October!

Well, that month went quickly!  October was a fun and busy month as usual.  We started out the month with Bob taking a trip to California and we ladies handling the routine at home.  Sawyer was tracked out the first two weeks of the month, so I was able to help more at school with proctoring the standardized tests the first week and some other stuff as well.  I wish I could say I got more projects done while I was off, but I did manage to get some appointments done, planted winter flowers, prepped for Erin's birthday and Halloween, and steam cleaned the carpets.  Those were the highlights (glamorous, right?!) above and beyond the usual.  Anna was home sick on the 6th with a questionable stomach bug (meaning she threw up once the night before and was completely fine the next day).  I guess I'll take that over the opposite end of the sick spectrum!

The following weekend, Anna got to go to a fun movie birthday party at Cinebowl, which was a great time for everyone.  The week of the 9th was more of the same, except Bob had a shorter trip to Boston instead.  The 14th was Erin's party/playdate and I got to go out for a fun ladies' night out that evening.  We got our family pictures done on the 15th with wonderful neighbor Karen, and they turned out beautifully!





We checked out the newly relocated Mexican restaurant for dinner that day, and Bob was also able to catch up with college friends that evening. That week was more of the usual, with Bob leaving for Germany on Friday the 20th.  He was able to leave a couple of days early to do some sightseeing and visiting with his friend in Prague that weekend before reporting to work in Stuttgart on Monday the 23rd.  We got a fun visit from Grandma A. on the 21st-22nd, and we enjoyed showing her our new church and having lots of fun together.

Erin's actual birthday was the 23rd (see her birthday post), which was a great day!  The rest of the week was the usual with some Halloween fun thrown in.  Bob got home Friday evening, a day earlier than planned since some meetings were canceled on Friday.  Anna went to Caroline Manning's (her first-ever friend!) birthday party at a fun art studio on Saturday, and then we all watched the sad Wolfpack loss to the Irish and had a fun impromptu s'mores party with the neighbors.  Sunday was a busy day with church, a wonderful brunch with 2 couples from church, Erin's dance class, and the Hurricanes hockey game with the school!  The Canes lost in overtime, though we only made it through two periods.



We carved pumpkins Monday night after tennis and dinner so we would be ready for the big day.



Tuesday, Halloween, was an extra fun day and I was able to go to Anna's centers to lead the popular Bingo center and then to Erin's 3rd grade Halloween party (I was on the toilet paper mummy center).  It was a fun day, though we were all wiped out before trick or treating even started!  We went up to the neighborhood pool parking lot for a fun and yummy pizza party, then hit the streets with a couple of short breaks at neighbor friends the Waltons' driveway party!  Erin went strong for about 45 minutes with friends Ella, Nina, and Alexia, which was awesome, and Anna continued trick or treating with friends Caitlin and Kate for about another 45 minutes!  Erin then came back with me and we sat at the bottom of our driveway and handed out candy.  I think she enjoyed that as much as trick or treating.





So, October is over.  I rank it up there with December and May in terms of busy months, but it is always a fun one.  Our big girl is now 9, Halloween was a success, the weather is cooler, and my most favorite month of the year is upon us!  Bring on November!