Wrapping up 2015

Zoe and I had a mommy-daughter date and attended the Teddy Bear Foundation Holiday Tea at the Biltmore.  Zoe was so excited to meet Santa (even though he was very late and did NOT look like the "real" Santa) and spend time with Claire.

These 2 are the cutest 

Zoe, Gwen and Claire

The faee painting is always a hit  

Playing musical chairs for the first time.

I think she figured out he was a fraud right here.

Look at that missing tooth!  Love that grin.

We made holiday cookies ... and let the kids lick the batter (gasp!) and took the chance of them digesting raw eggs  ;)

Maddox's school put on a school play and were all turned into Red Nose Reindeers.

Singing carrols with Sammy.

2016 Family Pictures!

I am FINALLY updating the blog - I have several months to catch up so I thought last year's family pictures are a great way to get back into things  :)

Maddox was not happy to be there but he's lucky that he is just as cute with a scowl on his face.  I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to carry them - they're getting big so quickly!

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

What a difference a year can make. Maddox was super excited to see Santa this year and talked his ear off about how he wanted a "real train, big train with one hundred train cars."  Zoe asked for a charm bracelet.  This Santa was too much.  His smile kills me.

Picking out our Christmas tree (this is not our tree....ours was in the cheaper aisle ;) )

Tradition!

Interesting he requested soup.  And apparently he thinks we need new bikes.

Zoe's note to Santa - she was so excited to give it to him.  "Dear Santa, you are the best. And so sweet. You wirk so hard and your elvs to on toys.  Santa is the best."

Another Missing Tooth

Isn't she the cutest with her missing top tooth??  She lost it at school (thank goodness!) and was so proud to show me when I picked her up.  The tooth fairy came that night, left her $3 and made a mess with the fairy dust.

The other top one is just about ready to fall out as well. I give it 2 more weeks.

1st Grade School Picture

I love this picture - this is Zoe's "real" smile  :)

November Pics

Here are some random pictures to round out November...

Homework time!

Maddox insisted on doing his own so he used Zoe's kindergarten workbooks  :)

She looks 12.  Sigh...

End of the soccer season party!  (Coco, Sophia, Nya, Zoe, Melia)

Loving our beach days again...

Hunting for treasure at Ellwood Beach.  Love this place!

Peanuts Movie date with Massey and Siena (our old neighbors).

Ice skating with Claire!  So fun!

Love this new ice skating rink! 

Amazing rainbow one random morning...

Halloween 2015

Halloween was super fun this year. Both kids had fun activities at school and our neighborhood has a ton of kids their age which made it perfect for trick or treating!

These two crack me up.

The Corn Maze at the pumpkin patch (Maddox, Zoe, Charlotte and Sammy)

Hay ride! Such comedians.

Zoe's awesome spider manicure.

Opening the Halloween package from the g-parents.

Those packages contain FULL SIZE candy bars - the size of Maddox's arm.

Zoe at her school's Halloween Costume Parade!  Cutest witch ever!

In Z's classroom with Ms Young.

At Maddox's school's Halloween party - with Sam as always.  These two are inseparable!

With Ms Jane.

Maddox's class (Maddox, Sammy, Tessa, Naveah, Mila, Arion, Lucas, Laney)

Our neighbors 2 doors down invited us over to a pre-Trick or Treating party.  Zoe and I made these spooky snacks (thank you, Pinterest!).

My Witch and Fireman.  We had to lose that whistle real quick.

McKenzie's 18th birthday was on Halloween and she and Aunt Natalie spent the day with us!!  I can't believe Kenz is 18!