Before & After: The Hair

One day I decided to capture the before and after magic that is my hair. You're welcome. Because I'm sure someone out there needed a good laugh today.

Picking a Christmas Tree

The tradition used to be that we would pick up our christmas tree at the Spillman Tree Farm at Thanksgiving when we came to High Point. Then we got it in the mountains for a few years, cutting it right off of one of Fletcher's lots.

This year we decided to go to the Spillman Tree Farm again, at another location since they sold the farm, and run by Fletcher's 2nd cousin (I think?). We hadn't been since it was moved off of their property years ago.

They had it set up really nice, with Frosty and all the Spillman signs. It was a great afternoon and there's nothing I love more than driving down the road with a tree tied to the top of the car.

Thanksgiving Cookie Baking

Thankgiving Weekend

We stayed at Fletcher & Nancy's for the weekend, after everyone went home and it was a fun, relaxing holiday break. There's always something to do at their house, and it's usually things we can't do here in Raleigh: like ride the Gator down through 2 properties to where they're building a new highway. Here's some pictures of our weekend.

Thanksgiving with the Spillmans

I absolutely love it when the whole crew comes into town for Spillman get-togethers. You just could not ask for better family. Nieces and Nephews, Brother and Sister in law's, Mother and Father-in-Law's: this whole crew is a lot of fun when they're all in the same room.

The cousins all play so well together, and it's fun to catch up with everyone. On top of that, there is a thanksgiving staple at the Spillmans: Deviled Eggs. Nancy makes a perfect Deviled Egg. Now, I am still scarred from having two brothers eat all the 'good food' the second it came home, so if there's something I want to make sure I get, I eat it right there on the spot. And now I've married into a family of 3 boys. Three. With big appetites. I have a little tradition of sneaking at least 1 Deviled Egg out of the fridge before meal time. Unfortunately, David (Kevin's oldest brother, and a fellow deviled egg connoisseur) caught me in the act once and so the challenge has been to be even sneakier to avoid his taunts. This proves difficult, but I'm up the the challenge every year. In the picture of David and Nancy, I'd point out how many he has on his own plate, but there's so much food on there you really can't differentiate anything.

The day is full of good food, great family, and it always ends too soon.

Lost Another One!

Cole lost one of his front teeth! I have to admit, wiggly teeth and pulling me out, give me shudders. Kevin, however, loves a loose tooth. Maybe he should have been a dentist, because the only thing he loves more than a loose tooth is pulling it out. Between the two of them, they worked and worked until finally it was out. I love this picture because it captures exactly the way Cole felt when it came out. Ecstatic.

Somewhere in the beginning of this tooth-losing adventure, we decided it was a good idea that the tooth fairy would give Cole $5 for every tooth. That's good money. I might get over my shudders and pull out a few of my own at that rate.

A Moment In The Day (er..Night).

Sleeping kids are so sweet and peaceful. Plus it's fun to do things like put stuffed animals on their heads.

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving early this year since Mom & Dad were planning to drive to Texas to visit Micah and Carine. Kevin and I decided it would be fun to host, and the goal was simple and relaxed and it really was that way. Everyone brought appetizers and let the kids play outside. It was a beautiful day. We finished off the evening with S'More's. It was such an untraditional way to spend Thanksgiving, but I really enjoyed the down-played feel of the whole evening and focusing on one another instead of a fancy meal.

Happy Halloween!

We have a little tradition at Halloween to go to Grammy & Grandpa's house first to trick or treat, then it's back to the neighborhood to pillage for candy.

This year, Mom was particularly proud of her striped tights. She pointed it out. Several Times.

"Did you see my tights??"

Yes! They're cute.

"Pretty cute, huh??"

Yes! Really cute!

"I thought they were pretty cute."

Adorable!

The kids love going over there, and it was really fun this year to see Celeste and Olivia all dressed up. And I got a good picture of Mom, Emily and I.

I was surprised that Adison chose Super Girl, although her first choice was a Duck. Maybe next year I'll think about making her costume. The best part about Cole wanting to be a hockey player, is that we had all the gear. Talk about an easy costume.

I have to admit...I found myself pushing the kids to go to "one more street?" when we were in the neighborhood. They still haven't figured out that we loot their candy supply after they got bed. Although Cole may be getting a whiff of it...

Opening Night!

Kevin and I haven't missed an Opening Night for the Carolina Hurricanes since they played their first game in Raleigh. This year, it looked like it just wasn't going to happen. At the last minute, though, we decided we could not break tradition and got tickets in the nosebleeds just to be there.

Well, you get what you pay for. We were in the very last row. You can't get any higher. Adison just isn't into hockey, and she did as well as she could for as long as she could. But the we all a great time, despite a loss to the Capitals...

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

The Preschool has a fundraiser every year where the kids make some art and then it's put on anything you can think of (totes, notebooks, flags, tiles...) for you to order. Typically I don't love these. The teachers usually do most of it themselves and then put the kids handprint on it. It's too perfect. So this year I forgot about it until the last day and wasn't planning on even looking at her art. On a whim I went and looked at it and I'm so glad I did. All the other kids smiling faces are propped on too of their little bodies. But not Adison. I love this look. I don't know the story behind it but it seems as if on this particular day, smiling was not on the agenda.

Supper Club Costume Party

Kevin and I joined a supper club this year with 6 other couples. As soon as sign ups went around, I knew I wanted October. I have been trying for years. YEARS. to get Kevin host a costume party here at the house around Halloween. Kevin isn't keen on dressing up, so I never got the green light. Until this year.

By far, the hardest part of hosting a costume party with you and 12 of your closest friends is this: choosing your couples costume.

We went through several drafts, and there were some tense moments. In the end, we went with Sonny & Cher. Predictable? Yes. But I found an authentic Hawaiian Mumu at the Goodwill, shortened it, and a couples costume was born.

I love to think about putting a party together, specifically the decor. I wanted to go even over the top with decorations, but time didn't really permit. Overall, I was really happy with the way it turned out. On of my favorite parts was these hanging walls of lights we got at Ikea. We used them outside on the deck and it put off a nice glow.

Every couple had such fun costumes on, it was a great night. I'm hoping I can do it again next year. But I need to start thinking costumes now......

Pumpkin Carving

Kevin is the Master Carver. Every year he finds a design online and prints it out. Usually some intricate and chock-full of effort. Things I typically shy away from...

Here are he and the kids working on their pumpkins. They turned out great, as usual.