The Best Is Yet To Come

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Wigged Out Halloween Bunco!

Jacque, Kelly, and I signed up to host the October squadron coffee together! After sweating to death putting together the ice cream social in July last year, we were pretty excited to have a much cooler month, plus Halloween kind of lends itself to a party!

I was totally inspired when I visited my friend Amanda in Utah last fall and she hosted a "Wigged Out" coffee for her squadron gals. It was so much fun, I knew the Rockettes would love it, and why not add a game of Bunco in the mix! I mean not everyone wants to pull together a whole costume, but folks can easily grab a wig and voila! I decided to be a red head, though I'm pretty sure the one I selected was inspired by Ariel, and admittedly, it's so not my color! haha!

I had a blast decorating for this party and I was super impressed by my co-hosts' creepy culinary creations! I thought the end result was pretty fantastic...

It was a hilarious watching everyone arrive, looking the complete opposite of their usual selves! From goth to glam, punk to sophisticated... I think we had it all covered!

The dessert spread was pretty tasty. I couldn't resist making my spiderweb cupcakes, but I loved Kelly's mini-caramel apples and Jacque's funfetti cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin...too cute!

What a lovely looking group of ladies, huh?!

Eventually, the dice started to roll and the fuzzy die started to fly...

Bunco!!!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Hiking at Hanging Rock

We decided to take advantage of the long Columbus Day weekend and take a family hike at Hanging Rock State Park.

It's only about an hour from Greensboro and right beside the town of Danbury, NC where my Nana grew up. This is the church where she and Papa were married. Such a sweet and simple building in a sleepy little North Carolina town.

We borrowed a backpack carrier for Meredith from a friend and she loved it. She's climbed into it ready to go, before we'd even finished eating our lunch.

The hike to the top of Hanging Rock is only 1.3 miles, which was perfect for our crew, plus the scenery is interesting and gorgeous.

Will loved these "caves," as he kept calling them.

He did such a great job walking and climbing! He only asked to be carried a couple of times when he got tired walking up hill. Aaron would heft both kids for a little while, and when he would ask Will to walk again, he was ready and willing.

Lots of slippery rocks, but I think we all enjoyed the little adventure.

It was a pretty gray day, and rather cloudy when we reached the top. It's still early in the fall, so at least we didn't miss a very colorful view. Will kept asking if it was water underneath us rather than clouds.

Occasionally, the clouds parted though and we got a pretty view...

THE Hanging Rock.

On our way back down, we let Meredith out of the carrier for the walk back to the car. She loved stretching her legs and walking alongside us.

The whole family enjoyed getting out and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Looking forward to making this an annual tradition!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Meredith's Little Red Riding Hood Party

I can't even tell you how much fun I had planning this party for my little girl! I'm pretty sure it was the day after she turned one I started imagining this party theme and I could not be happier with how all the little details came together! Mimi was my right-hand woman throughout it all, and she gets major credit for the end result. It was definitely a labor of love though, and we had the best time working together! Still her ability to paint a masterpiece in 15 minutes, craft mushrooms from putty at midnight, and churn out hand-sewn costumes one after the other without breaking a sweat is nothing short of amazing to me.

I found the invitations on Etsy (you wouldn't believe how difficult a blonde red riding hood is to come by) and we took the inspiration from that cute design for the rest of the party. Red, gingham, white polka dots, mushrooms, picnic baskets...all made for one excited Little Red Riding Hood.

Loved these signs leading up to the entrance... "Stay on the path," "Don't talk to strangers," and "Beware of the Big Bad Wolf!"

The mini-picnic baskets to fill with candy were favors, along with hoods for the little girls and wolf masks for the boys.

The food spread was woodland and picnic inspired... what Little Red carried to Granmother's house, right?!

We had deli-style sandwiches, ants on a log, apple slices, pretzels in honey mustard, broccoli salad, and turkey/cheese pinwheels. One of my favorite decorative elements on the table were the log slices...I thought they looked really cool! Thanks Dad for being our "woodcutter" and getting those for us!

The kids enjoyed their picnic lunch and playing in the yard. We've been so blessed here to know so many sweet families with children close in age to our own. Meredith has such precious 2-year old playmates and it was fun to watch them be together.

After eating, we played a little dress up! M looks so grown up to me in this picture. Not a baby anymore, huh?! We just love the darling, delightful, and lively little personality she has!

Sweet, happy faces!

Time for cake. My great-great aunt's recipe for strawberry cake...so yummy!

The big brothers enjoyed themselves immensely.

Meredith loved her gifts and helping to open them. She especially enjoyed her new baby doll stroller and the topsy-turvy red riding hood doll...one end she's Little Red, the other is Grandma, pull over her cap and she's the wolf!