And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where another GREAT month is in the books. Let's
10/1 - JT tried the drop off line at UCUMC today, and get this - Bear walked in ALL BY HERSELF with her backpack on today! Jenny said it was quite emotional - our girl is really growing up!
On the Kaitlyn front, the girl has learned to count to 29 in Spanish! Her pronunciation is actually pretty good, and we were VERY impressed. Poor girl did take a tumble today at recess - she fell off the balance beam and scraped her knee. They had to ice it for a bit to keep the swelling down, but apparently she was back at it and playing in no time. :-)
10/2 - Today was a fun one, as the girls received a gift box from Granny A and Granddaddy! They were super cute tearing through the package...and quite excited to see everything inside! The books were really cute, and they were both very excited to have their own jack o lanterns for trick or treating.
One thing to flag up - K looked a little wiped at the end of the night during dinner. At one point she asked, "Dada, is it cold in here? I have the chills." I replied no, as it was NINETY-FOUR DEGREES outside. She was genuinely shivering with goosebumps - even asked to go outside to warm up! Sure enough, her temperature was 101.6. It's CRAZY, but it feels like this happens EVERY TIME I leave the house for vacation or work! Cora is still coughing, but no fever to report for her as of yet.
K went down with some ibuprofen in her tummy for the night, and she went right to sleep (thumb in mouth, eyes closed, head back - all signs she is absolutely exhausted).
10/3 - So I missed all this, but K woke up at 3:10 with a fever. She went over to Jenny's side and woke her, and JT gave her more meds. That helped her go back to bed for a bit, but she was back up at 4:40 and wasn't able to sleep. Poor thing! The crazy part - she seemed pretty good and looked to be in pretty good spirits, but unmedicated she was hitting 102.1, which meant that she had to stay home from school. Add in the fact that Bear was up at 5:30, and you have the makings of a CRAZY morning!
A funny note on Bear - we are alternating carpool with Lindsey, and Bear's mood depending on who's driving her is NIGHT AND DAY. If Jenny is driving her, she's happy as a clam. If Team Williams is driving her, Cora is either bawling or clinging to Jenny for dear life while we put her into their van. It will continue all the way to school, as I have heard great stories of her pouting as she gets out of the car (lip out, shoulders down, hands at her chest - the quintessential Cora pout). Julie called her out at school last week and said, "Put that lip away." HILARIOUS! Love it. 
Kaitlyn spent the day at home, where she watched the Nutcracker and just lounged around. She said that she felt okay - just a little tired. It's been interesting to watch her movie and show selection, as she's now gravitating more toward live action vs. cartoons (which have always been the preferred medium). Case in point - she wanted the live action Nutcracker today.10/4 - K spiked a 103.2 the night before, so we got her into the Peds today. Sure enough, she has a viral infection. The good news is that it's nothing serious and expected to abate in a day or two. The bad news - I am writing this 1 week after the diagnosis, and it's still there...complete with a cough! But more on that further down. :-)
10/6 - I was gone for the weekend, but Jenny said that the girls had fun and that K did rally. She rode bikes, played at the park, went for a walk, etc. It must have tuckered her out a bit, as her temp that night again hit 102.1. However, she was good until the end of the night.
I called the girls from the airport before bedtime, and K sounded in great spirits. She said, "Dada, I put a fake spider under your pillow!" There was definitely a smile behind that tone!
10/7 - Tonight was a fun one - midweek sleepover! Teresa and Jackson were at the Windy Gap retreat with Bradford, so Taylie stayed at our house. The girls got on great, and K didn't have a fever. Yay!
We got them down later than we wanted, and those girls chatted in there until at least 9 PM. And get this - in the morning, K said, "we snuck out and slept in the tent for a little bit." What's funny - she told me they were going to do this at dinner. When I laughed, she said, "No, daddy. For real - we are going to do this." Sure enough - K actually WOKE TAYLIE UP to take her in there, and they tried to sleep for a bit before realizing that it wasn't comfortable. Priceless...
On the Cora front, BIG NEWS - that girl got up during her nap and PEED IN FROGGY POTTY!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! That's a BIG win, as that's the first time that's ever happened! AWESOME! Proud of you, kid!
