Halloween, Part 2

And the weekend continues into Monday as I take off time from work to attend the Fall Festival at Madison's day care.  All the children had yet another chance to wear their costumes.  Madison knew I was coming and was sitting at the window...waiting.  When I pulled up to the school, all I could see were little white hands!

Everyone had to line up before going out on the playground.  They patiently waited while the teachers put the final touch on the festival events.

Grace, Emma and Madison

There were many games to chose from that Madison didn't know where to start.  She dabbled a bit here and dabbled a bit there but her true love for the games was when she figured out she could win candy at just a few of them.

Putting a sticker on the nose of the pumpkin

A chilly morning turned into a downpour evening.  Not the way to end a really nice weekend.  She loved watching all the people who fought the rain (and it was just a few) in their costumes that came to our door.  Jeff had a wonderful idea that allowed her to "trick-or treat".  He would hide in one of the bedrooms and Madison would knock on the door and say "TrICk-oR-TreAT!"  Her dad would be in a different hat and would be a different character.  She LOVED it.  Thought it was so funny.

Well, Halloween is finally over...really wish she would have been able to go out door to door tonight but it was WAY to yucky outside.  Plus I think she had a great time pretending daddy was a different person behind each door!  Hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend.

HaPPy haLLowEEn!!!!

Halloween Weekend, Part I

Happy Halloween!!!  Our Halloween weekend started on Wednesday when Madison started an art project.  She made candle holders with mason jars and orange paint.  I helped by cutting out the pumpkin eyes, nose and mouth out of masking tape.  She placed the stickers on the jar and then her most favorite part was getting to paint them!

First jar

Really getting into it...last jar

Then finishing up the project, she thought it was more fun painting my fingers then to paint the jars!

Hee Hee...I'm painting mom's fingers!

Friday night was burger night!!!  Madison helped Jeff prepare the meat for the grill.  Jeff explained to her how to mix cheeses and spices into the meat.  The burgers were a bit short of the grated cheese since the sous chef tended to sample the cheese before putting in the mix!

All week we were preparing for Saturday night.  For Halloween, we hosted a potluck dinner for a few of Madison's closest friends.  I know it looks busy, but this is the room where the children were going to play during the party...and this is clean!

Before...stay tuned for the after

Madison couldn't wait to get into her costume.  She'd been talking about her costume since it came in the mail days before.

And then her first guest arrived!  The party has now begun!!!!  Madison was so excited!

Emma and Madison

And then after everyone finally arrived, it was time to eat!

With their stomachs full, it was time to play, play, play.  The parents were able to get them to stand still JUST long enough to get a picture of them all in their costumes.  It's hard to have five children stay still for too long.

Sam, Allie, Ben, Madison and Emma

Quick pictures, then back to playing.  Madison and Emma sat together and were reading to each other.  Since there were so many pictures taken before they were DONE taking pictures!

Madison and Emma hiding from me

All the children surprised us by playing so well and then playing for so long.  It was nine o'clock before finally the parents were so exhausted that they reeled in their children and called it a night. Jeff and I would scan the room from time to time but we weren't really paying attention to the mess, until....

After!  O-M-G, what a mess!!!

Sunday morning, after cleaning up, Madison thought it was time for daddy to get a haircut before he started his day.

The weather over the weekend started really yucky, wet, cold and windy.  Today was chilly but the sun was out and the wind had died down.  Madison took advantage of this day to ride her big wheel.  She likes starting at the top of the driveway and then riding down the hill.

Getting herself lined up

Almost to the bottom!

She continued to play for a bit longer taking in the fall weather.  

Singing and enjoying the afternoon

The Halloween Weekend continues into Monday with a party at school and then Trick or Treating in the neighborhood.  Stay tuned....

Playing hookie

The weather today is perfect.  I left work just a little early for Madison and me to be able to play at the park for a bit before it got dark.  She's been asking all week and with it getting dark so early we just haven't been able to play.  We had a wonderful time and will miss the beautiful fall weather in the days to come.

