Happy Halloween!

Tonight we went over to some friends house for dinner and trick or treating.  Their neighborhood is crazy packed!  We had a great time and the girls especially loved the full size Pepsi's as well as the full size candy bars. 

The girls loved being with their friends for the outing.  We were so very thankful for a fun night with good friends!
 

Trunk or Treat

 Tonight I took Maggie and Ava to the trunk or treat at the church where I work.  The girls had a great time and I enjoyed seeing a lot of my school families.  Thankful I felt like going!

Andy's helper, Barney!

This morning I had the second step of my oral surgery and had the implant placed in my gum.  It wasn't terrible...a little tender but nothing too terrible.  Around lunchtime, I crashed.  I came home, got on the couch and fell hard and fast asleep.  I woke up when Andy got home.  When I did, I realized that I had missed a text from my friend Lia.  She was at Goodwill and found a Roomba still in the box.  It has been about an hour since her text and I felt certain it was most likely gone.  Although Andy was tired, he said "Do you want me to go and take a look?"  I said yes and off he went.  Thirty minutes later he came home with our new friend "Andy's helper...aka Barney" like on Andy Griffin! :-)  We charged this puppy up and off it went.  I think it's gonna make me a very happy person...espeically Andy who typically does the sweeping!
 

Homecoming Dance

Last night after the game, the girls headed to McCall's to spend the night.  They got up early and went to breakfast at the club.  They left there and went to the school to set up.  After setting up, they got their nails done.  Then back to McCall's to do hair and make up.  They looked so beautiful!!

Once everyone was ready, we went to a friends house to take pictures.  They all turned out so pretty!

Our beautiful baby girl!!!

So I picked up the flowers for Caroline, McCall and Ella.  This morning, I went to get something out of our outside fridge where the flowers were.  The back half of Caroline's flowers were burnt.  Half of McCall's bouquet was frozen!  I panicked...then I went to Harris Teeter to buy fillers...I was so worried what the girls would think.  Thank goodness, they took it better than I did and thought the flowers looked great.  Shew...

When I caught Andy and Davy folding the girls phones, keys and flowers, I had a moment...daddy's of little girls, you might be holding their diaper bags and favorite lovey now but in a few years you'll be holding all their big girls things...these girls have some pretty awesome daddy's!

SF Homecoming

 Finally, homecoming week!  It seems like the girls have been prepping for this night for weeks now.  The parents enjoying tailgating before the game...it was a nice night!

The finished product!!  The pictures don't do it justice.  They did a phenomenal job!  So much detail!  Most of all, so thankful for McCall's granddaddy and Lolla hosting them, feeding them and helping with logistics.  

Top left: Juniors float, top right: freshman float, bottom: Senior float

5th grade character parade

 Today was Maggie's character parade at school.  She was a baker like the character in "Emma:  Smile and Say Cupcake."  She's a cute little baker!!

Just because Flowers

 I may or may not have had a really hard evening with one of our children.  It really hurt and I was really down.  Then today my dear sweet hubby brought these to me at school.  Made my day!!!  Love my hubby and so thankful for his kind heart!

Halloween Camping

Halloween camping with our friends is one of our favorite camping traditions.  Us, along with 7 other families rent two quads, side by side, 4 campers on each quad.  We do life for 48 hours together.  Our kids play together, we eat meals together, we lounge around together and enjoy the camp fire together.  Such a relaxing, fun weekend.

The younger kids enjoyed a movie after dark on the big screen.

Caroline was the only kid legally able to drive.  She was more than happy to take the little kids places on the golf cart while the parents sat at the campsite.

Ice Cream for lunch

I love hanging out with sweet Rylie!  She always makes me smile!

Andy and Mallory watched the Gamecocks play.

Part of my Garmin October challenge was to walk 3 miles Halloween weekend.  Michelle decided to join me vs. taking a nap.  We walked through the trails in the woods.  We came across this really large hole...we didn't think we could go through it or around it so we turned around and went another way.  Well we made it, all three miles...only for it not to count.  Just because we were there to celebrate Halloween, didn't mean it was Halloween weekend...I was a week too soon! :-)

Our kids...some in costumes, some thought they were too big!

The cutest barista!!