Cora has also taken to naming EVERYTHING - just like her sister. We now have "Narly the Narwhale," "Raccoony the Raccoon," and "Woofie Woofie" the rainbow colored dog. Too cute. And she walks around with ARMIES of animals in her arms. It's hilarious. She is PILING them in the bed, and she's very cute when she asks Kaitlyn if she can sleep with some of the 8,000 that are in K's bed. So far the only real fight has been over Bunny Bunny Bun Bun. #highdrama
Oh, and an interesting moment with K in the carpool line today: It was just she and I in the car, and she said, "Dada, Ellie says a girl and a girl can get married. Her mom told her that." Oh boy! So I had to explain that, while certain states permit that, marriage under God's law was between a male and a female and was not allowed. She dropped it fairly quickly. WHEW.
10/8 - Bear got her flu shot today, and JT said that she was VERY brave! She absolutely LOVES her bandaid - she's still wearing it 3 days later (Wonder Woman)! When we told K that she was having her shot on Thursday, she almost started crying. But then, in what I will remember as just about the sweetest thing I have EVER seen, Cora walked over and said, "It's okay, Kate-win. Just make yourself brave!" She then put her arms around her waist and hugged her, putting her head in her tummy. MELT. MY. HEART.The only bad news of the night - K spiked a 102 temp again! I mean, this thing just won't let her go! And she said that her tummy really, really hurt. Ugh.
10/9 - K didn't look great this morning (a little wiped), but we did send her based on the fact that she didn't have a temperature (using a mouth reading - she was 101 with the rectal thermometer). It was a big day for her - piano, Girl Scouts, school, etc - and we didn't want her to miss out on all that. She made it through, and this was her first ever girl scouts evening with her vest! Jenny got a GREAT pic of her and Ellie - too cute. It was a volunteer event - dropping off bags for food collection. Can I just say how much I LOVE Girl Scouts and all the volunteer events they do? It's AWESOME.
And it was a BIG DAY for Bear! Because she's now earned 100 stickers for going peepee and poopoo on the potty, today she got to go to Walmart and buy ANYTHING she wanted. And what, dare you ask, did she select? A $20 10-pack of My Little Pony toys, along with a pink jack o lantern and another Twilight Sparkle - too cute! Jenny said that she was in absolute HEAVEN running around playing with them back at the house. Sure enough - I got to play with them for a bit as well. :)I must say that, as I type this, it feels like I'm barely hanging on with the blog. Life is moving SO FAST right now, and it's been really tough to document everything happening - especially when you are exhausted and going to bed at 8 PM! I feel like I've not been reading with K and Cora as much. It's a delicate balance, as you want to ensure they are keeping their skills up and building that imagination. However, at the same time, between chores, piano, Girl Scouts, and giving them a chance to relax (which they absolutely need), there just isn't as much time as there previously was in the till. Watch this space! :-)
10/11 - Today was fall break at BPS, and Team Taylor made it count! Jenny dropped Bear at Preschool before turning around and taking K to Defy Gravity. They basically had the run of the place, and they had a BLAST! Everything was open, and they really made it count! After that, they went over to Walmart so K could "shop with her own money." She dropped $40 on some slime and stuffed animals. We are officially declaring a moratorium on stuffed animals at this point, but to her credit - she is playing with them nonstop. And MAN does Bear LOVE her ponies! Seriously - she takes them EVERYWHERE she goes, and she plays with them nonstop. It's too cute! Yesterday she played for HOURS by herself, lining them up on the stairs, on the window sill, in the play house...you name it. GREAT value for money! I think the reality - they are the first toys that are well and truly "hers," and she feels such a sense of pride and ownership with them. It's cute to see how hard she works to keep them contained and together. 
We spent the afternoon relaxing, with K practicing piano and the girls then just chilling. I must brag on Kaitlyn's piano, as that girl is REALLY picking it up! Her speed has increased dramatically, as has her overall feel for the keys. Her hands are well positioned, and she's really picking up the lessons. PROUD OF YOU, KID! I really do hope she sticks with it, as there is aptitude there.
One other note - both girls have got TERRIBLE coughs right now. Cora has had a cough for probably 2+ weeks, but K's has really come on lately - a proper racking cough. She actually almost started crying tonight because it was so fierce that she nearly couldn't catch her breath (and the tickle was really starting to frustrate her). We've been giving them both ibuprofen to help them sleep, and I definitely think it's made a difference (good call, wife muffin). Oh, and last thing - Kaitlyn is LOVING doing math problems right now! It's so cute - I bragged on her, and she then proceeded to start writing number families and making up math problems just to solve them! She then looked at me and said, "Dada - 18+18 is thirty six." I'm telling you. HARVARD OR BETTER. :-)
10/12 - So both girls are continuing to cough, but it does feel like they are trending in the right direction. And of course, you know what ALWAYS lifts their spirits? A surprise visit from....VOL NANA!!!!!! She actually arrived late last night after the girls had gone to bed, and her door was closed this morning (meaning they didn't know she was here). Well, as you can imagine, they were OVER THE MOON at her arrival, and a simply fantastic weekend ensued after that. 
