Halloween 2015

I was pretty lame this year and didn't get a whole lot of pictures on Halloween.

Since Ben didn't get to wear his Thomas costume to school last year because of seizures, I decided to just have him use the same costume this year.

Here he is watching for the bus...

Matt was Harry Potter a couple of years ago but his teacher this year is a huge HP fan so he wanted to be the same thing this year.  Easy :)...especially since Josh was HP two year ago as well so we had a size larger for Matt this year.  Abby originally wanted to be a pirate but thankfully changed to an easier idea last minute.  Here she is as a cute little smarty pants (I like that better than "nerd")

Josh was...I don't know what he was....

We bought a painting cover up suit thing for him because he wanted to put black tape on it and be a stick figure.  However, when he tried it on, it was huge.  He proceeded to stuff himself with pillows and looked so funny that he decided to ditch the tape.  We had several thoughts of what he could call himelf...Baymax, a white oompaloompah, and I think, what he ended up telling people at school, the Michelin man.

Right before we went out to trick or treat to grandparents, Ben had a seizure.  We knew his cluster was coming...he was long overdue so it was no surprise, but stinking timing :)

Andy stayed home with him while I took the other kids out.

Abby had her first year out trick or treating with friends and my parents and brothers came over for dinner and festivities as usual.

Fun night, just wish I had more pics :(

(Harry selfie)

Abby's 11! (and a room makeover)

 Abby decided several months ago that for her birthday, she wanted us to redo her room.  She's been in need of a new bed and she wanted to make the room fox themed.

Andy was willing to paint (I'm not a painter) and she wanted to help...

I searched forever online for a loft bed.  Eventually, I decided on a mid, or low loft with dresser and bookshelf.

I was cutting it close when I ordered it and wasn't sure if it would be here in time for the big day but it ended up arriving the day before!

Mom made a fox quilt for her...documented here on her blog.

It's just perfect!

We were able to keep Abby out of her room while we set up the bed and everything else.

Mom brought the quilt over while she was at school.

She was absolutely thrilled!

I love this picture :)

I've kind of been holding off on this post because there were things that weren't completely in place on her birthday that have since been taken care of.  I wanted to get a picture with the room complete, but the problem is, now that she's moved all of her things back in to the room, it's a mess.  She's got to sort through and throw out a bunch of stuff before I can take some good pictures.  I figured if I waited for it to be clean it would be quite a while before I posted...so here it is and hopefully later, I can add some more pictures :)

She found this bungee chair a few months ago at Bed Bath and Beyond.

 There were a couple of things I ordered online less than a week before her birthday and was pretty sure we wouldn't be seeing them until after the room reveal but the fox picture (seen on the dresser above) and the fox pillow cover (you can't see it very well but it's in the lower left corner of the picture below) barely made it to our home in time...like the day of :)

 She was so very happy with it all and I was relieved!

We went to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner...

...and then went home and celebrated with cheesecake.

We also celebrated her and my brother James' birthday (his is the day after hers) the following Sunday at Mom and Dad's.

My Abs is such a special gal!

She is a peacemaker and good influence in our home.

Happy Birthday sweet Abby...love you tons!

*Room Update*

Fall Piano Recital

I decided a year ago that the kids needed a piano teacher other than me.

We found a cute college student that lived around the corner and was very reasonably priced.

That worked out great for about 7 months before she moved away.

I was on the search again.  I realized I would most likely need to break down and pay a lot more money and face the fact that I would need to drive them to lessons somewhere.

Once I accepted these things, I easily chose a teacher that was highly recommended.  Luckily, she was able to take them on in the summer but wasn't sure she would have room once school started.  

Gratefully, she had some spots open up and we've been able to continue with her.

They had their first recital with her last month...

Matt played a duet of Favorite Things with her (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the two of them together).

Abby played a song called Star and Wind.

And Josh played a sonatina duet.

They all did such a fabulous job!

Andy and I have both noticed how far they've come in just a few, short months.

They've all had to up their game quite a bit...it's not been easy, but it's been good for them :)

Matt turns 9!

Some of these are blurry...as usual, but they're cute nonetheless.

Dinner at Dickey's

Love this sweet guy!

He has such a fun personality and keeps us on our toes :)

Celebrating at Grandpa and Grandma's...

Happy 9 years Matt!

Love you to pieces!

Recent Accomplishments

Matt tried out flag football this fall.

He had a fun team and an awesome coach!

I think overall, he had a great experience...

Abby had her 5th grade "wax museum" night.

She was Betsy Ross.

 She looked so sad and I told her to smile.  She murmured out of the corner of her mouth that she wasn't supposed to move.  I told her to go ahead and smile and then not move :)

I was stressed over the costume.  I didn't have time to make a dress from scratch, so I found an old dress to alter.  My mom made the mob cap for her and we were able to throw the rest of it together without too much trouble.

She did a great job!

Josh had his first orchestra concert of the year...

Blurry, but I thought it was a cute picture :)

I love that this guy enjoys playing the cello so much!