March of Dimes 2021

We went to the annual March of Dimes charity event this past weekend with my partners.  Alex's parents were kind enough to watch the kids.  Every year the event hosts twenty chefs from around Charlotte and we get to taste plates from each one.  It has both silent and live auctions.  The event raised $348,000 for the March of Dimes!

   

We had the best table in the room!

  

Dr. O was in charge of organizing the event this year.

   

   

   

   

I have the best partners!

The Polar Express

We went to Bryson City this weekend to ride The Polar Express!  It was fun getting into the Christmas spirit!  I have been meaning to do this train ride since Harper was little.  They gave the kids each an entire chocolate bar, hot chocolate and a cookie.  There were a lot of very hyper children on the train.  Alex's parents were supposed to go as well, but unfortunately weren't able to come.  We stayed at a cabin not far from the train station.  It was a great weekend!

   

Waiting for the train!

   

   

The Polar Express! 

   

Our car was ironically named Harper.

    

All aboard!

    

Alex's mom had pre ordered polar bears, fleece blankets and lanyards for the kids on the train.

    

   

   

   

Cheers!

    

   

   

We could see Santa's village at the North Pole!

    

The elves came out to sing and dance as the train rode by.

   

We even had a visit from Santa!

   

  

Ethan was very excited and shouted "Merry Christmas!" as soon as Santa got to our table.  Santa gave the kids sleigh bells to take home.

   

   

   

    

We had the fireplace on the entire weekend.

   

I loved the hot tub.  It had amazing views and a cold breeze as it was right on top of the mountain!

   

     

    

     

This is a view of our cabin from the hot tub.

   

   

   

   

The kids had a great trip.

School Photos

We finally got our school photos back!

   

   

   

   

Halloween 2021

We had a great Halloween weekend!  I had taken Friday off and was able to drop off and pick up the kids from school.  I surprised them with Halloween donuts from Duck Donuts to celebrate the weekend.  We went to Camp North End Friday night to trick or treat and eat dinner.  It was great!  The kiddos had so much fun that they fell asleep in the stroller on the way back and just about slept through the night!  We carved pumpkins on Saturday and went to a Halloween brunch at Sean and Kate's house Sunday morning. Gigi and Poppy came Sunday afternoon for our neighborhood costume parade and trick-or-treating.

   

   

   

Ethan tried nearly every donut.

  

Trick-or-treating at Camp North End!

   

   

   

   

It was chilly!

   

   

   

    

   

Harper was sweet and held Ethan up at all the high candy bowls.

   

   

   

   

   

Loved my orange Halloween flowers!

   

Pumpkin carving is interesting when the kids want to do their own.  We ended up with a lot of stab marks on the pumpkins.

   

   

    

   

All finished!

   

Halloween weekend fishing in the neighborhood!

   

   

I made these Halloween deviled eggs for Kate's brunch.

    

And a cheese plate!

  

   

   

   

The kids enjoyed seeing their friends.

   

    

Getting Gigi ready to be a cat!

  

   

   

The Halloween costume parade!

   

   

   

   

   

   

Harper also wanted Alex to be a black cat.  A good witch always needs two black cats.

   

   

   

   

   

    

    

     

Our neighbors had spiked IV bags for the adults. 

  

   

   

We did a lot of treating.  It wore Ethan out!

    

Happy Halloween!