November

I am obsessed with Silas's baseball team. We kept going to games even when he was out with a broken arm. We made bleacher friends! The coach makes me want to be a better person. He poured into these kids all season and then at the end bought pizza and personalized water bottes and medals for everyone too. They improved so much and were so fun to watch. Hoping to see some of the same faces in the spring!

We went to Thornwell's Fall Fest with Elizabeth and Linnea. It was the cutest!

Buddy time with the Belvilles! All the kids played Mafia and were adorable and also made me think we might finally need to get a bigger house.

We made it back to the Williamsons. Not for our usual Thanksgiving fanfare but we still got in a singalong. My kids were very into it. If, by some genetic miracle, I have a child with musical talent they will surely go unrecognized in our household.

I wasn't really paying attention and packed Rory a lunch for his preschool Thanksgiving celebration. While all the other kids are photographed with turkey he is plated up with cold pizza.  

Now for the Christmas season! Not sure if it is good or bad that I have already bought and wrapped all our presents. My children will surely adopt all new interests before the 25th.

Thanksgiving at Hilton Head

We had a pretty magical week off for Thanksgiving! My folks and siblings came our way to be together at Hilton Head Island. We had more food than we could have eaten in two weeks. Dad managed to work wonders with two partially frozen turkeys on a gas grill. Silas was in heaven with the Oculus and his idol Malachi. Eli continued to be a puzzle prodigy. Dad got to mark seeing an alligator off his bucket list. Jane made Christmas come early with quilts and gifts. We did a Whodunit and may have terrified Rory with the pillow corpse on the floor. (I am certainly the worst actor in the family.) Turns out Trevor (Juan Iron) is a murderer, but when it comes to family, he is right... "Very good! Very good! Hole-in-one every time!" 

Family Photos

 The latest round with the Hofts!

October

Baseball! Until... 

Silas broke his arm on a sponge turf playground at the end of a slide that was six inches off the ground??!! He has been pretty awesome about the whole thing. It is healing nicely so we got to downsize the cast and might be in a brace in two weeks time.

 

Hannah visits! She was treated to every college students' dream activities: pumpkin patch/carving, solving a bunny mystery, and seeing The Addam's Family 2 at the drive-in. 

 

Gigi visits! We played hooky to go to the zoo, saw Hannah swim in Asheville, visited the Biltmore, and trick-or-treated.

Halloween!

I finished reading Sue Grafton, so my 25 book journey has come to an end. I am torn between thinking it is devastating there is no Z is for Zero and considering it is kind of sweet that Kinsey can now live on eating her peanut butter and pickle sandwiches and solving crimes indefinitely. I'll be honest I read so many in such close succession that I was confused about characters half the time, but I did enjoy the overall atmosphere. Plus, I can get behind anyone who loves McDonald's. Here is my tribute picture.