The Mummbie

Mummy Costume
+
Zombie Make-up
=
The first ever Mummbie!

Carving Pumpkins

I have a secret: I hate carving pumpkins with my kids.
Maybe it's because they are always overly ambitious with the patterns they choose,
maybe it's because I *always* end up having to finish the
three half-carved pumpkins left on the table by myself,
or maybe it's because pumpkin guts are almost impossible to clean up
after they've dried on the hardwood floors.
Regardless, I secretly dread it every year.

But, (and I'm sure you've guessed it) this year was different!
The kids did so much better! The pumpkin guts were cleaned up quickly,
the kids picked (or drew) their own EASY patterns,
AND they even finished them.... By themselves!!

It helps to have the the right tools of the trade:


Dominick, unsurprisingly, was the most enthusiastic
and started straightaway with very little help from me!








Diana did not enjoy the gutting, but managed all the same!


And Brookie, trying to lessen her pumpkin footprint, made her own litte workspace on the kitchen floor:


And behold: The Three pumpkins that I hardly no part in!!

Bonfire Night

BONFIRE at the Cox's!

Ed and Janie know how to entertain and their autumn shindig was a blast!!
It was a great night and we left a very happy family!!

Lush surroundings:





Hayride:


Happy Children:









And a sweet reminder that we live in Tennessee:

Diana's Birthday

Another year bites the dust.

Yes, Diana is 6.

It's hard to believe, but I assure you it is true!



Diana surprised me this year by requesting we NOT have a "friends" birthday party.
She said (And I'm quoting word-for-word here):
"I don't want a party! All my friends want is to go in my room and mess up my stuff."
It didn't matter that I assured her that I wouldn't let them in her room, she was unmoved.

And yet, despite her protests, somehow she ended up having THREE parties.
None of them big or fancy, but all of them perfect!

~ First, we had an intimate little get-together at the park.

This was a chance for Diana and her best friend Samantha to celebrate!
It was a gorgeous day, and the kids took full advantage of the weather.
After playing, Diana opened her gifts from Samantha & her family as well as
presents from Dominick and Brooke. ~

~Later that evening we had our own little family party at the house!
She opened gifts from Mimi & Papa Fiore and from her Mimi & Papa Odom
and then the gifts from her Dad and I.

I think the pictures speak for themselves!
She loved EVERYTHING!

________

~ Finally, we had another little family celebration in Asheville, NC with
her Mimi & Papa Fiore. My mom-in-law slaved over a hot grocery store
and served a beautiful (DELICIOUS) birthday cake, and she even made
her famous apple pie that we all love!


In Asheville, we took Diana to Build-a-bear to pick out a new birthday friend!
Her new bunny "Cutie" will always be a reminder to her of the great times we've
had celebrating her 6th birthday!!!

Field Trip!

Last week was hard.
It felt like we spent every waking minute around the dining room
table deciphering school work. In truth we spent a max of 4
hours around the table each day, but it's just exhausting work.

To start our school week off right,
I decided that today
needed to be a down day. A day to read, play, color
and best of all... a day at the park.

The weather has been in our favor and it was
genuinely great to spend some much needed time outdoors!

Brooke can't seem to go anywhere without a book in hand!

Diana is still trying to master the monkey bars, but this IS the highest she's gotten to date!

The three best kids (and students) a mom could hope for!

Maiden Voyage

Last Sunday we took
the boat out for her official "maiden voyage".

It was a gorgeous day, and we took full advantage of the fine weather.

We'd found a little lagoon the week before that we were eager to explore this time around.

We beached the boat, made lunch and spent hours swimming,
exploring and soaking up the sun!

Big Blue is Sea Worthy!

Remember that boat we bought from Ed's brother?
If not, let me refresh your memory:
That boat we bought

Well... It's done!
Progress has finally prevailed.

If you were expecting some "before" pictures,
forget it. Ed was ripping out the interior before
I even had a chance to get the camera out.

(And then, staying true to form, I just forgot.)

So let's just enjoy looking at the finished product.

____________________________________

WHAT WE DID:

Very lucky for us, the deck of the pontoon
boat is aluminum and needed nothing.
The carpet *could* have been replaced, but it was in decent enough shape.
And truth be told, it was a project much larger than
we were willing to invest our time in this summer.
(Maybe next summer. ...Or the next summer. ...)

Unlike the carpet, the interior needed a major overhaul.
The wooden frames of the old furniture had rotted through
and most of the upholstery had splits and / or
tears in them that made them un-salvageable.

When I ordered the new furniture, I tried to keep it
as close, in color, as possible to the original furniture.
When all 30 boxes arrived I was thrilled to see that
it does actually look quite a bit alike to the furniture we'd ripped out.
(Only newer and shinier!)

(Random shot of the new interior)

The outside of the boat didn't need anything

more than a good pressure washing.
The pontoons cleaned right up, and the siding
just needed some soap,water and elbow grease.

(Random shot of the exterior)

It goes without saying that Ed had to give the boat
just a bit more power.
Our old boat walked on water with a 350 chevrolet engine, so
the dinky 70hp outboard on the pontoon wasn't going to cut
the mustard. Ed found a 90 that seems just right for how we
like to spend our time on the lake.
(But I'd be willing to guess that if Ed could have fit a 210 on
the back without sinking the stern, I think he would have!)

(Random shots of the motor)

Finally, Ed, Anthony and Dominick spent a weekend

building a support system for the cover that *should*
withstand any rain and future sleet or snow headed our
way this winter.

It goes without saying that we're pleased
as punch with our new aquatic ride.