Crazy hair day

So, this week (for those keeping count) the boys' school is dressing up in all sorts of funky ways and charging the kids $1 to do so. This is in the hopes of raising money for the PE department as all of their equipment is already tattered and worn out 3 months into the school year. Today was crazy hair day. Fortunately for Reed, we didn't have to do much as he sleeps violently on his head at night. Happy crazy hair day to you!!!

Happy 38th!!

Yesterday marked 38 years that Larry Todd McLure has been walking the earth. He celebrated with a lazy morning (included in that laziness was a soccer game in the front yard) followed by helping coach the boys soccer game in the afternoon. Then, a quick trip to Athens and coming soon tonight to a family dinner...wow, 38 isn't as exciting as a 21st, but I'm sure he wouldn't trade it for anything. The boys wanted to get him some new shoes, and I voted for a new fire pit. Come on over for s'mores and snuggly nights by a nice fire this fall! We love you, hon!!

PTA winners

Last night Arnold Mill Elem had a spirit night at Sky Zone (trampoline house) in kennesaw. Reed's 1st grade class earned the most PTA monies so his class got to jump for free! Everyone else in the school (it seemed like) was there as well. I didn't get any pics of Reed, as he was running all over the place!!

Spooooky punkins

I love carving pumpkins. Better yet, I love easy carving pumpkins with very little guts that don't take much time to saw out. The boys decided on the faces and I think they turned out pretty good! This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween!!!

Another tooth bites the...taffy?

Tonight Reed started crying at dinner because his loose tooth hurt to bite down on. We asked him if he could wiggle it out and he seemed to get more and more distraught. When he couldn't pry it out himself, the next best thing to aid in his table side extraction is (drum roll, please).... Laffy taffy!!!  And it worked!

#9, off to tooth fairy land. 

Boys make-up

Last week at the Ellijay Apple Festival the boys wanted to get their faces painted. Kathy and I talked them out of it saying we'd do it for them another day (honestly hoping they would forget!). But Ryan didn't forget at all! Yesterday he asked Kathy, "remember when Mrs Lindsay said she'd paint our faces? When can we do that?"

Today was the day...

Infectious youngins

The other day the boys and I were talking about our bodies (blood, bones, infections...you know, regular dinner talk). Nolan was particularly interested in the infections aspect because I related it to good bacteria vs bad bacteria and sometimes the bad bacteria wins to cause an infection. He looked me dead in the eyes and said 'the bad bacteria is winning? What's the score?'  Love how this kid is ALL sports!!

Yesterday, Reed had his annual well-check and is healthy as a horse...and almost as big! Ha! He did a great job, even when the nurses 'poked' his finger to collect blood. Well, 'good job' is a bit of an overstatement. He cried and screamed but between me holding his left arm and the nurse muscling his left hand, job complete! When the dr came in he had to get undressed and kept saying he was cold. Dr Ani have him this gown and he loved it so much he brought it home and asked for one for Nolan! Too funny. 

Breasta Fiesta 2013

So, it's been a hot minute since the 2013 walk for breast cancer in Atlanta, but I just kept forgetting to post the pictures!

This year we had 47 walkers on our team alone, and just the 47 of us raised $50,000!!! Ah-mazing! Some of us decided to go down a day (or two) early to take in some of the sites of Atlanta, a stay-cation if you will. 

Some of the highlights of the weekend were definitely the walk itself, how tired we were, the comradery, the cheering stations, guys with pink beards and tutu's, etc, etc, etc. 

Todd and the boys came down Sunday to meet us at the finish line and have lunch in Atlantic Station. All in all, it was an emotional weekend of stories, recoveries and rembrances. See you in 2014!!

Elli-critter-Jay

Today I took the boys and Kathy and Ryan to the Apple Festival in Ellijay. It was large, and a bit crowded, and very craftsy /clogsy/cake walksy folkish. Nonetheless, the 5 of us had fun! We ate carney food, watched some (elder) dancers, ziplined, cake walked, ate donuts, and Kathy and Ryan even rode the mechanical bull! It was awesome! Kathy drew quite the crowd on her bull-turn...mainly because I think people wanted to see her bucked off!!

After the days festivities, we came home and, of course, the boys wanted to play soccer in the front yard. Shortly after I went inside, Todd called me outside, "hurry, hurry, Nolan has something he wants to show you...and no, it's not a snake!" So, I go outside quite cautiously and see this...

Polly had decided to have a little fun of her own at a poor little chipmunks expense! Nolan apparently reached in Polly's mouth and pulled the saliva saturated creature out! He (mr chippers) seemed to be a little shaken up after going through the spin cycle of canine tongue and teeth and appeared quite calm. No more than 10 seconds later Nolan yelled "ouch" and dropped him on the concrete which was probably the chipmunk equivalent of being hurled off of a 4 story building. Polly tried to go after it again but I grabbed her and we watched the poor thing crawl away to the bushes. Hopefully, he wasn't completely traumatized and isn't conjuring up a chipmunk army setting their battle tactics on my house! (Can they do that??!!) 

Later on when I took Polly and Nekoh for a walk, I all but had to pry this warted croaker of of Polly's mouth. What is with this dog!!

<sigh> All in a day...

We're off to see the wizard..

This week is fairy tale week at school. The kids got to watch The Wizard of Oz and dress up as their favorite characters. Reed wanted to be everything from the lion to the scarecrow to a munchkin to the yellow brick road. When I showed him his lion costume, he forgot all about the flying monkeys! Nolan wanted to be the Tin Man from the word 'oil'. (Probably because he knew he'd be weilding an ax!). 

Domestic engineering

I swear I didn't prompt the following actions...Reed was excited that his classroom got a new vacuum but very disappointed that he wasn't chosen to help use it for the first time. Being the super great mom that I am, I allowed them to take turns vacuuming the entire downstairs!!! I know, I know, what next? 'Allowing' them to wash cars and put away dishes?!! I mean, this is better than Disney, right?!?

It's fall y'all!

Ok, so I know that 'fall y'all' is cheesy and cliche, however, it's the best time of year for festivals and birthdays! 

Sunday we went to Riverfest in Canton with Pete and Charlie. It's amazing how quickly one can spend $20 on silly carney games and not-so-crazy train rides. The boys couldn't have had more fun 'fishing' for dumdums and throwing bean bags through cow holes. Then, it was on to the FOOD!! It's no secret this time of year I salivate over apple cider donuts. And just one won't do!! How about a dozen??!! Why, yes please! Oh, and kettle corn? Why, the biggest bag you got AND I'll take some samples, thank you very much! I'm pretty sure I'll need to invest in some more stretchy pants this season!! 

Then, we went to the Halloran's house to celebrate Anna's 11th bday! Whoa, how the years have flown by! All the kids (and by kids I mean cousins+Sean++Burke+++Todd) played kickball and soccer in their backyard until it was too dark to see the ball. Awesome weekend!!