Harvest Festival & Other "Fall"icious News

Jack's school hosted their first annual Harvest Festival this Saturday.  Another event.  Another weekend.  It's been a busy month.

We arrived bundled up only to shed layers as the event wore on.  The sun was absolutely glorious.  I soaked it in knowing all too well that it won't last.

The girls stayed very busy.  I'm assuming Jack did as well.  For as soon as we arrived he was off with his buddies and only graced us with a check in on occasion.

So as you can imagine I was hardly given the opportunity to snag a picture of him, but when I did I took advantage of it.

Like when we checked out the class scarecrow contest.  Jack's class did Emett and Wildstyle from The Lego Movie.  It couldn't have been a better fit for my Lego loving dude.

Maggie immediately spotted the Olaf Scarecrow {although he doesn't look much like a scarecrow}, but she was absolutely smitten.

From Olaf to sand art, her day couldn't have gotten much better.

The manicure station didn't hurt either.  Wait...was this festival for Jack?!?!

Speaking of, here he is...another short check in and a little pumpkin decorating with his littles.  We added these to the other thousand we have adorning our front porch right now.  Pumpkins For Sale!

We topped off our day with face painting.  I never knew how long these lines could get until I had a girl.  Geez!  Maggie asked for a bunny and this was the final product.  I can't lie, I was a little stunned {and confused}.  But, we all smiled and told her how beautiful she looked.

I'm pretty sure when she asked for the "bunny" she was thinking something a little more along these lines.  {Or at least I was}.  I had to mask the shock on my face with an over dose of compliments.  Lucy, meanwhile, came out looking like what I would expect from a face painting booth at a festival.  Look at that adorable mermaid loving toddler.

And in other "Fall"icious news, we've had more than festivals going on around here.  90% of which pertains to Jack.

Last weekend Jack earned his Bobcat Badge in Cub Scouts.  They gave the awards away at the Spooky Camp Out.  I was sorely disappointed that I didn't get to see the ceremony-it was just the boys on the trip.  But I did get this sweet little image sent to my inbox.

And as if that weren't enough, Jack received the Breakfast of Champions Award at school.  I mean this kid was literally beaming when he got off the bus last week.  He couldn't wait to tell me.  I couldn't be more proud of him if I tried.  This kid just keeps exceeding my all expectations.

And last but not least, we baked our spooky Ghost Pizza to welcome the upcoming holiday.  I thought I'd get CrAzY and have the kids roll out and shape real dough this year.

Okay...not so sure I'll do that again.  It was tough for those little hands.  Who am I kidding,  it was tough for mine.  We tried everything from a rolling pin, tossing it in the air, and practically beating it.  Needless to say you could most definitely call our final product "pan pizza".  No thin and crispy here.

Regardless the kids had fun.  Jack and Lucy even ventured to use black olives for the eyes.  Only to pull them off as soon as they were ready to eat it.

We used ghost cookie cutters and sliced mozzarella cheese for the ghost.  When they melt on the pizza they look even spookier.

Here's a before shot.  I dare not show an "after the oven" image.  The crust had risen nearly 5 inches high...I do not lie.  We all got a big kick out of it.  Lesson learned.

And for those who don't know my middle child's eating habits...that's Maggie's in the middle.  There was no way I was talking her in to letting a black olive touch her meal.

So...that's whats been happening around here.  It's hard to believe only 5 more days until Halloween.  We've still got pumpkins to carve and my littles have candy up and down the lane calling their name.

We are looking forward to the culminating October event.  HALLOWEEN!

Fall Festival & Family

If December is the most wonderful time of the year, than October is the busiest.

We came straight off of our Frozen On Ice high to welcome Grammy and cousin Larkin into town.  Luckily they had no intentions of taking it easy this past weekend, because we did just the opposite.

On Saturday we headed over to the girl's Pre-School Fall Festival.  This an annual tradition for us. We've been for the past five years and with Lucy bringing up the rear, it looks like we will be attending for another three.

The weather has been all together weird this month.  Last weekend we were chilled to the bone at the Pumpkin Patch and this weekend we nearly melted between the humidity and intermittent rain showers.  It's certainly kept our wardrobe on it's toes.

In addition to our "must do" entrance photo, I persuaded Grammy and Larkin to join in for one.  So glad I did.  And if that wasn't enough, I had Larkin signed up to work Lucy's class Pony Rides.  She was much obliged to help and I know her helping hands were greatly appreciated.

We spent the rest of the festival bouncing around from booth to booth.  Occasionally we hid under a tent to dodge a passing rain shower.

