Ansley and Bailey's Halloween Party 2009

After leaving Emily's Halloween party, Daddy and I headed over to the twins party. When we arrived it was almost time to start a marching song. I marched with the girls around the room and then once it was over, all the little ones got in their chairs while the teachers and parents passed out their goodies. The little ones dove in to their fruit, chicken nugets, and chectos. To top it off, the goodies were finished up with cup cakes. Around that time, Mom and Emily arrived over at the party. We played for a little while, the teachers handed out their various treat bags and then we all headed out.

Emily's Halloween Party 2009

On Friday morning, October 30th, after dropping Ansley and Bailey off in their class, Emily and I headed to the Primary School building. Once Mrs. Ross started class we all headed outside for a few pictures, since we needed them for one of the class party crafts. After we were done with the pictures, I headed to pick up the streamers and balloons. Also, I dropped off the pictures and picked up on the way back to the school after lunch. When I arrived the kids were having their scavenger hunt. This gave the perfect opportunity to decorate. Slowly parents funneled in and also helped blow up the balloons and get the food set up.

Once the kids arrived back they all headed to their places and we started serving the goodies. While we were doing so, Daddy arrived to join in the festivities. The kids really enjoyed their goodies and when they were finished we got set up for our crafts. Our first craft was putting together the Halloween picture frames. While we were working on them, Mom arrived from work to also join in. The kids really had fun with the frames. Afterwards we moved on to their necklaces. Before long it was a few minutes to three so while they were finishing up, I told Emily I was headed over to Ansley and Bailey's party and mom would stay with Emily to collect her stuff. Daddy and I then headed right over to the little ones class so I could make it to theirs also.

Emily's First Report Card

Pumpkin Time at the Mauldin Market and Painting-Carving Pumpkins 2009

On Saturday morning we got up and headed over to the Mauldin Market after breakfast. While we were there all the girls got to pick out 2 little pumpkins each and two for Ali also. In addition to each of their little ones we all walked around to find one we could carve.

After leaving the Mauldin Market we headed over to the Jefferson's. After saying hello we headed outside with Ali and the girls. Once we had everything set up all the girls had a great time getting to paint their little pumpkins. Once they were done painting John started with the big pumpkin to open the top and then all the girls got to take turns helping get the middle cleaned out. Once it was cleaned John carved the face while Bailey painted some more and we worked on getting the seeds out of the middle part to bake.

Boo in the Zoo 2009

Every year since Emily was born, with the exception of the year I was very pregnant with the twins, we have been going to Boo in the Zoo. It is always a lot of fun and this year was no exception. After nap time on Sunday afternoon we snacked and dressed the kids and headed to the Zoo in order to be there for the opening at 4:00. When we arrived it was already starting to get busy so we parked and headed to the line. Soon after we arrived Daddy met us and the line started moving.

Once we had gotten our bag and were in the Zoo the kids were ready to Trick or Treat. The little ones did not really remember what we were talking about until the first candy station when it came back like it was yesterday, but Emily knew right away what was happening. What a difference each year makes =) After we went through the first station, surprisingly it was Ansley who was dying to eat some candy (really chocolate). She started on her kit kat as we progressed, but Emily and Bailey were all about heading to the next one. At the next one they were giving back scratchers. Although Ansley was already on "the hunt" for more candy, Bailey was totally about her "scratch". Emily liked it to, but she was more about moving on. We wound our way to the top of the Zoo where we sat for a minute to give the kids a drink. By that time Ansley had eaten several pieces of candy/chocolate (you are only a kid once =) ) and Emily and Bailey were ready for a first piece. After a small taste they were ready to make our way through the other half.

After making it to the end we headed out to the park to play for a little bit before heading home for dinner.

Nivens Pumpkin Patch 2009

On Sunday afternoon after the little ones got up from their naps, we got everyone ready and then went by to pick up Daddy for a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. We drove to Duncan/Moore to Nivens where we all had a great time. When we arrived we first headed to the play area where the kids enjoyed jumping on some tire jumps they had set up, climbing through the tunnels, playing in the hay, and just running around having fun.

After the kids played for a little while we all walked out to the pumpkin patch where they all enjoyed exploring. Unfortunately the pumpkins
has been pretty picked over so we only found one smaller one. After we had explored we headed back up to the farm house where we got tickets for the hay ride. All the girls enjoyed the ride around the property. When we arrived back from the ride, our pumpkin had been picked up by someone else, but it was ok. We just planned on getting one later.

