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!

a busy week

We have been enjoying the early start of fall.  Football and cooler temperatures make for fun nights on the new deck. 

I'm having fun decorating and the house smells amazing!

Bryce had a volleyball game in Midlothian on Monday night.  We have friends that live on that side of town that we don't see nearly enough.  We've talked about getting together at a brewery on their side of town and we finally made it happen this week.  We realized how close we were while at the game and reached out to them and they just happened to have all three of their kids at sports with scheduled carpools back home so we were able to meet up for a quick drink.  Impromptu dates are the best!

We celebrated PaPa's birthday on Tuesday and had ice cream and banana splits in his memory. 

Bryce is enjoying volleyball, and they are currently undefeated.  

This jeep had so many miles put on it by both kids.  They finally got too big for it after 10 or so years, but it was still kicking when we passed it down to neighbors.  

Bryce's wheels got an upgrade this week.  We had been looking for a jeep that fit his criteria.  The list changed a few times, but we went to look at this jeep thinking it would be a research mission because it was the first we looked at since he had switched to wanting four doors and a hard top.  It had high miles so we were sure we wouldn't want it, but we instantly fell in love with it because it was in such good condition.  Even though he was involved in the shopping process, we didn't let him know we were negotiating or that we had bought it so we were able to surprise him with it!

We're all enjoying driving it!

we have a new driver

The timing for driving has changed since Jason and I came along.  You used to be able to get your learner's permit at age 15 and your driver's license at 16.  Now, you have to be 15 and 6 months to get your learner's and 16 and 3 months to get your license.  Bryce was eligible to get his learner's last Sunday, but because DMV is closed on Sundays, we made an appointment first thing Monday morning before school.  He didn't want his driving delayed any longer than necessary!

He passed his test and drove us to school!

Bryce has done all the diving since getting his learner's.  It is truly a new sense of parenting.  It's a little nerve wracking to hand over control.  Jason is a little better at riding in the passenger seat than I am.  

Today was Kelly's birthday and we went to a winery to listen to Chase's girlfriend sing.  It was fun to do something different on a Sunday afternoon.  

It's hard to believe it's September, but we sure are enjoying our four-day holiday weekend.