Story Time with Fredricka

On Tuesday, Myles and I had an unusual day where neither one of us had school or work.  I was cleaning and I noticed Myles setting something up.  Little did I know, he was setting up for a story time.  He called me over and said it was, "Story Time with Fredricka".  Apparently, he was Fredricka.  

We started out by reading a few dinosaur books.  I was instructed to sit on the couch and be quiet.

The dinosaur stories continued.....

Fredricka had my undivided attention.  

Fredricka wrapped up story time with a puppet show.  It was so nice to relax with Myles (I mean Fredricka), having nothing else to do but spend time together.  

On another note, look who came to our house.  The Elf on the Shelf.  As cheesy as it is, the boys love to look for him in the morning.  At night they discuss what our little Elf will be doing while they sleep.  He is always  up to something.  

Thanksgiving with the McPhails

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.  We had a great one this year.  My family made the long trip to NC for the holiday.  It was so much fun to spend Thanksgiving with them.  We cooked and ate way too much but I guess that's part of Thanksgiving.  We all pitched in and did our part with the cooking.  It was a wonderful feast.  I miss my family already.

The big meal.

I tried my hand at an apple pie.  It was more like apple soup.  I think I get my cooking genes from my mom. (Check out her apple cake from a past blog entry)

The boys and Mimi had a great time playing together.  They used all of their Legos and made a Lego city.

We went out to Bent Creek for a hike.

Mimi and Papaw enjoyed a stroll in the woods.

My folks watched the kids a few nights and we got to party with Uncle Will. 

On the last night, we celebrated my Dad and Josh's birthdays.  They collectively decided on an ice cream cake.  They probably didn't want me to bake anything after they tried my apple pie.

Soaring with the Eagles

Last weekend Kirsten and I made a last minute plan to go to Dollywood.....kid free!!  For those of ya'll that don't know, Dollywood is Dolly Parton's theme park.  Complete with shows and rides.  Josh and I have taken the kids before but have never experienced it without kids.  Man, we had a good time.  Kirsten and I ran from roller coaster to roller coaster  laughing at the folks with crying kids.  Ha!!  We didn't mind standing in lines or waiting until 1:30 to have lunch.  We didn't have to worry about anything.  It was a great break and so nice to have an adult conversation without interruption.  Kirsten, what would I do without you...... 

Our favorite rollercoaster....the Wild Eagle.

Halloween 2012

We had a great Halloween, as usual.  After several costume changes we were ready to hit the streets.  Grady the Ninja and Myles the paleontologist were extra cute trick or treaters.  Mimi was there to see them in action.  We can't wait to see her, Papaw and Uncle Will next week for Thanksgiving.

The Scala boys

We walked up to Church Street, where all the action was.

This was Grady's "scary ninja face".  Grady originally wanted to go as a "naked werewolf".  I promptly told him that he could not run down the streets of Black Mountain wearing only a werewolf mask.  He would have done it if I would have let him.

Going to the first house.

Myles, the man of style, had to do a last minute costume change.  When I say, last minute, I mean last minute.  We were walking out the door and he exclaimed that he didn't want to be a ninja.  He had to be a "paleontologist".  Josh and I scurried around the house looking for items that might work.  We made it happen.

Gramma and Grandpa, thank you so much for the costumes.  I know Myles didn't wear the costume you bought but he has worn it several times since then.  He wore it to the Halloween party at school.   It is still a great addition to our costume collection.  As you know, this boy has a mind of his own.

We carved the toughest pumpkins we have ever picked.  Josh and I got the tops off and that's where we quit.  We never got to the face part. 

Grady scooped out the goo and we baked pumpkin seeds.

Grady could have gone as a skeleton.  Look how skinny this kid is.  

Great Smokey Mtn "Rain"....I mean "Train"

Last week we had a Halloween visitor, MIMI!!!  The boys were so excited that she came to see us.  They wanted to take her on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad pumpkin patch ride.  The weather did not cooperate with our excursion.  It poured rain for most of the time but that didn't stop the Scala boys.  I don't think they even noticed the rain.  Mimi was a trooper and smiled right along with the boys.

I forgot my camera (maybe a good thing considering the weather).  I took the pics with my iPhone so they are a bit blurry.

Grady took this fuzzy one.  Kind of hard to take photos on a moving train.

We did the inside trick or treating first.  Just a warm up for the real deal.

Of course, the boys had to hug Snoopy.

Myles found the lumpiest pumpkin in the patch.  He named it Lumpkin.

After an 1 hr and a half we were ready to jump back on the train and head home.  Maybe we will have better weather next year.