Weekend with my D Girls

Somehow, six wonderful women from different backgrounds, cities and perspectives, who met on a project at Deloitte Consulting nearly 10 years ago have managed to stick together as a close-knit posse.  And, even more surprisingly, we still manage to get together every 2 years (plus more on a 1:1 basis when we're in each others' respective cities).  We've added 9 children, three of us have moved on to clients, everyone has shifted and moved around/up in our careers, but everyone is still very committed to one and other. It's unique (sadly) to see women so invested in and happy for the others' success.  I love these ladies.

Last time we met up in Wrightsville Beach, as Nancy had recently purchased her new home there.  After looking into several other cities, we ended up back there again this year.  It's an easy flight for most (from Chicago, New York, New Jersey), and a fairly easy (6 hour) drive for me.  I checked out several audio books from the library, and set out early Friday morning.

Then it was 48 glorious hours of this....

With resting, relaxing in these...

And then a lot (and I mean a lot....) of this...

Which led to this...

(And that didn't even count the fact that the Rose came in cans and we also had beer.  Goodness, we can put away some wine!!)

I'm so grateful for a wonderful husband and mother-in-law who kept everyone happy back home so that Mama could get away.  These weekends are much needed for the soul!

Halloween Fun 2018

I'm just now getting around to writing about Halloween and we (seriously) see Santa this Friday. Sigh...we are officially entering that crazy holiday season!  (In my defense, I'm only 5 days late with the Halloween post, and our Santa visit is insanely early this year...)

So many Halloween festivities this year!  JB adored them all, and Maryn may be in therapy the next 10 years. She is experiencing a very intense fear of masks and costumes right now, so we are gently allowing her to set the pace for when and how she participates in such things.  

First, Trunk or Treat at church. Gia stayed the weekend with us while James hunted, and she attended our church ToT.  THANK GOODNESS, because I needed all the hands I could get. Maryn had an absolute melt down the moment we walked up, JB wanted to stop at every game and trunk (rightfully so!), and then Wesley got choked up on a cookie and projectile vomited in the middle of the festival in front of all our church friends.  Whew, quite the fun, haha.

The day before Halloween, we finally got around to carving our enormous pumpkin. James received lots of support from the kiddos, who all wanted to help with the knife (but refused to touch the "pumpkin guts").

 

Our preschool hosted a Family Fun Day on Halloween, with carnival games and an opportunity to wear (friendly) costumes.  After a couple of difficult days, Maryn opted to not attend school that day (which we totally support - poor girl!)  This meant some 1:1 time with our first born, and we all had a fun time.

Then, Halloween night - the night JB has excitedly talked about for months!  For costumes, he selected Batman, Maryn asked to be a kitty cat (same costume as last year - easy for me!), and then Wesley revived the Johnny Giraffe costume.  Such cuties!  

Not knowing how Maryn would do with Trick-or-Treaters, we choose to go around our neighborhood and stay close to home.  This made our neighbors very happy! They are also so sweet to our kiddos.  

Lots of people had candy sitting out, and the kids were very good about only taking a couple of pieces. (Unlike the kiddos we caught on our security cameras, dumping out the entire bucket of our candy into their bags....)

After we hit up all the houses, the kids enthusiastically handed out candy to the ToTers who came to our house. JB changed into his Batman snuggie and would say "help yourself" to all who came up to our house. Even Wesley enjoyed passing out the chocolate! (Maryn excused herself to watch the news on the couch, then asked to go to bed around 7.) 

So much fun!!  These kiddos make every holiday so much fun. Now on to the next one!

One More Pumpkin Patch - with Gia!

I'm so tired of trying to bribe and plead with my children to sit on a pumpkin, then look at me and smile.  But do I keep doing it?  Yes. Why?  No idea...

Well, two reasons we headed back to the pumpkin patch this weekend:  first, Gia came to visit! and, second, we hadn't actually bought a pumpkin... Halloween is fast approaching and we've just browsed, but never bought.  JB picked out the biggest, most handsome pumpkin ever (and I can't wait for James to try to carve that beast!)

So first, let's go through the multiple pics where no one is looking at mama or making a nice face at the same-time... :)

 

JB (who, my goodness, looks like an adolescent in these photos) ran off to play while I forced the smaller ones to pose for a couple more pics... (I choose to think it's due to the camera angle, not the fact that our baby boy is growing up so quickly!!!)

This weekend marked the last Saturday of our community Farmer's Market, where they set up the city pumpkin patch. We've sure enjoyed all the veggies, peas, and homemade pork skins all season.  So many businesses sponsored different children's activities, like a cookie decorating station this past weekend.  We appreciate all the fun!

Thanks for visiting, Gia, and spending the weekend with us!

JB Earns His Orange Belt

JB started Taekwnondo several months ago, after asking for lessons on "how to be a ninja". We're lucky our small town has a studio with lots of opportunities to take lessons and work on his forms.  We go twice a week for 30 minutes, and although I worried that may be too much for a 5 year old he has never once not wanted to go.  He would (and could) go more if we let him! 

Since he's in the Tiny Tigers program, the teachers do help quite a bit in remembering their forms. I also love the discipline required from the instructors.  JB respects them, and listens very intently during the whole class.

Two weeks ago JB tested for his first new belt - and passed! We attended his belt ceremony this week, and proudly watched as he went before his instructor, bowed and received his orange belt. 

I hope he continues to build skills and confidence so that one day he can achieve his dream of being a night ninja!  Meanwhile, he tells me that he'll protect the house and the girls when Daddy's traveling. Such a sweetheart.  :)