Craftiness

I'm loving Pinterest! I have found so many cute ideas for the kids. Last Wednesday I made a felt Christmas tree Advent calendar. I put lots of fun little activities for us to do. It helps to have the little extra push for making family time. Here's my list of activities:

Hope you are enjoying old family traditions and making new ones this year as well!

Thanksgiving

We had a quick month of November and a fabulous Thanksgiving.  Dave had a few days off, so we spent the first part of the week at my parent's house.  He worked Thanksgiving day, but was off on Friday.  I enjoyed watching the parade with the kids and we got our tree up over those 2 days.  On Saturday, Dave's family came to watch the Iron Bowl with us and to celebrate Dave and Pops' birthdays.  We had a ton of food and enjoyed spending time with each other...especially since Alabama won!

I'm still working on straightening the house back up and Christmas decorating.  Trying to do several handmade gifts this year, so I'm looking forward to that!  This Saturday we will go to the Christmas tree lighting downtown (per our felt Christmas tree advent calender that I am throwing together today...such a procrastinator).

I am finished with the kids' gifts.  Shhhh!   I shopped on Black Friday for the first time ever this year.  Before you gasp in astonishment I'll just let you know that it was ONLINE shopping.  I got all of the same deals without getting a black eye.  Ta-da!

For now, I'll leave you drooling.  I made this yummy Peanut Butter Cup cake.  I found the recipe on, of course, Pinterest.  It was so very delicious, even if I did over bake it a smidge.  ;)  It was still unbelievably moist!

~ Chocolate cake with peanut butter cups baked inside,
peanut butter buttercream frosting, and peanut butter cups on top ~

HaPpY HaLLoWeen!

The Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood

We had a fun night trick or treating with our friends across the street.  Livee walked the entire circle and was such a cutie pie being a "big girl".  She said Happy Halloween a million times and said "I trick-or-treatin."  We also have a new addition to our family, Pip.  We rescued him from the pound on Sunday and think he's going to be lots of fun!

Just had to put a better picture of my goofy Frankenstein door.  Got the idea from Pinterest!

Pip and Little Red :)

She had to be a big girl and hold our neighbor Alicia's hand for most of the time.

Pumpkin Patch

2 weeks ago (yes, I am behind) we went to Muscle Shoals.  While we were there, we visited McGee Farms' Pumpkin Patch with my brother, his wife, nephew, and niece.  It was a beautiful day and the kids really enjoyed it!  Livee hasn't been to a patch since she was a baby, so she enjoyed seeing the chickens and goats and going on the hayride.  She also LOVES her Uncle Brandon.  She sat with him on the hayride.  There was also a haystack for the kids to play in that the big boys had a ball on.  

We have been very busy this month.  I feel like I'm hardly every at home anymore.  I'm sure all that will change once the cold weather hits, so I'm trying to enjoy these gorgeous days right now.  I am room mom for Livee's class, so I've been busy getting ready for her fall party.  I also made Livee and Hayden's Halloween costumes this year.  I've been getting crafty lately and setting myself on a regular chore schedule for the house too (Thanks Pinterest).   

Hayden started karate at the beginning of this month and is actually enjoying it (rather than t-ball where he really didn't).  He's also learning quite a bit at school and is very close to becoming a reader!  Livee loves going to preschool and says new phrases everyday.  She's a talkative little girl at home, but becomes shy when she's out.  I really think it's more of a game to her than anything.  She follows Hayden around a lot and mimics him.  One funny thing she did last night was to tattle on me.  She was pitching a fit when it was time for her bath, so I picked her up and put her in the tub.  20 minutes later (after her bath and pjs were already on) she told Daddy that I hurt her arm.  Drama Queen!  

This is my absolute favorite time of year, so it's nice to be able to enjoy it.  This weekend we're heading to Birmingham for Samford's Homecoming game.  It's my 10 year reunion (yikes), so I'm glad I'll be able to be there and show Hayden and Livee my college!

The Few and The Proud

On Sunday one of Dave's brothers, Charlie, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. We are so proud of him! Here are some pictures from the big day. Keep in mind that Hayden took about half of these and his were better focused than mine! I really need some photography classes and a better camera. :)

Catching Up

First Day of Kindergarten...finally!

Since Livee's birthday, we have started school! Hayden missed the first several days of Kindergarten due to Strep Throat (that lasted forever because it started with vomiting), but he is finally adjusting. He has had some issues with defiance, but I'm hoping that those are finally settling down. He's working on his site words and learning to read. His favorite subjects are P.E. and Art, which is customary for a little boy I think. The second weekend of August we had his birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, also. He's 6 and growing like a weed! I asked him to stop, but he said no. :)

Ticket booth with cousin Carson

Ready for CAKE!

Gotta make sure Chuck E. is still there

Driving at the Cheese

In September, Livee started attending preschool at a local church two days a week for a few hours. She LOVES it! And I love that I am able to volunteer at Hayden's school one day a week and attend a Bible study on the other.

Livee's first day

Other than being sick on and off, we are enjoying the fall weather. Dave and I went white water rafting at the end of August with our LifeGroup class. Even though it wasn't a really rough river, we still had fun just being together all day without kiddos. The kids and I went to Muscle Shoals on Labor Day weekend (since Hayden was out on Monday) and will go back next weekend (Hayden's out on Columbus Day). We don't have anything else planned this month except for football (ugh) and my 10 year COLLEGE reunion. Yikes! I hope we can sneak in a trip to a pumpkin patch sometime since Livee is big enough to enjoy it this year.

I've joined Pinterest, which is why I need to use the treadmill that we bought on Craigslist last month. I just look at that site and I gain a pound. I've already made several recipes I've found on there and gotten lots of ideas for sewing and decorating. I'm planning on making the kids' Halloween costumes this year and I'm excited about that. I've also been working on painting my dining room chairs and recovering the cushions for about a month. It wouldn't have taken that long except it's rained in between and I've gotten distracted with other things. I will hopefully tackle painting our bedroom in the next couple of weeks. I've just about decided to paint the walls a nice stone gray and the ceiling a beautiful turquoise. Then we will get a king-sized bed next spring and a new ceiling fixture. I hope to remember to take pictures tomorrow at Uncle Charlie's commissioning ceremony so that I can post again later this week!