Halloween Parade

On Sunday we took a break from unpacking the gazillion of boxes we have, to participate in our neighborhood's "Halloween Parade". We thought this would be a great way to meet the neighbors and for the girls to get out and see other kids. Everyone got to dress up in their costumes (praise the Lord I knew exactly where they were packed!) and march/run around the block. I even got to enjoy the evening with the adults and hold adult conversations...oh my, what is that?! We ended the parade at one of the houses where popcorn, apples, cookies and hot cocoa where waiting for us. YUM! We had a great time just hanging out and playing with everyone. Poor Andy had to miss this parade due to the fact they had Basketball practice...but have no fear, I took pictures...sorta;) There was no way I was going to be able to handle all three and a camera, so I just had them pose on the front steps beforehand and then tossed the camera back inside. 

Our little Cow, Fairy and Giraffe

the fairy was trying to take flight during our little photo session, so the cow, ever so nicely (Ha!) back handed her in the neck to get her to sit down...and yes, I totally got it on camera right as it was about to happen...not cool cow, not cool...

Apparently, the downtown Clemson closes down on Halloween for the kids to come and trick-or-treat. I think we might hit that up...but of course, Andy has basketball practice;) Good thing another Basketball family lives right across the street and they have 4 little boys...so I will not be alone in this adventure;)

Girls Beach Trip

This weekend, the girls and I were invited to a girls-only beach trip with some good friends. We had a blast! Mimi was invited as well as our friends grandmother, ya-ya. So with 4 mothers in attendance,  we STILL were outnumbered by children...ummm, sorry, that would be my fault;) My friend, Courtney, has two daughters the same age as Alley and Kendall, so the girls had a blast playing and hanging out! We should have named this the butterfly weekend because the girls wore butterfly wings almost the whole weekend...the adults even had to wear them at some point. I will happily wear little butterfly wings as long as I can enjoy the beautiful views, great friends and wonderful conversation:)

When we arrived we headed straight for the beach and the girls went wild. Of course it was cold and the wind was blowing hard, but that didn't bother the girls (just the mommas!)

little miss having a serious staring contest with the ocean...should I go in, should I not...hmmm??

taking a stroll

Meanwhile, zooooommmm...and she's gone

run, run, run!

since it was chilly and windy at the beach, we enjoyed our own little "beach" underneath the house.

this is where the littlest member spent her beach time:) I could hardly get her out of this thing

 aaaaand here is the butterfly clan...complete with magic wands 

little miss in her wings...we couldn't get her to be still long enough for a picture, so she was captured...and not too happy about it;)

much happier...what is with that tongue?!

during our time there, we also got to enjoy a fabulous playground 

checking out the options...hmmm, which on to play on first;) 

playing up in the "castle"

hanging off the "castle tower"...

hey momma...

spinning around in circles

serious thinking for a playground!

yikes!

oh this is so fun!!

stop taking pictures and start spinning me!

the big girls hanging out up in the castle...all decided they were Queens...lord help us all;)

We found a trail and went off on a search for ghosts...

when searching for ghosts, its much better to hold hands and block them from escaping...

checking out the water below

on one side of our house was the water way, the other side was the beach..it could get any better!!!

a group shot...we've almost got all smiles:) 

busy body running ahead

I think I am pushing my luck with group photos...we almost lost the little one. she decided she had enough of her picture being taken;)

back at home it was time for a tea party...

a before dinner beach trip...this little one could not stay out of the ocean! the water was freezing and the wind was so cold, yet she would run into the water and try to keep on running even after getting hit by waves...

here I am dragging her out of the waves after she got soaking wet!

I have a funny feeling she wasn't happy about being taken out of the water;)

story time right before bed time...part 1

story time, part 2...classic Alley, awesome...

our littlest butterfly hard at work

collecting little wooden balls in her little bag...she wore these wings all day, but so did everyone else;)

We had a fabulous time!! Thanks to the Franklins for access to the house and the Wiegards for inviting our circus to join them for their "relaxing" trip:) I look forward to getting the girls together again soon!:)

Pumpkin weather

Tis the season for pumpkins, chilly nights, beautiful colors, and children begging to get pumpkins like everyone else (when have we ever conformed to those around us...?!). I had planned on us taking our first ever trip to pick our own pumpkins at the local pumpkin patch, but alas, that was waaaaay too much trouble, so we had a pick our own pumpkin party at good ol' Kroger;) If I ever feel too confident in my parenting skills, then we can always take a trip to the pumpkin patch later to ring me back to reality;) Anyway, back to being just like our neighbors...Instead of carving the pumpkins, we decided to paint them...what was I thinking??! 

Alley getting ready to start painting

pink is the first color on the pumpkin...why would I think otherwise;)

very serious about painting

cheeeese!

sharing...oooo I like it:)

so many colors, so little time...

"I'ma colorin my pun-kin momma. It has lots of colors on it because it wants to be pretty"

Meanwhile, back at the circus...

busy-body doing what she does best...motoring along

pausing in her performance to explain something super serious to me...

still working hard

 MC giving Alley some advice on what color she should put where

enjoying a little sunshine and paints...this little artisit is in heaven:)

too busy making her masterpiece to even look at the camera

back at the circus, MC is trying to swing in circles on her belly...only to fall out the moment she gets in

colorss glorious colors

Final product

oops, we lost one...or maybe all three...;)