Oct Recap

October was a busy month...

Rio turned 17!  Doesn't she look good after her surgery?  She could pass for 10 easy!

Jon turned 43!  

(The cupcake tower was made by one of my students.)

My parents arrived (no pics of them, but here is Gypsy as proof) and Jon took off for his annual hunting trip.  

While he was gone, the kids and I picked out a new couch.  We had to go a few days without one, but the kids made do with the blowup bed.  This was before school one morning.  :)

We managed to keep it secret for the two weeks Jon was gone.  

Here's the new look...

Everyone loves the new recliners...

...and Jace gives the new chair his approval.

The good news is Jon liked and I didn't get in trouble for pulling a couch switcheroo while he was away.  Lol!

A few random pics like crazy hair day at school...

Rylee and Gypsy...

Rylee on Good Morning Sawgrass.  She is an anchor on our school's morning show and she is amazing!  Here she is with her friend, Susie.

Lastly, my co-teacher and I won an award for an essay that one of our student's wrote.  Now I can finally check "win a big check" off my bucket list.  Or maybe I won't - just in case there's a chance I could win the Publisher's Clearing House.  Their check has a larger amount!  wink, wink

Sept Misc

Jace and Rylee each got something new in September.  

For Jace, it was glasses.  (You may have noticed them in the ice skating post).

Doesn't he look handsome! 

For Rylee, it was getting her ears pierced!

We had a girls shopping day and lunch to celebrate.  

She looks even more grown up now!

Here are a few Fun Friday pics:

Mismatched day...

NFL Day...

Lastly, Rylee and Jon had a father/daughter golfing day.  :)

Sept done!

Sept - Mummy & Son Dance

September was also the city's "Mummy & Son" dance (monster themed this year).  Jace wanted to go as vampires so here we are:

We met Jessica, Michelle and their boys there.  The same crew as last year.

The boys...

Jace is a picky eater (even though this picture makes it look like the contrary) and he has come up with some interesting refusals over the years, but the one he used that night was priceless.  I offered him a garlic roll and he said, "Mom, garlic is poison to vampires!"  Lol!

The boys played games, there was dancing or course, and even a toilet-paper mummy contest.  

It was a great night with my little vampire.  Love you Jace!

*Jon and Rylee went down and played cards with Ray & Jeanette that night so they had fun too.*

Sept - Rylee's Birthday Party

Rylee always wants to go ice skating, but since neither Jon or I skate, we've only taken her once or twice over the years.  So when she asked for an ice skating birthday party - how could we say no?! 

We let Rylee choose the skating rink, she chose the Panthers Ice Den.  She invited a few of her best friends and I made a cute online skating invite for all the girls (no pic sorry).  There was a bit of a hassle getting a cake though.  Rylee and I placed the order, but when I went back later in the week to add something to the cake, there was no cake order at all!  Apparently the baker "lost the order" and "it happens all the time."  Not exactly inspiring confidence at Sam's Club these days.  Thank goodness I went back or we wouldn't have had this cute cake.  :)

Our family is used to the cold (if you know what I mean - haha).  Luckily, I brought extra coats and mittens to make sure all the other kids were bundled up too.  The girls got their skates and were out on the ice right away.  I had rented these blue plastic seals to help the girls skate.  The loved them.  They could take turns pushing each other and racing around.  Here some skating pics...

Jace was the only boy allowed.

Success!

It was so cute to see the girls interact.  They switched up partners and everyone had fun without feeling left out.  Most of these girls have been friends since Kindergarten.  It's so sad to think about them all being split up next year for middle school.

All the girls love Jace so they had fun with him too.

Taking a break...

Like I said, love these girls!

It was a great party!

And there was only one injury - when Emily fell down and sliced her finger open.  Luckily, a bandaid was enough to do the trick.  :)

After two hours of skating, we went into the party room for snacks and cake.  

Then the girls got their take home gifts.  Rylee and I had made these cute felt skating ornaments over the hurricane weekend (can't remember if I already mentioned that).

We added some hot chocolate, chapstick, and peppermints.  They turned out really cute!

All of Rylee's friends know that she is obsessed with Harry Potter so here she is showing off her presents: tshirt, necklace, two bracelets.  She also got HP books and journals and more.  It was a great birthday!

*Thanks to Rylee who actually wrote most of this post for me. Kisses!*