Symphony Show

Last year we went to the pre-Thanksgiving symphony concert, and it was so festive. I decided we definitely needed to go again this year, especially when I found out the theme was "Polar Express". The girls put on their red dresses, and we were off! 

Donna was sweet to treat us, and we really enjoyed the pretty music and getting to sing Christmas carols for the first time of the holiday season.

Santa made an appearance this year, and the girls wanted to wait in a long line to see him. This confused me because in years past, they have not been big fans of his. But they were determined to tell him what they wanted this year...  

which interestingly enough was clip-on earrings for Collins and a ball of clay for Addie....even Santa seemed surprised/confused by these requests!

 

You might have noticed we were down one child...we did not invite Luke to go to the symphony with us this year. Instead, he got to hang out with his Daddy in downtown Raleigh eating pizza and exploring his 17th floor office. :) Not sure if he or us girls had more fun!

Gorgeous Fall

We were gifted with a gorgeous Fall this year. I'm talking spectacular weather. Thanksgiving break arrived and with it the need to be outside. We headed to Fletcher park with our friends and got some fun playtime in. Next up? Thanksgiving!!

 

A First

I really need to step up my birthday party game. Addie was just invited to a 4-year-old birthday party for a cute little girl in her class where she got her first-ever manicure and pedicure. I thought that was pretty impressive in itself, and then this gal showed up to paint the girls' faces! 

 

I think even the four-year-olds were taken aback! Add in a pink cupcake and some pink finger nail polish as a gift, and you have yourself one fancy birthday party! Addie was most impressed by her nail polish lasting more than one day. :) Welcome to the world of manis/pedis Addie! Don't expect this to happen often. 😏

 

Christmas Parade

My girls were raring to go for Christmas this year. Like way before Thanksgiving had come, we were talking about it and thinking about it and planning for it. So it worked out well that the Raleigh Christmas parade happened the weekend before Thanksgiving, and we could actually go this year (we normally have a football conflict.). They needed a Christmas fix!

 

It was really festive with cool balloons like this one, bands, floats, and of course Santa. Addie was telling everyone, "I am going to get to see Santa!!!" We had to stay until the very end to make that happen, but it was worth it. It was such a festive morning. I want to make this parade a yearly tradition...it's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!

Luke at 10 and 11 Months

So apparently I forgot to post Luke's 10 month-old photos; that is how fast life is whizzing by with three! So I will just do a 10/11 month combo because they were pretty similar with our little wild and wonderful Lukey...

He has become a climber of anything...

a pusher of everything...

and a lover of dishwashers...

BOB rides...

his sisters...

and being outside.

In his 11 month, he has also learned how to wave and say "bye-bye" (most adorable thing ever)...

stand on his own and say "mama" and "dada". He has found his vocal chords in other ways- he does not like for me to leave the room and he does not like that car seat anymore!

He also took his first steps at 11 months...enticed in this specific instance by pasta. :)

 

Luke was so much fun these past few months. Wild and wonderful!

Big Game

So State is good at football this year which is a new thing for Wolfpack fans. Not trying to be ugly as a Tar Heel (b/c we are having a miserable season) but just saying it has been a refreshing change for games to matter this season. So when Clemson rolled into town, it was a big deal.

So the girls were ready...

and the pig was ready...

so the tailgating could begin!

 

It was a really fun tailgate party, but State did not pull out the win. It was a hard loss for one State fan in particular, but all hope was not lost yet. They still had Carolina coming to town! 😬 (first use of an emoji on this blog!)

Halloween!

Finally the big day was here! After weeks of waiting for and talking about and planning for- Halloween arrived! And the girls were ready. But first things first- we needed some jack-o-lanterns... 

Addie brought her friend from school, Honeybear, to help out...

and Luke was just happy to hang out.

We watched "Room on a Broom", and I got to have my face painted by a very talented artist who had the day off from school...

Then it was time to don the costumes!

They were the cutest black and purple witch, sparkly kitty, and tiny bat that you have ever seen...

Time for the neighborhood party...

and hayride...

then trick-or-treating!

We found it odd that they trick-or-treated at their own house...but they insisted!

Luke went to bed early at Gigi's as they girls continued to gather absurd amounts of candy...

but as usual, their favorite stop of the night was...

Gigi and Pop Pops!

It was a great Halloween! Perfect cool weather and two girls who trick-or-treated until they could no longer carry their pails. At the last few houses, Addie went up to the front door with her hands open because her pail was too heavy to carry. Then they admitted they were done for the night. Time to go home!