October 2013

October 1st - Parent/Teacher Conference (Ellen)

October 4th - Drop-In Baby Shower for Angie, our SACC leader

October 5th - Ladies Day at Southern Hills
                      Fall Festival at The Millers
                      Jordan's Wedding (daughter of one of my co-workers)

October 8th - Fall Picture Day (Ellen)

October 11th & 14th - Fall Break

October 17th - Donuts with Dad @ HES

October 25th - Trunk or Treat @ HES

October 26th - Eye Doctor Appointment (Ellen, her first)

October 27th - Trunk or Treat at Southern Hills

October 29th - Dentist Appointment (me)

October 31st - Halloween

Fall is here.  I am taking lots of deep breaths.  September was busy!  Our calendar isn't nearly as full this month which should leave plenty of time for us to enjoy our fall favorites.  I am looking forward to fall break, a family outing to Gentry's Farm and/or Lucky Ladd Farm, decorating for Halloween, costume hunting, pumpkin picking and carving, candy corn eating, etc.  And I am finally going to buy that black plastic cauldron from Kroger that I have been eyeing for the past few years.

The girls are doing great.  Ellen is a good reader (improves daily), needs to work on her handwriting, in Art Club at SACC (Tuesday afternoons), asks to go to Hannah's house everyday after school, ran all 35 laps at Boosterthon and continues to wake up extra early (both girls do).  Lefty is my little helper, likes to color, always has at least one skinned knee, gives the best hugs, wants to do and have anything Ellen does or has and is super smart... which kind of makes up for the fact that she can't dance :)  Those two keep us on our toes... starting around 5 a.m. most mornings.

We are all enjoying the cooler weather that has come our way (you can't beat a good fall breeze).  And football (Go Broncos!)  And cuddling on the couch.  And taco soup (it's what's for dinner).  This truly is my favorite time of year.

KBB

Ellen and her best friend Katie Beth Brown (who she rarely gets to see) last night at The Children's Academy's Fall Festival

Things you need to know

1.  I do not like black olives

2.  Lilly doing "gymnastics" is possibly one of the cutest things I have ever seen (I have Ellen, Hannah and Miranda to thank)

3.  Work is busy (and my lack of motivation is appalling)

4.  Ellen and I are home today.  Absence #2 already this school year (what is happening?)  She started feeling bad after her bath yesterday and was up all through the night.  Ellen blames the boy she sits next in class for getting her sick (it's over between them).  She has been lounging, first in our bed and now on the couch, and I have been cleaning off and on all morning (oh, the aftermath).

5.  We are getting a new roof

6.  If the other kids take their shoes off, Lilly must take her shoes off

7.  iOS 7 is here (we downloaded the upgrade yesterday).  I am liking it so far.  And it's pretty!

8.  This happens when you need to buy some time to fold the load of whites that has been waiting patiently on top of your dryer for the last week and a half

9.  Ellen is still very much enticed by commercials.  Ladybug Seat Buddy, anyone?

10.  "Ruby's not so good at life sometimes" - from Ruby Sparks.  Same here.

11.  Everyone says Ellen looks like me and Lilly looks like Phillip

12.  It will be a North Carolina Christmas this year if my vacation request is approved (I should find out next month)

Indy Nation

Heritage Night at Independence High School was both hectic and fun.  First was the tailgate party - hot dogs, chips & drinks for the kids - then all of the Heritage Elementary and Heritage Middle School students in attendance lined up, teachers included, and walked into the stadium followed closely by a large group of parents and siblings (we lost Ellen for about 10 minutes but finally found her in the seemingly endless sea of people and pom poms gathered in the end zone).  It was a good 25 minutes before we went out on the field.  It was a long, loud wait.

Phillip and I both tried to get pictures of the players running through but it all happened so fast.  Afterwards we met up with Ellen's good friend Hannah (and her mom).  Lilly kept trying to go back on the field while the girls cheered and chanted "Indy Nation" over and over again as if they had a lot of money riding on the game.  No one questioned their school spirit, that's for sure.  We practically had to drag Ellen to the car.  Promises of staying longer next year did little to comfort Indy's biggest fan.  (Whatever they did to get these kids pumped for this game worked!)

Ellen's class poster

 Ellen's class, minus Ellen, making their way to the end zone

My hair would be blowing in the wind if I had washed it this morning #beautifulday #roughmorning #ineedashowernotahug

Dear Lilly,

Please sleep through the night, every night.

Love,
Mommy

Birthday part 2 and fun at the zoo!

