Halloween Weekend

Pumpkin Patch

We've had a great weekend of fun! It started Wednesday morning at our local pumpkin patch. I met Amy, Arinne, Helen, Kelly, Mitzi and Anna Reid along with all the kids - Hudson, Riley, Eddison, Ivy, Claire, Gracie, Sydney, Macie Mae and Charlie. The kids had so much fun playing in the yard for a long time - they had swings, slides, tractors, playhouses, and this huge Noah's Ark wooden play set. Then we went on a hayride through the pumpkin patches and the Christmas tree farm. We stopped and the kids were able to pick a pumpkin out of the field. It was a gorgeous day, but very cold! After we played some more, we took the party to Chick-fil-A. It was a little crazy with 7 Mamas and 11 kids....but we survived!

Macie Mae and her pumpkinMitzi and kids on the hayrideHelen, Kelly and Arinne with their kids Ethan, Nina and Gracie - I had made this cute dress for Nina, but it was so cold, so she wore a pink sweatsuit

Ethan and Nina in the pumpkin patchNina was soooo tired from not having a morning nap, so she's in a daze - I already have visions of Christmas card picture drama!I thought this picture was so funny - both of their expressions were funnyThis is the dress I made for her - not too bad for my first attempt!Nina with one of MANY suckers consumed during the weekend!

PRESCHOOL PARTY

I helped with Ethan's preschool Fall party Thursday morning. The kids had a great time! They were so cute dressed in their Halloween costumes.

Halloween story time
It was kind of sad looking at him sitting at his little table....he's getting so big!

Trick or treating...

Our princess turned into a witch - my parents had bought this for Nina last year after Halloween, so my Mom brought it for her to wear Halloween night. She was a cutie! Like I said, Nina had MANY suckers.....she clinched this one for a long time and wouldn't let it go for anything Nona with her knight and witch on Halloween
Ethan and Nina really got into trick or treating this year. Ethan loved running from house to house and Mark was proud of his technique and abilities to run and get as much candy as possible! Nina enjoyed going from house to house too and loved saying "thank you" to anyone that would listen.We ran into these kids at the main neighborhood attraction....Lucas and Sophia are in Ethan's preschool class and they live in our neighborhood so the kids loved trick or treating for awhile together. Sophia and Bella (the younger sister) have named about 7 of their baby dolls "Ethan" - see Melanie, it's not just your kids.... Taking a break and eating dinner at Donnie and Cathy's houseEthan decided he was done!

Auburn/Ole Miss game

We went to Oxford, MS early Saturday morning for the Auburn/Ole Miss game. Mark and I had not been to Oxford before - what a lovely town. We could live there! We went with the Maunds. Kathy's Dad went to Ole Miss and they have season tickets, so we joined them for some tailgating before and after the game. I have NEVER seen tailgating like this before. The Grove is full of tents - tents that have iron chandeliers hanging down from them. Tents that have printed signs of the names of the groups that tailgate together. Silver, crystal and catering trucks everywhere. It was crazy! And the girls dress up big time - they all had short little dresses on with HIGH, HIGH heels or boots on. Like I said, I've never seen tailgating like this before. I was dressed like a Mom. Even though Auburn lost, we had a fabulous time! It was such a gorgeous day to be outside and at a football game! War Eagle!

Mark and Ethan walking through The Grove on the way to the stadium

Waiting for the game to begin
F-16 flyover that was incredible. They flew over and then circled around and came back across the field and right over us and right at the edge of the stadium went straight up kicking in the afterburners....which Mark said they aren't supposed to do. Worth the price of admission for sure! Amazing! Ethan before the game started - he loved it and did really well!

Mark and Mitzi Baker were also at the game - so Ethan and I walked around the stadium to see Gracie. She was so cute in her dress that Mitzi made!Madeleine and Adam playing with Ethan Tailgating after the game - great food and great company!Ethan loved playing in this pecan treeThe Maunds and the Nobles - we had a great time together, even though Marion and Adam were wearing Rebel colors!!!

