November...in a nutshell

Is it really already almost Thanksgiving?! I have taken practically no pictures this month. The days have just seemed to unknowlingly slip together and then the month is nearly over. Joey celebrated his birthday this month and we chowed down on his favorite cake, yellow with chocolate frosting. He turned 33. I can't believe how old we're getting. The girls have had the sniffles ever since it started to get cold and our nights have been filled with bouts of coughing. Last weekend Olivia reminded me that her school project was due on Monday (yesterday). I hadn't even thought about it and it's been sitting around for 2 weeks at home. Good thing she reminded me on Friday night and not on Sunday night. She made a newspaper doll at school and we had to turn it into a pilgrim. I have to admit, I did most of the project. I just wanted to get it done. I did make her stay in the room with me and she helped hold things and she drew the face on. She's been doing well and reading up a storm. I love that she even reads while she is walking home from the bus stop.Sammie was "Student of the Month." She was so proud of herself. She will not smile at school. That's how serious she is. Her kindergarten photo is a sad sight. It's funny because she is NOT like that at home. She's completely crazy and up and down with emotions. She holds it in all day and lets it all out at home. She loves school and works hard at her reading words. She's been getting a new list of words every week. Sammie is a thinker and her little wheels are always turning in her head.
Abby has been a crack up. Can you believe that she can draw now? This is one of her first drawings that resembled a person. She has since drawn many others. She just gets paper herself and sits at the table and draws person after person...just like a big girl. I have to often remind myself that she is just barely 2 1/2. This morning she was in bed talking to her bunny. I asked her if she wanted to get up and she said, "No. I'm just telling my bunny about a sea lion and goldfish." I said, "Um, okay. And left the room," wondering what that was all about. So that's pretty much November. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving with family and relaxing a little from the daily schedule. I am grateful...for pretty much everything.

Sammie the soccer player

Sammie's last soccer game was on Saturday and then it finally felt like fall. We had such a warm October, but the girls were happily bundled up for school today and my heater has even been on in the mornings. My brother Nate took these photos of Sammie when they were visiting for Olivia's baptism. She is very serious on the soccer field. She's quite an aggressive little thing and it's been fun going to her games and watching her play. I think Joey will be happy to have his Saturdays a little more free. Here's our little soccer player.

The Belle of Halloween

The girls had a great time trick-or-treating. Abby was complaining of her leg hurting. Turns out the safety pin on her tutu was poking her in the leg. They are filled with sugar, but are sleeping now. This was such a busy October. I can't believe that the holiday season is here. Sometimes I just wish that everything could stay just how it is. That no one would ever grow up...but I guess I always feel that way and they still grow and I still enjoy each phase of life. So Happy Halloween...till next year when everyone will be a year older and I'll wonder where the year went.

A Funky Vampire

The "Pink" Fairy

Abby specifically refers to her costume as a "pink fairy."

Halloween

We went to the Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday night at church. The girls were so excited. Sammie was easy this year because she wanted to wear her Belle costume from dance. Abby wanted to be a fairy. I just went through the dress-ups. Olivia must be growing up. She wanted to be something scary this year and vampire it is! We came up with a "funky vampire" costume. So it was scary, but not too scary :) Happy Halloween!

American Pop

The 3rd Graders do an "American Pop" performance each year. Olivia's dance number had to wear country clothes. She would start singing all these songs at home and I would turn and ask, "Where did you learn that?" They performed songs from the 1950s to present day. There was the Beatles, Elvis, Stayin' Alive, Cyndi Lauper, Back Street Boys...all the way to today. They learned tons of songs and there were dancers for each number. So entertaining.

(Olivia and her friend Mary before the performance).

Abby gettin' some air