Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2020! We had the sweetest little Elsa (Or, "Elsa 2", as Maryn was quick to point out, since this particular look came from the second installment of Frozen); a dashing fireman; and then a very believable Spiderman.  

We celebrated with our "quara-team" of neighbors, who - quite frankly - are one of the reasons we've mentally and emotionally survived this pandemic!  The kids and adults have built strong, sweet friendships, and I love our group. 

My parents were here for the week, marking the first time they've celebrated Halloween with the kiddos! We had a blast.  Mother and the little ones made deviled eggs with "spiders" to go along with other delicious treats, and Mother and I got into the costumes as best we could at the last minute. I think we looked cute. :)  

Gran Gran got lots of great pictures of the kiddos looking oh-so-cute in their costumes. We had THREE Elsas, each one looking lovely and unique.  They picked up a furry Olaf along the way, and Wesley dutifully wore his mask as we went to a few houses in the neighborhood that belonged to friends.  (We have several older ladies in our neighborhood who wanted us to stop by, no matter what!)

Honestly, looking back, this Halloween didn't actually differ much from prior years. With little ones (plus Maryn's intense fear of masks and costumes), we never did a large neighborhood sweep!  I think they got plenty of candy (they may disagree) and honestly the kiddos had just as much fun when we got back playing around the fire pit and running around with glowsticks!  So, pandemic and all, just a great, fun Halloween and so thankful for who we got to spend it with.  

Fun times with Gia and Aunt Wyllene

Gia and Aunt Wyllene came down for JB's birthday party and stayed the whole weekend.  We loved having them here!  They played board games, outdoor games, swung the jump rope for the neighborhood kiddos, chased around the yard, and kept the kids super entertained.  I don't know who's more tired when the leave - these spry ladies in their seventies or the children!  

On Sunday we visited our little downtown pizza spot, ordering take out and eating it upstairs (safely) in our HQ building.  Of course, since it's a lovely backdrop, I insisted on pictures. So glad I did because I loved capturing all these smiles.

Our weather that weekend was abnormally warm!  Only a week before November, but still easily shorts and sleeveless tops.  No Fall for us down here in Middle Georgia...

And, because what's a fun photoshoot without some bloopers.  These crazies can make some funny faces when I get out my camera :) Especially Wesley.  "Mr. Mean Muggin'", we like to call him...

Love this good-looking crew!  Can't wait for the Sisters to come back and visit us again!  We love their visits. 

Celebrating JB's birthday (FINALLY!)

Once James recovered and we all cleared our quarantine, we rescheduled JB's little birthday party for the second to last weekend in October.  Everyone who had been included in the first round could make it except one (Mac - but we'll see him soon), and we simply re-booked the exact same things from before (bouncy house, cake, etc).  

The boys had a BLAST playing on the bouncy house.  The three of them ran and ran and ran.  The weather turned out hotter than normal for Fall (which meant the different types of chilis I made for the event were not the most appropriate - though still yummy), and the personalized thermal water bottles we had made for the boys kept them nice and hydrated (because they were SWEATY).

JB loved his camo cake - perfect for our little hunter.

After singing Happy Birthday he got so many great presents from his friends and family. Including a couple of homemade cards and pictures that our sentimental son treasures.

In addition to the three boys, we had a couple of little siblings join us, too. And, a surprise, our cousins from Atlanta as well!  Of course Gia and Aunt Wyllene were there, too (and we got some great pictures of them with the kiddos the next day.)

One of the highlights of the party: a piñata.  When JB and I bought his party supplies at Walmart the day before, he saw the piñata and said "you know I've always wanted one of those..." How could I say no to this sweet boy who had a cancelled birthday party the month before (due to COVID), a very small and restricted party (again, pandemic and all), plus is such a sweetheart nearly 98% of the time.  I could not, so we came home with this super cool piñata.

My assessment: they do not make piñatas here in Georgia like they do back home in Texas.  In The Great State they are paper machete and crumbled nicely after repeated blows. The ones here are made of pure cardboard and even parents nailing it with a bat (or a mop handle, in our case) does not do much damage. By the time we finally broke the dang thing all the candy was crushed! 

Not that it mattered to the boys (and girls). They had so much fun with it. 

What a super fun day. After it was all over JB said "this was probably the best birthday party I've ever had".  We are so glad.  This kid deserves it!

Love ya, buddy! You're our absolute favorite seven year old, JB!