Trunk-OR-Treat

This year, the trunk-or-treat was not on Halloween.  We are quite happy about that because our kids have missed trick-or-treating in the neighborhood for the past two years.  So, tonight, they are extremely excited.  They've been talking about if for days.  I took pictures from last night when they were all looking so cute.  We love to get dressed up around here.  Each of their costumes represent them so well.  We have Olivia as the 20s flapper.  Samantha as Little Red Riding Hood.  Abby as Elsa.

 

 

 

 

And Me?  Well, I dressed up as a cat.  Joey came right from work with a tie on and one kid asked if he was a Hogwarts student.  He proudly replied, "Yes."

 

 

 

 

Halloween Traditions

I kind of wished that I didn't put up anything Halloween until this week.  It seems like by the end of October I'm a little tired of Halloween and it would actually be fun to just celebrate it at the very end of the month.  Oh well.  Next year. 
The girls and I made our jack-o'-lantern cookies that we like to make each year.  They love to come up with different faces and of course gobble them up.  This was the best they have turned out yet as my girls are becoming much more proficient at rolling out cookie dough.
We even carved pumpkins this week.  We don't do it every year, but I was determined to get it done.  I'm not a very patient pumpkin carver.  Lots of fun going on this week, especially since they have been getting out early from school all week because of parent/teacher conferences.  (They are all doing so well in school.) 

Fall Festival

I will be happy when we have a Saturday that only has 2 soccer games in it and no other plans.  The weekend before was so busy with 2 soccer games and 3 play performances in one day.  Coaching has been very busy but also fulfilling.  We squeezed in some time at the school Fall Festival in between soccer games last Saturday.  Joey took Olivia with him on a field trip with the high school History Club. (Also squeezed in between soccer games.)  He got back just in time to coach Abby's game.

I told Abby and Sammie when we got there that they could each get 10 tickets and we had 45 minutes.  Abby really wanted to do the potato sack race.  She even planned ahead and made sure that she wore tennis shoes for optimal jumping abilities.   

 

Pippi Longstocking

After the Wizard of OZ play, Olivia found that she really likes to be a part of these productions.  Even in just a small roll, she has a lot of fun dressing up and being on stage.  Pippi Longstocking was a neat opportunity because the cast was small and the age range was only 4-12.  She played Mrs. Granberg and also a school child.  Because it was a small cast, many kids had multiple rolls.  It made for some busy fun with kids quickly changing backstage and Olivia started to feel a little more comfortable on stage.  They had 4 performances and she even had lines.  It was a very cute production and Olivia is learning a lot.  I wouldn't say that being on stage is her comfort zone, but she is starting to come out of her shell and have fun with it.

Is it really starting to feel like fall?

I'm afraid to say that it is starting to feel like fall because I know another 90 degree day is surely just around the corner.  At least the lighting is changing and the days are getting shorter and it isn't 90 degrees at 9am.  That is a big relief.  Today was just beautiful.  We had such a relaxing afternoon and we needed it.  Things have seemed so busy and crazy lately.  It was a nice break.
The girls spent the afternoon outside roller skating and bike riding and scooter riding and even riding scooters on roller skates.  That was interesting. 

It felt good to just be outside and my pumpkins are starting to not look out of place when it is a little bit cooler.  My girls are so excited for Halloween this year.  We bought our costumes early when they first started talking about it.  I think we may actually do some "fall-ish" things this weekend. 

Student of the Month

I'm this habit of only having my phone and not a camera.  None of my pictures turn out that great.  Olivia was Student of the Month.  The first one of the school year in her class.  They always keep it a secret and it is fun to see them be surprised even though she figured it out because she saw me in the back of the cafeteria.  I'm so proud of this girl.  She is such an example to those around her.  When her teacher emailed me to tell me she wrote, "Olivia is so thoughtful and respectful."  She really is a special girl.  And she wasn't too thrilled about taking a picture.

American Pop

The Third Graders put on the most awesome school performance every year.  They celebrate "American Pop" from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.  It is so much fun to watch the kids singing and dancing to snippets of popular music through these decades.  I heard a grandma sitting in front of us say, "This is like watching my life right before my eyes."  Music is such a big part of growing up and it was a fun night to celebrate it.  Sammie had to dress up like a 50s girl and danced with a sign to an Elvis song.  And yes, there were kids dressed up like Elvis for her number.  It was awesome.  I wish I could remember all of the songs they sang.  Some were hilarious like "I love Rock n' Roll!" "Can't Touch This," and "Vogue."  They also sang Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog, HELP!, Stayin' Alive, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Everybody's Going Surfin'. 
I wish I could remember more.  Such a fun night.

Kindergarten Fun

Kindergarten is too fun.  It seems like nearly every week, Abby needs something.  A tie for tie day.  Pajamas for pajama day.  Wear red on Red Day.  I'm glad that they get to do these fun things.  Her teacher takes a picture and then sends out a text to all the parents.  I love getting these.  Look at all the fun they have had in just the first quarter of school.  I don't even think Abby realizes that she is learning.  She comes home from school and I will hear her "teaching" to an imaginary class the things that she learned in school.  She gets so excited when she recognizes sight words in her books or when she starts to say things like, "Mom, if I have 3 groups of 5 then I have 15."  I love having her in school.  She just loves it and loves making new friends.  I hope that she is always so confident.

Today the Tooth Fairy Came 

 

Field Trip to Murray Farms

 

Green Day

 

Yellow Day

 

Red Day

 

Pajama Day

 

Tie Day