Halloween

The kids enjoyed an almost "normal" Halloween this year which was fairly busy despite being on a Monday.  Avery dressed up in Halloween clothes daily for the week leading up to the actual date.  And we had a few fun Halloween parties. Avery even won the costume contest at her friend's party. 

Avery and KSE Principal, Dr Szwec

Dad also got in on the fun nd dressed up at the office.

For Halloween, Lovett was able to hold their annual Fall Festival again after a subdues event the past few years.  Mom was able to come volunteer which was a fun way to celebrate Parker's last festival.  Parker choose to wear his inflatable gorilla costume which only made it for about an hour before it became too cumbersome to manuver on the bouncy houses in.

Avery's school has book character day on Halloween and she decided to dress up like Ellie Engineer.  She even filled her fanny pack with various tools to complete the look.

That evening we all dressed up in our group costume per Avery's request - Mario Kart.

After a few laps around the front yard, the boys changed into their "trick-or-treating" costume.  And we spent time between a friend's house and our neighborhood Halloween party before heading out to trick-or-treat. At the neighborhood party, Avery entered the costume contest and won "Best High School Costume" because no one else entered.  It was her 4th year in a row winning a costume award.  Dad won best dressed male as Mario making it his second consecutive win (last year was best group costume with Avery).  

Parker, Jack, Carter Wrigley and Carter

Matthew, Parker and Phillip (carton of milk) 

Happy Halloween and thank you to Mimi for passing out candy again!

October

October is always a busy month with the peak of Fall Sports, Fall Breaks and Halloween activities but thankfully it is a lot of fun!  A highlight of the month was Smyrna's 100th birthday celebration. There was a big all day festival culminating in a concert by Toad the Wet Sprocket and Train.  It is basically an evening hanging out with everyone you know in the city and oh so much fun!

Mom also fit in some Ladies night with a fun birthday party at Lips and an 80s cover band concert.  And dad enjoyed time shooting and on the golf course.

Avery (8 years, 2 months) - Avery continues to enjoy her soccer team - mainly for the girls and snacks but it is good to see her putting in some effort.  She is typically goalie for the first half of the game as she prefers not to run round too much.  Her other favorite activities are hanging out with friends, not going to baseball games and watching TV.

Reading her poetry at Writing Night

Napping at baseball

Someone couldn't hang after a big sleepover

Soccer game against her Bestie EK

Parker (10 years, 11 months) - October was all about baseball for Parker.  He has definitely developed a love for the game which is great since he typically has games/practices six days a week.  His rec team finished the Fall season in first place and has played really well during the end-of-season tournament so far.  His travel team had three tournaments this month and made it to the championship game in all of them.  Thankfully we have wonderful families and kids on both teams so it has been a lot of fun going to all the games.

Happy Birthday Julian!

Carter (12 years, 5 months) - Carter continues to enjoying exploring all the options in Middle School from dress up days during homecoming week to Boy Scouts, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse and finding time with friends.  School and activities have been keeping him busy but he is a kid who is enjoying seeing what is out there. October has been very busy with overlapping Fall/Winter sport seasons, boy scout activities, cotillion lessons and lots of schoolwork. But he has managed well despite the occasional preteen meltdown.   

70s day during homecoming week

Enjoying his face art from the Homecoming Picnic

Carter's baseball team cheering on Parker's team

Go Falcons

Siblings - The crazy kids often seem like passing ships between their various activities but they still find time to hang out while generally getting along.

Getting ready for the Griffin haunted house

Dinner and ice cream with friends