A Sister Sanford Visit

Nana and Papa's ride from Canton had an extra passenger this time!  Debbie made the trip with them to visit with Madison and then to Springfield VA to visit with Mackenzie and Parker.  Saturday morning we took them to watch Madison at gymnastics and then off to do a bit of shopping.   Madison did so good but she was so ready to get home after a couple of stops.  We got home to have a snack and for Madison to share some stories with Debbie.

Sunday the girls went shopping leaving the littlest of girls home with dad and Papa.  Madison did get the better end of the deal though.  She got a new outfit but I think her favorite was the new pair of clogs.  She hasn't taken them off since I brought them home!

This coming weekend we are having a Halloween Party and will have plenty of pictures to share!!!

Lots going on...just no pictutes

Taking a bath

I feel like I'm letting everyone down with two weeks and nothing to post.  Last weekend there wasn't much going on and nothing all that exciting this weekend either.  We did make an unexpected trip to Charlotte this weekend.  While we were there we did get to go to a park that had a really cool playground.

Madison loved it!  

The Fall Season Begins...

This is just funny...reminds me of a Who from Whoville in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas!

We could have not cramed another thing to do into this weekend.  Saturday morning Madison had her gymnastics class.  She did so well at separating from us and getting right into her class.  There were all smiles for the forty five minutes. 

Home Depot was having their KidsWorkshop over the weekend and we didn't want to have Madison miss her chance to miss the Chick-fil-A cow and a possible chance at being able to sit on a fire truck.

We didn't miss the cow...

And she got to sit in the front seat of a fire truck...

Family portrait infront of the fire truck.

We stopped to get a quick bite to eat before heading out to the pumpkin patch to pick a fresh pumpkin or two.  By the looks of things in the patch, they tended to leave the larger ones for those to gather but Madison did a great job picking three pumpkins to bring home.

The old tractor on the field was a great picture taking opportunity.

Sitting amongst a group of already picked pumpkins.  That takes all the fun out of finding just the right pumpkin.

Madison must have forgotten she already had a vehicle full of pumpkins.

On the way home I got a text message from Liz, Emma's mom, asking if we would watch Emma for a couple of hours for her.  Luckily we were able to just swing by and pick her up.  Madison and she played and played and played outside until Liz came to get her.  

There were dinner plans out at a friends house and Madison fell in love with the trampoline that they had.  I don't know who was more tired at the end of the night...me or her.

Time did tell that Madison had a very long and busy Saturday. She is usually up and ready to go by 7am on the weekend; however, this weekend it wasn't until after 8am that she got up!!!

Sunday we went letterboxing.  Madison is now taking to it by wanting to do the stamps part of our outings.  She is so silly!  She was even trying to put the stamps on her hands just like they do at gymnastics.
When we got home, Madison's new friends from down the street, Sam and Ben came down to play with her.

Needless to say, as I type this she is sawing some VERY serious ZZZ's and Mommy is not much further behind her.  Love to all!

And the busy weekend continues...

Emma came home with Madison after school to have dinner and play until Emma's mom got off work.  The girls played Candyland, colored and ran around a bit and then it was time for dinner.  Dinner went really well  and then it was time to take the girls for a ride in the trailer.

We get home and start to settle down for bed.  Madison reads Emma a book...

The rest of the week was quiet...in comparison.

Back to gymnastics on Saturday and something new again this week!  She loved the bouncy...bouncy...bouncy...

Mommy and Daddy went to have some grown up time that afternoon.  A local winery had a tasting with a "picnic basket".    It was a wonderful evening out.

Sunday the Tribute was so dirty (getting to the winery was a VERY muddy road) that Madison helped her Daddy get it clean.

Allie came over during the afternoon and the girls played together and had such a great time.  A well rounded weekend and a good time was had by all!!!