PhotoPass+

A few weeks before we left for Disney, we received a promotion for a discount for the Disney PhotoPass.  We decided to go for it, because the thought of lugging one less item with us every day was very appealing!  The pictures all turned out great, although we did encounter a couple of problems. I was a disappointed that quite a few of the character meet and greets and a lot of the character meals didn't have Disney photographers and the photographer who took our picture the day that the kids were in their Minnie and Mickey outfits LOST the pictures!  Major bummer!  Other than those issues, I was happy with the end product.  I just ordered Big Sister and Little Bud pictures to add into their autograph albums.  Here are a few of my favorites:

This was taken our first day at a Princess breakfast.

They brought us prints of this pictures as we were eating, and I seriously 

almost started crying.  Disney is such a magical place for little ones!!

Little Bud was a big Goofy fan!

Enchanted Tales with Belle

getting sprinkled with fairy dust before she sees herself

she was so excited for the "big reveal"

I love this one, except for the fact that she looks so grown up!!

Cinderella's Royal Table

one of my favorites :)

Hike

Late last week we decided to come up to the River House for the weekend.  John knew he had to work in East Tennessee Monday through Wednesday, and since Big Sister didn't have class this week at CC, we decided to tag along.  We drove up Friday afternoon, and spent most of Saturday in Blue Ridge, Georgia.  Sunday we got the canoe out to hunt for smooth river rocks.  Big Sister wanted to take some home to paint :)

Sunday afternoon we hiked to the waterfall that's near Lake Ocoee.  Little Bud rode in the backpack and big Sister hiked the entire trail on her own 2 feet; all 3.4 miles!!  We took a lot of breaks and played some games and sang songs to keep her going when she was tired, but she did well overall.  John and I were both so proud of her.  She's getting ready for our Motorhome trip next summer!!

This boy loves strolling around!!

Friday night Big Sister hopped in her bed and said, "Home Sweet River House!"

We turned Little Bud's car seat around; his little  legs were getting too cramped.

Christmas Shop in Copper Hill
 

Big Sister had fun meeting a llama :)

Shopping at the apple orchard

Apple cider slushie!!

Hunting for the perfect river rocks

She made it to the waterfall!! 

She made it!!!

Gymnastics!

Several months ago we added Big Sister to the waiting list for gymnastic classes at our local gym.  They called a few weeks ago to let us know that there was an opening for her and that the spot was in her friend's class!  She was so excited!!  She went this past Monday for her first class and loved every second!  She and her friend were so excited to see each other and told everyone that they are best friends!  Their sweet friendship melts my heart!!

Excited girl!!

Stretching

On the balance beam :)

 

Family Presentations

Each week at Classical Conversations a different family gives a presentation during the morning assembly.  They assigned the dates alphabetically by last name.  Our presentation date ended up being my birthday; so exciting (not really!!  I'm not a fan of public speaking in any form!).  The presentation format is entirely up to the family (some families have preformed skits or songs, while others have done recitations).  Big Sister has done a great job with her in-class presentations so far, but I knew that getting her to say or do a lot in front of a larger audience might be difficult.  So, we decided to do our presentation on the trip we took out west last summer.  We ordered a huge map from Amazon, and John outlined our route.  We included pictures from each of our stops too.  Big Sister loved helping us put the display board together and she even shared a few things during the actual presentation.  

We've been learning so much at CC the last few weeks!  I think I'm finally getting into the groove of it all, and we're having lots of fun at home going over our lessons and working on projects together.  

Math games at home

Working on our family presentation

"Helping"

Little Bud enjoyed snack time while we worked!

Tin whistle time!

Review game (last Tuesday was pajama day at CC!)

Worn out!

Fall Fun and Half Birthday Pupcakes

We've been enjoying the slightly cooler weather over the last few weeks.  The littles are always up for playing outside, and we've also eaten dinner outside most nights this past week.  

A few Fridays ago we had a joint half birthday celebration for Big Sister and Little Bud, since his half birthday got skipped over in the midst of our homeschooling adjustment back in August (sorry Little Bud - I promise to do better next year!). Big Sister loves "pupcakes" (and Little bud loves anything that remotely resembles food!), so I made a batch of pumpkin pupcakes with pumpkin icing :) 

Big Sister went to see her cousin play in the marching band!

Big Sister took our fall decorating very seriously this year!  She talked Grams into buying her that pink mum ;)

Making her princess pumpkin

Pirate and Princess Pumpkins!