Halloween

Halloween meant that I had less than a month before baby's arrival. Needless to say, I was feeling less than my best, but Halloween is a big deal at school so I felt I had to rally. The entire kindergarten gets to wear their costumes to school and then parade through the halls while all the 1st-5th watch and cheer them on. It's really cute and the kids love showing off their costumes. After the parade, we had a party, complete with games, snacks and arts & crafts. Finn dressed up as Obi-Wan or maybe Han Solo, I can't remember, but he kept the Star Wars theme from the past 2 years going. 

I dressed up as a pregnant lady, check out my swollen cheeks

Getting ready for the parade

Lining up

Making skeletons out of q-tips

Usually, I love dressing up and going trick-or-treating, but was not feeling up to it this time. I was so sad to miss the festivities, but snapped a few pictures before Mark and Finn took off. All I really wanted to do was put my feet up and wait for Finn to get back so I could raid his candy. 

Puppy Reunion

Charlie and her brothers and sisters officially turned 1 on August 30. With 7 of the 10 puppies from the litter local, we decided to have a little birthday party/reunion with all of the puppies and the mom and dad. Again, I can't believe so many are so close. It was hilarious to see them all again. Only Charlie and Fisher really recognized each other, mainly because they spent nearly a year living next to each other and sharing a fence together. It was funny to see how even though they started out looking so similar, they grew into beautiful dogs with subtle differences. Of course, I am convinced I have the nut of the group. Charlie is definitely a wild woman. 

Playing hide and seek 

Taking in the sights from her "perch"

The puppies at about 7 weeks

Pups at about 1 year

Charlie and Fisher at about 10 weeks

Charlie and Fisher rolling around (front and center)

 Langley and Finn

Take #1 of the group picture: This one had me laughing out loud . . .

Notice Finn's legs (green shoes), he is holding on to Charlie while she drags him through the grass. The other dogs seem to be thinking "what's with her?"

Caper and her babies

So pretty

This is just funny: Charlie "hides" behind the pillows and thinks if she is really still no one will see her and make her get down

Wedding Bells

My cousin, Amy Stone, got married in Carrollton, GA at the end of September and while I was thrilled to be able to go, I don't recommend making a 6 hour solo drive at 8 months pregnant. Fortunately, we were able to shorten it a bit and spend the night with our dear friends in Atlanta. It is always so fun to see the Benich bunch even for a short amount of time. Finn and Wade play great together and love having camp outs in Wade's room. It's never long enough, but we will take what we can get. 

So proud to be 5!

Our boys are growing up

Their best tough guy pose

The boys and princess Bree

So sorry to do this because I am aware it is a heinous picture of everyone but Bree, but it still makes me laugh and I love my dear friend and her special gift to our little peach. No we did not plan on wearing the same outfit, but when we realized it, we were too lazy to change. Photos taken by Finn and Wade!

Amy and Jeff had a beautiful wedding at Tabernacle church in Carrollton followed by an amazing reception in an airplane hangar! Yes, an airplane hangar. It was beautiful and looked nothing like a hangar. I loved seeing Amy and our extended family. Finn had a blast as always but being so pregnant really took away my desire to dance the night away. So, I was happy to sit and observe all of the fun from the sidelines. 

Finn and Papa (they share a birthday, 12/21)

Katie Grace and Finn

Me and my handsome date

The beautiful bride, Amy, and her proud daddy, Joe

Finn and his great-grandparents

Finn was such a gentleman and asked Grandmother to dance. She can still cut a rug

  The "Young" girls with Papa and Grandmother

Dancing the night away with Big and Baa

Finn giving his best sorority smile

Our "selfie"

The Youngs (Dennis, Mother of the Bride, Ginger, Grandmother and my dad)

School Field Trips to the Beach

Finn's class got to take not one but TWO field trips to the beach! What a lucky kid. I am amazed that the kids behaved so well and that the teachers are so well organized. Pretty soon, when the new school is finished, they only will have to walk out the back door to get to the beach since it will be in their backyard. But, for the time being, we loaded up on buses and went the short distance to Isle of Palms. The first trip was a seining trip. They learned about the beach environment and ecosystem and then got to throw a cast net and examine all of the creepy crawlies and swimmers that live in the ocean. I still can't believe that no one got too wet. 

Mrs. Beall's Class climbing the beautiful trees

Learning about beach grasses, erosion and why it is important to preserve the dunes

My handsome and wind-blown kindergartener

Getting ready to toss the net

Checking out their haul

Field trip #2: The entire school goes to Isle of Palms for a sandcastle building day. Each class has a sand "plot" and has to come up with a theme and then construct their "castle." Some of the older classes  made turtles and crabs but the kindergarteners really just dug holes and made sand piles. Still, they were proud of their work and had a great time in the process. Then we all lined up and walked around and looked at all of the other creations. It was a great morning and I still can't imagine how much sand was left in the classrooms at the end of that day. Those kids were sandy!

Finn and Zack making a crab

So many kids!

Everyone is hard at work

Davis, Finn and Zack

Ms. Beall's K Class

Silly pose