Letters

There is a writing station at Olivia's school and we often get a "letter" that she has written that day.  She loves writing letters and sending cards to people.  Mike has been traveling a lot for work for a couple days during the week.  On a day that he was coming home, she decided she wanted to get him a card.  She was so excited to go pick it out and write it.  She wanted to leave it on his pillow so he would see it when he had gotten home after she had gone to bed.  She is such a sweet child :)

New Orleans!

What a way to start off November! My cousin, "Fancy Nancy", got married to such an awesome guy, Ryan, in New Orleans the first weekend in November.  We had WAY TOO MUCH fun!  It was the first time I had spent a night away from Eliza and was quite teary leaving my babies.  As we were leaving our girls (both sick, of course!) at home with Nonna and Papa, I was crying. Olivia asked me why I was crying and I told her it was because I just loved her so much.  She was upset we were leaving, but seeing me cry must have been a shock because she immediately got calm and told us both how much she loved us without a meltdown.  Olivia has been having some separation issues lately and I have found that not telling her we are leaving until right before and just quickly leaving, keeps her anxiety and crying down.  We had already loaded the car and were walking out the door when we finally fessed up as to why Nonna was there.  We drove there with my parents and brother...road trip!

 The happy couple at the rehearsal dinner.  Ryan gave THE BEST rehearsal dinner speech I have ever heard.  It was really remarkable.

 At the Carousel Bar with Jolyn and Rebecca

 Getting ready!

 Beautiful bride

 Chris and Rebecca on the bus after the wedding (we had an awesome police escort)

 Tim and Jenny

 Us

 Second line parade was unbeleivably fun!  We were lead through the streets of the French Quarter by Nancy and Ryan and an amazing band for own very own parade.  So. much. fun.

The band 

 Awesome NOLA cake

 First dance

 The Peden clan

 Part of the wild Stobaugh clan

 Self portrait on the dance floor

 Matt Tim and one of the Peden's dearest friends.  Love all the happy faces.

  "Magic Mike" made several appearances that night

 

 Aunt Tish getting down :)

 Nancy getting the perennial "butt bump" from my brother, Tim

 The after party.  That would be my family, up on stage at a gay bar :)

Love this photo!  It was taken out by the pool bar at the hotel.  Chris Lewis, Tim, Matt, David, Dad, Mike, and Chris

 Best. Oysters. Ever.  Chargrilled oysters at Acme Oyster House

Matt, Chris, Mike and Will Pike

 "I work for tips" is what he/she said to me when I asked her if I could take a photo with her :)

Halloween

Olivia could not be talked out of being Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween.  If I knew how to sew, I think you could make a really cute Strawberry Shortcake costume.  I even took her to Bering's and showed her the ridiculously expensive costumes trying to persuade her to be something else.  Unfortunately, we were stuck with the cheesy, plastic looking costume that the local Halloween store carried.  Whatever makes her happy :)

 Thankfully, the wig bothered her and was discarded quickly. 

 We started Halloween early with all of the kids that live on our tiny street.  

 Eliza's first trick-or-treating experience.  This neighbor gave each child a giant gift bag full of movie theater sized candy!!

 Our Lady Bug ( I always call her "buggie" and she is my little love bug)

 She got it right away and her second house, knew just what to do!

 Our sweet neighbor, Emily, whom my girls both love.  Anytime Eliza sees her, she runs right up to her for her to hold her.

 Our next stop was the fantastic block party in the Fuller's neighborhood.  This house had amazing decorations.

 Olivia and Ella, the monarch butterfly

 The last stop at the block party was incredible.  They had snacks, a movie, games and more

Ducky braved the chaos and came over to meet us to see the girls in their costumes

Getting Ready for Halloween

 Carving a pumpkin. Sadly, I never took a photo of the finished product.

 The girls LOVED this giant cat.  We put it in our backyard to save our neighbors from the giant kitty :)

 Photos from a local pumpkin patch

 The baby pumpkin we took home

 Love this one.  Olivia smiling trying to make her sister cooperate and Eliza is ready to run and explore!

 After we left the pumpkin patch, Olivia wanted to go to another one.  We settled on going to the local nursery, Cornelius, to see what kind of trouble we could get into.

Fun with a tiny pumpkin which she called, "Ball"