Mini Halloween Party

Our family LOVES to celebrate Halloween.  Each year we plan a big party and cross our fingers that no one gets sick.  This year poor Griffin ended up in the hospital with croup/wheezing/breathing treatments.  It could have been much worse -- Griffin was only in the hospital for 5 hours -- but it was a couple of days before our party and we felt like we needed to cancel.  Miles was devastated and it broke my heart, so we called a couple of friends to see if they minded braving the germs for a mini party.  They were up for it -- and of course, Griffin felt much better by Saturday anyway.  Murphy's Law.

All the decorations were ready....here are just a few






The candy and plates and bowls had been laid out for days....


We ALL played all the games.  Pretty sure that's what made it so fun.
Game #1: Pour the blood in the vampire's mouth




(i got so dizzy...all the spinning and the scented eye mask were not a good combo)




Game #2 Mummy Races:



Ready?  GO!

Jump one.  Keep your eyes on Griffin.

Poor Griffin.  Face plant and feet in the air.  2 seconds in.

Miles checking out Griffin.  With him "in spirit", I'm sure.

A couple of jumps later, Noah was down too.  This game had high levels of laughter and tears.  I'd do it again.  haha


Griffin rested for a bit after the mummy races.


Game #3: Donut Races:
Apparently EVERYONE wanted to play.  :)




its harder than it looks, people


victory!

Next up!



Love all the duo's in this game.





Jack was nervous, so he and Thad did it together.





Griffin coached Thad



A win!

Allison and Thad


(where are the pictures of tricia and jon??  need to find/add! :)

Game #4: Limbo!




I made it.  Barely.


We thought it was going to be a complete miss celebrating and it ended up being much, much fun!  Thanks so much for being such great friends, Reece's and William's!

Panther Game

Mike and Miles went to a Panther game together.  They had a blast!  Tickets were gifted to Mike by Lash Group/Xcenda (our old employer who Mike now uses on a consulting basis).  Needless to say the tickets were for incredible seats and were much appreciated!  Mike and I Miles even did some pre-shopping for a jersey so Miles could show full team spirit.

Yoga

Griffin learns yoga at preschool and LOVES it.  He comes home and wants to show us new poses and I swear he remembers them all from previous classes. Its adorable to hear him talk through the poses and say things like "put your hands at heart-center".  Told Griffin he must be channeling all the yoga I did when I was pregnant with him....

Red Ribbon Reading

Miles' goal was to read 143 hours last summer. By mid-summer he changed it to 100 hours. :) Everything counts - reading yourself, being read to, audio books. Kids get sponsored for the amount of hours they read and all the $$ goes to the school (so much better than a wrapping paper or cookie sale, right?!)  Noah completed 40 hours.  Excited to get this started for all three boys next summer!



Every kid at school that reads 100 hours is in the "100 hour club".  I took individual photos of every child in the 100 hour club.  The photos are combined to make a big poster and then hung in the school for the rest of the year.




Griffin came along for the fun, since preschool didn't start until 9:30am.  Here is Griffin with our neighbor, Will (1st) and Evan (2nd).



Here is Noah with his class at the assembly.  Every kid that participates get a Red Ribbon Reading t-shirt.


Miles and his BF Reid.  All the 100 hour club kids sit together at the front of the gym during the assembly.


Griffin joined Miles for a little while.


Our mascot comes.


Griffin "enjoying" the assembly while I snapped yearbook photos.


Tons of prizes are raffled off.  Raffle entries are earned by hours read. A bike is the grand prize.  No winners in our house - but love that they got so much summer reading done!

Red Friday

One of the boys' FAVORITE events at school each year is Red Friday. Its a celebration of all of the reading that they kids did all summer (and all the money raised tied to that reading). Its also a big pep rally for the big HS football game afterwards. There is dinner, face painting, the HS marching band, cheerleaders, mascots, music -- its really fun!





The kids run around, play football, tag, etc..



Miles and Reid (BFFs since 1st grade)



Griffin with Reid's little brother, Drew.  If Griffin goes to kindergarten next year, they will be in school together.


Miles and his new favorite friend in class this year


The kids play till dark then everyone heads over to the football game. We haven't made it to the football game in the last 4 weeks (so late). Next year is our year!

Session Prep with Peggy and the Boys

Whenever I have mini sessions, I try to check out the location so I understand what the light will be like over a long period of time.  Peggy was in town (she was a HUGE help shopping for props too -- and fun!) so we loaded up the boys for playtime at the mint museum.

Again, Griffin was my model in most cases.  The older boys were much more interested in playing soccer/kickball/running around.



this next face kills me





Have this next photo framed.  Love it.


It was a great visit with Peggy!  And a fun session prep!  :)

Griffin and a few props

Before my whirlwind of fall sessions started, I headed to a local consignment shop to pick up an antique sled.  Every sled I loved was $200+ so I decided to grab a couple of chairs and a suitcase instead.  Never used the blue chair, so probably should have left it at the store.  Loved the suitcase though.  And, loved the red chair so much that I recently bought two more ((blue and brown).  Love that I can use them for sessions -- but mostly love that the boys use them when we play games, when they build legos, etc..

Somehow Griffin is still happy to be my model.  :)  I snapped a few photos of him 5 minutes before I left for my mini sessions to get a feel for how I could use my new props.  Love that I'm such a planner and allow a decent amount of prep-time to get my act together.  :)




Tired of this?  No problem.  Gotta go anyway.  :)


PS I know.  This chair is boring.  haha