October!

Well, October is always very busy, and this one did not disappoint!  It started out like summer and ended like summer, but I am happy to report that November has been much cooler and more fall-like.  The first week of the month, the girls finished up their standardized testing, we had a fun play date here with Jimmy and Danny on the 1st, Anna had her friend Fiona over to play on the 2nd, and we finished the week with the annual pet blessing at school.  This year, we had a pet to take, and he loved it (but he was super hot and tired afterward!).



Anna had a fun day on Saturday with a tennis lesson and a roller skating party for Sarah’s birthday, and Sunday she had friend Gerald over to play.  I also had a friend over - Ms. Emily came to give an interior design consultation!  We got lots of ideas and help and are well on our way to making some changes.

Next week, Bob went to Boston and Atlanta in a combo trip.  I got to work in the cafeteria on Monday and also hosted the neighborhood book club that evening.  Tuesday and Wednesday were the exciting HVAC replacement days, which went fine and kept Finley very busy.

 
Friday was observation week at dance, and I loved seeing both classes in action!



We all enjoyed having neighbor dog friend Ruby over for the weekend.  She gives us hope that some dogs can be calm.



Saturday was cultural day - Anna went to friend Addie’s house for a movie outing and sleepover, I went to dinner and my mom friend Jenny’s play, and Erin and Bob had dinner at the Olive Garden and then enjoyed seeing Charlotte’s Web at Middle Creek High School.  There was culture for everyone (except Finley)!  The 13th was the first pancake breakfast of the school year at church.

The following week, Bob had another combo trip to New York and to Boston...and got to drive between them on Wednesday, when he reported pretty fall foliage in New England.  We ladies had a fairly calm week otherwise.  I hosted the school mom book club here on Friday and did a shrimp boil which seemed to go over well.  Saturday, we watched some Wolfpack football, Gerald came to play, and Anna got a haircut.

The next week was Erin’s 11th birthday week!!!  The kids were off school on Wednesday, her actual birthday, for a teacher workday.  She had friends Olivia, Vera, and Enzo over to play, eat lunch, do crafts, and decorate cupcakes.



Then we had a family dinner at Olive Garden!  She also got to cantor at school mass the next day with her music group, and she did a great job!



That Saturday, we had the first annual memorial 5K in our neighborhood for Mr. Tom and another neighbor who died this year.  Erin and I kept time, and Bob and Anna participated.



After that, Bob and the girls went camping at Ansley’s house with all the cousins and uncles!  They had planned to go to Morrow Mountain, but it rained.  They had lots of fun and still did camping activities like hiking and fishing, campfire, and made yummy camping food.  Everyone else met up with them there on Sunday for a pizza birthday lunch extravaganza!  So much fun!



The kids were off again on Monday and Tuesday for teacher conferences, which was a nice little break.  We did the usual other activities, helped watch Laney and Joey on Tuesday, and Bob went to dinner with old friend Josh.  Wednesday, Anna went to Old Salem with the fourth grade, and I got to go as well!  It was such a fun day, even though it rained a little bit.



We carved pumpkins that night.



Thursday was Halloween, and it rained again (!), but not until after trick or treating.  We had a very fun time with our neighbor friends!



So, that was October!  It was very busy but lots of fun.  We are all excited to be getting closer to Christmas, and I personally am excited for my favorite month of November coming up next!