Fall Overview

Some fun things we have done this fall include:

1. Attend the final Dartmouth football game (thanks to scoring several tickets from a friend)
**it was amazing how few people attended the game. My kids kept asking me if it was a "real" football game

2.  Dress up in full winter gear {minus warm pants} and pretend it is really colder than the temperatures show.  Okay, I guess the only one in our family that really likes to do this is Miss M.  She made us all laugh near the end of October when she would dress herself such as the picture below in preparation for going to school.  By afternoon bus pick up she had stripped herself down to her normal clothing and maybe a jacket.
#can'twaitforcoldweather

3. Running running and more running in the early fall.  I joined several friends in training for and running a half-marathon this fall.  Although I definitely didn't do as well as I would've liked on the actual race, I enjoyed the motivation and dedication it gave me to run on a regular basis and enjoy the much needed "me-time".  Although after the race was over I have now turned into a total lazy person and have hardly ran, I am proud of myself for doing this and I know I will be back at it again in a few months.

4. Tiny Tuckies Annual Halloween parade/party.  Our party ended up being delayed by one week due to Hurricane Tropical Storm Sandy.  We had a weather alert placed on our area so the school had early release and all other parties and festivities were cancelled that day.  This ended up pushing the party to the next Monday, after Halloween.  I have to admit it was a bit awkward to pull out the costumes post-trick or treating, but luckily the kids didn't seem to mind in the least.  They were excited to put on their costumes one last time and collect another bounty of candy.  It was a fun night to remember!

Eli with his "Captain America" buddy JJ 

5. Ice skating with Uncle Ben two days after Thanksgiving.  One of the only requests Ben had when he came to visit was to ice skate. So we looked up a rink that was open on Saturday and away we went. We had a really great time and luckily no one needed stitches at the end {Ben took a particularly nasty fall a few weeks prior to this on the ice and ended up cutting his chin open.  I had the pleasure of removing his stitches while he came to visit}

**once again the one and only picture I had on my camera phone before the whole thing died. I am seriously counting down the months until next July when my contract is up and I can finally get an I-phone

6.  Had lots and lots of one on one time with my Mr E.  I have sure enjoyed this fall having some well deserved time with my youngest.  He has been so helpful, quiet, funny, quirky, and easy to have home with me and I am not looking forward to a few years from now when he will be sent away from me all day.  But for now I am cherishing these moments I get to hang out with him.  He is easy to please as the only child at home and loves to do puzzles, play with toys, watch television, do the dishes, etc. 

7. Watched Robby's school class perform at Morning Sing and was a total proud Mama! (every Friday at the local elementary school they have a sing-a-long type of activity where parents are invited to come and sing with the school.  Each week they feature different classes and groups of students performing for the school)

 **Robby is the boy in red in the middle left walking on stage

**in this picture, Robby is the 5th child from the left hand side

8. Attended a super fun Christmas Party at Brud and Jen Fogarty's house that included a "crazy ornament swap".  It was fun to get together with a bunch of our Tuck friends and not have our children running around.  We had plenty of laughs through the ornament exchange that was done White Elephant Style.  I have to say that I was plenty pleased to end up with a cute high heel ornament for Miss M for Christmas and a shiny star ornament.  Thanks for such a fun night all!

9. Maddie's pre team group at gymnastics did another "Secret Sister" gift exchange the last few weeks before Christmas.  I loved to see her grin as she came up with inexpensive thoughtful gifts for her secret sister.  She was pretty pleased when she got a jewelry box that was decorated in lots of bling---her fave!

10. The whole Elementary school went to a special Holiday music program at the high school and Maddie was chosen out of the audience to come down and help conduct the musicians for part of the program.  She was bursting with excitement when she came home after school.  I was even more pleased that the front office lady was thoughtful enough to take a picture of the occasion and e-mail it to me.