7, sweatshirts, turkey etc

We had a great time traveling to Chattanooga/Cleveland for Thanksgiving.
Our first order of business was to celebrate Nell's 7th birthday! I can't believe she is 7. We had a good day. Went to see a movie with Zav and Uncle Brice be then dinner at Grammy's house with Milla and Poppy and Ella. Nell loved her cake, iced in pink with a turquoise peace sign.
She loves hearing the story of her birthday. Born at high noon, destined to be a bright spot in our lives.

Good Reports

Well we have been getting lots if good reports here at the Epperson house. 

Zaven and Nell had dentist appointments and no cavities! So, we went and got froyo to celebrate 

Then we had teacher conferences last night and both kids got glowing reviews and Zaven got straight A's. He is happy and we are pleased that he met his goal. 

Sunday we had a funny morning getting ready for church that ended in Esmé wearing an outfit that was mine when I was little , but that happened to be an outfit that was quite small. Then somewhere along the way she found a harmonica. I wanted to get some pictures, she was just dancing around it was such a fun moment. 

I also got exciting news that I have been offered and accepted a job as a production manager for Colonial Williamsburg. I start on Dec 5th. Should be a fun new chapter. 

Funny daddy, funny baby

On Friday Chris stayed home with Esmé in the morning so that I could play tennis. When I got home Esmé went about telling me what she and Chris had been doing. And then she said that he would not give her the bagel and cream cheese she had asked for. So I asked Chris why he did not think she should have it. And he said "she did not ask for a bagel and cream cheese"

To which Esmé replied "burger cheese". Chris' face changed and he said "well, she did say that, I thought she wanted a cheese burger and I told her we did not have one". I guess you have to know the coded language of the toddler for smooth time together. It was really funny. 

More visits, more fun

Milla and Poppy came for a visit and we had a great time. We went to Yorktown, showed off at tennis practice, had a dinner party, did some shopping all in a few days 

It was fun having them. 

We are gearing up for Halloween and Esmé dressed as a cat or what she calls a yowmee for the Fall Festival at school. 

The big kids did not wear costumes but they had a good time. Saturday we took our Christmas card picture, we think we got some good ones. Here are a few out takes. 

Esme kept a tradition going by falling and hurting her face before the photo, we went to get Zav from tennis and she fell on the clay and it scratched her up. She is ok, but last year she fell and busted her lip, even bleeding on her dress, before re cooperating and getting the picture done. Not exactly a family tradition I am looking to start. 

Yesterday Esmé and I were in the kitchen and she said "ooh a spooky" and I looked up and saw a few ghost shaped Peeps. 

Then she went on " I whykik spooky mommy. You whykik spooky?"  Oh sure I like spookies. "I eatit a spooky, mommy" well by this point I was just in love with her calling them spookys that I let her eat one and the. She took one to Nell. Nell whykik spooky too!  

A great birthday!

I had a wonderful 38th birthday. Truly a great time in our lives. I am so glad to be home with Esmé, I love walking to school with the kids. I have great friends, near and far- and I was just keenly aware of all of that on my birthday and then add presents and cards and thoughtful phone calls, emails and texts and it is a great day !

We also have the great excitement of Grammy being here. She arrived on Wednesday and we have been shopping, walking, playing etc ever since. We always seem to send Grammy home very tired! 

Grammy was the "mystery reader" for Nell's class at school. That was really fun.

 

Nell's class seems like a very good group of kids being led by an excellent teacher. Nell is doing great with her reading and writing. It is so fun to see all of that developing. On a side note she has had a couple of random cases of hives on her left arm. It is very strange. 

We also celebrated National Walk to school day on the 9th.

As the chair of the Healthy Lifestyle Committee I organized a walk, at the last minute and we had a group of 14 kids plus many parents come out for our "walking School bus".

