Halloween and Lucky Socks

Halloween was so much fun! Noah dressed up as an army man and Ella Joy was a frog. I love Halloween in Winston-Salem! The neighborhood around the hospital is very into the holiday so we head over there to do our trick or treating. There is one road that the city blocks off so that cars can't pass. Its wonderful because most everyone is sitting on their porches waiting for trick or treaters. I opted on not taking the stroller because I thought Ella Joy would never stay in it. However, I was worried that she would get tired or be to slow. How wrong I was as she ran from house to house keeping up with Noah! It was so fun to see her catch on that every house had candy for her. Several times during the night we took picnic breaks on people's lawns and would eat chocolate. All 3 of us prefer chocolate over candy. Sadly, by the time we got home there was hardly any chocolate in our bags. Noah informed me that we would not be taking picnics next year.

And about the cat. This is Lucky Socks. He, she, it adopted us. He was the neighborhood that cat would come over now and again. Then Noah told me he was hungry and we bought a bag of cat food. Now he is our cat. Noah feeds him everyday, worries when he is shivering outside, and has made a bed in our garage for him. He is quite a unique, as you can see, Lucky is not too picky about how he is carried around. This is how Ella Joy picks him up and he just hangs there, doesn't try to get away or scratch. So depending on where we move Lucky may become a new family member as well.

Welcoming Lucy Pearl

As most of you know Boots was my mom's 7th child. After a long and very fun-filled life he passed away in May this past year. We miss him and all have wonderful memories of him. He was quite unique. My mom wasn't sure if she wanted to get another dog, but after meeting Lucy we couldn't resist. She looks like Boots, but in white. She has a sweet, calm temperment. She is a very easy going dog. We have decided to make her truly a "Stier family" pet. While her permanent residence is with my mom on Berl-mar, she has spent time with Jody at Clemson as well as time with me here in Winson-Salem. Noah and Ella Joy absolutely adore her. We are so excited to have her as the newest member of our family!

If you were wondering...

how I've grown, this is me at 7 months. Yes, 2 months to go!

At the Apple Festival

Beautiful apples! They had apple everything. We tried apple pie icecream, an apple cider slush. Both were delicious!!

Noah trying out some of the old fashion games. The lady in charge of this event was hard core. She was dressed in traditional Moravian attire yelling at everyone, "Lift your knees!" Then when you fell, she would yell again, "Hold on to the stilts, don't let them hit the ground." It was quite intense.

David and Noah playing tug of war with about 5 children on the other side. And you can bet that David didn't let them win just because they are children.

Fall Fun

I love this girl so much!!!! I was going through her clothes and wanted to see if this hat still fit. It does. And she decided to wear it the rest of the day.

Noah's favorite thing is to rollerblade up and down our street. These are my rollerblades that I bought at the end of highschool. When we first started skating together Noah noticed that my rollerblades went a lot faster than his skates. "Why are yours faster? Can I try them?" That was the end of them being my rollerblades. Jared and I used to rollerblade all over Irmo. Who would of thought that my purchase would buy so much enjoyment.

Creative fun. Sunday afternoon David pulled the kids around in the plastic pool. They thought it was so much fun! The highlight was getting dumped out of the pool and then starting all over again.

1st grade and more firsts

If anyone remembers my post from the first day of kindergarten then you can appreciate the first day of first grade as a huge improvement. There were smiles and no crying and at the end of it we celebrated with milk and mint Oreos. With first grade has come other firsts:
1. Getting a red card the second week of school. (phone call home and everything)
2. Blaming the red card on the new girl who sits across from him, "She's so pretty!"
3. Bringing home his first phone number.
4. Wanting to call his first phone number, "to see if it really works"
5. Telling me his teacher is nice. (coming from Noah this is a huge compliment!)

Ella Joy and I walk to the bus stop every afternoon to meet Noah. Ella Joy gets so excited when she see the big yellow bus coming around the corner. I just love the two of them together!

Noah's Party at the Children's Museum

Noah climbing the beanstalk

In July I won a party for up to 30 children at the Winston-Salem Children's Museum. Perfect timing to celebrate Noah's much awaited birthday. So this is where we celebrated the second part of Noah's birthday. Noah was so excited, he waited at the door so he could greet everyone as they came in. There was lots of children, lots of cupcakes, lots of fun! That night he went with David, Toby, and Taylor to see the Legos Star Wars movie.
"This has been the best birthday ever!"

Noah turns 7

On August 16, Noah turned 7. Every year starting in March or April I start hearing the question, "When is my birthday? After months of much anticipation, it arrived. First we celebrated in SC with the Hainsworth and Stier families.