Easter

We spent Easter with our dear friends and had such a great day.  We love living life and doing big and small together.  

Halloween on the same day we return from Disney?!

Well, we are the crazy people who traveled back from Disney and immediately jumped into Halloween.  I mean what a week for our kids, right?  Insanity.  The kids did a fabulous job traveling back, but when we got home it was COLD compared to that gorgeous weather we had all week.  

The boys searched through all their costumes and chose Woody and Spider-Man.  We put Haddie in Ben's old monkey costume.  Ellie trie don 3 different costumes, but in the end refused to wear any of them.  So, she went as a "An Uncooperative 2 Year Old".  We went trick or treating with some friends in the neighborhood and had so much fun.  

Back on the Magical Express

It isn't as fun of a ride when you are leaving, but we still loved it even if it was super early to get out the door and on the bus.

My sweet sleeping girl was such a champ for the entire trip.  I went on and on about how Ellie did when we took her at 7 months, but that girl had us up walking around in the middle of the night because of waking up.  Haddie on the other hand, really rolled with whatever we threw at her.  She napped when and where she could and was just so so sweet the whole time.  She charmed everyone who saw her and didn't even make a fuss at all the whole time.

yeah, no words

that boy

nothing like a chubby little monkey

Best pic I could get of Ben 

Yes, that is her beautiful Cinderella costume that she refused to wear

As many of the kiddos as I could get in the pic

Easter 2014

Halloween 2013

Haddie spent her Halloween pretty much like this

Ellie refused to wear a costume.  I mean, all kinds of a fit.  

Ben the fireman

I can not believe I have 4 kids.  

We trick or treated with our small group friends again this year.  

Ellie walked up to each door, said please, then ran away saying "Kank-kou" before any candy could be put in her bucket. She ended the night with no candy and no costume.  I guess she made up for me sticking her in 3 costumes last year.

Easter

Ellie

Ben

Zeke

Ellie only wanted the Little People

The boys went a little crazy over the basketball goal we got them

Really bad picture, but yes, we are pregnant again!  We are thrilled (except for all the throwing up) and excited to bring our newest babe into the world in October.

Best one I could get

Happy Valentines!

 

 

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

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!