Sisters

I spent last weekend with my sisters in Atlanta. It was great to get that time together--eating, talking, shopping, etc. I am so thankful for you, Mary Lee and Sara! Thank you also to David who made the trip possible by keeping MG and Sam. I love you!

Happy Halloween!

Here are a few pictures from the last few days. We finally went to the pumpkin patch and selected some pumpkins to go with our "spooky" decorations on our front porch. Sam and MG helped carve the pumpkin with Daddy. Sam was scared of the pumpkin at first and then kept going up to pat the pumpkin.


On Halloween, we walked down Main Street in costumes and then headed to our neighborhood. While other years she's been a little timid, MG is now a pro at ringing the doorbell and saying "trick or treat." It took Sam a little time to catch on to what was happening, but he soon figured out that something really yummy was inside his plastic pumpkin. Since we have such a difficult time with getting him to eat anything, maybe we should just start pulling green vegetables out of the pumpkin.
A Green M&M and Tinkerbell

Making things Spooky

MG and I have enjoyed reading several Halloween books during the past week. She has been most inspired by a book called "Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia," where silly Amelia Bedelia tries to help decorate a house in order to make it "spooky." After reading this book several times, MG has been inspired to make our house spooky. She has been hard at work making spider webs and drawings of pumpkins and witches which are now proudly displayed on our front porch with blue tape. She loves drawing and making things and is thrilled by our "spooky" house. Hopefully we won't scare too many trick-or-treaters away.

Yay for rain!

We haven't seen a rainy day here in months. So, when it started raining this week and then rained for three days, we were so thankful. MG and Sam have loved putting on their raincoats each time we go outside, and now Sam even demands to wear his immediately after he wakes up. MG went to stomp in the puddles with a neighbor, and they loved getting wet and muddy. It's nice when such a simple thing can be so entertaining!

Charleston Visit

I've had a little trouble getting my pictures to post online, so I'm behind on updating. We went to Charleston a couple of weeks ago to visit our family. Here are a few pictures with the cousins. We love you, Caroline and Elizabeth!

Ballet!

Today was an exciting day--MG took her first ballet class! Although I have been wanting to wait until she was older before starting any extra activities, a great opportunity came about for her to take a combination ballet and tap class once a week. MG has been talking about dance ever since we left camp, begging me to let her take a class. Since she got out of bed this morning, she has been telling every one she sees, "today is my first dance class." From my friend who took her to school, to her teachers and friends at school, to the college students at our house, to the dentist and dental hygenist that she saw today, everyone was made aware that she would be going to ballet today. It has been so fun as a mom and a former dancer to witness her excitement. After her class with her teacher, Ms. Kristina, MG has been showing me "her moves." Her teacher said that she worked really hard in class. What a joy she is to me, especially in her enthusiasm and zest for life. I am so proud to be her mom!

In her leotard. . .

. . . and tights. . .

. . . and tap shoes.

Thomas!

Last Saturday, we went to the NC Railroad Museum for the yearly "Day with Thomas" Festival. Although as MG says, we left home "at the crack of dawn," our time was perfect--weather, attitudes, and festivities. We started by riding in the passenger car "Annie" who was being pulled by Thomas, and then moved on to climb on old trains, get (fake) tatoos, make lanterns, play with train tables, and see a magic show. We even got to watch Bob the Builder as he helped build a shed for Thomas. It was entertaining for all of us, and we can't wait to go next year!

Getting ready to board the train

MG with Thomas
Perhaps we have a future engineer in our midst.
MG and Percy