Final Match

Talk about a nail biter! When Collins's tiger team finished their regular season play, they played in an end of season tournament at Millbrook. For the first time ever watching her play a sport, I REALLY wanted her to win this tournament. Her team had played really well all season, they loved their coach, had fun playing together on a team, and were pretty good. They had won most of their matches, and I just felt like they could win the whole thing if they tried hard. Plus, I wanted Collins to experience how good it feels to try hard at something and then to win.

She ended up playing great, and winning most all of her matches. Millbrook played Raleigh Racquet Club, the Carolina Country Club and some other tennis clubs in the area. 

Hard-core strategy session on the sidelines...

 

I was nervous while she played because each match counted...

and don't you know THEY WON! After a couple of nail-biting matches, Millbrook came out on top!

They were named 8U End of Season Champs and got awarded a medal...

They were thrilled, and so were their parents. It was a great first experience with Junior Team Tennis. So glad Collins gave it a chance and tried something new. Hoping this big win and championship result will motivate her to amp up her tennis game and take it to the next level.

 

Bazaar Baking

Bazaar baking time! This year instead of me baking by myself I thought it would be fun to do it with Megan and Sara. Then I realized that Collins, Reeves, and Allie are really into cooking these days so why not invite all the kids to come help as well? We decided to make chicken enchiladas and brownies, and we had a little assembly line going and it was easy and fun. The kids ran wild around the house and yard, the girls got to talk, and we stocked Hayes Bartons' freezer in between.

The Waiting Game

With after-school activities, someone is always waiting on another sibling to do a class or lesson. This waiting is not always easy (I'm looking at you Luke Fork), but sometimes it works out okay. While waiting for Collins to finish her tennis class, Addie and Luke loved playing on Millbrook's playground. With a slide this high, how could you not want to wait here?

The Ideal Tailgate

The ideal tailgate for Brian Fork would include...

 1. His kids

 

2. His friends (specifically friends who like to talk about State football and drink beer)

3. A pig

4. Him being the chef cooking the pig

5. Lots of smoked pig to eat (no other sides are really necessary)

6. Fire

 

6. A big State football win during a beautiful Fall night

Sometimes the stars aligns, and he gets all these things! On this particular night, he got lucky. :)

Fall Color

Finally we started to get a little color in our backyard. It took a little longer than normal this year, but when the reds, golds, and oranges started showing up, they were gorgeous- especially up against our new green backyard! Love when the trees change across our state- such a treat for us all every Fall.

Hints of the Holiday Season

It starts earlier every year- the beginning of the holiday season. And I normally push it off as long as I can, but in early November Logan's was having a really festive-sounding open house and I couldn't resist. The girls and I went to check out their trees and decorations and drink tasty hot chocolate and eat doughnuts. And it was so much fun that I had no regrets enjoying these first early hints of the holiday season!

Addie Votes

Addie learned about the Democratic process in school recently and got to go cast a vote for her favorite book. Would she choose the teddy bear book or the sleeping house book? She was upset when the big decision was announced and her choice lost. A good lesson to learn now, girl, that the vote doesn't always go in your favor. They made patriotic hats and flags, and it was a cute exercise teaching these kindergartners something important.

Fun in Chapel Hill

 First, a tennis match...

and then a fun trip to Chapel Hill where we had planned on meeting and hanging out with the Slossons. They had tickets to the Carolina/Virginia game, and we did not so we decided to just visit with them in me and Jen's fave college town. 

This picture is not photoshopped. Addie was my only child brave enough to be photographed in front of the Old Well as her father tried to convince her otherwise. I was so proud of her!

We found this art installation? I'm guessing? But it was a cool climbing structure nonetheless.

Then we found the Slossons! And the kids climbed a huge magnolia tree while we waited for a table at Linda's where we then drank beer and ate cheese fries. With the girls at their own table. Who knows what they were chatting about, but there was lots of laughter at the kids table and the adult table. We wondered if this was questionable parenting, but we were right next to them so we figured it was okay. It was so fun- LOVE Linda's cheese fries and hanging out with my fun friend from college.

Then they had to head to the game, and we had to head to the Yogurt Pump because no trip to Chapel Hill is complete without some white chocolate yogurt with Reese's Cups. 

We had a great afternoon hanging out with Jen, Jack, Paige, and Libby and doing all things TAR HEEL!

Halloween Night

Don't they look ready to get this party started??

First we met a group that "paraded" down Childers street to Christie's house (we had a new Halloween hostess this year, and she did a fabulous job)...

Turns out Christie has this magical backyard with twinkling lights, a little bridge, a creek, and a treehouse! The kids were in heaven exploring her yard. Plus, they got to eat pizza and chocolate cake so a good way to start the night.

On to trick-or-treating!

Plain tuckered out. Trying to complete our full neighborhood is no joke. His sisters' gave it their best go, and Luke's little legs just gave out at the end. But they had a fabulous night. I adore our Blenheim Halloween tradition!