Halloween!

We had so many festivities for Halloween this year! The weekend started with a parade of costumes at school for the girls. It always amazes me when we get there and the teachers have actually succeeded in getting fifteen toddlers into their Halloween costumes. All of the kids looked so cute and Emerson had a blast!


Ready for school on Halloween morning!


Sydney and Ms. Rosser.


Emerson watching the school parade.


Sydney's class.


Emerson's class.


Sydney and Ya-ya. Poor thing was ready for a nap!


Okay, mom and dad - I'm done!

After the school parade, and a quick nap for both of the girls in the car, we headed home to the party in the cul-de-sac. In the past we've ordered pizza with all the neighbors, but this year everyone brought an appetizer or dessert and there were so many yummy choices. We brought grape jelly meatballs, Mr. H made great chili, the Kies made some awesome guacamole and there were platters of cheese, crackers and Chic-fil-A nuggets, along with brownies, cookies, cupcakes and CANDY! Kelly, our neighbor who works for Miller lite, provided two kegs, one that was Yuengling.


Party in the cul-de-sac!






Think this will make it into the Panthers' ROAR magazine?

Will took Emerson trick or treating in the wagon, with all of the kids from our street, while I stayed in the cul-de-sac with Sydney and most of the other moms. He said that she loved it. They would get to a house and she would run up to the door giggling, say trick or treat and then run back to the wagon giggling. They ended up going to a lot more houses then planned since she was having such a good time and she even got to see one of her teachers from school.


Ready for trick or treating!






Kevin, Mary and Yoda (aka Henry) stopped by.


Partying is hard work!

We concluded the weekend by having Emerson's playgroup over for pizza and cupcakes. It was fun seeing everyone in their Halloween costumes!








How cute!

Pumpkin Patch!

October has been a busy, busy month. We didn't make it to the pumpkin patch until the weekend before Halloween, but late is better then never! Emerson enjoyed riding the tractor to the patch and picking out her own pumpkin this year. And of course she had to pick one out for Sydney too!






Sweet Sydney!


Driving the tractor!


Riding the tractor!


Searching for the perfect pumpkin!


Here it is!!!


This one is MINE!

Green Gopher Invitational 2008

This past weekend was the Green Gopher Invitational golf tournament in Albemarle. It's a golf tournament that Will's brother and some friends started a few years ago and it always promises to be a good time. This year Meg, Marco, Brooke, Jeff and Baby Jack came into town for the festivities. The weekend kicked off with a party at The Lodge on Friday night. Everyone had fun showing off their beer pong and flip cup skills. I have to say, my flip cup skills were RUSTY! I think I embarrassed Will!


Brooke, Nicole and Meg making a new friend.


Will showing me the art of the flip cup!

Saturday morning the boys cooked up a fabulous breakfast out at the lake house. It was nice to relax and enjoy the biscuits, omelet and crumb cake! After breakfast Meg, Brooke, Baby Jack and I went to pick up Emerson and Sydney at Jane and Roger's house. After figuring out how to fit three carseats and three adults into one car, we took in Jackson's soccer game and then inhaled chips and queso at El Ranchito. We then took the girls back to Jane and Roger's for naptime and headed out to Uwharrie Vineyards for wine tasting. Yes, wine tasting in Stanly County. I never even knew there was a vineyard there! It was really pretty and we enjoyed tasting the different wines. We wished we could have stayed longer, but UNC was playing Notre Dame, so we met up with the boys back at the lake house to watch the game, while enjoying our "sweet tea."


Emerson, Sydney and Baby Jack ready for the UNC game!


Celebrating Carolina's VICTORY over the Irish!

We topped the weekend off with dinner at Cripple Creek. It was fun taking the out of towners to one of the local restaurants. I think Will's mom explained it the best to Meg earlier in the day, "It's real redneck, but they have the best cheeseballs." Cheeseballs and pizza were enjoyed by everyone!


Meg and I enjoying our "sweet tea" at Cripple Creek.


The boys at Cripple Creek.


The girls at Cripple Creek.

The Lisk Family Growing Again?

