Happy Birthday, Erin!

Our big girl is now 10 years old!  She had a fun-filled week or so of celebrations, and she really enjoyed everything.  It all started on Saturday, October 20th, when she had friends come over for a party/sleepover.  It was lots of fun and the kids had a blast!  They played inside and outside, painted clipboards, played charades, had pizza AND pasta and owl cake, then played some ring toss and limbo, followed by a "glow party" in the dark.  After that, they watched Leap in Erin's room using neighbor friend Ella's video projector!  Then, 3 girls stayed over and woke up super early for more playing school, donuts, and church.  It was really all of Erin's favorite things. 





Her actual birthday was on Tuesday and she got to go on a class field trip that day!  We went to Old Salem, which was really interesting and neat to see how the Moravians lived back in the 1700s.  There were many reenactments in the houses and buildings that were actually a part of the settlement way back when.  After they got home, we had a quick pasta dinner with cake and presents from us.





She had a special week all week - after the field trip, she had a day off alone with Mommy on Thursday since just the upper grades were off school for a teacher workday.  She wanted to go to the art museum, so we did that, as well as a yummy Mexican lunch and a trip to the mall.  Friday, she and Anna were both off, so we met our friends the Mannings at Marbles!  What a great week!





Her final birthday event was this past Sunday in Concord with the cousins and family!  She shared the day with Cooper, Uncle Chris, and Aunt Maria, plus Halloween!  We had so much fun having a taco lunch, cupcakes, presents, Halloween trick or treating at Grandma and Grandpa's, and lots of fun outside playtime.  It was a great day!



So, Erin is ten.  She is hardworking, cheerful, and just an all-around joy.  She tries so very hard to do her best every day, which is really admirable.  We could not be more proud of her and who she is today.  We know that some things aren't easy for her, but she tries her best and doesn't give up.  She is a wonderful pianist and loves ballet.  It is awesome to watch her doing these two things that she enjoys so much.  She is our little mathematician and amazes us with her memory.  If I need to know what day of the week Christmas is on this year, I ask Erin.  She has an incredible brain for facts and figures.  She has many friends who love her very much.  I think kids like being around her because she is always happy and easygoing.  She lets other kids lead and she is happy to follow.

We are just so proud of her and love watching her grow and learn!  We hope she has a wonderfully amazing year ahead!

September

We had a great month of September, which still felt like summer the whole month long (booooo...).  We started out Labor Day weekend by inviting Bob's newly relocated co-worker Matt and his family, including Erin's classmate Isaac, over for dinner on the 1st.  Sunday we had a great time at Enzo's house with his family, despite a thunderstorm that cut the swimming short for the kids.  Monday, I hosted neighborhood book club here, which is always a fun time.  We also had our kitty sitting job that weekend and enjoyed our time with Jelly Bean and Muffin.



Tuesday the 4th was back to school, and we all had a busy week with work, school, activities, and volunteering/other stuff.  It felt good to be back in a routine after the long summer!  Saturday the 8th, Anna's friend Sofia came over and we girls all went to the Wescott end-of-summer pool party, which was lots of fun.  The 9th was the monthly pancake breakfast at church that Bob worked at, but we ladies opted for a trip to Michaels for craft supplies instead.  One day, we will get to a breakfast!  We also were very productive that afternoon, cleaning out the playroom (which you would never know now).

The ladies and I all got our flu shots during the first two weeks of the month, which did not go over well, but hopefully they will help keep us healthy this winter.  The week of the 10th brought lots of excitement over Hurricane Florence, which was all the hype for many days until Florence arrived on the night of the 13th/daytime on the 14th.  The kids were off school that Friday, but we felt lucky because Wake County ended up losing 3 days of school.  Florence thankfully only brought us lots (as in 10-12") of steady rain over 3-4 days and some wind gusts, but we didn't lose power or have any damage other than branches down.  Areas east of here were not so lucky, sadly.  So, we were home most of that weekend and the girls enjoyed lots of neighbor play time and fun at home.  The girls had a closet campout the night of the hurricane, in one of the only rooms of our house without a window.



Ella slept over on Saturday the 15th, and school friend Magali slept over on the 16th because her brother had a very early surgery on Monday the 17th.

The next week included Lunch With Kids day at school on Tuesday the 18th, which is always a great time.  Bob was able to go this year as well, and it was a lot of fun.  We felt like third and fourth wheels to them and their friends, but it's always fun to see them in action.  Otherwise, it was a fairly quiet week with the usual activities.  We had a blast at neighbor Ella's luau birthday party on the 21st!



Bob drove to New Bern on Saturday the 22nd for the day to help the church there and their parishioners.  He did a lot of work and helped a few families out!  While he was gone, we ladies did some baking, sewing, and cleaning.





Sunday the 23rd, Anna went to play at friend Mateo's house, and the girls both tried out for the Holiday Cabaret at the dance school that afternoon.  Sadly, neither one got a part this year, but that is a-ok with me (less shuttling, hassle, and stress!).  It was a tough night when they got the news, but we are all looking past it and on to their spring dance recital.  This is one mom who would be ok if we ended dance after this year...I am missing seeing Anna at tennis, where she seems to have more talent.  We shall see, I guess.

Bob went to Boston for the day on the 25th and even managed to get an early flight home!  I was able to wash windows that day, a few months late of my goal to do that once a year.  I went to another book club the evening of the 27th.  The girls were off on the 28th for a teacher workday, and they appreciated having a quiet day at home and a shopping outing to Learning Express.  I hosted another book club that night which involved some cooking and cleaning, but it went great.  While I did that, Bob and the girls went camping at Umstead Park near the airport (Jordan Lake park is closed due to flooding from the hurricane).  Other than airplane noise most of the time, they had a great time!  We took it easy on the 29th after all that excitement, and on Sunday the 30th, the girls, Sarah, and I went to the pool for one last (chilly) swim.  It was fun!

So, that was September.  We are finally able to eat on the porch again, play outside without sweating like crazy, and are feeling a tiny hint of lower humidity and cooler air.  Thank goodness!  We're also enjoying some Wolfpack football (currently 3-0!).  October will be a fun month with Erin's birthday and Halloween...two big and exciting events!  I personally have been very busy with volunteering at school (cafeteria, recess, and art duty, plus I am room parent for Erin's class this year against my will), keeping up with my 3 book clubs, doing house projects, and the usual daily stuff.  I just can't manage to find a job quite yet!