Kaitlyn was still a bit tired from the sickness (you could tell, as she was quite content to sit and watch a movie in the morning, which is NOT standard protocol when Vol Nana is here), but she rallied in the mid-morning. Her friend Abby was over for a play date, and she got right in the mix with both of our girls and my mom. It was Halloween decoration Central! Cookies were eaten, ghosts were made, decorations were set up, and pumpkins were carved. It was a BLAST! Abby and K (and Bear) got along so great together - it was just wonderful to watch. I went to church that night with Jenny, and then we had DATE NIGHT, BABY!!!! THANK YOU, VOL NANA!!!!!! Honestly, it felt like Jenny and I hadn't said a word to each other in a week, so it was VERY much needed.
10/13 - So this was another GREAT day. Since we didn't have church, we rolled straight over to IHOP, where the girls dined on "Addams Family pancakes" and hot cocoa. :-) All was well (great in fact) until we got home, at which point K realized that her hair clip (the butterfly one) was gone. She knew she had it on when she went into the restaurant, and consequently she absolutely broke down into tears. We called, and sure enough - someone had located it and put it up for her! I drove down and collected it - THANK YOU, JESUS!
We then put Bear down for a nap (she had been quite fussy - even snapped at Vol Nana the night before) before giving Mom and K some girl bonding time. They went to see Abominable, which they both LOVED. Mom said that it was really, really good - I am going to add it to my list! And of course, they may or may not have had cotton candy and a small ice cream from Kilwin's on the way home.... :-) 
10/17 - So I arrived back after 3 days at a conference in Orlando (where I did buy my girls some CUTE Disney stuff...at the local CVS :-)) just in time to pick up Bear at preschool. Y'all, it was ADORABLE! That girl basically tackled me when the opened the door to let her out. Her smile was a mile wide, and she gave me the biggest hug EVER! Now THAT is a great way to start a homecoming!
It was so great to be home with my girls again. Orlando is awesome, but being there without my family AND working was just a very odd experience. I'm super grateful for the opportunity, and it was definitely worth my time. I just was SO GLAD to be back on Regal Court. K got home at the normal time, and we took advantage of the perfect weather by running around all over the golf course. Those girls ran HARD! It was so funny - K had the Bradford Fun Run the next day, and she told me it was time to train. Consequently, I put her through her paces...so much so that she told me she hurt her heel from running so much (barefoot like a good little Tennessean, she was) - too cute!
That night K had a Girl Scouts assignment. She had to write a "mystery letter" to one of the other girls, saying something nice about them and giving some clues about herself. It was a really sweet letter, and the closing line was the best: "I love my sister Cora even when she's mean." Too sweet!
Oh, and suboptimal, but we found out this evening that we MISSED PICTURE ORDERS! Honestly, neither of us ever remember seeing an email about it. We wrote the photographer, but no joy. However, we do have a backup plan! We're going to borrow that same dress and use it for family photos in early November. JT has a plan and WILL NOT BE OUTDONE. :-)
Lastly, in classic Gen Z fashion, K saw the water bottle I received for attending the conference. Here's how the conversation went down:
K: "Dada, a hydroflask! I've always wanted a hydroflask! Can I have it?"
Me: "How do you even know what a hydroflask is?"
K: "Can I have it, dada? Please? I've always wanted it."
Me: "You're six. Define always."
K (wrapping arms around said bottle and giving it a kiss): "It's my beloved."
Me: "Okay, fine. Just let me wash it out."
10/18 - So today was a big one: Fun Run day at BPS! K had set a goal of 30 laps, and all the grandparents agreed to chip in and contribute. I had a very light work day, so I went over there and surprised her. It was AWESOME! They all had cute little shirts with 1-30 on the back, and as they completed a "lap," their shirts were marked. I use air quotes because a "lap" was actually halfway around a very small portion of the turf, but hey - those kids ran HARD! K pounded out 34 laps! SUPER PROUD OF YOU, KIDDO!!!! She really was tough as nails and ran smart. She was definitely tired by the end but never stopped to walk. YAY! Other K item to note: While first graders don't yet have "homework" per se, they have provided all of them with a huge workbook to reinforce learning should kids and/or parents want to institute it. Get this - Kaitlyn is just doing it on her own! She will just sit at the table and grind out a few pages. That girl really does love school and learning - you can tell she likes thinking about and solving problems (and is getting much, much better at it - especially math and word searches. WOW!).
