Banducci's Pumpkin Patch

Joey and I took Sammie and Abby to this hidden gem.  I love Banducci Farms.  It's among farm land and cotton fields and then right in the middle of all that is this magical little place.  It's so charming.  It's surrounded by huge trees and a cornfield making it feel so cozy inside with the twinkle lights by the pond and the pumpkins lining the path.

Olivia was at her friends's birthday party so she wasn't able to come with us but we brought her home a pumpkin too.

Witch's Night Out

A friend of mine hosted a "Witch's Night Out" at her house for moms and daughters.  I didn't know if we would actually go, but the girls were really looking forward to it.  Now Sammie and Abby are talking about being witches for Halloween instead of what they had already decided on.  I guess we will see what they decide next week.
It was a fun evening with little boutique shops set up, games for the kids, and yummy soups to eat.  The evening was so hot we were roasting.  Even after it got dark.  Did I mention I am so over the heat?  I always wish for a cool October.  I guess the only way to get that is to move.

Fall Festival

I almost completely forgot about the Fall Festival at the school.  It was on my calendar, the girls had talked about it all week, I sent in candy for it, we've been getting notices all week about it.  After Sammie's soccer game in the morning and thinking ahead to the plans Joey and I had later that night, it completely slipped my mind.  Somehow as I was doing something I remembered.  

Abby got her hair sprayed pink and blue.  Sammie opted for sparkles.  They did a few of the booths, got a new school shirt, and saw friends.  Sammie and Abby re-matched in the potato sack race.  Sammie won again, but Abby was closer than last year.

October Happenings

Conference weekend was a couple of weeks ago.  I had many favorite talks and I've been listening to them again.  I was reminded of so many important gospel principles and was inspired to do and be better.  In the morning Sammie said sort of wishfully to me, "Mom, pancakes would be really good for breakfast."  Our breakfasts are usually just bagels, toast, cereal, and sometimes I will make eggs.  We usually have pancakes and french toast for dinners when I have more time.  So on that morning I decided to shock everyone and make the pancakes Sammie was wishing for, but didn't think I had any energy to pull off.  They were enjoyed.  It feels good to do these little things that I really used to take for granted.
October is one of my favorite months.  It is finally starting to cool down now that it is over half-way through.  I think we may still have a few warm days ahead, but the days are shorter and the nights are cooler.  When we are in the middle of September everyone is tired of the heat.  The good thing about it though is that it is just hot.  You know what to expect every day.  Shorts, tshirts, sandals.  Now that we have cooler mornings it seems that we never know how to get dressed.
The girls are looking forward to Halloween and the changing weather.  The Holiday season is just around the corner.  I even asked the girls to start making their Christmas lists.  This will be a wonderful season.

Stuffed Animal

Calvin is so cooperative when the girls are playing with him.  Sometimes he plays back and wants to run and go crazy, but often he just lets them pick him up and stuff him in a bag or sit with all the stuffed animals.  He's a good sport.

I'm Exhausted

Before school even started my kids were struggling with allergies, then ear infections.  Then school started.  Then Sammie needed a filling.  Abby got sick again.  Then Abby had to fix a broken filling.  Olivia had a weird virus that attacked her hand with raised sore spots,   Then I chipped my front tooth and had to get it fixed.  Then Abby hurt her toe and it got infected.  Then I got strep throat.  Hello September.

This picture was taken after Sammie got her filling and Abby was home sick from school.  She was still coughing a ton so I didn't want to send her.

Abby the Soccer Machine

Abby loves to run all over the soccer field.  She wants to be a part of all the action, otherwise known as creating a "bunch ball" experience.  She also likes to throw in every ball and set up every goal kick, and basically run the show.  That's how Abby works.  She really likes to be in charge.
It is fun to watch her play.  Last weekend my parents were here (I should have taken a picture) and they got to see Sammie and Abby both play soccer.  I didn't know if Abby was going to be able to play because she had an infected toe that was on the mend.  After school on Friday it looked OK and she wasn't complaining about it hurting so we let her play.  It's fun to watch her.  She has so much endless energy.

12 Year Olds are Crazy, Silly, and a Little Dorky

Those are the words I would use to sum up Olivia's birthday party with her friends.  They had a great time going on a scavenger hunt to Target and playing minute to win it games.  I was glad they had a great time and I was just as glad when it was over.  My head was starting to hurt a little.  That ice cream cake though...that was delicious.