Once we got off the ride we got a bag for picking apples and headed out the apple orchard where the kids had a blast getting to pick the apples right off the trees. Ansley and Bailey loved eating the apples and each at 2 hole apples before we were done. Emily did not want to eat the apples but was excited to take apples to her teacher all the next week.

After we were done picking apples we packed up and headed to eat at one of Emily's favorite places, KFC.

1st day of Kindergarten

On Monday, August 17th, Emily officially started kindergarten. To start the day off right, after everyone was ready for the day, Emily in her new school uniform, John took the twins to pre-school while Emily and I hung out at the house for a few minutes to take some pictures. They we headed to Ihop to meet John for a first day of school pancake breakfast. After breakfast we headed by Publix to pick up an apple for her new teacher, Mrs. Ross, and then we headed to the school. On the way in, we saw lots of her friends and their moms. Once we made it in the school we headed to her class to put her pack back down and then we took her to the media center.

After school, I headed through the car pool line to pick her up from her first day. She said she had a great time!!

The first night was topped off with her first round of real homework. Wow how time flies!!

Meet the teacher night

This evening we had meet the teacher night at Palmetto Prep. After dropping the twins off at Mom's, Emily and I headed to the school around 5:15. We were the first ones to arrive and went in to meet Mrs. Ross. Mrs. Ross got Emily to color a pirate picture for the wall while she explained various things about the upcoming year to me. Soon various parent starting arriving, including John. We all asked various questions, talked, and the kids got a chance to explore the room and play.

Falls Park

On Sunday afternoon after nap we all headed to Falls Park in order for the kids to enjoy playing in the fountain. When we arrived the kids instantly headed to the spraying water and proceeded to get soaked. After a little bit, my dad arrived and we enjoyed visiting and playing with the kids.

While we were there we also sat by the river to feed the ducks. It turned out to be the ducks, fish, and pigeons who all wanted in on the action. The pigeons were so fearless that John was even able to catch one. After showing it to the kids, he let it fly off, but all the birds and fish were still up for more food.

4th of July Weekend at Lake Keowee

For the July 4th holiday weekend, we all packed up and headed to stay at Lake Keowee with my mom. When we arrived on Friday everyone was excited so we quickly unloaded, snacked, changed, and all 6 of us headed out for a boat ride. With the first island we came to, known as "duck island" to Emily since she released the ducks from Easter there, we all got out, walked on the shore, played in the water, and had a good time. After we had played for a while, we all loaded up to venture out on a boat ride further down the lake. When we arrived at where the old "Cage" use to be where we use to go with Divers World, the 5 of us jumped out for a swim.



The next day we enjoyed going out in the boat, playing in the water, jumping off the dock, and then heading to the Pool in the afternoon for a 4th of July party. All the kids really enjoyed getting in the Pool and the festivities. That night once it started getting dark, John and I took Emily out on the boat, parked in Crooked Creek and waited for the fireworks with the hundreds of other boats. It was an amazing fireworks display!!



On Sunday after breakfast and a boat ride we headed back to pack up. John and Emily headed off to play in the boat for a while and then to load it up.

Childrens Museum of the Low Country

On Thursday of our summer trip to the IOP, we decided to take a break from the heat and sun and head to downtown Charleston to the Children's Museum. Always a favorite for the kids, we though it would be a nice break on Thursday afternoon after nap time. John, Emily, and Walker drove the truck, while the little ones and I took the van since we needed to divide up after our visit. When the little ones and I arrived, we headed straight for the ball room. John and the big kids had not arrived yet, but the little ones started the fun without them.



Since the ball room was such a hit, we stayed there for quite a while, even after the big kids arrived. Walker and Emily seemed to enjoy going up to the top of the steps and letting the golf balls go down the ramp the most. Ansley really enjoyed the ramp on the far side where she tried to get the ball in a hole and Bailey liked trying to get balls in the buckets.



After the ball room we moved on to the water room where the girls really enjoyed painting on the board with water and Walker really seemed to like the makeshift water city. In addition, the kids enjoyed a boat race with their little plastic boats.



Next we moved on to the crab boat where all of the girls really liked pulling up the crab net and pretending to catch crab. Following the crab boat we made it to the market where all the kids filled up their carts with pretend food. By no surprise Ansley filled up a cart with fruit. After the kids were shopped out, we headed to the art room for a project. While we were there, they announced they were having science time, so I took Emily and Walker out to the front patio where they set up an experiment involving baking soda and vinegar to make rockets. The kids had a great time seeing the film canisters explode with the reaction.

Once we were done with science time, we headed back inside for a few minutes in the art room before it was time to leave for the reunion finale dinner.