Go Blue!

Jamie and I had a mini-getaway to Ann Arbor this weekend, and it was glorious!  We had Zingermann’s and then headed to the football game!  Jamie’s co-worker was able to get us some comp tickets, which ended up being in Row 13 on the 40 yard line!  I have never sat so close before (because I am cheap), and it was so amazing.  The band was super fun to watch, and it was way easier to get into the game being so close to the action!  It was cold, but we bundled up and stayed for the whole game (honestly did not think I would be up for it).  Afterward we had a nice steak dinner, and even squeezed in a movie before crashing at the hotel.  Pretty proud of my pregnant self for staying up like a cool kid… paid for it Sunday!

Go Blue!

Loved this... the band is still playing in this giant photo op

Goosebumps

Maggie’s class celebrated Thanksgiving on Monday with a “feast” in the cafeteria.  She enjoyed having her mom there, and I have learned that she will happily eat cubed turkey and ham (lunch meat is scorned by my daughters), so I’m happy to have another lunchbox option!

Eating with a skewer was a big hit 

Little pilgrim

Erin and Dan came to Michigan for the week, and so we hung out on Tuesday.  Ugh, I miss my best friend, Maine is too far away!  The girls had a good time playing with James, who is a really sweet kid!

Maggie's photo skills on point

Sassy faces

Smiles all around

Here’s some others:

Jamie's set from the fall play

Adoring fans of each other

Getting cozy and Grandma and Grandpa's

35!

It was my birthday this week, 35 years old.  I was spoiled by my family, especially my husband.  We did Chinese food and birthday cake at the Donoghues over the weekend, and then my mom came to dinner with us on my birthday.  I am the queen of cakes!  One from my mother-in-law, one from my mom, a donut cake from Jamie (for work) and a dirt cake from the girls!  Sugar!

My first of several wishes

My happy birthday helpers

The girls painted salt and pepper shakers that form a heart, so sweet.  They also painted me a dinosaur and a unicorn for decorations and my dirt cake flower pots.  Jamie went with a hydration theme this year: my favorite water bottle, a soda stream and my very own personalized Jones Soda bottles!

One of my all-time favorite photos of the girls

Best caption ever

More wishes at dinner with mom

Forgot how much I love dirt cake! 

Singing happy birthday... again

Happiness

Proud chefs

Final wish

Last weekend we also celebrated Sarah’s birthday!  The cousins are louder than ever, and had a good time playing as always.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

She had a sad moment in the middle of the song... and then she was fine again!

We celebrated Colin's birthday too!

It’s that time of year – leaf pickup!  The girls “helped” Jamie rake/blow all the leaves to the street while I cooked dinner in peace and quiet.

Can I sleep here?

Burying sister

Happy girl

Double trouble

Here's some others:

Hand stand practice

Hanging at the library with Grandma

Silly faces

Halloween 2018

It was a beautiful Halloween this year, temps in the 50s! 

Ready to trick-or-treat!

Jamie brilliantly planned to carve our pumpkins in his art room, so all the mess was out of my kitchen!  He brought the girls after school and I joined them after work.  Not too shabby this year!

Carving Rapunzel

Getting messy

A family of pumpkins

The "coolest" teacher in school?

Each girl had a little parade at school... at totally different times of day.  I have constant working-mom guilt, so I found time to race out of the office to visit each kid, and Jamie was able to get there for Maggie too.  Maggie was in her element, so happy for such a festive day.  Evie was totally thrown off by my visit and was very sad to see me go.

Happily painting a pumpkin before the student parade

One of the few almost-smiles I could get

Grandpa and Uncle Justin joined Jamie and the girls for trick-or-treating while I passed out candy.  We had a lot of kids this year, seems like our neighborhood is filling up with young families each year!  Maggie went out for two rounds.  Evie was really shy and only went to a few houses; her sweet uncle managed to get her quite a bit of candy though.  On Halloween I let the girls each as much candy as they want... Evie was totally wild!  Both girls passed out hard and were not ready to wake up for school the next day!

Silly Uncle Justin

Grandma watched the girls and Will and Violet last weekend so that we could have date nights.  Violet is a great entertainer for the girls!

I think Evie is ready to be a big sister

Violet is so sick of the paparazzi

Just loves this little girl

Maggie had a playdate last weekend, so Jamie took Evie to see the Foley football team championship game.  She was a high spirits and keeps talking about going to another football game with Daddy.  I think it was a special one-on-one outing for her.

Getting some laps in

Special date with Daddy

Here's some others from the week:

I can usually get Evie to chill out at a restaurant
if we cuddle for a bit

Maggie - ready for catalog modeling
Evie - ready to get the heck out of the picture

Maggie's teacher sent this - on the way TO her MORNING
field trip... need to get this girl some more sleep!

Gymnastics is going great for Maggie... Evie is regressing and having trouble joining the group again.  Trying not to be frustrated, but aggh, everything is such a struggle lately!