Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year and wouldn't have wanted it any other way!  We visited Grammie and Pa's house for a holiday meal and a sleep over.  It was nice to just relax!

With the start of Advent today we will try to be mindful of the reason for this special season and not get too caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  Here's to having lots of fun though!

Halloween and Other Fun!

Morning Read

Claire was assigned to bring drinks for her classroom Halloween party so we decided to decorate some juice boxes.  Since the Childcare Center at SUNY Potsdam was visiting Mom's floor at work to trick-or-treat, we figured we'd make some for them too.  This was a fun project our whole family worked on together!

A long lasting balloon from Coach's party!

Crazy Sock/Shoe Day @ School!
(Stella opted not to participate...)

We enjoyed a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings while volunteering at RMHC one weekend.  The girls loved the silly crowns.












The Halloween parade at school was fun as usual!  Daddy took the girls trick-or-treating on Halloween night which they both enjoyed, although Stella had more fun giving out candy!

This year our school incorporated Literacy Night with Halloween and the girls wanted us to dress up with them!

Kennedy, Nadia, and Claire-Bear

Matty's Dad shared this little gem with us!

Somebody wants to see Trolls the Movie!

 The girls came along for cousin Tori's bridal shower one afternoon after gymnastics.  They had a nice time playing with their cousins and loved the dollies Uncle Jeff sent for everyone!

Mommy was away for most of a week to present at the annual conference of the Continuing Education Association of New York.  It was rewarding to also receive the Outstanding Business Collaboration of the Year Award for work with the North Country Children's Museum.  A scary event on the Northway heading down to Suffern made for an exhausting trip so our reuniting as a family at the end of the week was extra special!

 Plus, it was in Rochester for a little weekend getaway!  We were fortunate to be asked to join the Hooley's to celebrate Dana's 11th birthday at the Strong Museum of Play.  It was a wonderful day!

 The Wegman's was a real treat!

Loved this sign!

 Claire couldn't get enough of the kinetic sand table!
















 

                       
















This Trump game from the 80's was a fitting find, given his recent election as our President.  Daddy had this game and remembered playing it as a boy.  The girls participated in an election at school, in which Trump also won, but now that's old news for them!                                                                                       

Mommy really enjoyed the Berenstain Bear's exhibit,
a childhood favorite!

More of Wegman's!

While in Rochester our family also enjoyed dinner at Tully's and a visit to the Movie Theater!  Since we knew we would be back in town late Sunday night we had not planned to attend AWANA.  Claire was asking to go though, and we drove into town just in time.  The girls were so happy not to have missed out on all of the 'Minute-to-win-it' fun!
                                                                                                                                                                           

Sorting candy.


















                          
          Trying to hang nails on a string.

 Making a hula-hoop drop around some water bottles.

Toilet Paper Mummies!