Santa's Lap

The predicted ice storm (but it was truly only rain) didn't slow down Santa from making his annual appearance to Old Town.  The kids were so excited to tell Santa what they wished for this Christmas.  When asked, Evelyn kept saying she was not going to sit on his lap but once we plopped her down, she was fine as wine!  She told him she wanted 'candy please'.  Lucy then Alice had their turns and talked and talked and talked 'til I cut them off!

During and after lunch, Evelyn had to keep checking on 'HO hO' to make sure he was still around.
Here are some photos from our brunch.

kisses

snaggle tooths

twins

Girls on the Run/Mistletoe 5K

So, yesterday Lucy completed her Girls on the Run course.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the program, here is a snippet from their website:

Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-20 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games. The 24-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large.

Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. Important social, psychological, and physical skills and abilities are developed and reinforced throughout the program. At each season's conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5k running event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The result—making the seemingly impossible, possible, and teaching girls that they can.

Lucy has been eagerly awaiting her chance to participate in this program.  She had 4 wonderful volunteer coaches who met with the girls 2 afternoons a week.  Lucy thrived with the running aspect and enjoyed her lessons.  She definitely got the running gene from her Dad and Grandpa Neelon.  She runs 3 miles like it's nothing.  So, to finish off the 'semester' she and her running buddies (aka Josh and his Dad) ran the Y's Mistletoe 5K yesterday morning. The weather turned out great and everyone had a ball.  There was a large turn out for the fun mile, 5K and 1/2 marathon!  Lucy finished in 29 min 44 sec (9th in her age group)….despite a few 'dad dramatic' complaints about cramps, thirst, etc they finished in a FAST sprint towards the finish line! She now wants to do this program again or participate in the Crazy Running program also offered at school.  She definitely was a little sore this morning but I think the running bug has bitten!

Thankful……..

So, I am a few days late….

We decided to do Thanksgiving in Ahoskie this year.  We left on Wednesday and had a pleasant car ride. Evelyn is starting to fare much better in the car. (hallelujah).  Josh's parents also came this year so that was extra fun to have both sets of grandparents there! Mom and E.A did all the cooking while I wrangled children!  We had a delicious meal, visited with friends and  family, ate some more, relaxed, etc!  On Friday, we celebrated my in-laws 45th wedding anniversary before going to my niece's violin recital.  She was so poised and I was very proud of her! The girls love going to visit Grammy and grandpa! After the recital- we headed to chapel hill for the night so we could go to the UNC/Duke football game. We browsed Franklin Street and ate at Spanky's Friday night- the girls stocked up on the UNC gear.  We headed home yesterday and I immediately had the 'holiday' panic…as in gotta get Fall stuff down, buy and decorate tree, shop, decorate house, etc! AGH! I'm happy to say that the tree is up, decorated and most of the decorations are out. Not bad for a days work! We also squeezed in a birthday party and gingerbread decorating party- now time for BED! hope everyone has a wonderful first week of December!

Some pictures from the past few days:

watching the parade

evelyn and uncle 'tay

the men!

enjoying the parade some more..

trying on kilts brought to them from scotland

siblings

thankful for him...

ready to eat!

chowing on some pumpkin pie

family photo op

little turkey lost another tooth!

sweet frogs in chapel hill

game day!

go heels!

picking out our tree!

finished product!

I love Lucy

After an 'emotional' roller coaster of an afternoon with Lucy, it dawned on me that the pre-teen stage is nearing sooner than I thought!  Lucy be-bopped in the door from school happy as a lark going on and on about her day at school….next minute she is in tears and MAD b/c she couldn't do a triple pattern for a rainbow loom bracelet! what?!?!! I got her calmed down and asked if there was anything else bothering her and she said no. Five minutes later she is dancing her heart out to some 'Hairspray' songs and then she has another bout with the darn rainbow loom! Girls! Drama! I guess I better stock up on some dramatic patience as these three girls gauge at 100% for personality and girly drama!

 Oh Lucy, she is sweet when she wants but then can be mean as a snake to her sister….ridiculously flexible, gets lost in another world while dancing in our playroom, sings and makes up lyrics from her heart, yearns to learn the piano and guitar, loving her new church choir, is a mini-mother, already loves boys and sadly flirts with them (but I loved to hang out with boys when I was younger so maybe it's genetic?), has a fashion sense that is improving (thank goodness), puts on lounge wear as soon as she gets home from school, sometimes lacks confidence but keeps trying, loves her friends and teacher at school, loves her some lemonade, chinese food, pumpkin pie, goldfish, muffins….(in no certain order)…has gotten the 'running bug'- runs three miles like it's nothing, has a competitive spirit in athletics (wonder where she got that from)…..I could go on and on but  she's my girl.  Deep down, she is a homebody just like her mama and loves to be at home with her family.  While I hope she can spread her wings some day- I'm gonna keep them clipped while I can!

Go Deacs!

  Despite living literally 5 minutes away from my alma mater, I went to my first football game of the season today! It was a nice fall day for a football game…not too cool and not too hot!  We only made it the first quarter due to nap time and a squirmy toddler but we had fun tailgating and seeing the Deacons score!

Leaves to Sand…..

I feel like the leaves are about to overtake our house!  I blow them and an hour later, you can't see the ground again!  We had a little break from the leaves this past weekend and went to the beach for an annual weekend.  We have been going since Josh and I were dating!  Pawleys Island was beautiful this time of year…we were lucky to have a mild weekend! The food, friends, relaxation and laughter was just what the doctor ordered! I think my body is reminding me today that I can't stay up that late three nights in a row- YAWN!

My in-laws kept the girls here in W-S. They had a great laid back weekend. The only thing they had planned was that Lucy's church choir sang at the Junior League's shopping 'Bootique' extravaganza! The following clip is of her choir and mini solo!

 the only other pictures I took this weekend were these: