Our Mountain Adventure

For the first time, we decided to go to the mountains and choose and cut our Christmas tree.  We got a cool package with the hotel room and tree.  (remember that time after Disney we said we weren't going to stay all in one room together ever again? Yeah, we are never doing that again!)  Lee, Sara, Samuel, and Lillian had come into Boone to get their tree.  We were going to go out and explore and grab dinner, but it was raining.  Instead we got dinner and ate in our room.  They headed back out and it was movie and popcorn time for us.  We finally got back in the room and everyone settled.  When we got up the next morning it felt like 18 degrees :( We bundled up, headed to the tree farm, quickly chose our tree and got out of there.  It wasn't exactly the dream I had but you can't change the weather :-\  We will be doing it again next year though because it was fun and the tree smells awesome!

 

The guys and their girls

Not our tree, but it was the first one we saw and snapped a pic

Choosing our tree

The boys liked the bitty trees

A Ben-sized tree

Our tree tag

Ben loved help setting the tree up

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a bit crazy.  We went to Charlotte for Spence to have a few meetings on Tuesday.  The kids and I were able to have a couple playdates.  The kids and I got to spend time with our friends Sara, Samuel, and Lillian in the Dilworth area.  Then we headed to Concord and saw Jaime, Averie, Austin Kate, Atalie, Avery Mark, Addison, Nate, and Steven.  After all our running around we went to Spence's aunt and uncle's for a couple nights.  They just moved from California over the summer and we hadn't gotten to visit since then.  Thanksgiving Day we got up and headed to my parents for the day.  We stayed that night at Spence's parents.  (then we headed to the mountains, but that's another post)

 

Sara, Samuel, and Lillian

sweet girl was slow to warm up to us

Our girls!

Lillian, Samuel, Zeke, Ellie, and Ben

Averie, Ellie, Atalie, Zeke, Austin Kate, Addison, Avery, and Ben

Ellie and Jaime

Austin Kate loved on Ellie

Mary's house backs up to a pond.  The boys enjoyed fishing

There's an awesome playground in their neighborhood

The boys loved hiding in these little nooks

Isn't this such a cool playground

the best pic I could get...

Grandma and Ellie

Our littlest turkey

Ben's weird leg thing

Ben woke up on the 18th and could not walk.  He could not bear weight for 3 days.  We took him into the doctor because there wasn't nothing obviously wrong with him.  The doctor diagnosed him with Toxic Synovitis.  It is basically a virus that has settled in his hip.  We had to watch him for swelling, redness, or tenderness.  He was able to ease back in with some weight bearing one night.  He limped for a couple days, but bounced back pretty quick.  We have decided he is going to keep us on our toes.

 

Preschool Thanksgiving Program

The boys had a Thanksgiving program at school.  Each class sang two songs.  Ben's were the typical cheesy cutesy songs and we have been singing "There's a turkey on my head, on my head...".  Ben sang loud enough for us to hear him over his class. Zeke's were more Thanksgivingy in nature.  He didn't sing or do any of the movements, but we were proud that he stayed up there after he saw us.  Afterwards, the school put on a feast for the families.  It was so great spending the time with all the other families and staff.  Of course we forgot our camera, so we only got 2 pictures.

 

Ben's class (that's our buddy Judah beside him)

Zeke's class

Ellie 9 months

Ellie is 9 months.  I will soon be planning her first birthday... OK let's just stop before the tears start coming.  This was a busy month just like the past few.  With Halloween and her first Cornhuskin, plus just everyday stuff, she has grown a ton.  We went to the dr. for her check up and she is 20 pounds and 13 ounces putting her in the 85%, 27.5 inches long- 50%, and her head is 75%.  Spence has asked if she needs to go on diet breastmilk :) She is wearing mostly 9 month, but some 12 month stuff.  Still in size 3 diapers.  We have to keep shoes on her (just the Robeez types) so that she will keep socks on.  She doesn't crawl yet or even try to get on all fours.  She is kind of doing a scooting on her bottom or wiggles and rolls around.  She lights up at her brothers.  Loves peek-a-boo.  Says dada the most, but has said mama, nigh nigh (for night night), bbb (for bye bye), and hey. 

 

Ellie finally figured out how to use the walker

She loves anything her brothers are doing

Ben asked to take a picture with her

We had to get new tires and walked to hang out at daddy's office one day.  Cutie fell asleep on the walk and snoozed on the chilly walk

She still isn't crawling, but can scoot and roll all over the place

This girl is so beautiful, sweet cheeks and kissable lips

 hanging out with daddy and he fell asleep

she tried to stow away on one of daddy's trips

loves taking a bath like a big girl

We have decided she will win any V-sit competition

She uses this to terrorize her brothers

 

Zeke said "I jsut love her squishy cheeks!"

Sweet girl just before bed

Cornhuskin Parade

The kids and I went to Meredith for the parade for Cornhuskin parade.  For those that don't know, Meredith College is my alma mater.  It was the best four years being a student there.  Because we are an all women's college, we don't have a Homecoming.  Instead we have Cornhuskin.  It is a competition between the classes.  We compete in skit, hog calling, corn shucking, apple bobbing, tall tale, songs, sweatshirt design, can art, and more.  Everything culminates in Friday night.  To kick off the night there is a parade.  I love taking our kids back to campus.  It is a gorgeous campus.  I have always felt 100% safe there.  My kids can run around and everyone just ooo's and ahhh's over them.  And our current bonus for campus is our favorite babysitter/uncle's girlfriend is a student there. 

 

Zeke and Ben had a blast exploring and just running around

Ellie girl at Meredith College for the first time

 

The boys playing in front of the chapel

Ellie's first time on campus

Peeking out to see the start of the parade

The boys were a bit overwhelmed by all the girls and whistles

Chelsea, our favorite Angel

mesmerized by the parade

My 3 kids and I at my alma mater

Some sweet friends kiddos (minus Lisa's girls)

 

I'm not sure what has happened at MC, but there were people tailgating at Cornhuskin!

Halloween x3

My kiddos dressed up three times this year.  First, the administrative staff at the church had the staff kiddos come trick or treat (seriously the cutest thing EVER).  Second, Halloween night in our neighborhood.  Third, Trunk or Treat at the boys' preschool.  It was kind of a good thing, because Ellie had 3 (!) costumes.  I know seriously right.  Poor Ben didn't get a costume at all his first one and Ellie gets 3!  (OK, give some credit, the boy was only 3 weeks his first Halloween)

 

Zeke was a rocket ship and Ben a Ninja Turtle (or Injun Turtle if you ask him)

Outfit #1- UNC cheerleader

This was too funny not to do.  The Thompson boys were Thing 1 and Thing 2 and let us borrow a wig for a photo op.  (Also, big thanks to Cynthia and Kathryn for hanging onto E the whole time!)

Ellie LOVES babies.  It's the first real difference I have seen in behavior between my boys and her.  She went NUTS over Jack.  It's been rumored that she tries to hold his hand in nursery. (side note, check me out in the background with out any kids and a plate full of desserts, heaven)

Ladybug is costume #2

headed to the first house

 

we trick or treated with some small group friends who were dressed at policemen

chubby little bug!

HORRIBLE pic, sorry.  But we set up and gave out hot chocolate and candy with our small group again this year.  I love doing this for our neighbors.  It is such a great way to meet people

TRUNK or TREAT.  This concept was a bit odd for the boys

OH, and Ben shucked his costume not even half way through. 

Convo between a rocket and a bee

Happy little bumblebee!