Happy Halloween!!

Nevaeh as Princess Jasmine

The school Director as a barrel of monkeys 

Nevaeh's class and teachers

Nevaeh's Preschool celebrated Halloween today (since she only goes to school Tuesday/Thursday).  There were so many different costumes but my baby looked the cutest!!  She was so excited to show off her Jasmine costume!!

So I have volunteered to make about 48 cupcakes,  a spiderweb cheesecake and a Mouse motel pumpkin for a birthday party tomorrow and it is currently 6:30 p.m. and I haven't started on a thing yet!!  I don't even have all of the ingredients... therefore I am a little stressed out but determined not to let anyone down!  So in other words I am probably not going to sleep tonight. 

Why do I do that, volunteer to do many things before really thinking it through?  Especially when I am not a Martha Stewart wannabe ... I don't even come close!   Well I will let you know how these items turn out... I am off to the store!!

Pumpkin Carving

Nevaeh and I decided to purchase our pumpkins today (I know last minute but time flies!).  We also decided to carve one... which ended up being a little more difficult and much messier than I anticipated.   We picked a patterned and began on our task.  An hour later we had a beautiful "glamorous kitty" pumpkin, Nevaeh is VERY proud and can't wait to see it tonight!

*daddy can work on the other two tonight, I am pumpkined out!!*

Mommy pumpkin and baby pumpkin

Focus

Cheese

Coloring and connecting the dots

Final Product

My Big Day

I had a wonderful birthday full of well wishes from every direction.  

Thank you everyone.

Here are a couple of pics of us at my Birthday Dinner at Harney Sushi!!

3.1 Miles

I did it!  This was my first real race and I DID IT!  I am so proud of myself... of all of us.  Honestly, the worst part was waiting for Vere to finish her leg so I can start on my run.  My anxiety was so bad I needed to pee every three minutes.  It was pretty exciting to see her get closer and then I cranked up my iShuffle and RAN.   My time wasn't too bad either.  My goal was to get it done in under 40 minutes and I finished in less then 32 (I don't know the exact time yet).  

The best part about this was having Jacob and Nevaeh (my personal cheering section) there as I ran across the finish line!  

I am officially hooked and I am now on a mission to find a Supersprint Triathlon to do all on my own!  

My Pit Crew

Anxiously waiting for Josh to finish his swim

Me getting ready to cross the finish line!!

The swimmer, biker and runner!

Saturday Evening

I want to send a big THANK YOU to my dear husband for putting it all together!  You are so thoughtful and I can't thank you enough... We had such a good time yesterday, retelling the same old stories but listening to them like it was the first time we've heard them.  

Thanks for making the long drive over here.  I can't imagine my life without my sisters, LOVE YOU!!  

Melissa, Moni, Jen, Alex and Nikki

Moni, Jen and Alex

Joe's Chair and beer we set out in his honor

Thoughtful

The 10 year anniversary of my brother's death is coming up this Saturday.  I mentioned it to Jacob last week and he has since arranged and put together a BBQ for my family!  He has contacted my sister in law, Melissa, and found out Joe's favorite food, drink and music so he can have those things available for all of us to reminisce on Saturday.

To top it off he has purchased our nieces (my brother's girls) each a gift and even went as far as having them engraved for them.  We weren't planning to do anything special but thanks to my unbelievable husband we will now get to celebrate my brother's life together... 

Thanks babe, Joe would have been lucky to know you... and I am sure he is smiling from ear to ear to know you are caring for his family!  

This is one of the last pictures taken of my brother about 5 days before his accident

Update on Preschool

About 1 month ago, I put our name on a waiting list for First Presbyterian Preschool, which is supposed to have an amazing preschool but do it it's amazingness it had super long waiting list.  Fortunately, Jacob was raised here in O'side therefore he knows just about everyone... that came in handy!!  We surprisingly got bumped up the top of the list last Tuesday and now she is attending First Presbyterian Preschool... which by the way, appears to be as amazing as I had heard!

Here are a few pictures of her first day as a student!!

Waiting for school to open

Nevaeh exploring in the science section

Her cubie

Playing while closely observing one of her THREE teachers

Nevaeh pulling on a string ball thing