he would over exaggerate his head and move it up and down as well

Ladies from a local Baptist church did free face painting. At the end she put a heart and a cross on Adelyn's hand.

On Saturday morning we went to our 6 year old nephew's last football game. So cute! Then we headed to Kinsey Farms for our annual pumpkin patch visit

Fence climbers

Pumpkin Head and Big Sister

Adelyn loved this worty pumpkin. It came home with us.

A tractor pulled hay ride (you know James was in heaven). It takes you to a pond where you feed some big ole catfish.

After the pumpkin patch, we went to a 6 year old's super hero birthday party and then a 70 year old adult birthday party that night! Seth actually took Adelyn back for more Fair fun on Sunday. This time she said the swings were her favorite. I just love a family weekend!

Blooming reader

Adelyn has been able to read CVC words for awhile. However, you really have to sit with her and help her AND she was not very interested. It was more of a chore. However, we turned a corner. Friday night she chose this book and read pages!! It was awesome! Something in her has clicked. She gets it and is very interested. She was super proud of herself and of course, I was a beaming mama!

My mom gave me this set of books a while back. They're from her classroom- old as all get out, but a tad more interesting than the Bob books. 

IOPb

Our beach trip continued (see first part here)....Seth had to fly to California on Thursday to do a Maclaren event. We were sad that he missed the last part of the trip. These days were PERFECT beach days, weather wise. 

James peeing outside at the rinse off station. Sorry, had to document. 

Blowing bubbles in the sand hole. 

My old roommate Kate joined us at the beach and brought her two precious girls, This is Mary (6 months old) performing her tongue trick. 

Adelyn is helping Kate give Mary a bottle

I met another old roommate, Heather for dinner one night. Heather got engaged the night before! I was so glad I was in town and got to hear the news first hand. I am very excited for her and Chip!

Adelyn was master of the boogie board! She was out deep with 8 year olds riding the waves in (closely supervised, of course)

Uncle Joe ready to hit the beach

My dad assuming his beach position

As you can see, James was ALL about the sand, and not so much the ocean. 

On Saturday morning, my mom and I took the kids to the Charleston Farmers Market. Adelyn is tasting some local honey. 

My mom with the kids. We thought this tree was cool.

Making wishes! 

At the Farmers Market, they had an area called a Musical Petting Zoo. Adelyn tried out a violin and cello. She loves music!

Saturday night was our last night. We all went to dinner at The Boathouse. I snapped some pictures beforehand. James always does whatever Adelyn does!

Uncle Joe with us. He was a tremendous help with the kids, especially while Seth was gone. He took the kids for ice cream one night, took Adelyn out in the waves, and taught them about poppers (which Adelyn loved). 

Sunday morning= departure day. Luckily, it was cloudy and drizzling! That makes it a tad easier. We did a no-no and fed the birds popcorn on the beach. The kids thought that was fun. Bye, bye ocean....see you next summer!

Ugh, a 5 hour drive by myself with these two! They were NOT FUN for the first half of the trip. They were whining/crying....I was so fed up that I told them I'd buy them a Frosty if they'd stop whining. So here we are at Wendy's.