Happy Halloween!

I know I say it a lot, but yikes, this month has been packed!  My last post was a month ago, so this one will be a doozy.  Nick was out of town, but that did not stop our activity.  Thank goodness for my parents and all their help.  We ended September with a walk around the lake and a playdate.  I was supposed to be co-hosting, but my friend could not make it, so it was a bit chaotic.  But we had fun playing at common grounds park and eating breakfast with our PALS.

Here is Zoey and her best friend, Nick.

The next day was the portfolio conference.  I spoke to Sam's teacher.  Unfortunately, she gave me some bad information about the plans for Sam, but that was resolved by speaking to the principal.  Sam is an impressive girl and they will be teaching her at her level.  She has tested out of Kindergarten math and took her first (of four) test for 1st grade math.  It is a weird way to test, 30 problems for K in 15 minutes and 50 for 1st in 10 minutes and they have to get all correct.  So Sam had been on the 4th K one for a few weeks because she missed 1, 3, and 1.  She had been getting advanced reading but is now in the even more advance group and will restart AR this week.

We of course kept up with the other weekly stuff.  Drop off and pick up takes hours of my day.  Sam is now in piano and loves it.  Her teacher is so sweet.  Sam loves her.  There was also two meetings for the committees I am on for my moms club, a meet up for ice cream, and I hosted an Octopus playdate.  Luckily Nick got back to help out at the end of the week.

Next up was the club trip to Green Meadows farm.  My mom went with me to help with the girls.  We had a great time.

Zoey pulling a friend in a wagon.

Sam feeding a goat.

Zoey feeding a goat.

Holding a chicken.

Sam was a great chicken catcher.

The cute baby chicks.

And baby ducks.

Sam milked the cow, but Zoey would not.

Zoey being cranky.

Sam being happy.

Riding a pony.

Hay ride.

Look how big I am.

After our tour we scarfed down sandwiches.  Green meadows was about an hour from our house.  My dad and Nick had been helping at a neighborhood clean up.  I flew home, dropped off my mom, and grabbed Nick to fly to a birthday party, reptile style.  It brought back a lot of memories of handling some of these same animals when I worked at the zoo.  I miss that!

The next day was a bit calmer, but I dropped off a meal for a sick friend and timing was a bit hectic.

The next week was more walking and playdates.  We went to a fun noodle sensory one.  I hosted a mom's night in for making banners for our charity craft and bake sale (for the mom's club to sponsor a salvation army family), I volunteered to set up the book fair at Sam's school, a playdate about fireflies, touring preschools for Zoey, the bake sale itself,

Sam did her cheerleading night game at the JV game.

Sam was one of the youngest and the training had been 2 1/2 weeks ago, but she had a great time.  Still not sure about my thoughts on cheerleading.

There were also two more parties.  One was a water slide one and one was a roller skating one.

It was Sam's first time, so I rented her a skate mate.  It was still rough going, but she had fun.

The next day, we met the Woods at their hotel in Orlando for breakfast and swimming.  It was so great to see them and so nice of them to delay a day at disney for us!

Nick was a jungle gym.

Then I went to a mom's night in to make fabric pumpkins.  The next day was a pumpkin decorating playdate.

I helped at the book fair.  Then we went to a spiders and monsters playdate.  We got there early since we went after drop off.
Zoey was dressed in a cute outfit.

It was so pretty.

Zoey had fun swinging.

My friend and I walked around, and we spotted raccoons.  I could not get a great picture, but you can see one here.

Then painting, playing and decorating.

I also got to go to a bunco night and the car had to be checked.  

Sam's school celebrated crazy hair day.

The next weekend was another birthday party, this time at a gym.

That night, Nick and I went to a beer fest.  It was a lot of fun and raised money for the Humane Society.

Sam had to make a character pumpkin and chose Cinderella.

Last week was more walking and playdates.  One was decorating a switch plate with stickers and modge podge.  One was decorating bats.  Sam also got her first real haircut for a fundraiser for breast cancer.  She loved it, but it looks about the same, just cleaned up in the back.

 
My Dad's friend visited and the girls went crazy for Mr. Don.  They wanted to sit by him and be pushed in the swing by him, etc.

There were more preschool tours and planning for three big events.  But Sam had the day off school on Friday, so Nick skipped a meeting and we went to the children's museum in Tampa.  Such fun!

Sam drew a happyosaurus.

Fun in the water area.

Nick, Sam and Zoey built this arch.

Learning about electricity.

Dancing.

Look at my moves!

Zoey thought this was funny.

I was on the committee for trunk or treat for our club (activities and crafts, lots of work) and helped with the YMCA trunk or treat, which allows our club to use their room for our holiday party.  And I co-hosted a baby shower this weekend as well.

Nick went ahead to our trunk or treat and I got the girls ready.  They were so excited.

It was a lot of fun.  Playing at a pirate themed trunk.

My idea, Nick's creation of pumpkin golf.

Zoey looks so different in pigtails!

Nick made our trunk a dragon, complete with dry ice fire.

An I spy trunk.

Picture spot.

Then a dry ice Science Saturday.

My parents and Nick took the girls to legoland Brick or Treat while I hosted the shower.  A cousin sent the girls Flat Stanley, so he came along.

Among all this, zoey is learning words.  My mom has worked with her a lot and I try to squeeze it in. She can read this sentence.

 
And here are a couple shots for a photo challenge.

This one for rope and plaid.

This one for corner.

Whew!  Just thinking about all that made me exhausted.  I know I take on way too much, but I am super thankful for Nick and my parents to get me through this past month with minimal levels of insanity.  I am pledging to take it easier for the rest of October and in November.  I only have 1 playdate this week.  Today is a stay in pajamas, let Zoey watch tv and tackle potty training day.  She has been ready awhile, but it was too crazy to take on.  Happy Halloween from the Southern Kellings!