Red Ribbon Week

Tuttle celebrated Red Ribbon Week at school this week with a different theme everyday. Since he is only in elementary school, the teachers emphasize making good and healthy choices rather than a direct focus on no drugs. Tuttle really got into character each day!

Monday: Healthy Snack Day

Two parents and I organized a healthy snack that the student assembled in the classroom. Since there were 24 kindergartners to coordinate, we made it simple with a healthy trail mix. The students lined up and scooped ingredients into a zip-lock bag to enjoy on the rug. I had planned to take photos during the activity, but it was too fast and furious. :)

Tuesday: Sock It To Bad Decisions (Crazy Sock Day)

Wednesday: Too Smart For Bad Decisions (Tutus, Ties, Tennis Shoes, and Tiaras Day)

Thursday: Red Out

Friday: Book Character Day (Too Much Character for Bad Decisions)

The classes paraded around the school with their costumes and books. Maggie loved spotting all her favorite characters, and I love that Tuttle picked his all-time favorite book to represent!

Red Ribbon Week was the perfect introduction to our Halloween weekend. 

Next up is Maggie's preschool Halloween party later this morning. :)

School Fundraising and a Wedding

We enjoyed a PACKED weekend that started right away on Friday afternoon with Maggie's Preschool Spaghetti Dinner. Unfortunately Daddy and Tuttle had soccer practice, so they had to miss the event, but Maggie and I enjoyed some yummy dinner. While I worked the bake sale for a portion of the evening, Maggie played on the outdoor jumpies with her sweet friends.

Saturday we headed over to Tuttle's school for the annual fall fair. I was working in the tent with the raffle baskets, so Daddy took Tuttle and Maggie around to enjoy all the activities. The kids played on more jumpies, won prizes at the game booths, checked out some animals at the petting zoo, and created sand art to round out the day. It was such a fun morning!

As soon as we got home, we packed to head to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house to drop the kids off for a wedding that Jay and I were attending that night. Maggie wanted to dress herself in comfy clothes for the ride to Madison. :)

Unfortunately we realized Jay left his suit in Atlanta as we were pulling up to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house, so we did not have any time to visit. Jay called Jos. A Bank in Athens and purchased a new suit, and we hurried to pick it up. It was an absolute miracle that we made it to the wedding on time! And like usual, Jay looked so handsome in his new suit. :)

Jay's high school friend, Andrea, married the sweetest guy, Jared, and we were honored to be a part of their special day. The ceremony was beautiful, but the reception was definitely the most memorable part of the wedding. It was held at Andrea's family farm, and no detail was left untouched. The family had created intimate little nooks all over the property from a fire pit to the farm store. The wedding would not have been complete without the southern food spread that was served. We could not get enough of the fried chicken, collards, macaroni and cheese, and squash casserole. I was one HAPPY pregnant momma! :) We loved dancing to the live band and meeting new people. What a special night!

Congratulations, Andrea and Jared!

Pumpkin Carving

After a busy morning of a soccer game, karate practice, and practicing riding on two wheels, we continued our tradition of pumpkin carving with the kids. We stopped by a local church to pick out several pumpkins, and set up shop in the front yard. Our sweet neighbor, Jenna, came over to watch, as well.

Tuttle insisted on designing his own pumpkin for Daddy to carve while Maggie wanted Princess Ariel. It is obvious who was given the more challenging project. :)

As soon as it was dark, we put candles in the pumpkins to really admire our work, Maggie and Tuttle both loved the finished results!

I cannot believe Halloween is only two weeks away. Tuttle's costume arrived yesterday, and the weather officially felt like fall this morning.

And just because this picture makes me laugh. I successfully got the kids to church this morning while Daddy worked in the yard. Tuttle could not possibly dislike taking pictures more, especially when he has to wear buttons. I swear that the entire process would not feel like such torture if he would just smile ONE TIME. It did not happen yesterday and actually ended in him crying.

Tuttle just needs to accept that his mommy is going to continue to take a TON of photos for the rest of his life. I think this stems directly from the fact that my own mother missed documenting milestone events in my life. She recently took a two week trip to New England and did not take one picture! Luckily Gram makes up for this shortcoming in all the other areas of her life. :)

Fun Run

Tuttle's school held their annual Fun Run on Friday to raise money for the PTA. We had to call all the family members to sponsor Tuttle for each lap that he completed. Grandmommy, Peach, Gram, and Mommy generously donated, so he was set to run and even earn some prizes for his effort.

Gram was excited to attend the event to cheer on Tuttle. I am beyond thrilled that she is retired now. I literally call on her every week for something. We walked from the house and met Tuttle on the field.

The goal was 30 laps, and Tuttle completely shocked me and had no issue hustling the entire time. Gram and I even ran one lap each with him. I had to laugh at all the cheers I received for being so pregnant and running! 

Blurry action shot! :)

The music, cheering, and blowup tunnel helped keep everyone happy and active during the Fun Run. Tuttle finished with 32 laps! (He forgot to get marked for the first lap.)