But in between we were able to decorate more pumpkins to add to our front porch.  Geez...we look like we are running our own pumpkin patch right here on the lane.

Maggie has been anticipating the Sand Art since she first got wind that the festival was coming to town.  She worked intently on her pumpkin necklace making sure it was just so.  She is a sand art loving gal.  Actually an art anything loving gal.

We grabbed lunch {and a few family photos} just before the bottom fell out of the sky.  Then we made a zippy bee line to the car with more festival loot than you could imagine.

We returned home pretty damp and very worn out.  But another great day celebrating Fall and all the festivities it has to offer.

The rest of the weekend was filled with valuable family time.  Dear Grammy must have played at least 15 rounds of Sorry! among every other board game we own.

And sweet Larkin was kept busy in Maggie's room playing "animals" and "princesses".  Maggie needed all the help she could get to bathe them and dress them up because, of course, "they were having a party".

And somehow in the midst of all this, we managed to sneak in a family photo shoot with Andrea Wood.  I'm just itching to get my hands on those pictures.  She is such a talented gal and I can only imagine how happy I'l be with the final images.

Another fabulous October weekend {and this one with family}!

And to think there is, oh, so much more to come this month...

Frozen On Ice

We are the epitome of a Frozen fanatic household.  {Although, I imagine every family with a 4 year old girl has that claim to fame}.  Add the 2 year old who wants to and will do anything to be just like her big sister and we are brimming with everything Frozen around here.

So as you can imagine, we were giddy with excitement when we heard the Frozen On Ice show was rolling into town.  We bought tickets the day they went on sale and we have been counting down ever since.

The show was fabulous.  My girls were fabulous despite the trek to the arena and the never ending crowds.  And we came home with nearly every fabulous souvenir.  All in all an amazingly fabulous day.

Let me forewarn you...SPOILER ALERT....Maggie insisted on wearing her Elsa dress.  I could not even begin to say no to that.  But, the big spoiler is...it will also be doubling as her Halloween costume and tripling as her birthday party dress.  That is if it makes it until then.  That dear gown has already been through the wringer as her "after nap go to dress".  Can't say we didn't get our moneys worth on that one.

So after the parking scenario that resembled that of a zoo and then the 1/2 mile trek to the arena, we arrived {with smiles still in tact} and hit the first Frozen goody stand we could find.  We ended up with two flashy spinny wands.  Maggie, of course, chose the Elsa and Anna one.  And to my surprise, Lucy chose Olaf.

We grabbed our seats just in the knick of time.  Another jaunt to say the least.  But, Lucy was loving the welcome from Mickey and Minnie {her absolute newest faves}.

The show was packed full of the Frozen soundtrack, dancing, and lots of skating.  My girls were in complete awe.  After Elsa's performance of Let It Go we grabbed a snowcone during the intermission.

Maggie could not wait to get her hands on one of these souvenir cups.  The snowcone was only an added bonus.

Lucy on the other hand, was all about the ice.  She copped a squat and dug right in.  And then followed this with a ginormous tub of popcorn.  That's my girl.

The second half of the show was just as entertaining as the first.  Lucy made it through the whole thing {an accomplishment in itself for my live-wire 2 year old}.  And Maggie was just as sweet as ever.  Not that I would expect anything less.

Another great day with my two amazing girls!  I'm just loving the joys of sisters...we couldn't have seen a more fitting show.

Now off to more things Fall...we've got a busy weekend ahead.

On My Nightstand: Gone With The Wind

I just finished reading, what is now, my most favorite novel of all times...Gone With The Wind.  My timing was impeccable with it being the 75th anniversary and all.  Seriously, where have I been the last 75 years?  How could it have taken me so long to read this classic?

Oh my, it had it all.  History, romance, drama.  I could hardly eat, drink or sleep, without wondering what Scarlett was up to next.  She has literally consumed my thoughts for the past three months {sorry kiddos}.  Now, if you ask me, that is a sign of an epic book.

I can't deny, I was sorely devastated when I came to the last page.  No it can't be over and no, it can't end like this!  

The only silver lining is that I FINALLY get to dive into the movie.  I'm pretty sure I saw it as a kid, but only snippets are in my memory.  Nothing can compare to how amazing I'm anticipating the flick to be after just finishing up the novel.  Just me Scarlett, Rhett, and some popcorn.  Absolutely divine!

And, of course, I just can't forgo giving 'Scarlett' {the sequel novel} a try.  I certainly don't anticipate anything as great as its predecessor, but I can't go on without knowing what could be...

Oh Scarlett, I do give a damn...and probably too much so.

Happy Reading!