Football, Oktoberfest, Fall Festival, Apple Festival



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October 7--Suzy's boys were out of town so we decided to have a girl's night with dinner out before....

Heading to Newton-Conover Homecoming!  Suzy and I taught several of the kids on the homecoming court--it was kind of cool to see how much the kids have grown! 

We ran into Wyatt, one of Lauren's classmates, and the cheering began!  It lasted less than half-time, so we left after the homecoming queen was announced.  Not ready for NFL but it's a good start!

October 8--Saturday night was Oktoberfest with the Donley's.  Here Lauren and Chatham cheese for a picture at a church event for Oktoberfest.  (It was great to see something specific for the kids!)

The kids got their pictures taken and got to decorate their frames.  Chatham insisted upon putting his in his room and in his prayers, gave thanks for his friend "Warlin".

October 9--Sunday was our Church Fall Festival.  We jumped on the hayride first thing!

Bounced in the bouncies with the Cadwalladers

And took pictures with friends.  Chatham looks SO sad!

Face paiting with a butterfly

Chatham wanted Hello Kitty but Suzy and I convinced him he'd prefer a pumpkin.

Cara got Hello Kitty!

October 10--Monday night was Bowling Night for Logan's school fundraiser.  Lauren was SOOOOOO excited to go!  (She's invited Chatham to go soon.)

"Come on, ball!  Hit the pins!"

October 14--Paul wanted to go to dinner but avoid Hickory.  We ended up in Mooresville (racin'!) with the Neigh-neighs.  Lauren "suggested" that she share Tracy's dessert.

October 15--Chatham came over bright and early on Saturday.  His mommy had her 10 year high school reunion to prepare so he spent Saturday and Sunday with us.  Chatham was too excited to get to drive the Gator.  Lauren was only too pleased to be driven about the yard!

Paul actually had a Saturday off and put me to work in the yard.  (Grr.)  I tried to convince the kids to help me out.  Chatham put about 10 acorns in his bucket then decided the job was for the birds.  I had Lauren all convinced to help me out ("I'll give you gold dubloons if you fill up your bucket!") and once Chatham was out, Lauren followed suit.

I even made it easy for them by raking acorns into a pile!  Still a no-go.

How many ways could this go SO wrong?  Three neighbors were out watching Paul as he backed up the redneck truck (remember, the one without doors), prop the extension ladder against the tallest tree on our property, and climb with pole pruner to trim up some branches that were hanging funny.  He got the branch down, cut up, and dragged to the curb all on one day...he only fell once when trying to pull the branch from the cut as he fell backward and did a summersault in the yard!  David came running to make sure Paul was in one piece...he bounced back up!

After yard work, we went to Taylorsville to the Apple Festival.  The kids love bouncies so they moved on up the latter.  Paul had to help.

Kid 1 down...

Kid two down...

Kid 3 down!

Art Work, New Library, Zootastic!

My little Lauren has become quite a writer!  The letter of the week was F and she can write it!

Here is a Laurenasaurus who she will name Catlyn after our cat!

Artwork from F week.  She even wrote the word FISH on her own!!!

This was one of my favorites.  Lauren said these are all of her favorite people!

Our local library branch moved locations to an old glove factory.  Here was Lauren before we went inside!

Building blocks--too cool, right?

After our trip to the library, we went to see my kid's therapist, Ashley, and her new addition, Kinzley.  Talk about the BEST baby!  Happy, quiet, sleeps, eats.  Lauren adored her!

She was tickled to get to give Kinzley a bottle!

Lauren was serving Paul "dinner".  She loves to do this when we least expect it!

October 2--Paul likes to get on Groupon to find deals.  He found a deal that was buy 1, get 1 ticket free and we wound up with 6 tickets for $21.  Then we found out that teachers could get in free, so 3 more tickets.  In the end, we only paid $5 additional dollars!  Here were the kids--Harris, Nick, Cara, Lauren, Chatham--ready to try Zootastic.

Nick feeding the cockatile.

Lauren loved the bird!  "He's not bothering me!"

The kids were terrified that the bird would hurt me!

Paul showing everyone that the bird is harmless.

Suzy, tentative, because she detests birds!  However, we were so proud of her for conquering her fear!

Lauren and Cara feeding the "Joey" or baby kangaroo!

The Wade family

Chatham, Carrie, and Algebra the Zebra--look above and see the A over his legs!

Harris, Suzy, Cara, and Nick--
ALL SMILING AT THE SAME TIME!

Carrie and Chatham again

Chatham and Cara strolling together

The guide brought out a skunk--not a pelt, but a real skunk!  My kid was the first to want to pet it!

We had a fantastic time with our friends on this outing!  The kids did pretty well, despite the fact that Chris was getting over shingles, Harris and Lauren had had stomach bugs the week before, Nick missed a week of school due to chicken pox, and the rest of us tried to keep our distance to avoid the funk!