We had a fabulous time this past weekend. The kids, Mark and I loved having Nona here! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and we'll be together again! Tonight as Mark and I were straightening up the house, I had to resist the urge to put Fall things up to prepare for pulling out the Christmas decorations....I spoke my thoughts and Mark put his foot down (not too hard though). I'm going to enjoy Fall for a few more weeks!! Hope everyone has a great week!

Fun Weekend

We had a nice weekend. The weather is perfect! Friday night we went to Harding Academy's homecoming via Memphis Pizza Cafe. It was a chilly evening - perfect for football! There is a huge hill next to the grandstand and last year Ethan sat on his bottom and scooted down the hill. The hill is covered with kids rolling, jumping, scooting, etc....this year, he literally went to the top and would run down it. I thought I was going to jump out of my skin! He loved it and was a mess when we left. Nina thought she was old enough to do the same and tried to get up the hill too. She loved dancing to the band and seeing Prowler the Lion. High School football is so much fun!

Saturday morning, dark and early, I met about 45 others at church and we went to Race for the Cure. I ran with my friend Kelly and we had fun together and finished the 5k in 33 minutes. We were both pleased. (And on a side note, I don't know when this has happened...but I used to do a 5k and be sore and almost not be able to walk the next day - now I really don't even worry or train for it, much less feel it the next day. I'm doing a half marathon in December....that won't be the case then! Sorry for the side note). Saturday was a gorgeous day outside and the kids had fun playing out while I was gone.

Sunday was our Neighbor Day at church. We had a lot of visitors and a wonderful dinner afterwards. After the evening service was our annual hot dog and chili dinner and trunk or treating. It was so much fun and both Ethan and Nina had a great time. Mark said Nina kept telling people thank you after they put candy in her pumpkin. She got some of those cheap googly eyed glasses and has really enjoyed playing with those. She'll put them on and shake her head back and forth trying to see out of the small holes. It's quite amusing.

This week we're going to the pumpkin patch with friends from church, Ethan's preschool Halloween party and of course the big event of the week...Nona's arrival and trick or treating Friday night. Oh, and the Auburn football game on Saturday - which, hopefully Auburn can show up and beat Ole Miss! Regardless, it will be an orange wearin week! Happy Halloween to all!!! I'll miss being on the court square, Melanie! Ethan and Nina with Keeley at the football game.

After leaving the football game, I thought it was a good idea to stop at Starbucks for a hot cocoa. There isn't a drive thru at this one, so Mark went in. Big mistake - it took like 15 minutes...and we were bored waiting for him, so I put the GPS on Ethan's window and he had a blast!

Where do we want to go, Mommy?
Ethan was very proud of himself that he got to have a sip of the $4 hot cocoa that took 15 minutes to make - it was yummy though!

Waiting for the parade of trick-or-treaters to begin through the gym - Ethan with Gracie and Sydney (Perry and Judy Baker's grandkids)

Ethan the Knight and Nina the Princess
Ethan and Gracie eating dinner before trunk or treating

Nina and Keeley

Nina was very pleased that she got this sucker before dinner

The kiddos watching some of the older kids in their costumes
Nina and her funny glasses

Sunday nights have become interesting in our house - a couple of weeks ago I recorded the season premier of America's Funniest Home Videos - Ethan was literally belly laughing and it was so much fun to watch him laugh...so now he watches it every Sunday night. It's hilarious!

Mark wearing Nina's glasses

Nina laughing at Mark wearing her glasses

No caption needed....

Cheese! When Nina sees the camera, that's what she says now. Too funny! Happy Halloween!

Fun Times...