Daddy and I are very proud of how well Tuttle is adjusting to kindergarten. He loves his school, and I love the opportunity to be so involved in his day!

I took advantage of Gram being around to go out to lunch. We picked up Maggie from preschool and headed to The Flying Biscuit. Maggie insisted on pancakes for lunch.

Friday was the perfect start to our busy and fun weekend!

Scarecrows at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Tuttle and Maggie both had school off today for Columbus Day, so we called Aunt Peach and Holland to meet us at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to explore the scarecrow exhibit. We loved the perfect fall weather and even better company! :)

We walked around for more than three hours admiring the flowers, plants, and impressive scarecrows scattered throughout the gardens. I tried to soak up every minute because I definitely miss weekday field trips with my babies. We are in a new stage in life with school and extracurricular activities, so days like today are extra special.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Quality Family Time

We took full advantage of family time this weekend because Jay's new job has him traveling to California at least four days each week. We have missed him so much, so we packed in several fun family activities.

Tuttle's soccer game was cancelled again due to the rain, so we slept in a little bit before heading to breakfast. I requested to try something different than our normal breakfast spots in Brookhaven, so Jay suggested The Silver Skillet, an Atlanta institution for an old fashioned breakfast since 1956. We all enjoyed our favorites. Tuttle and Maggie particularly loved their pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Jay and I always prefer more hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and The Silver Skillet will definitely be a spot that we return.

Next we headed to the Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts to watch their newest production, Peter Pan. The show was done under black lights. The whole family was impressed. Tuttle and Maggie were even able to make their own crocodile rod puppets to take home. We are already looking forward to the next production of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. I cannot believe a Christmas show is already upon us!

Today we ate breakfast at home, washed the cars, and completed our typical Sunday chores (laundry, grocery shopping, organizing the playroom). With the perfect fall weather we took a family bike ride, and Tuttle and Daddy attempted the first lesson on riding without training wheels. Tuttle is still a work in progress with keeping his balance, but both of my boys had fun trying. Daddy sure got a workout chasing Tuttle down the street!

The kids do not not have school tomorrow due to Columbus Day, so we are headed to the Botanical Gardens with Aunt Peach and Holland to check out the scarecrow exhibit. We cannot wait!

Annual Apple Picking Trip

We ventured to BJ Reece Apple House for our fifth annual apple picking trip today. Schools were closed for a long weekend due to Columbus Day, so it was the perfect day to make the drive to North Georgia. It was a very big group this year, and I loved making memories with so many sweet friends. Kristen and I started the tradition when the girls were infants and the boys were only two years old. In total today we had six moms and thirteen kids ranging in age from six weeks to five years old!

It took a little longer than expected to hit the road with all the cars loaded, but it was an easy drive once we got started. As we nearing the orchards, it started to sprinkle, so all the moms were a little nervous with how the weather would affect the day, but it never developed into a real rain. We ate a quick picnic lunch and headed into the trees armed with bags to collect apples. 

The kids were so excited once we found the trees with apples low enough to pick themselves. Maggie and Tuttle were very proud to fill their bags as quickly as possible with frequent stops for biting into their favorite finds. I kept losing my babies under the trees as they ran from tree to tree. They loved the freedom of the wide open orchards to run around in.

Maggie loved spending the day with two of her sweet friends from her Kangaroo Class.

The orchard also has some animals to check out. We started with the milk cow and explored the small petting area next. I think the cow was a little overwhelmed with our herd. She kept moving to the opposite end of her area while our kids followed her. :)

The petting area was home to the cutest baby goats, cows, dogs, chickens, and pigs. My city babies soaked up all the country animals!

Finally we headed over to the other side of the orchard to enjoy the beautiful view of the North Georgia mountains. There are so many special activities to experience during the fall, and I am thrilled that we have kept up our apple picking tradition for so long. This year was especially memorable because my friends have such different schedules now that it is much more difficult to coordinate our schedules.

We wrapped up our adventure with apple doughnuts, apple bread, and the yummiest mini apple pies. I told Tuttle and Maggie that we were going to have to eat apples for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all week to finish off our collection. We cannot wait for next year!

German-American Friendship Day

I volunteered to be a class photographer for German-American Friendship Day at Tuttle's school yesterday. Despite the rainy forecast, the weather held off long enough for the kids to enjoy the activities outside. 

I realized as soon as I grabbed my good camera out of my purse that the SD card was still in my computer at home, so iPhone photos had to do. :)

The day proved to be successful organized chaos as the kids enjoyed German music, German and American snacks (such as peanut butter and Nutella with pretzel rods), tattoos, and running around with their friends. 

I always love to see Tuttle in his element interacting with his little buddies. I am slowly putting faces to names. Maggie quickly warmed up to the crowd and was running around with the big kids before I knew it.

It is officially fall here in Atlanta, and this almost six month pregnant momma is LOVING the cooler weather. While Daddy is cheering on the Dawgs in Athens this weekend, we are going to karate practice, watching the game snuggling on the couch, and catching a movie at the theater tonight.

Happy Fall, Y'all!