gymnastics, volleyball and friendsgiving

The Turkey Tumble Meet was this Friday.  Emmy placed 2nd on floor and 3rd on vault.  

Despite a fall on the beam, she placed 3rd all around!!

Her team came in first place for level 7.

The judges awarded her the Talented Turkey Award for hopping back on the beam after her fall and finishing strong with a stuck landing.

Teammates and friends!

Bryce was pulled up to varsity for the post season.  He didn't play in any of the region finals, but he played two sets this Saturday in the state quarterfinal.  

We attended Friendsgiving with our high school friends on Saturday.  Many non-high school friends have joined the group over the years too!

Jason and Audrey re-wore last year's Thanksgiving outfits. 

The variety of food is so yummy.  I look forward to the brussels sprouts casserole every year.  

Santa makes an appearance every year.  Emmy asked for a yacht this year. 

Bryce asked for 10 $100 bills.

The number of kids is CRAZY!

We hosted the youth group at our house tonight.  We had a Thanksgiving meal and played some festive games. 

We wrap up volleyball this week and maybe fall into a more relaxed routine after that. 

a short week, family photos and a hole in one

The kids had a mini fall break that lasted into this week.  Two years ago, we went on a cruise over this break, but we had too many sports to go anywhere this time.  Emmy and her friends wanted to get their nails done so I took them.  They're so sweet.   

I wanted to take a real picture for our Christmas card this year.  All of our pictures of all four of us are selfies on vacation and we typically have on sunglasses.  I wanted a real picture this year!  The main reason we don't do this every year is because I stress over the coordinating outfits.  Bryce and I had our shirts, and we managed to find something for Jason and Emmy the morning of!  We went to my friend Kathryn's house, and she took our pictures on her property.  We were quite pleased with the outcome!

I'm so excited to have these pictures!  The Christmas card has been ordered and I'm getting prints made for some frames that have had the same pictures in them for about eleven years.  

Bryce and Chase golfed after church today and Bryce got his first hole in one!  He was super pumped!

halloween week

Jason and I had a chance for a couple of date nights this week.  Both kids had sports (which was a change of schedule) and it allowed us to go out for a work event at Lewis Ginter on Tuesday. 

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I made fun treats for everyone for Halloween.  

The Atlee baseball team had their annual Halloween game on Halloween this year.  It's so fun to watch high school boys run around a baseball field in ridiculous costumes.  The game had elements of Banana ball like running the bases in the opposite direction. 

I ran around last minute on Monday trying to round up all the Ninja Turtles for Bryce and his buddies. 

We were at Marshall's with my mom recently and Emmy found this cute costume. 

Emmy went trick or treating with some friends from school.  They drew names and exchanged boo baskets, ate pizza and got plenty of candy.

Bryce and his buddy Brayden.

Bryce and Avery.

Bryce has been to Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion in the past, but Emmy had never been.  She has a friend who told her it was fun, so she wanted to go this year.  Tonight was the last night, and we managed to make it out and with her friend who was celebrating her birthday.  She made it about an hour, but it was not her thing.  Jason and I have never been into scary stuff and now Emmy knows for herself why we're not fans. 

We'll go back for a more pleasant experience when they open up Winterfest, but that will likely be our last KD visit for a while.  The kids weren't into rides and the park this year, so we won't be renewing our passes next year. 

just some things

Emmy's school had their pink out volleyball game this week and she had fun attending with her friends. 

Bryce coached the sophomore powderpuff team on Friday night.  The sophomores won their first game against the freshmen and then won the championship game against the juniors.  It was a fun time and Bryce was in his element out on the field.  

Bryce went apple picking with Avery's family today. 

Emmy had her first level 7 meet of the season this afternoon.  She did so well.  This is her third year performing her same vault and she has improved so much.  We were all thrilled with her score and her second place finish (she was very narrowly beat out for first by the last vaulter).  She added a giant to her bar routine this year and performed it well.  She placed third on the bars.  She added a connection on her beam routine and is excited to have Enter Sandman as her floor music.  She's been working hard and all the hard work earned her 3rd all around. 

We have a busy week ahead so tonight was the only night left to carve pumpkins.  It was a fun family time and we even enjoyed a fire pit and s'mores.

Bryce got called up to varsity for the post season so we'll still be busy running around for the next couple of weeks. 

october so far

We welcomed October with the perfect dinner!

Getting in the spooky mood!

School pictures came in and the kids are looking so grown. 

The volleyball picture makes me laugh. 

Jason and I have been able to enjoy some Friday day dates again.  

Bryce is filling every free moment with friends!

I got a haircut.  I think it is drastically shorter in person!

We try so hard to get together with this group of friends every month or so.  It takes a lot of planning and arranging, but it's always so fun to be together. 

Jason got a BIG buck!

There's been baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, a few fun fall things and just overall busyness with very few pictures!

100

My Nanny would have been 100 years old today!  My mom and her brother and some family got together for lunch back in February to celebrate what would have been my Poppy's 100th birthday.  The four us were busy and unable to attend so we were glad to be available to do it again yesterday for my Nanny!  My uncle came down from New Jersey and we drove up to Northern Virginia where we all met for lunch.  It was a great time together since we don't see each other often enough. 

Nanny loved a chocolate Frosty.  We always gave her a hard time for drinking it through a straw, but she'd nurse it all afternoon until she drank the last sip!  We went to Wendy's after lunch to continue the celebration!

She was such a gift to our family, and we miss her dearly!

sophomore homecoming 24

Another year, another homecoming!

I can't get over what a difference a year makes!  

Bryce said the whole homecoming experience this year was so fun and better than last year.  I saw lots of pictures from the evening to prove it.  I love that he's found his place in high school and is thriving!