Pumpkin Carving

Here are some pictures of our pumpkin carving night.  MeMa was still here, so she got to help out too. For some reason we never took a picture of the finished product.  Oh well!

Chancetown Farm Festival

Last weekend MeMa and PopPop came down for a visit.  We were so excited to have them visit us.  This was their first visit since they came down to help us move in in May.  Grace was excited to have her MeMa to read with , build with, color with, have tea parties with, and snuggle with at naptime.  Sarah Elizabeth was excited to have PopPop for the weekend.  Everytime we pass a worksite with big diggers she yells, "PopPop!"
On Saturday we all headed out to Chancetown, population 25 (seriously!), for the Chancetown Farm Festival.  We had no idea what to expect, but we hoped to come home with a pumpkin for carving. It was a pretty neat set-up. 

The hayride.

The girls climbed to the top of the haybale tower.

This trailer was full of corn kernels for the kids to play in.  It looked like a lot of fun.

The girls selected their pumpkin.

Grace's nightmare

The other night Grace came into our bedroom in the middle of the night.  She was obviously upset and scared.  We set up the sleeping bag and let her sleep on the floor next to our bed.  The next morning she told us about her dream:

I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night in my dream.  I put Fudgie on the top of the toilet and when I lifted the lid he fell in, and then I fell in too.  I was swimming and swimming to get to the top, but I couldn't get out.  I looked and I looked, but I couldn't find Fudgie.  No one was there to help me get out.  Finally I got out and went back to bed, but I was all wet.  Then I went to sleep.  When I woke up Fudgie was in bed with me. 

Fudgie is Grace's teddy bear that she has slept with since day one.  It would be like losing a family member if something happened  to Fudgie.  She was quite relieved this was just a dream. 

Our Wilmington Visit

Saturday morning was a beautiful day at the beach.

The girls and I made a trip to Wilmington last weekend.  When we were in Carolina Beach this summer for a week we spent a night in Wilmington before heading home but this was our first trip back for a real visit.  I wish I had been able to capture all the moments on camera, but here are the ones I did get.

We rolled into town on Friday night.  Grace was so excited to have a sleep-over with Sami.  After a "few" reminders they did actually go to sleep.  Over a few beers, Tara, Andy, and I caught up on things out on the back deck.  The next morning dawned bright and early.  Grace and Sami were too excited to sleep in, so they were up.  Sarah Elizabeth, Will, and Riley woke up to discover they were all in the same room, so they started talking to each other.  I think by about 6:30 we were all up and ready to start the day.  At least the kids were ready, Tara and I needed coffee!

Dress-up fun for Grace & Sami.

After breakfast Tara started the lunch prep for the trip to the beach.  I must say with 5 kids to think about that is no small feat!  By 10:15 we were off to Wrightsville Beach to meet Monica and Jill and their kids. it took a bit of time to get out of the driveway. 1) Sami wanted to ride with Grace. So we switched Grace and Riley so Riley was in my car and Grace was in Tara's. 2) Sami wanted to go with  me. So I drove Tara's car and she drove mine. Under normal circumstances we would not have been so accomodating, but the girls wanted to get all the time they could together.

We parked in our usual spot at Susie and Terry's and luckily we caught them at home for some hugs and hellos.  Seeing so many familiar faces felt so nice!

At the beach we found Monica with her 3 and Jill with her 2.  All the kids were happy to see each other and took off as if no time had passed.  I got to meet Jill's new little one (born in Aug), Holden.  He is such a precious little guy and holding him had me briefly longing for a little baby.  (On a side note that is not in the cards for us until we get our bearings a bit more on the farm.  One stress at a time, if possible, please!)

SE and Riley R playing in the sand.  Riley M., Will, Sami and Grace eat lunch.

More beach activities.  Grace styling some really cool shades! Of course a picture of the Robertson boys playing in the waves.

