Month: October 2012

  • Fall Fun

    We started out with a cool fall (!!!), but the temperatures have been up in the 70s this past week.  Crazy!  We’re enjoying this weather, though.  Definitely beats the 100-degree summer temperatures!

    The girls have had fun in the backyard playing in the trees and using their imaginations.  They made a little home in an area behind a bunch of trees.  I still don’t know where this is in our yard.  Haha!!

     

    “Enter” and “Exit out” signs

    L-o-v-e this sign.  “Fall! season” - I guess they wanted to clarify what they meant by “fall.”

      

     

     

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    Mom took the girls on a field trip to the police department a few days ago.  They had a good time together with a group of other people.

     

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    At the music school where I work, we have something called Ministry Night where we go to a retirement home and have the students put on a recital for the residents there.  The October concert went wonderfully and the people loved it!!  Look forward to the November and December recitals.

     

    Toward the end, I asked Christina (teacher and my boss) if she wanted to play something together for fun.  She was all for it, so we sat down and just played a few hymns and requested songs by ear.  It was so.much.fun.  I think the people watching got a kick out of how much fun WE were having!

     

    Missy and Marianna also played their instruments.

    It’s as big as her!!

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    We went to a Bible study cook-off event a couple weeks ago, where we all competed with main dishes and desserts.  The theme was pizza and pieces.  It was fun seeing everyone’s creativity!

     

    What fascinated me was that there was only ONE “regular” pizza.  Everything was SO different.  And super delicious!!

     

    We made the Mexican “Fiesta Pizza.”

     

    The desserts were great too!  My favorite was the crossword puzzle cheesecakes.  We made the “3-piece delight.”

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    Love catching up with friends!!  Renee (middle) is moving from Raleigh to Asheville with her husband and son soon and was in Charlotte for a weekend, so we met for dinner one of the evenings and had an incredible time.  So thankful for godly (and fun…and hilarious!!) friends.

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    I took the girls on a field trip a few weeks ago to Reed’s Gold Mine.

     

    Panning for gold.  Marianna actually found a tiny piece!

      

    Going into the mine

    Friends from church

     

    We went on a whirlwind trip to NJ and NYC last weekend.  Our cousin got married and we visited some family while we were in the area.  We started out in the NJ mountains and ended in the city.  Will eventually get pictures up from that (the wedding place was GORgeous), but it will take a while to go through all of them!

    We’re waist-deep in birthday celebrations.  We celebrated Dad’s birthday yesterday and are celebrating Jennifer’s tomorrow.  Then Mom’s and Bethany’s next week!  Looooooots of unhealthy stuff going on here at our house. 

     

     

     

     

  • Christopher’s 18th birthday

    Christopher turned the big one-eight in September!  We had fun celebrating as a family.  Actually did dinner, gifts, AND dessert all in ONE night! 

     

    He’s such a great big brother (and little brother, too, of course ).

    Birthday table                                                                                                     

    Christopher’s birthday dinner request was Mexican Lasagna.  We’d never made this before (it was a friend’s recipe), so we were wondering how on earth it would turn out.  The title of the dish threw us off guard.  Haha!!  BUT…it ended up being one of the most delicious meals we’ve had!!  It was sooooo good.  Nice pick, Christopher!

      

    Gifts from Missy and Marianna

     

    Gettin’ a little crazy over there

    The six

     

    Some awesome gifts!!

    Birthday brownies!!

    Happy Birthday Camel, Bewawa, Cwidofer, Christopher! 

     

  • And life goes on

    As usual, NC weather has proven to be predictably unpredictable.  We started getting a nice fall, then it got warm and humid.  It was really cool today (loved it!), but this week is supposed to be warmer again. At least it IS getting cooler. Seasons are amazing, aren’t they? Isn’t it neat to think how much detail God put into His creation, even down to the change of seasons?

    We’ve been staying busy here. Lots happening!

     

    ^This^ little girl lost her front tooth.  Boy, does she look cute with that gap in her mouth!

    It’s hard to tell the tooth is gone, but it’s definitely not there.

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    They love having tea parties.  Dressing up (over PJs, of course) always makes it more fun!

    The CSYO performed at Freedom Park’s “Festival in the Park” a couple weeks ago.  They played for about an hour.  Loved hearing the orchestra!  Christopher had a few solos, so we cheered extra loud for him.

    Dr. Pereira has been conducting the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras since 1988.

    Joseph and Hanna came home from college for the weekend and went to the concert with us!

    Missy is LOVING being in choir.  She’s been listening to the CD her director gave her and singing her choir songs.  It’s so cute when she ^sets up^ her dolls and stuffed animals and conducts her own choir.   

    This is Rebecca.  She was Jen’s when Jen was little.  I remember when Christopher was shorter than her.  Marianna and Missy still play with her. She’s lived a long life!

    Mom took the little girls and went with some friends on a field trip to Windy Hill Apple Orchard.  This was one of our favorite places to go when we were younger.

     

    The girls got to hear the Johnny Appleseed story, go on a hay ride, make a scarecrow, get apples, and eat/drink donuts and apple cider.

    Petting some of the farm animals

    This man has been doing this for years.  He’s so great!

    The kids and the moms

     

    They had the perfect weather for a day on the farm!

    Mom and the girls also went on a field trip to Old Salem with some friends.

    The girls had fun dressing up and walking around the historic place.

    Having some fun

     

     

    We have a third cellist in the family!!  Missy officially started taking lessons from Jen a few weeks ago.  She’s doing a great job and has already played at a retirement home for a small concert we put on.  It’s so cute to see her carry the cello on her back…it’s as big (or small) as she is!

    Guidance from Jen

     

    Who doesn’t like to make bubbles with our milk?

     

     

    Can’t wait to share some *exciting* news about Wescottage Music soon!!!

     

    Attempted to make cinnamon buns a few weeks ago. 

    Camping out in the backyard!!!

    Missy put herself under a hamper and asked to be covered.  I don’t know how long she stayed there, but it was a long time.  Silly girl!!

     

     

    Enjoy the fall weather!!