The Donoghue Family: November 2019

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Life at 36

It was my birthday last week! I had an extra special day thanks to Jamie's hard work. Doughnut cake for the office, Starbucks coffee at my bedside, tickets to the UM/State game, flowers at work, lots of sweet gifts from the kids, and fancy steak dinner for two! It was glorious!

Birthday girl with her crew
Check out my butterfly bling necklace, made by Evie

I will say this has been my toughest year so far, but also a year of abundant blessings. I think I will look back on these years with young kids as an intense marathon and yet perhaps the happiest years. My family is amazing and I am so grateful for everything we have.

Cupcake time!

Jamie and the girls made me penguin cupcakes
since my birthday was the coldest one on record

We also celebrated Sarah's 4th birthday last weekend. Plus my nieces Sophie and Katy's are coming up - I'm in good company!

Love that little face

So does Luke

Hanging with Pops

My big gift from Jamie was tickets to Michigan / Michigan State game last Saturday! We had a really fun, kid-free day! It was chilly, but the sun was out and we were warmed by whiskey.

Fun day!

Hail!

A few others

Evie is devoted to Ben, a very helpful babysitter!

After seeing the Little Mermaid play, with cousin Ryan as King Triton!

Maggie felt inspired

Getting ready for the big game tomorrow
Adorable bows courtesy of Aunt Amy!

This poor guy has been non-stop sick (yay daycare),
but is still pretty happy most of the time

Maggie did her first reading at school mass last week
(the heat was out at church)

Getting his hair did

Grandma bought these amazing hats from a craft show!

One day of leaf frolicking before the snow came!

Friday, November 1, 2019

Halloween 2019

Halloween - so many events... we did Trunk or Treat at the girls' school on Friday, then they did an outing in St. Clair Shores with Grandma over the weekend, then they did Safe Halloween at Foley on Monday. Actual Halloween was gross, cold and rainy, so I guess it's good that they got some other trick-or-treating action!

Maggie and Jamie both wanted to be ghostbusters this year, so we made Ben the Stay-Puft man (his chubby physique made the choice pretty obvious). I didn't have much time to put anything together, so Jamie drew a building on posterboard for me so that it looked like Ben was climbing the building... he's a creative guy. Evie had zero interest in a themed family costume, and opted to be Captain Marvel. Both my girls chose to be tough chicks and it made me happy!

Who ya gonna call?

Vicious Marshmallow Man

Captain Marvel here to save the day!

Jamie was in charge of face painting at Trunk or Treat

I think Maggie really enjoyed being so tough

Mini-me

My two favorite guys

So much candy. Where to go first?

Evie and Brooklyn at the classroom party

All three kids did a sleepover at Grandma's on Saturday so Jamie and I could go to a party... the party was fun, but sleeping in was truly amazing. I actually slept until 11am, haven't done that since high school! I think my brain and body needed that!

Pumpkin painting at Grandma and Grandpa's

Apple

We did some last-minute pumpkin carving on Wednesday, not too shabby!

Maggie did all her own carving this year!

Evie had a little help, did a pretty good job!

Maggie's pumpkin

Evie's pumpkin

Gee I wonder whose pumpkin this is...

Self-portrait

Halloween was gross, so the girls spent about 20 minutes outside and then had fun passing out candy for the rest of the night. Ben came down with a little cold, so his Halloween night consisted of a warm bath and lot of snuggles.

First year Evie was super pumped about this, she's a runner!

Gotta go

Our friend Mike generously gave us a few free tickets to see Disney on Ice at LCA. We took the girls and one of Maggie's friends for a fun afternoon downtown!