It was a rainy morning so I was pleased with the turn out I made posters and the kids had a good time. Nell sustained a black eye after bumping into someone, but other than that, we all arrived safely at school

It has been a low key week for after school activities with the rain canceling tennis. Hopefully Zaven will get to play today. He is doing really well. He has a crush on a girl at school, Isabel and word has it that she likes him too, heaven help us!

 He is doing very well in his studies and is reading a lot on his own in addition to his class reading so that is really good. He has also agreed to sing in the Christmas concert at Bruton with the main choir, so that will be fun. 

Chris is doing well. He seems to be enjoying work and is being faithful in him bike riding. We have been lucky with great weather for the most part, but the indoor trainer is an option for tight timing or bad weather. 

My business is still moving forward. We shipped another basket yesterday and met with a rep of some products. We are still building. 

Last night we had a little dinner party with the Anderson's, who brought Armen up, Armen and Isabel. It was a nice night. I made chicken curry with all the side boys, including the chutney. Yum!  I also have to brag on myself and tell you that I boiled the whole chicken in the morning, in a big scary pot. I have never done it before. First roasting now poaching, will wonders ever cease! 

Choo choo pants

Esmé has some training pants underwear that she sometimes wears them over her diaper and I bought them for her to wear when she refuses to wear a diaper around the house. 

Well she will occasionally call them "choo choo" pants and I was never sure why, then today it all clicked when I said, "do you want to wear you training pants?" And she said "yes, my choo choo pants". I guess hearing me say train makes her think choo choo. 

Very funny girl.

"I baby"

Esmé is getting more and more independent and wanting to try more things and help. She often tells me "I baby". This is not a statement of defeat this is her argument for why she should be given a sharp knife to cut her peppers. 

To walk across the street without anyone touching her, etc. 

It is such a sweet, plaintive little way of asking for things "I baby, momma" 

We will enjoy it while we can 

Early Fall

We have been having the best weather and such a nice time enjoying it. Last weekend Zaven had his first flag football game and he loved it. 

While he was practicing Esmé discovered her shadow. She was watching it, chasing it and then trying to get it!

Nell was silly at bedtime

We are still being really regular with biking to school. A pretty great commute!

The garden shop is still looking great, Esmé often walks home so we get to see a lot 

We have even gone for some bike rides after dinner. The weather is so nice you hate to waste a minute of it. 

Esme is so funny on her bike, she does not use the pedals. She does Flintstone feet and is really quite fast. She also I showing that she has a bit of a date devil streak, going down hills and bumps and loving it! 

Nell and Esmé peeking over the church wall. 

They are such sweet sisters and truly enjoy each other so much. 

I loved finding this 2nd grade school pic of Zaven. What a cutie!  I really did not remember his hair being that long at that age- but clearly it was. 

Rolling along

We had a great weekend, busy and fun. 

Friday we had great weather so we are dinner out in the gazebo and then walked/rode bikes up to Baskin Robins for ice cream. Esmé ran the whole way home! We all slept well. Saturday morning the kids and I went to gymnastics with Nell then we rushed home for me to go play tennis. I won my match! Zaven went to play at Jack's house and then had his tennis lesson and Nell had a tea party with her stuffed animals and Chris went on a bike ride. The. We went out to an early dinner at Sticks and took Zaven to a camp out sleepover birthday party. After putting Esmé to bed, Nell and I went out for a bike ride. It was fun, until Nell almost hit a lady and her dogs. Luckily she did not. 

Sunday we had a good day at church then Zav had his combine for his indoor football league. He was the 2nd fastest sprinter and did well all around. 

Sunday night was the Seafood Festival at the church and we had a great time and it was a good turnout. 

The weather continues to be so nice, a little cooler this week. 

Wrapped has gotten a few more orders, so that is moving in the right direction. 

Esme has been having fun on the walk home from school. She is so fun. 

This picture of Esmé is snapped after she ran away when I said it was nap time. She put the pillow over herself and said "I hiding" and the. She said"one minit".