Bowling for candy!

These two walk together every year...they love each others company.

Halloween Family Picture 2024

The gang ready for our annual chili dinner!

Things got a little wild with these three...tattoos for everyone!

I'm not a huge spooky Halloween fan but I thought this site looked really cool!

Sunday morning breakfast of champions!  Nanny's homemade pecan pie, a cup of coffee all while sitting by the fire!

 What a fun weekend...good food, good friends, great memories!  I think our kids look forward to this as much as we do!  It felt odd at times, sitting at the campsite by ourselves while they were off playing and having fun...they're growing up!

State Swim Meet

Caroline finished the regular season of swim with a STATE consideration time.  That means that if the spot is available, she may get invited, but it isn't guaranteed that she will.  While we were in Virginia, she found out that she was seeded 26th out of 30 in the STATE swim meet!!  We were so excited!  What an amazing opportunity as a sophomore!  As a super proud parent, of course, I had to decorate the van for travels.

The aquatics center was beautiful.  We were so excited to see her swim in Gamecock waters. It was just a coincidence that Josie was in town to visit Abby and was able to join us for the event!! 

Our girls dropped .5 seconds and finished with a PR of 28.28 and finished in 24th place!  It was hard to photograph her swimming because they were SO fast and it was such a large area.  We weren't sure if she would be able to come up to where we were so we got a picture with Abby and Josie from afar.  One of the most special things about the meet was that Catherine was also invited to swim in the STATE meet.  So fun to share this moment with her as well. 

These girls were so proud of these overpriced, gotta have, sweatshirts!!  We ate a super yummy dinner and then the girls were out on the way home!  What an incredible experience!!  We are so proud of Caroline!

 

Fall Break in Virginia

I'm not a fan of going back to school August 1 but fall break was a much needed blessing.  A change in routine, a change in pace and a change of scenery was a gift. 

After a few days at home, we headed to Virginia to enjoy gorgeous weather, delicious apples and sweet family time with Uncle Ed and Aunt Lill.  Caroline and Maggie look forward to this trip just as much as Andy and I do.  Time with our loved ones are truly the best gift and I'm so very grateful for this time with all my family!

A trip to Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed's wouldn't be complete without a project with Uncle Ed.  I can't share the photos until after homecoming...

 

Aunt Lill knows that I love candy corn.  Mema use to fill a candy dish every October and she would get me a bag every year to bring home.  While I don't need a whole bag of my own, Aunt Lill has started the tradition of having a dish of candy corn on the table when we arrive.

We weren't even there an hour before these two loaded up and headed to Home Depot...Caroline thought she was SOMEBODY driving this very nice truck!

Thursday morning we got up early to head to the apple orchard.  Uncle Ed voluntold Caroline to hop in the drivers seat. He wanted her to drive on the interstate.  She thought he was going to drive up the mountain to the orchard but he told her to keep going...I was in my 40's before I drove up a mountain...go Caroline!

Breakfast was hot apple cider and apple cider doughnuts.

I'm so thankful the girls humor me with taking these pictures!

I love these two so much!!!  SO thankful for our time together and this fun tradition!

After the apple orchard, we got lunch at our favorite bagel shop.  It was absolutely delicious!!!  I had an everything bagel, turkey, lettuce, cheese, tomato and mayo.  I have been thinking of that sandwich ever since...after lunch we hit our typical thrifting shops.  Both girls found a few things.

Once home, I still needed a few steps to meet my 10,000 steps for the day.  I took Rupee for her afternoon walk and it was lovely!

Friday we didn't have any set plans.  Caroline mentioned going for a hike.  Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed knew the perfect spot.  The girls walked while the guys rode the electric bikes.  It was a wonderful 4.5 mile hike!!  I loved every minute of it!!!

The girls walked over to some rocks off to the side.  They stayed there for quite some time.  I took them a snack that Aunt Lill packed.  It made my heart so HAPPY to see them enjoying each others company.

Caroline came to Uncle Ed's rescue and brought the electric bike back...we were so happy to see her come around the corner!

 Glad that we are home and have tomorrow to get things straight...I crashed once I finally sat down and enjoyed a 2 hour nap. It was glorious with the exception of the things that didn't get done... :-)