Life Lately - Dad's Bday and OCC

Monday

It was Dad's Birthday - he would have been 65!

We got together and the boys cooked - bacon, eggs, and oatmeal - Dad's specialty! 

We wrote messages on balloons 

Sending the balloons to Heaven - the kids love this tradition 

How Ella and Owen watched TV 

We also painted the crosses for Crosses for Christmas 

The kids got their ornaments from Mammy - Brooklynn wasn't feeling well

Tuesday 

I spent a lot of the time this week at church collecting OCC boxes 

Caleb and Charlie at lunch

Thursday 

Ella's 1st Project - Sequin turkey 

Annual Ornament Exchange with our church friends 

Young girls! 

Ice Cream Truck came to the STRIDE celebration

Caleb won the "best manners" award - so proud of him!

Friday 

I found this hanging in the hallway - Ella is thankful for her cousin Lena 

Lunch with Ella and her friend Kaylee 

Renaissance Celebration for good grades and behavior - Pelicans Snowballs 

And inflatables! 

Caleb and some of his friends 

Having fun! 

Friday night we had our OCC Packing Party

These boys had fun putting together boxes 

Making cards for the boxes

Family picture 

We had a great turnout at the party 

Trying to get a picture of the kids with their boxes

Saturday

Ella, Mom and I did a little shopping 

We have trained her well - she is a good shopper! 

Corey and Caleb enjoyed a bike ride 

Picture by the Neuse 

He loves bike riding like his daddy! 

Sunday

Enjoying some sunshine with Rosie and Hank

Life Lately - November and Christmas is coming!

Monday

Ella lost ANOTHER tooth - #7 gone for her! 

We celebrated Melanie's birthday with Olive Garden for dinner and Sugar Plum for dessert! 

These cousins were having so much fun playing together! 

Wednesday

It turned cold - warming up with hot chocolate while we worked on HW! 

Mrs. Janice was so sweet to make us an apple cake - one of our favorites - Ella LOVED it! 

Thursday

Buy one, get one free at Starbucks so she got her very own non coffee drink!

Caleb missed out - he was training for his race!

Friday

Kids were out of school so we cleaned up and went shopping!

What she wants for Christmas - more LOLs

We played school 

Caleb took a turn as teacher 

Dinner at Parkers and baby snuggles with the Hutchens! 

Caleb's face was priceless when he came into the bathroom and saw Corey in his spandex

Ella has been telling her class all about Papa, the civil war veteran - ha! 

STRIDE 5 K Race - Corey was Caleb's running buddy

Caleb and his friends ready to run - they have been training two days a week after school for a few months thru the YMCA 

The STRIDE team 

He was so excited! 

Ready to RUN! 

And they were off - Caleb wanted to make sure Corey kept up! 

The little sisters all bundled up - it was COLD! 

Running to the finish line - they finished in 32 minutes.  Caleb was running a little ahead of Corey 

Corey at the finish line! 

Caleb and Grayson with their STRIDE medals 

We talked Daddy into decorating for Christmas! 

This is a record - he usually doesn't want to do it until after Thanksgiving! 

Yay- new tree is up! 

Ella was a trooper helping me decorate while the boys watched the State football game - then Caleb partied with Grayson to celebrate his 9th Birthday

We played with the Browns and Stones - these kids are getting so big! 

Stones and Browns for dinner - pizza for everyone! 

S'mores by the fire! 

Girls stayed with us and Staci took the boys! 

The sweet little one didn't last long - she missed her nap!

Living room full of giggling girls

Sunday

Pancakes and bacon before church

Lunch at Zaxybs with this crazy crew

Audrey came by and took some pictures for our Christmas cards
Just a sneak peak - won't show you the ones we actually picked!

Kids tree decorated in the playroom with Disney and handmade ornaments!

It's November 12th - my Christmas tree is up AND I have ordered my Christmas cards - this NEVER happens but it feels good to not be behind!  Now I better start shopping!