Two + Two = Us

A Ladybug and a Monkey

I started this blog post shortly after Halloween and never finished it. Now I don't remember everything that happened! But I feel the need to jot down what I do recall because I'm sure I'll want to look back on my recap later....

(And now that I'm compiling my thoughts, I'm noticing that I don't have pictures of a lot of our fun adventures! Oh, well.)

Anyway, here's my recap:

Somehow Halloween and Fall Festivities have taken over not just the last weekend of October, but the majority of the month this year.

Due to Justin's unpredictable work schedule (and also enticed by the First Weekend Promotion), we decided to go to Boo at the Zoo early - October 15th. Justin and Xavier had never been before (they were both sick last year when Lissie and I went for the first time), so it was extra fun to do as a whole family. We weren't anticipating the large crowds, though! When Lissie and I went last year, it was on an overcast Sunday evening which led to fewer in attendance all the way around. But even with the crazy amounts of people, there was so much to do that once we made it through the gates, the lines weren't totally unbearable. Plus, the added surprise of having our next door neighbor (and my kids' favorite friend) there made it a super special night all the way around!

With their favorite neighbor friend.

The next weekend, Lissie's school hosted a Fall Festival, complete with a bounce house, games, food trucks, and a beer garden(!). It was a fun fundraiser for the school, and it was great catching up with other parents and teachers while the kiddos ran around like crazy. Xavier managed to win an elaborately decorated- and incredibly delicious- chocolate cake at the cake walk, and we enjoyed it for breakfast and lunch the next day since it was so tempting and tasty! Oh, and it was on the way to Fall Festival that Lissie lost her fourth tooth (in two weeks, even)!

We also went to the Haunted Museum. The Tennessee State Museum hosted this sort-of-spooky-yet-family-friendly event, complete with lots of ghost stories and games and treats. While we love the Tennessee State Museum, this was our first time at this particular event. I was pleasantly impressed with how well done it was, and I know this is something my kids would appreciate even more as they grow older. I can't wait to go again!

Halloween weekend kicked off with Trunk or Treat at our church. The next day we woke up bright and early so I could run a slow-ish, hot, hilly half marathon before yet another Harvest Festival at the Y. The kids stayed entertained for almost four hours with the super fancy bounce houses, hay rides, train rides, and pizza!

Trunk or Treat!

My cheerleaders

The kids, of course, also had Halloween activities at their respective schools (of which I don't even have any pictures!). And Lissie had a small party at her dance studio. Xavier also helped me decorate our pumpkins one day while big sis was at school.

Halloween night we decided to try our hand at trick-or-treating in one of our nearby subdivisions. We were all pretty shocked with the amount of candy that was distributed at each house - if it wasn't a full-sized candy bar, it was a good handful of fun-sized candy. The kids were complaining about the bag being too heavy after going down just one street! Since we definitely didn't need all that candy in our house, the kids generously placed most of it in a pile to distribute with our blessings bags later this year.

Finally, the weekend after Halloween we went to an annual Family Day at Harlinsdale. While the kids and I had been in the past, it was Justin's first time. He was impressed with all of the fun and free activities that were available. There were crafts, hayrides, fishing (where Xavier caught his first fish!), princesses, and lots of games and bounce houses.