Busy week in late October

We had a really hectic week leading up to the week before Halloween.  Brandon was wrapping up soccer and had his last two soccer practices on Monday and Wednesday.  On Tuesday I had Brandon's  parent/teacher conference with his teacher Mrs. Lambert.  That went really well but I had to meet with her early at 4:00.  I didn't realize that Brandon had to be there with me for the conference but it worked out well as he was just at the YMCA after school care in the cafeteria so I was able to grab him.  His conference went really well.  Brandon is doing really well.  After the parent-teacher conference we headed to the Book Fair and Brandon got to use his $9 he earned at his Jog-A-Thon and buy some new books.  We also got a new book for Olivia.  After that we headed to pick Olivia up from school.  We got to go to Burgerville for dinner as the kids were getting their flu shots at the flu clinic at their pediatrician's office near Olivia's school.  The kids were super excited about eating at Burgerville as we rarely get fast food.  The shots went well and we were in and out in 10 minutes.  Brandon was a bit more apprehensive about the shot than Olivia.  Neither kid cried.  

Yummy Burgerville-Mommy got a pumpkin shake

Brandon is giving Burgerville a high five!

Both kids doing quite well after their flu shots

The next day, we had Brandon's last soccer practice.  We dropped him off and then ran home and ate dinner quickly as we were going to pick him up and head to his school's Family Fun Night which was at a local farm nearby.  Unfortunately, the large corn maze had been blown down the weekend before with all the torrential rain and wind we had, but the smaller corn maze and their playground was still open.  The kids got to have donuts and apple juice and had fun playing a musical chairs type game for candy, getting their face painted, and doing a fun dance.  Outside they had their playground going and a smaller corn maze.  The kids had fun seeing their friends.  All in all it was a fun night although the kids got to bed later than we wanted them to.  At least there was no school for either on Thursday so they were able to sleep in.

Eating a donut

Olivia landed on the right picture and got candy

Walking around the pictures

Getting her face painted-a kitty! 

Fun games inside of the barn

Sunday Funday: Gymnastics and Disney on Ice!

The second to last weekend in October, Brooke and I bought Disney on Ice tickets for Olivia and Addie back in August.  The girls went last year and were super excited to go again this year.  Before we went to Disney on Ice, the girls had gymnastics as usual on Sunday at noon.  They had a lot of fun.  Then we went home for a few hours and then got ready to go to Disney on Ice.

Going across the beam

Such concentration on the beam

Dismount!

The girls both decided they wanted to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast this year.  They had just done a new movie of Beauty and the Beast earlier in the year with live actors.  They both happened to have Belle costumes which was also nice.  We carpooled together and got some pictures of the girls out in front of our house before we left.  We got to the Moda Center quickly but traffic around the Moda Center was bad so it took us almost 20 minutes to get a parking spot.  We were able to get a few pictures out in front of the Moda Center and we ran into Olivia's good friend Kennedy from her school.

The girls as Belle out in front of our house 

Silly girls! 

Out in front of the Moda Center

Olivia and Kennedy

We got into the Moda Center right when it was starting.  Our seats were pretty good.  The theme this year was "Follow your Heart" and it started out with Riley with the movie "Inside Out."  Then the emotions kept going back to various Disney princess stories.  They had quite a long segment on Beauty and the Beast that the girls enjoyed.  They had Little Mermaid as well and several other princess theme segments.  At intermission we let the girls get a treat and they chose Snow Cones again this time in Elsa and Anna cups.

The trapeze work going on-it was amazing

The princess skating together 

All the princesses danced together before the intermission

Snow cone time!

Olivia and Addie at intermission

Enjoying her snow cone

We came back and they had a few more stories and then had Frozen at the end.  Both Olivia and Addie were mesmerized still by Frozen and loved it.  They sang and danced to "Let it Go."  It was really cute watching them.  The ice skating was very good this time as well as the props.  Some of the ice skaters even went high into the air.  It was a very good show and the girls are already talking about going back next year.

Mommy and Liv selfie

Mesmerized still by Frozen and Elsa

End of the show they all came on and ice skated together

Corvallis Fun!

Towards the end of October I escape to Corvallis by myself for 3 nights.  I finally got to see my newest niece Sierra who was only 3 months old.  It was so nice to go to Corvallis without the kiddos and to have some fun adult time with my sister and my parents.  I had to work Friday some of the day but my mom, my sister, and baby Sierra were able to go out to lunch at Block 15, which brews their own yummy beer.  My mom and I split a sandwich and I got a beer sampler, which was really fun.  Sierra slept through most of the lunch.

Sweet Sierra snuggling with CiCi

Smiling at me

Baby snuggling with Sierra

Sampling at Block 15

 We had a fun afternoon where I wrapped up some more work.  We went on a walk outside with Sierra and then had baby snuggles and watched shows.  We had tacos and played a Hearts Tournament which was fun.

Sierra liked her new toy and her new outfit 

The kids had a yummy dinner with Daddy at home

The next day my sister Rachel came for the day and it was the first time our entire family was together just the five of us in like 10 years!  I got more baby snuggles, spent some time with Pumpkin, and hung out with my sisters and watched the Ducks game.  We went out to dinner at Big River to celebrate my sister Tory's birthday and had a blast.  I had to go back home the next day as Olivia had gymnastics and I was taking her to Disney on Ice with Brooke and Addie.  It was so nice to get away from the kids and to go back home for the weekend and to finally see baby Sierra!

Sweet Sierra wearing one of Olivia's old Halloween outfits

Sierra and I

Family dinner at Big River

Such a sweetie, miss her!

School pictures and fall fun!

In late October, Olivia had her school pictures taken.  I had fun getting her pictures taken just beforehand.  I can't believe how old she looked this year and that this is her 4th year of getting her pictures taken at Rocking Horse.  We also had some fun time dressing up in parts of Olivia's unicorn fairy tutu outfit.  Brandon looked hilarious with fairy wings and a unicorn horn.

Out in front of the house before getting her school pictures

Sweet girl at 4

Unicorn Brandon!

Fairy unicorn!

Crazy eyes