There may be a new member to the Lisk family. This week we are having a trial run with Aussie at our house. He's been living with Poppy Joe and Ya-Ya ever since Erika moved to NYC in June, but they (especially Poppy Joe) keep insisting they do not want to keep him forever. I personally think Ya-ya will be lost without him, but we'll see. So far he's been pretty good, despite me finding him sleeping on the couch this morning. To welcome him and make him feel part of the family we are letting him wear Marley's favorite collar.

Sydney Gets Baptized!

The Lisk house was filled to the brim this past weekend for Sydney's baptism. Poppy Joe, Ya-Ya, Nouna and Aunt B all came into town on Friday. They were very excited to be able to pick the girls up at school. I don't think any kid has had more relatives at school at one time than Emerson and Sydney did that afternoon. It was a whirlwind!

Saturday morning Auntie E came in from NYC. It was her first trip into the Charlotte airport and we are expecting many more! We had a relaxing Saturday playing outside in the perfect fall weather. Saturday night, Will and I went to a wedding in Albemarle. My parents had fun having the girls "all to themselves" and Will and I enjoyed the free babysitting.

Sunday morning we had a strict shower itinerary to follow in order to get everyone out of the house by 10:15am. We did it and arrived at the church in enough time to let Emerson run off some energy outside before the service started. The same pastor who baptized Emerson last summer was leading the service and Sydney was absolutely perfect during the baptism! Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch on the patio at Max's Ally with Nana and Poppy, Aunt Shannon, Uncle Ben, Jackson and Jameson, Uncle Banks and Aunt Susan, Kevin, Mary and Henry, Karen and Lauren, and Craig and Lydia. It was so wonderful having family together to celebrate Sydney's special day!

Outside the church before the service.

Emerson telling Sydney what to expect during the baptism.

Baptism ceremony.

Poppy Joe and Ya-Ya with Sydney.

Nouna and Sydney.

Emerson and Jackson had fun playing together!

"Yummy!"

Nana and Sydney.
CLICK ON THIS PHOTO TO SEE ALL BAPTISM PICTURES!

Potty Training - Full Speed Ahead!

Emerson has been doing great with her potty training! Last week, starting on Tuesday, she wore her underpants to school and only had one little accident! This past weekend she had a few accidents, but luckily they were in our kitchen and bathroom, not on the carpet. Today she did great again at school - no accidents! You would think she'd be having accidents at school, not at home, but either way it's been great not having to change her diapers! We still put a diaper on her for naptime and bedtime, which we'll do for a while because I'm not looking forward to changing bedsheets in the middle of the night! The day of having only one child in diapers is in sight!

I'm a Big Kid Now!

Today was a big day! Emerson wore underpants to school for the very first time! Last Friday night she told me she wanted underpants, so I told her we would go buy some on Saturday. Saturday morning we took a family outing to Concord Mills to find Emerson some pink and purple underpants at The Children's Place. After her nap on Saturday, she was sporting her underpants. Well, practice makes perfect...in under two hours she had two accidents. Luckily, one time it was in the kitchen and the next time it was in the garage. Round two...Sunday afternoon, she wore them for almost four hours without any accidents! Yesterday she did great at school - her diaper was dry at every diaper change and she pee-peed on the potty. So - this morning she said, "I want to wear my underpants to school." Check back later for an update on how she did!


How cute are these!

Labor Day Weekend!

We spent a great extended labor day weekend down in Myrtle Beach with Auntie E and Ya-ya! It was our first family beach trip as a family of four and we weren't sure how both of the girls would do in the car together. The longest drive we've taken them on has been to Raleigh. We left Wednesday night at the girls bedtime and they both slept the entire drive. It was wonderful!

Thursday morning everyone was excited to hit the beach. Emerson hadn't been to the beach in almost exactly a year, but you wouldn't have even known it. She had a blast building sand castles, even more fun knocking them down and LOVED the ocean! She kept telling me she wanted to "do it herself" when we were jumping the waves. Sydney enjoyed drinking her bottles under the umbrella and napping or hanging out in her beach tent.


Emerson building sand castles!


Sydney hanging out with Ya-ya after being fed.


We celebrated both Auntie E and Ya-ya's birthdays while we were there!