10/19 - Carowinds!!!!! Y'all, today was just a PERFECT day. The weather was amazing. There was NOBODY in the park. I was rested. It was the perfect confluence of goodness. We got on Flying Cobras (we = me and K), and we were on the front car! For the record, that is WAY more intense than the other cars...I won't be doing that again. K and I just got along SO WELL today - she was so sweet, we laughed a lot, and we were hugging and snuggling pretty much the whole time. She particularly loved it when I picked her up and bounced her in my arms. Her giggling just melted my heart.
Bear, however, was NOT happy. It was odd, as she was great that morning. However, she flat REFUSED to ride a single ride the entire time! She just wanted to sit in the stroller and watch the world go by. There were still some smiles, and she still wanted to be tickled - she just was NOT in the mood for the amusement park. After going through the Great Pumpkin Patch, the girls did about 30 minutes of crafts (coloring) before the weather turned and we headed out. We just beat the rain and thought, "Let's pop over to Frugal MacDoogal's since we're here." Um...mistake.
Now on the surface, it sounded like a GREAT plan: get some cheaper liquor, head home, watch some football. Job done, right? Well, Jenny goes in to buy some tequila, and Bear wets her pants. I mean, family, I am NOT kidding - whenever I am alone with that child, she just instantly pees herself.
I tried to get her to finish peeing in the little portable potty, but she was in meltdown. Jenny comes out, and then K says that she needs to pee. So we go into the bathroom, at which point K actually decides she needs to poop! And get this - once she's done, BEAR needs to poop! Y'all - we were in that bathroom as a family for at least 20 minutes, as Cora does NOT get in a rush when she drops. In her defense, she knows there is more in there, and she's in NO HURRY to rush that session. And since she only poops about every third day, you can imagine how much is in there. HOLY MOLY HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN! Needless to say, I was happy to get out of there (likely almost as happy as they were to be shot of us). 
The afternoon was AWESOME, as both girls just curled up on me while we watched football. I had one in the crook of each arm. PERFECT! So yes, it was a very, very good day. And the Vols even won! I really do think having them both curled up on me was one of the highlights of my year - so sweet! Oh, and K is starting to spell stuff a lot more now. AND she's realized that spelling is a way to communicate without Cora understanding. Knowledge. Is. Power. :-)
10/20 - K was first to pop up at "Attention" in Arrows today! I am always SO impressed by how well behaved she is in there. Arrows is such a highlight of my life, and having her in there with me just elevates it to a whole new level. She also won a round of Word Freeze! She is so cute when she goes it, as she is VERY selective about when she moves. She freezes her arms and basically looks like she's ready for a karate match. Too cute! We had Clan McLaren over that afternoon, and it was SUCH a blast. Those girls are just so great, and we all got along so well. The weather was perfect, and the highlight was watching them run around the sand traps on the golf course. K said, "Dada, we would run with our eyes closed and then jump into the sand pit. It was like you were flying. It was so fun!" They were great with Cora as well, and she ran as hard as she could the entire time.
Cora is really cute right now, as she takes her ponies with her EVERYWHERE she goes. She packs them into her soft jack-o-lantern and carries them non-stop. In fact, she's finally started becoming a "collector," where she fills her arms full of whatever she's playing with and carries them around her non-stop - ponies, stuffed animals, dolls...you name it. Side note - K is definitely eating less but running around more, and you can tell she is trimming down quickly. It's amazing how fast it melts away!
Oh, and last thing - right now K is all about this new show called Glitter Force. It looks to be some type of Japanimation, and she can't get enough of it. My personal favorite is the "Glitter Peace" character, who says: "Puppies and kitties!!!! The power of love...I am Glitter Peace!" I mean...what does that even mean? :-)
10/22 - Today was Breast Cancer awareness day at BPS, and K was all pinked out. When she got home, we learned that she was apparently on the school news today telling a joke! We asked her what the joke was, and she proudly repeated it: "How does a Mountain see?" Excited to hear the punchline, we quickly gave up. And then she said, "With one eye." Um.....okay.....thinking a career in standup isn't yet in the cards for her... :-)
10/23 - Today was "College Day" at BPS, and students were supposed to wear their favorite school. I asked K if she wanted to be a Tarheel or a Knight, and the response was instant. I WANNA BE A KNIGHT! Jenny put her in her UCF shirt that basically fit her like a dress, and she was just about the cutest thing EVER. At school they had the students draw a picture of themselves in a cap and gown, and she did a GREAT job with it! Above it she had a word bubble that said, "U-C-F! Go Knights!" Too cute! And get this - they gave them all bracelets that said Class of 2031. IT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY!!!!!!!! Man, life goes fast. 