After the beach we headed back to Jamie and Monica's which would be our base camp for the remainder of our trip.  Saturday night I went to a wedding while Jamie and Ca kept all the kids (brave souls!). As Angela, Bryce, Becca and I  headed to the car Jamie laughingly refered to themselves as the grandparents :) The wedding was beautiful despite an outdoor ceremony postponed by thunderstorms. I got to see so many old friends from college.  It was fun to catch up and hear about new jobs and new families.  It's so weird to think about how much times have changed since college, can I really be that old???

On Sunday we all headed out for a field trip to Costco and snacked on the free samples, yum!! After lunch I went down to Carolina Beach with Grace to see the White family.  Grace was bummed because Vivi napped most of the time, but I got to chat with Chris a bit and Windi and I had a heart to heart over coffee.  (She has come a long way with her coffee making skills since the grounds in the cofee incident at small group a few years back.)

I met the Robertsons at church for the new 6:00 service.  It was so, so , so good to be at Port City!  I miss that place, the people and the church, to the marrow of my bones.  I could just feel my soul drinking it all in from the second I walked in to stand in the Grow Zone line. The music, the words, the people, and Grow Zone for the kids- big sigh!!!!

Sunday night was my hang out time with Jamie and Monica.  We didn't end up eating our dinner until 11:30, then it was off to bed.

Monday moring brought Sami to the door at 7:30.  Tara decided to let her play hookey and hang out with us for the day.  This decision was due to a teary, almost hysterical, Grace when she found out we weren't going to be able to see Sami on Sunday night.  "But Mom, when am I going to see Sami again, I want to SEE Sami!!"  So Sami hung out with us Monday morning and I brought her to school after lunch, before we headed out of town.

Playing in the Robertson's backyard Monday morning.

We met Tiffany, Brooke, new baby Madeline, Hilary, Taylor, Emily, and Noah at Halyburton Park for some play time.  Again, I got to hold a new baby, Madeline is SO sweet!  The kids all played on the playground and I got to catch up on life with the mommies.  The visit was too short! 

For lunch we headed to Grace's favorite spot, Chick-Fil-A.  Monica picked Josh up from school and met us there. Grace LOVES Chick-Fil-A, mostly for the play area, the closest one to us is 2hours.  So she was excited.  We hit Chick-Fil-A at the lunch time rush.  We must have looked crazy with 6 kids between the two of us, but Monica and I got everyone fed and off to the play area.

After Chick-Fil-A we brought Sami to school for her naptime.  On the way Grace started crying and saying, "but I don't want Sami to go, when will I see her again?"  It was VERY sad to say goodbye to Sami she is like a sister to Grace.  They play so well together and truly do miss each other.  I miss Sami too! 

On the way back to Monica's Grace just kept crying, " I don't want to go home, why can't we just stay here forever?"  I was choked up after saying goodbye to Sami but I just kept telling Grace, "We have to go home, that is where we live now.  But the good thing is that Sami is our good friend and we will see her again soon."

Grace walked into Monica's and said to Josh, "Josh, I don't want to go home."  Josh said, " But Grace you have to." Grace then said, with tears, "I know, but I don't want to."

Thoughout the pack up process Grace was just so sad.  I really thought I would be fine with good-bye this time.  I think I would have if Grace hadn't been SO upset.

As we pulled out of the driveway Grace waved goodbye with silent tears streaming down her face.  OH SO HEARTBREAKING!!!

It seemed to help when I told Grace, through my own tears, that I understood how she felt and I felt the same way.  She looked at me in surprise and said, "YOU feel the same way, like me?"  I said, "Yes, because they are such good friends.  The good thing is that we WILL see them again."

In looking back over the whole saying good-bye process I realize that Grace has come so far.  Since moving in May her good-byes have been pretty bad.  She would refuse to say good-bye and literally just shut-down. So the positive in all this is, now she has the word to explain how she feels and now we can talk about it.  It was still REALLY hard!

I know this move was what we needed to do, Wilmington just isn't the right place for us right now.  But even knowing that, I still miss so many people, so very much!

How many hints does a mommy need?

