Can someone tell me how October was more full than our November is shaping up to be? This feels so very backwards. I cannot trim this update, and so it overflows with parties and pictures and the madness that was October 2019.

We kicked off this month with the Durham birthday party – the one with the “jump park” and the RDU observation deck and rainbow cupcakes (the girls made with me) and balloons and scooters and Tom’s family and wonderful Durham friends. They jumped like there was no tomorrow at the trampoline park and Kennedy spent most of the time spinning around until she fell, as falling didn’t hurt on a trampoline like it does on the ground.  It’s the little things.

Back in our living room, Mimi and Pop-pop and Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Morgan gave their gifts. I honestly believe that Kennedy almost cried with joy when she pulled back the paper to find her new baby doll.  She definitely gasped and was so thrilled and overwhelmed with feeling.  It was precious.

 

The Birthday Extravaganza was in Stanly County was the following weekend.  Somehow all of the cousins on the Talley side are born in the fall.  My sister, Sam and my mom did all of the work and pulled off an incredible party for Dubbs (3), Talley Rae (3), Kennedy (2), Elsie (2) and Natalee (14). I’m still blown away by the incredible spread of food and by the ridiculous size of the bouncy house my mom got for the kids to play in. It was a blast.

This party was the one with confetti-filled cakes, chicken and waffles, a bouncy house with a water slide, new big wheels and over-sugared cousins.

 

 

So I finally redeemed myself as a mom and took my girls to the pumpkin patch.  Aren’t they so photogenic and lovely? Mimi came up to help me wrangle the monkeys and brave the pumpkin patch that had no less than 20 buses parked outside when we arrived.  We made it.

The corn maze was a hit – they loved all the small spaces they could run through that the stroller couldn’t go.  They always love cows and the swings that looked like tractors were really fun.  The main event, though, was the hayride.  The girls squealed as the tractor pulled away and rolled through the pasture. Added bonus that there were even more cows to see along the way.

 

 

Because our October had been pretty laid back, we decided to host our whole neighborhood for a pumpkin painting and s’mores party the next weekend.  Yes, that makes sense.

Despite the ridiculousness of the timing, this is one of my favorite things from this month.  The girls and I strolled around and left paper invitations in the hands of neighbors and on doorsteps.  Honestly an unforeseen gift of handing out invitations this way was that my daughters now see our neighborhood as a place full of people we want to know and who could be our friends.  They loved the invitation process almost as much as the party I think.

The day came and we hoped the rain would hold off.  Our neighbor Horace had asked to come and play trumpet for us, so he showed up a little early with his speakers.  He played along with Disney songs and other fun party songs. Around 25 people roasted marshmallows with us and lots of little kids painted pumpkins and made plans to play again soon.  2 little boys came up to me and asked when the Christmas party was going to be – so I’d say it was a success.

We’ve been in this house for over 2 years and it is such a warm and friendly neighborhood full of folks who have been here for ages and young families with young children.  We have been gifted a space that is ripe for entertaining and we are excited for more opportunities to get to know everyone better.

 

Halloween, the muggy 80 degree edition. We walked our precious neighborhood just before the storm came.  Our little zoo consisted of a monkey, a bear, a lion and a zookeeper. Our neighborhood is just the right size and the right amount of invested in trick or treating.  There is something lovely about knowing most of the people walking up and down the street, trick-or-treating with other families.

A couple days after Halloween I went for a jog and found Kennedy’s monkey tail laying on the side of the road – we hadn’t even known we’d lost it!

 

Also we went to a football game – or half of one.

 

 

Also these came in and I’ve decided school pictures are my new favorite.

 

October, you were almost too much to handle.  So much celebration and so many friends.  We loved you and now we need a nap.