Lots going on in November '08

November seemed to be busy for us, but it also seemed to fly by at the same time. Lauren was able to attend her 2nd Disney on Ice show at the beginning of the month. The theme was "The Incredibles visit Disney Land." All three of us could appreciate this show since Lauren has visited the park 2 times in her short life, and she vividly remembers all of the rides that the skaters danced to during the show. We really enjoyed the re-enactment of the Haunted House the best!

Also, Ladybug enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and had fun playing in the leaves. Naturally, I couldn't help taking a few shots of her after church one day. Several turned out really nice, and I keep meaning to have it printed out to frame in my home.

For Thanksgiving, Lauren came to school with me on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and had so much fun! She was so good and well behaved! After all, she could have started school this past fall and would have had these students as her classmates, if we hadn't made the decision to hold her out. She enjoyed the Native American pow-wow that my class does with Mrs. Kim, a teacher that I partner with quite a bit. Lauren was adorable in her little pillowcase "Indian" outfit and construction paper feathers! She drew a little papoose out of construction paper and was the cutest little Native American at the pow-wow. It is Ms. Kim and my annual tradition to do this each Thanksgiving at school, and I also have parent volunteers help to cook the students a breakfast in my classroom during the morning. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, our school had its annual basketball scrimmage game with the 4th and 5th grade players, and all of the students went to the gym and watched. The highlight for most is the concession stand I believe! Lauren did a great job sitting on the bleachers during the game and chatting with the students in my kindergarten class. One little girl in my room went to Lauren's daycare. So, Ladybug was having a great time playing up with her!

I am seeing that Lauren will do great next year in school, but I am seeing now how thankful that I am with our decision to hold her out until the next year. She will be so much more confident and mature! We want her to be a leader who is strong and confident in her abilities and self worth.

On Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving, our family headed to Georgia to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Anne and Uncle Gary's family. We were so glad to spend time with Philip's grandfather, Daddy Joe. He is Lauren's great-grandfather, and we want Lauren to have the opportunity to visit with him. I just wish that we could make the trip more often. Everything was great in Georgia, and I even came home with a new, delicious recipe for sweet potato casserole! Yummy.

After coming home from Georgia, Ladybug and I went to the Fantasy of Trees with Julie and David. It really got us excited for the upcoming Christmas holiday and really was beautiful (not to mention fun!) David really enjoyed noticing the lights and decorations on all of the gorgeous trees. As with each year, Lauren loves participating in the little Christmas crafts and getting her face painted. This is a yearly tradition of ours to visit the Fantasy of Trees, and it definitely put us all in the Christmas spirit! It was nice having that little outing with Julie and David. It's hard to believe that we are both Mommies....to the world's greatest children I should add!

Halloween, 2008

Getting ready for Boo at the Zoo.

Ladybug with her cousin, David before going to Boo at the Zoo.


Isn't he the most adorable knight in shining armour that you've ever seen!

Trick or Treating at the Zoo!

It's finally Halloween!

Trick or Treating at Memmie's work!

Trick or Treating with Aunt Becky and Uncle Wayne.

Our little Halloween Fairy. Isn't she a doll?

Hum...what is Philip dressed as for Halloween? Looks like

he should be on a plane headed for Jamaica!

Steve, Julie, and cousin David

Lauren with her pals Lydia and Ian.

These are the guys on stilts that really scared Ladybug!

Do you have any Butterfingers for my Mom? She always

takes them out of my bucket!

Halloween was a fun time as usual this year. We went to Boo at the Zoo with Julie, Steve, and the baby to trick or treat and had a lot of fun. Ladybug's Halloween fairy costume wasn't completed yet, so she dressed as a cute little witch for the zoo.

Lauren's costume this year was made by a co-worker from school. She was a Halloween fairy and was an absolute doll! I just couldn't get over the cute, plastic spiders glued all over the tutu and wings. She was able to wear it to her dance classes during the week of Halloween and was a hit with all of the Moms in the lobby of the dance school. I wonder if I was able to round up some business for Jessica's tutus? A few days later, I did my own photo shoot with her in the Halloween fairy costume. I was afraid to do it after Halloween in case she fell, riped the tutu, or something like that.

On Halloween, we celebrated with the Matthews and trick or treated in their neighborhood. Let me tell you that the street goes all out with decorations and costumed ghouls. I loved it. Lauren was a bit frightened of some tall goblins (guys walking on stilts), so we skipped that house needless to say! She had so much fun with David, Lydia, and Ian. I'm not sure who enjoyed themselves more, the adults or the kids!