Gearing up for Halloween

Is it Halloween yet? 

Because I swear I have been celebrating this holiday for over a week already! 

With Finley being in 2 preschools this year we have had lots of parties, parades, and festivals to attend. 

This was Finley's first year choosing his own costume. 

Of course he chose to be a firefighter! 

There was no debate in our house. He had his mind made up from day 1. 

At least he makes a cute little fireman. 

Onto the pre-holiday fun!

Miss Shelley's Preschool Party:

What other teacher goes to such lengths for fun and learning? 

As a helper in Miss Shelley's class, I was in charge of the games/activities for the children. 

We sang songs, played pin the nose/eyes/mouth on the pumpkin, played musical pumpkins, and hid a stuffed pumpkin and took turns finding it. But I think the game that was most well received was pumpkin bowling! 

We also pretended to be ghosts before making our own little ghosties to take home.

And it's not a party without treats! Yum!

Preschool Parade and Halloween Hoot:

The very next day Finley was again able to dress up in his costume for school. 

At his other preschool they had a little parade and then fun games. 

The parents were invited to stay for the parade and wave to their children. 

I knew this wouldn't turn out too well. Some mornings Finley struggles when I drop him off and cries. It breaks my heart. Well this day he didn't, but when he saw me in the crowd...

He burst into tears and ran straight for me. 

Needless to say I had to join him for the rest of the parade and the trick or treating that took place afterwards. He wasn't the only child in his class to do this. Several children were crying by the end. It was cute and sad at the same time. 

Here is his 'mom don't leave me' look. 

Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat:

Saturday night, even though we were all suffering from colds, we headed out to our church's fall festival and trunk or treat. 

Can you guess who David is dressed up as? 

What about me? 

Here is a clue, we are a couple from a young adult series (No NOT Twilight!). 

Our festival also involves a chili cook off. 

After winning for several of the past years, David was so bummed that he didn't win this year. I think he made his chili a little too spicy, but not spicy enough to beat the Skipper's for the spiciest. 

The young women from our church had some fun games for the kids to play. 

And then everyone headed outside to "trunk or treat". It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun too! 

Next  year I am so signing up to run a different activity! 

Decorating: 

With Finley really enjoying Halloween this year we did a little more decorating than normal. 

Check out these cute fall decorations. 

And of course we made some more little ghosties. 

We got "boo-ed" twice this year! 

Here are some fun crafts from one of our boo baskets. 

And of course we had to find time to carve our pumpkins. 

Finley really wanted to use the knives this year. 

I don't think so Mister!

I let him choose the shapes for the different parts of the pumpkin face. 

And we thought it would also be fun to do an H for our last name. 

Can you believe we have done so much celebrating before Halloween? 

What else is there left to do? 

Maybe some more partying and trick or treating with friends. 

One Proud Sister

This past March I had the privilege of going up to New York to see a show that my sister, Michelle Dorrance, co-produced. 

She performed as well as choreographed several amazing tap dances. 

I was totally blown away. 

A few months ago we found out that she was nominated for a Bessie Award for OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (of a work that stretches the boundaries of a traditional or culturally specific form).  We were all so excited for her! 

She was nominated alongside some heavy hitters in her category and so my sister convinced me that she wouldn't win. After all, just being nominated was a huge honor. 

Well Monday night as I was laying in bed I got a call from my mom and all I could hear in the background was loud cheering and applause. It turns out that we aren't the only ones that thinks she is pretty damn amazing. 

Here is a clip featuring her dancing and choreography from that evening of dance that she won the award for:  

The last one if my favorite :). 

The piece she won the award for is the one with lots of dancers in white clothes and socks. And because I can't put into words myself just how awesome she is, I am glad someone else can: 

"Remembering Jimmy pays homage to a tap master in both adoring and unaffected terms. It’s hypnotic; the stage is alive with slippery footsteps as dancers — dressed in white and wearing socks — slide from side to side like a flock of ghostly speed skaters.

Smack in the center is Ms. Dorrance, the light within: her sunny charisma and lanky body work in mesmerizing combination as she glides across the floor or hits it with fury. (Her coordination and speed are incredible.)”

– The New York Times"

Congratulations Michelle! We are so proud of you! 

Pumpkin Patch

This past Saturday we headed off to the pumpkin patch! 

Last year our friends told us about a great farm in Gibsonville and we never made it out there. 

This year we made sure to make it a priority so we wouldn't miss out. 

The morning started off checking out some really cool tractors. 

Luckily the farm allows you to climb on top of them. 

I think Finley would have been sad if he had to just look at them and not touch. 

Our friends the Webbs joined us for the day. 

The boys all enjoyed playing in a Shiloh filled with corn. Even Zach :). 

When they finally came out of the corn bin there was corn everywhere! 

It was literally spilling from their pockets. 

Later on that afternoon I even found some in Finley's diaper. Yuck! 

The farm also has a lot of play equipment to keep the young ones entertained. 

This see saw was great because, as you can see in the picture, it doesn't drop you to the ground!

We climbed on hay mountains and in and out of tunnels. 

There were even some rides at the pumpkin patch! 

We got to ride on a very slow hay train. 

And on a cow train. 

Poor David got stuck riding in one of the little cows crammed in there with Finley because he didn't want to ride alone. 

But they still had a fun ride!

They were really moooving!

We also got to run through a mini corn maze. 