10/25 - Today was "wacky hat/sock/hair" day, and K dressed the part. It was a short day at BPS for her, however, as we picked both kids up early from school to attempt a new first for Team Taylor - UNC Football weekend with the family! Now dear readers, I must be honest - I wasn't totally sold on this out of the gate. Traditionally, this trip has always been Sammy's "boys weekend," but after talking with Jenny, I realized that I really did want my entire family there. The Powell's were bringing their entire crew from Seattle, the Warf kids were going to be around, and it seemed to make sense. And so, packed up in the Xterra a little after 12, we set our sights on exotic Chapel Hill. :-)
The drive up was super smooth, and we got to campus about 2:30. The girls LOVED it! K loved running around on all the curvy brick paths, and Cora was content to sprint all over the place chasing her. There were of course dogs everywhere, and the girls were petting every critter they could find (I think "Thunder" sitting at the bench by Davie Poplar was their favorite). We met Sara at the Old Well for a few photos before wandering around the lower quad for a bit. K LOVED running around in the grassy areas, and Bear was ALL ABOUT the escalators at Student Stores. Too cute! They basically wanted to go up and down the escalators non-stop while Jenny and I shopped for Carolina gear. Bear actually came back and said, "Gag - your school has an exsellator." I mean... it was pretty cute. 
We then hit Top O for a snack and a few beers with Team Powell (all 7 of them!). It was a lot of fun and a real treat, as I didn't know if we'd get the chance to hang with them! The kids met but were all engrossed by the word search the staff had given them. I must say, Kaitlyn has REALLY improved at those! There were some tricky little phrases, but she managed to get them all! It was then over to Cary, where we arrived at Chez Warf. Now you never know how kids are going to react when meeting for the first time, but WOW! These kids got on great! Thomas and Kaitlyn were instantly best friends, as were Cora and Sabrina! They played GREAT together - the connections were instant! It was so sweet to watch. K slept in Thomas' room, where they were playing cards until like 9:30! Bear was with Sabrina, and it was cute to see her in that bottom bunk. I absolutely LOVE her little unicorn nightgown - I will miss that when it doesn't fit her anymore! Bear and Sabrina got in bed LATE - something like 10 before they settled! But hey, it's vacation. :-)
10/26 - Today was one for the ages. After breakfast at the Warfs (where Kaitlyn discovered the candy Halloween pumpkins....and fell in love. Seriously - that girl ate a BOATLOAD of them while we were there), we rolled over to Chapel Hill. We weren't planning on going to the game (it was a 4 PM start and tickets were extortionate), but we were going to tailgate as a crew - all 18 of us! We got there about 11:30, and Y'ALL - IT. WAS. AWESOME!
The kids were just SO GREAT together. It was amazing how quickly they bonded and connected. They were running around, laughing, and playing for 4.5 hours! Chuck's rental was an Infiniti SUV (thing was a TANK), and the kids basically played in it non-stop, popping their heads out of the sunroof and just generally using it as a jungle gym. Also, Chuck bought a rope for them to play with, with they used non-stop! Tug-o-war, jump rope...and even tying each other up! At one point some kids were running with plastic knives and the rope...no comment...other than #parentsoftheyear. :-)Some of my favorite memories:
1. All the kids doing a sticker book while sitting on a concrete vent block in the field by our cars
2. Cora sitting with Peyton and listening earnestly to everything she said
3. The kids all tied up around a chair
4. Four of the girls with their heads popped up out of the sunroof
5. My favorite - Kaitlyn running and looking back at Archer as she chased her - K's smile was a mile wide - the picture of happiness - and there was a big Carolina bow at the end of her braid. It was just perfect.
We left there about 4, our hearts full and Team Taylor fully committed to making a Seattle trip happen next year. It won't be cheap, but it now feels like a must do. These relationships we have, these kids we have - it's all so special, and we must work hard to maintain those bonds. God has given us a gift in restoring and helping us maintain these bonds across the miles and the years, and I am very keen to see us preserve, protect, and grow them. The kids hung out that night and played until 9 or so (well, except Bear, who was down EARLY). It was a PERFECT day - and the Heels won! BEAT DOOK, BABY!!!!!!!