It's hard to believe Halloween is next weekend! Ethan had preschool pictures last week - Mark said I dressed him like he was going to a polo match. Whatever. Tuesdays at the zoo are free for TN residents, so we went last Tuesday. We haven't renewed our membership yet, so we thought we'd take advantage of a free day. Anyways, we went with several from church. It was also Shelby County Fall break - so the zoo was a ZOO. It was ridiculously crowded, but the kids had fun. We have a great zoo and always enjoy going. Nina's favorite words lately are "Whoa" and "Wow" so she kept yelling those and pointing when we got there. It was hilarious. We also went to Macie Mae's 4th birthday party on Saturday and Ethan got to wear his Halloween costume. Last night we went to see Madeleine play soccer and then to Booya's for dinner. This weekend we're going to Harding Academy's Homecoming Friday, Saturday is Race for the Cure and Sunday night at church is our Trunk or Treat. Next weekend Nona is flying in for Halloween and to keep Nina while we go to the Auburn/Ole Miss game with the Maunds. Busy busy! Ethan before heading out to preschool - new haircut and polo clothes (according to Mark)

Ethan has this incredibly sharp memory - but of course when it's shaved ice, who can forget? We always get a shaved ice by the elephants - it's the only $ we spend at the zoo, but it's a great $3 spent! Today was peach (orange) picked by Ethan. It was yummy!
Of course, it was 85 degrees that day, so we had to pull summer clothes back out! Shaved Ice was a must!!
Charlie, Macie, Ethan and Nina watching the sea lion show
Ethan playing inside the eggs in the petting zoo area

Macie and Ethan watching the flamingos
Ethan in his knight costume Nona brought back from her trip to England this past summer

Macie, Ethan and Ivy enjoying cake and ice cream
Nina and Mr. Marion at Madeleine's soccer game

Kathy's sister in law made this dress - isn't it so cute? I bought it a little big so she could wear it 2 years
Do you know who this looks like...... Charlotte - look at my mom's baby pictures and you'll see it too!
So after seeing this post, Mrs. Kennedy found this picture of my Mom and her brother. Can't you see the resemblance too? Somehow Nina got Nona's blond curls! Thanks, Mrs. K for pulling this picture out, scanning it and sending it to me! Here I am Mommy!
Ethan and Nina laughing at Daddy
Ok, so I've been on this "I can do this" kick lately - I stayed up late the other night and this was my first attempt at sewing pants for Nina. Don't look too closely, they might fall apart if you stare too hard! Ethan told me that Ro Ro is a good sewer, but I need some help! Thanks, son!

Ethan and Nina Update

Not too much has been going on here...well, we're busy as usual, but nothing out of the ordinary. Ethan is back into the swing of things with preschool. The first day back (after our beach trip), Mark took him and was standing out in the hall waiting on Ethan to decide when he was going to go in the classroom...and one of the other Moms told Mark that her little boy has been praying for Ethan - and they are friends because they cry together at preschool. She told him, well, why can't you be big boys together and not cry at preschool. Austin told her that it's more fun to cry together. We also found out that day that 3 other boys were fit to be tied that Ethan was gone for a week and a half. Every day they kept asking where he was and when he was coming back. How sweet! I don't think I've posted this before, but when he first started preschool, he cried as soon as I put him in the room. But after about 10 minutes he was fine. After that first day, Ethan became close friends with the Director, Mrs. Whiteside. They are best buds! She lets him come to her office mid morning to call me, just to check in and say hi. Now it's habit to call me, but it's about a 10 second conversation now. Once he's there, he loves it! While he's gone from the house, it's strange. Nina is SO quiet without her Bubba here to bother her. She will go into another room and just sit and play without making any noise. She is walking everywhere now and prefers to walk over crawling finally. She is talking a lot too and it's so sweet to hear her babble. Enjoy the pictures and Happy Fall!

Nina LOVES Mardi Gras beads. On a recent trip to Garden Ridge, I got her a pack - the best $2 spent in a looooong time!
Like I said, she's quiet. She had been playing with my bracelet and all of a sudden I didn't hear her anymore and walked into the room and found her like this. Chef Ethan making something yummy in the kitchen Funny bath time hair

Ethan and Nina in their Halloween pjs
Nina very proud of herself!