Halloween on the Rock

At work, each team picks a different theme and battles to win the costume contest.  Sadly, the education team didn't win but we all had a blast.

The education team went a Disney Princesses.

The office was the Legends of Chimney Rock

The Old Rock Cafe dressed as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Maintenance and Guest Services were Toy Story

Retail won the contest as Point of Interest in Chimney Rock.  They were the overlooks, trails and features.

Family Photo

Winner of the contest.  Brain as Ariel

Ticket Plaza was Shark Week

Halloween 2020

Halloween was fairly different for us this year.  Grady chose to go with his friends instead of us, which I totally understand.  Still is was strange not to have him with us.  Josh took Emma out early so she wouldn't get scared or lost in the dark.  So, that left Myles and I to trick or treat just the two of us.    Times are a changin'.

Emma loves the Halloween store but it scares the pants off her.

Trying to smile

She got a hair cut after shopping.

She wanted to be a referee for Halloween.  We suspect because she could tell people what to do, blow a loud whistle and throw flags at people.

At school, Myles was a lifeguard that was being eaten by a shark 

Grady and Buddies heading out for the night.  This is the only photo I have of him.  Sad.

Don't mess with the Ref

Halloween night was a wet, rainy affair.

Myles switched costumes to go with the environment.  He was a scuba diver/rain coat wearing guy

The great candy switch off

Emma can't eat dairy or gluten so there was a lot of trading.

When Grady got home, more trading ensued.

That night the carbon monoxide alarm went off in the house due to smoke from the fire place.  It was loud and scary.  We spend a lot of the night out on the front porch on air mattresses.  Emma was terrified.  She slept with Josh and I for several nights and wore her ear protection for many more.  Poor girl.

Autumn

Fall is a busy time of year!  The kids had Fall Family Night at school, there are festivals and parties,  and football.  Here are a few pics of our Autumn.

Emma was so excited to sing at Fall Family night.

Myles class was selling apple cider that they made out at Hickory Nut Gap farm

Grady's class learned about physics by riding roller coasters at Dollywood.  Then they were tasked with creating their own rollercoaster. 

My favorite pic of Emma.  No other kid was so excited to sing.

The boys played on the Evergreen football team this year.

The guys

Emma and her friend, Jack.  

Another Myles creation

Fall Festival at Elida Home

I think these bouncy things are for smaller kids.....

Just a few of the pups

My favorite email from Emma teacher

Fast and Furious

Emma took these just to show I exist 

More flag football

Spiked hot chocolate at a party

These boys are insane.  It was 50 degrees or lower

Rigged up hot tub pumped from the pond

Bottle rocket war

wrestling match erupts at the party

Josh decided that he wanted to run a mile under 7 minutes.  He ran for a few weeks and did it.  What?!  How was that so easy for him?

Myles and I had the Great Black Mountain Bake Off.  The challenge was mug cakes.

My mug cake

Both mug cakes

He won....

Josh's family came to visit Asheville.

Grady has the best teacher in the world.  He took a bunch of the kids to the movies.  It is the first time Grady has loved school.  What a difference a good teacher makes

Josh and I were able to get out for a night

Not kid food for a change.