Russ and Nancy arrived Friday in time for us to meet at Chuy's for Ellen's birthday dinner/celebration.  It was a beautiful evening, perfect for opening presents outside the restaurant while waiting for our table (we ended up eating on the patio).  She got an iTunes gift card (she can buy her own games/apps), Lego Friends car and treehouse, two books, a princess/fairy drawing/coloring book, a make your own bead bracelet set, a cute shirt, headbands and other hair accessories, a Lalaloopsy seahorse, a Littlest Pet Shop friend and a king size bag of M&M's.  Nana and Grandpa also put $6 in Ellen's card :)  Thanks Russ, Nancy, Kendra, Laurie and David!

Saturday was my company picnic at the zoo.  While I was checking people in, I got there around 10:30 to help out at our tent (I was on the planning committee), Phillip, Russ, Nancy and Lilly took Ellen to gymnastics.  Phillip and the girls met up with me around noon.  We ate lunch, the girls got their faces painted, we rode the carousel, saw most of the animals, browsed in the shop (a good way to cool off) and stopped by the playground on our way out.  Ellen was disappointed that we didn't play longer - one of her favorite things about the zoo is their awesome playground - but it was so hot (we were all tired and sweaty) and Lilly needed a nap (both girls crashed in the car on the way home) so around 3:30 we called it a day.

Who's that strange looking guy with the shaggy hair and Top Gun sunglasses?

The new Kangaroo Kickabout exhibit doesn't open until September 14th but we could still see the kangaroos... can't wait to pet one!

Ellen happily taking a turn in the stroller (Lilly was equally as happy to be out of the stroller - she wanted to explore!)

Pucker up! (at one point he started chewing on Phillip's shirt)

Since we had both cars at the zoo, I took the girls home and Phillip took my car to Auto Zone to have the battery checked out (it had been giving me trouble for about a week).  One new battery later, my almost paid off car (last payment is in the mail) is good as new.  For now.

Everyone came over Saturday night for a late dinner and we met up again after worship Sunday morning for brunch at Cracker Barrel (it was more like lunch by the time we got seated, which was fine with me!) before saying goodbye to Russ and Nancy.

We went to Toys R Us Sunday afternoon so Ellen could spend her birthday gift card from Aunt Diane and Uncle David.  She eventually decided to get a Calico Critters ballerina set and two baby Calico Critters.  We were surprised by her choices but she was happy with her purchase.

Another fun but busy weekend.

Six!

We have been celebrating for several days now but as of today it's official, Ellen is six.  (I don't even look old enough to have a six year old.)

Cake from party #1

Phillip ate lunch with Ellen and bought her classmates ice cream from the cafeteria.  This is no ordinary "ice cream".  They have every kind of cold sweet treat imaginable.  And this is why my daughter wants to buy her lunch every day (you don't have to buy lunch to buy ice cream but I don't think she's picked up on that yet).  Ellen had some sort of sour apple sherbet pop.

We had a good visit with Mom and Dad over the long weekend ("I wish Grandmother and Granddaddy could stay two more days.")  We went to downtown Franklin (shopped and ate lunch at Merridee's), Mom and I went shopping in Brentwood and Cool Springs, we celebrated Ellen's birthday (cake, ice cream, presents*) after eating pizza at Samboli's, Lilly cuddled up in Granddaddy's lap Sunday morning during church (she took a little nap), Dad fixed our leaky toilet (a recent development) and our constantly running toilet, Mom fixed the girl's hair (she's the best), Ellen played with her new presents, Lilly (and Ellen) played with her new interactive tea set, we made chicken spaghetti, the boys talked sports and we all just enjoyed being together.

*Ellen got 3 Monster High dolls, Littlest Pet Shop toys, Charlotte's Web (DVD), 3 decorative pillows for her bed, a Titans t-shirt (perfect for Spirit Week at school), a dress, fall clothes and a cute bag from Gap.

Mom and Dad left mid-morning on Monday (Labor Day).  We spent the holiday doing laundry, running errands (we were down to one diaper), playing Ellen's version of a few different card games, getting organized for the week and trying not to kill each other (everyone was worn out and tensions were high).

Ellen has been wanting/asking for a new water bottle she can take to school (they are allowed to bring water for snack time) so we let her pick one out at Target.  She used her tooth fairy money and we chipped in the rest.  It was a good investment.  (Anything that encourages her to drink water is a good investment.)

Ellen also got a head start on her homework packet.  She had a meltdown shortly after I took this picture.  We regrouped and she eventually finished her worksheet.  Please tell me it gets better.

Great card!

Ellen got a package from Andrea, Caleb, Ashling, Cade and Quinn yesterday (we let her go ahead and open it).  She got a penguin beanie boo (Waddles), nail polish, a headband and a leotard.  She loved it!

After dinner we got another surprise.  Ellen's friend Hannah (and her mom) stopped by for about an hour (they live in our neighborhood).  Ellen was thrilled.  It was a nice way to end an otherwise long day.

We have another busy weekend coming up.  Looking forward to celebrating Ellen's birthday with Phillip's parents and sisters.