I guess sometimes I just need to be hit over the head with something before I get it.  At least that was the case with Sarah Elizabeth today. 
Hint #1
For 2 weeks Sarah Elizabeth has consitently told us when she needs her diaper changed.  Sometimes it's wet, other times it is dirty, and a few times it has been a false alarm. 
Hint #2
If we ignore her request for a diaper change she will go and get the diapers and wipes and bring them to us.
Hint #3
Yesterday I went to a MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) meeting. While Sarah Elizabeth was with the babysitters they said she asked to use the potty.  They brought her to the bathroom and she asked to sit on the little potty.
Hint #4 (hit me over the head)
After Sarah Elizabeth and I got home from dropping Grace off at school this morning I heard her crying on the other side of the house.  As I got closer I could hear her struggling then crying again.  I found her in the bathroom with her bottom stuck inside the toilet.  I wish I could have taken a picture of her but it would have been a bit cruel to leave her like that to go and get the camera.  So, try to visualize Sarah Elizabeth stuck in the toilet with her bottom in the water.

So at 18 months I guess it's time to start potty training- YIKES!

Flower Girl Grace

So, this weekend was Grace's big "Flower Girl" weekend. I know the wedding is really all about the bride and groom, but I think Grace thought they were secondary to her job as flower girl.  She did GREAT.  I have a bunch of pictures to share.

This is a before picture.  The expression on Grace's face had me a bit worried.

This is the after picture.  She made it down the aisle with a smile!

Grace and Elizabeth were quite a pair.  I have to credit 7 year old Elizabeth with a lot of Grace's success.  She was a wonderful "lead" flower girl. 

After the wedding we all headed to the reception.  It was a beautiful day and the outdoor reception was a perfect setting.  Grace and Elizabeth enjoyed rolling around in the grass in their white dresses, luckily their photo obligations had already been fulfilled.

Here they are running around, having a blast!

Once the reception started we couldn't get Grace off the dance floor.  For a while she was the only one out there while everyone else was eating dinner. We had to save her a plate of food because she was to busy dancing to eat until much later.  She did take breaks to re-hydrate herself with sips of water.  She danced while the band played and while they were on break.  She danced by herself, with the other flower girls, with Grandaddy, with Chris, and with me.  She also busted a few moves while people crossed the dance floor to get to their seats with food.  She would give them a look, do a fancy move, and then give them another look.  It was almost as if to say, "hey, check me out!"

By the end of the night Grace had quite a following.  The next morning at the brunch people were still talking about the "dancing queen".  When I say Grace had a following, I mean it literally.  Here she is leading the "Love Train" on the dance floor.  She has no idea what is going on at this point.

The "love train" leader.

She had a few more dances left in her.

Daddy's little girl!

But by 10:00 she was out like a light!

Sleepy Grace.

When she woke up the next morning she asked, "Will I get to do that again next year?" 

A great weekend

We had a fabulous time this past weekend with the Robertson clan. Rick and Margo let us all descend upon them for 2 days.  They watched the kids for us on Friday night while Monica, Jamie, Chris and I went to go see Brian Regan.  We had gotten the tickets for Chris for his birthday in July- it gave us all something to look forward to.  Brian Regan was hilarious, of course.  It was a treat to hang out without the kids.  We even went our for a bite/drinks afterwards.  I don't think we've all been out together until 12:30 in about 5 years (before kids basically).

It was great to see all the kids play together like old times.  Grace was introduced to the world of airplanes through Josh and George.  Sarah Elizabeth and Riley were 2 peas in a pod, running all around together.
Monica and I had some time to chill and we even got to go to Target sans kids.  (I had to take advantage of being near Target!).

Chris and Jamie had a good time too- especially watching the Tech game together.  Monica and I have felt the pain of separation through the summer as we have always been beach buddies  Now, Jamie and Chris have started to realize that pain as well since they were Va. Tech buddies.  I don't quite replace Jamie as a Hokie fan for Chris.

Alas, I did not take any pictures of all the kids and the fun times we had. But Monica did.

If you want to see some pictures check out:

http://monicarobertson.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-weekend.html