10/27 - The girls were EXHAUSTED today, and they weren't the only ones! After saying farewell to everyone and loading up the car, we rolled over to Kim and Matt's for a bit. It was a great little afternoon, as the kids played together both inside and outside the house. K was ALL ABOUT trying to hit a tennis ball with her racket, and she was ADAMANT that the tennis ball had to reach her in the air vs. bouncing. :-) The drive home was easy, with the girls watching TV (and Bear sleeping) most of the way. Once we got home, it was unpacking and relaxing before we got them down RIGHT at 7. :-) We weren't far behind!
10/30 - Today was the character parade at BPS, and thank goodness the weather cleared up long enough for them to actually do it! It rained before and after, but the 30 minutes of the parade was blissfully clear! K went as Ariel, and she was SO CUTE! Bear loved watching all the characters walk past - she was SO EXCITED when she saw unicorns, mermaids, and kitties. :-) I had to go back to work after that, but the girls got over to Chik-fil-A before Piano and then Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts was awesome, as two female police officers came and spoke to them about bravery. How cool is that?
I found out that they do the pledge of allegiance at the start of each meeting, and K got to hold the flag today. Not only does she know the Pledge of Allegiance - she always knows the Girl Scout pledge (which is very sweet). She was given a pearl bracelet tonight, as 10/31 is the birthday of the founder, and she sold her pearl bracelet many moons ago to start the organization. The girls had birthday cake to celebrate her as their snack! Throw in Skittles at Piano, juice at Girl Scouts, and M & M's from somewhere else (I was not part of ANY of this, mind you), and you have a girl that was LOOPY when she got home. Seriously - she was just walking around CACKLING and cracking herself up. To be fair, it was pretty cute... :-)
One thing that was NOT cute - just before K left, she lost her kitty charm. Cora had apparently opened the bag, and K couldn't find it. I mean....MELTDOWN. "WHAT IF I NEVER FIND IT???????" It was...special. Cora actually proceeded to cry from the second JT left with K until I put her to bed. The only time she stopped crying was when she weakly muttered, "I want mamma." I mean, no...I'm not hurt or offended at all. :-)
Oh, and little Cora actually fell ASLEEP on me tonight while rocking her. She was snoring on me! Poor thing - I wish she could clear out all this congestion. It's actually been really, really sweet - that beautiful girl has wanted to cuddle up with me and let me rock her every night lately. LOVE!
10/31 - Happy Halloween! This day started with K's first quarter check-in, and it went GREAT! Mr. McMahon had sent a data binder with her progress earlier in the week, and it was a GREAT report (complete with a very sweet note from him). Kids at this point should be reading between a D to J level, with J being the goal for the end of the year. K is already there! Mr. McMahon did say that, as part of the next unit, they were going to focus more on comprehension than words, so we shouldn't be alarmed if the letter doesn't progress as quickly. Truth be told, I'm not concerned and actually view this as a good thing, as I don't want that reading comprehension to be sacrificed for a few more syllables. Proud of you, kiddo!
The weather on Halloween wasn't great, but fret not, as Wife Muffin had a SERIOUS plan! At 4 PM, she took the girls to Publix for a "trunk or treat." I got home about 5, and we did another trunk or treat inside at UCUMC. It was AWESOME! Seriously - I could NOT have been more impressed with how this was set up. Every table had a theme (probably 40+ of them), and each one of them was giving out candy! And then, when it was over, there were hot dogs, cookies, chips, and lemonade for the kids. The kids then got on stage to dance to some "scary" music - it was AWESOME watching K and Bear spin around. Love those girls!We then got back to the house, and despite the wind, it was actually dry. Jenny was very insistent that we should let them go out for a bit and ring a few doorbells. I wasn't sold on it, but I gotta say - Wife Muffin was 100% right. It was GREAT! Seriously - the weather held off just long enough for us to hit quite a few houses, and the girls made out like bandits! They loved it, and Jenny had even purchased glow in the dark unicorn wands for them (which they LOVED waving around). It was just absolutely fantastic - so proud of Jenny for having her heart so focused on the kids, and so thankful I've got a helpmate who balances me out and reminds me what it was like to be a kid.
Kaitlyn's haul when she got home (after eating 4 or 5 pieces): 154 pieces of candy! I mean, the weather had kept so many people away that folks were just THROWING candy at them by the end!
Okay, that's a wild, wonderful October in the books. Chat with you in a month...when the Bull turns 42!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