Finley had fun picking which way to go and chasing us through the field. 

I must say I always feel a little creeped out my corn mazes. 

I think it is from all those scary movies like Signs, Children of the corn, etc. 

There was corn on the stalks so we had fun checking it out. 

And of course attempting to eat it. 

Before we headed home we picked out some pumpkins. 

They didn't have a huge selection, and I think David was disappointed that you didn't get to pick it from the patch itself, but we found some really nice ones for a reasonable price. 

And Finley had fun carting them home. 

We are really enjoying this fall weather and starting to get excited about Halloween!

5 years later...

When we first moved into our current home we decided that one day we would put in hardwood floors on our first floor. Well that day finally came... five years later! 

After hemming and hawing over it for several years, (debating on which type of wood to use, what color, to install it ourselves or pay someone else), we finally pulled the trigger. 

We couldn't be more please with the results! 

I love the color, style, and feeling of the wood under my bare feet.

Even David was impressed with the speed and quality of the installation. 

Our workers completed the job in less than a day and a half! 

I kept telling him how much easier and better it would be to hire someone else to do it :). 

 

Finley was also very excited about the floors.

He really enjoyed watching the crew work on the floors. 

It was hours of entertainment!

 And when the final product came together, Finley was so excited he jumped up and down on it, danced around, kept talking about how wonderful and beautiful the floors were, and eventually laid down on the brand new floors. 

Or was that me? :)

Road Trip!

This past weekend we loaded up the car and headed out on a road trip to see family!

What I had originally intended to be a week long road trip just turned into a extended weekend road trip. 

I am glad it wasn't longer because we were sure glad to sleep in our own beds last night and get back to our routine.  I think Finley was even getting a little homesick. 

My mom, David, Finley and I all drove up to MD on Thursday where we met up with my cousin Diana to visit and have dinner. 

We were so grateful that Diana was able to use her work connections to get us a great rate at a hotel just down the road from our cousins! Thanks Lady Di!

Friday we were able to spend the whole day with Grammie & Abuelo! 

Abuelo had a work conference in Baltimore and we got to visit with them before they headed back out to India. 

We decided to take advantage of being in the big city and see the sights. 

Finley choose to go to the B & O Railroad museum.  

Even though David was bored out of his mind, the rest of us really had a great time! 

Check out this beautiful turntable that still works!

This museum is a little boy's dream. 

So many trains to climb in and out of!

This one was my favorite because it looked just like the Hogwarts express!

(Sorry we didn't get a better photo of it!)

After climbing in and out of a lot of different trains we headed outside to check out the electric trains. 

Finley really enjoyed watching the trains go around and around. 

The weather was perfect too.

Of course they also had some little rides to partake in. Finley got to ride Choo Choo Blue and a train Carousel.  Check out that miniature village! Too cute. 

And of course you can't visit the train museum without riding a real train!

All Aboard!

The train ride was about 20 minutes to do a 1 mile track. 

So yeah, we were going pretty slow.

But it gave us plenty of time to look out the window.  

And discover the scenery. 

Later that evening we headed into DC to visit with one of David's HS buddies and his parents who were in town. We sure did get to see a lot of great people on our trip!

Saturday morning we headed over to my cousin Linda's house to visit her family and their new baby Annie!

Finley had a lot of fun visiting with 'Claire Bear' who is 3 and playing with her toys. 

My mom and I took advantage of getting to hold sweet baby Annie and snuggle with her. 

She is such a doll!

Finley and Claire both enjoyed dressing up and dancing around. 

My mom  brought Claire an adorable ballet costume and she couldn't stop twirling around. 

After getting all dressed up she said, "I am ready to marry Finley now". 

I don't know what Maryland laws are, but I am pretty sure these 2nd cousins aren't allowed to marry! 

I don't know what happened to the beautiful weather we had on Friday, but the rest of our trip was pretty darn cold! We had to bundle up to play outside and even then it seemed a little too cold to play out there. 

It was so cute to see these two interact. Last time we were with the Adams Family Finley wasn't talking so he seemed like such a baby. But after this trip he can't stop talking about cousin Claire!

Mimi and Annie. 

I think Mimi seems a little too anxious for another baby to be around don't you? 

ha ha ha

 Before we headed up to MD I told Finley we would be seeing baby Annie and that he had to give his paci's to her. I told him that she needed them because she is so little and he is a big boy. 

So before we left we got to give her the pacis. He was such a big boy to hand them over, but I think he thought he still had more at home. So far we are doing pretty good without them. (knock on wood)

My Uncle Mark, my mom's brother, also came up to MD from VA to visit with us. 

He was fresh off a trip from Hawaii! 

It was so nice to visit with my mom's side of the family. 

Even though is was cold outside we braved the weather and went to the park to get some energy out! 

The kids were great sports and luckily Linda had some warm jackets and hats to loan to us. 

I guess I should have paid more attention to the weather reports before I packed! But Finley did wear that purple hat like a champ. 

Cousin Linda and baby Annie. 

Claire pretending to be a 'hostage' as David called her. 

The weekend flew by so fast! Our 5 day trip seemed so quick. We had so much fun visiting Grammie & Abuelo, the Adams Family, Cousin Diana, Uncle Mark and Uncle Michael. 

I hope it isn't too long before we see them all again. They were amazing hosts and we had a blast. 

Our road trip was a success!