Halloween 2015

....and, the Fall slump improves! Halloween was, well, also hot but so much fun! We kept things pretty simple this year...cause, well, stress. I DID make Maddie's dress but more because I' cheap than a glutton for punishment. Who's got $80 bucks for a costume? Not this girl....

As we do, we joined in the dress up fun but without spending money so, cat and redo of the trashy rock guy. Yaya busted out her Pete the Cat she wore for school....so cool!

Maddie is currently obsessing over Disney's Descendants and Gavin is a freak for Minions....they were so excited about their costumes, even if Maddie's DID fall apart an hour into Trick or Treating!!

Oma, Papa, Ninna, Mo, Kennedy and Melissa, Greg, Vanessa and Alicia and the Dorrs joined us too! Bella won tickets to see Taylor Swift so she missed Halloween but I'm preeeeeetty sure she was happy with her plans....

The kids had a blast and we have the BEST hood on Halloween! Until next year!!

We heart Fall!!!

We love it...ok I do and I force it on the rest of my family. As I have previously made clear, exhaustively, I do not enjoy Florida "Fall". I love a crisp, leaf changing Fall but, ugh...yet again, here we are. 85 and sunny. So. We dress up and act like crazy people....seeking out every possible Fall-ish event to maybe, just maybe feel a slight reminiscence of the real deal. 

We typically start with Lakes Park and their festival. Pumpkins strewn about an open field and four inflatables for 15 bucks a kid. Yup, not getting the "feeling" just yet.

Ok, A farm. Surely an actual, real live farm oughtta do it. Nope. Fun and adorable animals but nope.

A pre-Halloween costume bash benefiting the new playground in honor of Caleb in the Villas? It's getting closer....

"When I grow up....

...I wanna be a frog too!" Says the little lovemuffin while checking out our tadpoles' growth progress. I ask him why. "Cause then I can jump all day!". But of course! This boy knows nothing of just walking....jumping, running, hopping, sure. Makes total sense to me. 

Little Bit of Spirit!

(the cheering squad)

So the girl finally did it. She's been wanting to be a cheerleader for the last couple of years. Not enough to actually join a squad, mind you but just thinks it's all about pom poms and chanting and they're "so pretty". 

Oh honey. Even since my day it has evolved to a serious sport! These girls are legit athletes. So, when the opportunity came for her to just cheer for  single Verot game with the "Little Bit of Spirit" squad, we jumped on it. Mind you, they'll teach them minuscule amounts to get by and be adorable but the whole experience made Maddie realize it ain't no joke. "How do they remember all those cheers?, Where did they learn how to do flips?, Why do they wear bows?"...you know, the important stuff. She saw how hard they work and now really wants to be one. Oh boy. One thing at a time. For now, gymnastics...let's see if we can get a cartwheel completed and we'll go from there!

 In the midst of all this fun, she finally lost the front tooth that's been loose for, like, a YEAR! As soon as she came out onto the field, she was shouting about it to us!

The fact that some great buds did it too was just icing on the cake!

I just love this girl's joy for life. You can see it in everything she does. She truly has fun and frankly, that's all that matters to me....

So we're trying this out....

 Maddie's been begging to do gymnastics but it's so expensive! I'm all for sports and activities but not for ridiculous amounts of money. I mean, she's six, for crying out loud. But, my friend Jen, whose daughter Madelyn (and he sister Natalie) has become one of Maddie's besties found classes at the YMCA for super cheap! The first class was free so we gave it a whirl...not the most advanced or fancy of instructors or facilities but they had fun and loved that they got to be together! At the end of the day, that's what matters, right? If she shows some promise maybe then we'll spring for the bigger deal...until then, tumble your little hearts out, for next to nothin'!