Fall in Review

I can't believe it is December already! I wrote in my last blog I was going to be better at blogging but this fall was just busy and I know the holidays are going to be even busier so this post will be a lot of pictures and not many words but I need to start catching up somewhere.

Ella played soccer this fall and while she was no Mia Hamm, she did enjoy it and it was very cute to watch them each Saturday morning running around.

 We went to Atlanta and Big Canoe for my Mom's birthday. My dad surprised Ella with front row seats to see Disney on Ice. They had a blast and now Ella always want to sit in the front row, spoiled.

 At the apple festival

 We had such a fun weekend in the mountains and the weather was amazing

First day wearing pigtails

Pumpkin Patch Fun

"I found one just my size"

 Sophia the First princess and Ladybug for Halloween

Our neighborhood Halloween parade

Trick or treating with our buddy Ellie, both princesses

Leaf jumping!

Daddy's with Donuts day at school

I was the mystery reader in Ella's class and then stayed for playground time. We had a blast playing together!

My friend Karen's birthday included a spa day for the girls, it was AMAZING!

Our old neighborhood got together for our 3rd annual friends Thanksgiving a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. There are lot of kiddos now, 12 in total!

Maddie Grace and Braelyn

DeeDee, Papa and Uncle Court came up to Charlotte for our Thanksgiving. The table right before dinner

 We took Ella to see the movie Frozen Thanksgiving weekend. There were some scary parts for her but the popcorn made up for it!

 On Veteran's Day, Mike had the day off work and the girls had off preschool so we drove to the columbia zoo. The girls loved it and had the best time, we will be back soon.

Check out the huge gorilla in the background

penguins

Elephant

massive turtles

Well hello mr giraffe

Viva Las Vegas

It is officially operation catch up on the blog. I thought with having both girls in preschool two mornings a week, I would have all this extra time to catch up on the things that always fall to the bottom of the list, like updating the blog. However, when both girls are in preschool, I am never at home. I am out doing things that are 1000% easier when you don't have two little ones in tow like grocery shopping and going to doctor's appt (dentist and yearly physical appts, check). So, the blog has still fallen a little behind but I am trying to update it. This is a scrapbook of sorts for our life and our family and I want to remember all the fun things and sometimes not too fun things we are up to. So, I am typing this so it will hold me accountable.

Now, back to the fun times. The last weekend in September, Mike and I went away to Las Vegas for the weekend. We went with 3 other couples, our old neighbors in Charlotte. This trip has been planned for about 6 months but has been talked about for probably 5 years. Finally, no one was pregnant or had a newborn and most importantly everyone had babysitters for the weekend. Mike's parents came down from PA to watch the girls for us, thanks Grandma and Grandpa. We boarded the flight early Friday morning and even thought it is super early, we didn't care, we were so excited!

 One of the couples, Mike and Karen went out a couple days early and then the six of us flew out together. Mike sent a limo for us to the airport with our names on the sign and we felt like big ballers!

 We stayed at Mandalay Bay and as you can see, we went directly to the pool. The weather all weekend was absolutely perfect. Perfect blue sky, no humidity, just paradise.

 The view of the strip from our room, not too shabby!

 Friday, we spent the day, pooling it and gambling and then went to an amazing dinner at Strip, a steakhouse in Mandalay Bay. After dinner, we went up to a bar/club at the top of Mandalay. Drinking champagne on the very top floor was pretty incredible.

 Saturday, we ventured out to explore Vegas and walk around. 3 of the 8 people have never been to Vegas before so of course they wanted to check out the Bellagio fountains. We had a very Ocean's Eleven moment.

 Saturday afternoon, we spent more time by the pool and some gambling and the guys spent a lot of time in the sports book. Then, we all got dressed up for another fun dinner. 

 Since there was 8 of us, it usually was cheapest to travel by limo everywhere instead of 2 taxis and we felt like rock stars. Most haven't been in a limo since we got married so this was a real treat all weekend.

 We ate at Circo, a restaurant in the Bellagio but before dinner, we went early to walk around the amazing and beautiful lobby of the Bellagio. There is literally beautiful artwork and flowers everywhere you turn.

 Dinner was amazing! We got lucky and had a table right next to the windows so we got to see and hear the fountains go off all night long. 

Sunday, we headed back home to Charlotte after a super fun and exhausting weekend in Vegas. Sometimes it is important for Mommy and Daddy to get away and stay in a hotel without the kiddos. Then, we just can't wait to get home and kiss those little girls who we missed so much. And a special thank you to G&G for taking such good care of our girls while we were gone.

**And as a quick side note and to keep things real, one hour after we got home Sunday night, Ella got the stomach bug and starting throwing up. Yup, all night long we were up with her. So reality hit us square in the face (some might also say punishing us for having so much fun that weekend!) The next day, my MIL got it, Maddie got a mild version and then yes, you guessed it, I got it on Tuesday night. Fun times in the Hennessy household that week. On Friday when everyone was finally all better, I turned to Mike and said it was the longest week of my life. I think it took us about a month to recover from Vegas, we certainly aren't 20 anymore but it was well worth it.**

2 Little Pumpkins

A couple weeks ago, we took a family field trip to a local pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful fall morning, crisp air and perfectly blue sky. Our two little pumpkins were excited to run around and pick out pumpkins but the real highlight was the hayride.

 This was actually a new pumpkin patch then we have been to in the past and loved this one. The hayride played Halloween music and had a scavenger hunt for the kids, it was adorable.

Getting a picture of the four of us looking and all smiling is impossible, at least all of 4 are looking at the camera

 After the hayride, we went into the pumpkin fields to check out all the pumpkins.

 Maddie was definitely on the hunt for the perfect one...

 Sorry little one, this one is bigger than you.

 She finally found one perfect for her. I love that I got this picture of her. The one thing everyone comments about her is her expressions. They are so big and hilarious and have Mike and I laughing so hard each day. Her teachers and even the preschool director tell me daily how they just love all her expressions and faces. When she found this pumpkin and picked it up, she was so happy and proud of herself!

Sweet sisters! Too bad that pumpkin next to Ella is gross, won't be framing this one

 Time to head back with Daddy and check out the play area

 This pumpkin patch had a really fun play area for the kids. Ella loved these jumpy balls

 and Maddie Grace loved this tricycle

 It was such a fun morning and now we can't wait to carve our pumpkins and get ready for Halloween!

Oh the places they will go

This post is very late since the girls have been in preschool for almost a month and half now but I still want to remember their first days of school and the first time they are going to school together. There will be many more first days of school together but this one was the very first time they walked in hand in hand into our beloved preschool together. And not to mention, the first time Mommy has left drop off alone, which is something to celebrate as well.

We returned from our September beach trip and school started the very next day. Ella had a very hard time falling asleep that night. I am not sure if she was anxious or excited about school or was just having an off night but when she woke up early the next morning, I was worried how the day was going to go on such little sleep but she was up and excited and ready to go. I attempted a mini photo shoot in the morning. Ella posed like a pro...

 Getting Maddie Grace to stand still and pose was a little more of a challenge. 

 And getting them to stand still and smile at the same time was impossible as you can see.

 Then it was hustle bustle, getting lunches ready and breakfast eaten and in the car and off we go. Outside their school, they actually stopped and smiled and stood together for me long enough to get this photo. I love their excitement in this photo.

 And because Ella is a pro, she had to show her little sister how to do things, like pushing the blue button to open the door.

 Maddie was fascinated by big sister and wanted to just follow her and walk with her into her new school. But since she has been coming her since literally the day she was born, she knows exactly where to go as well.

 And then this happened. They reached out for each other's hands and walked in together hand and hand. And each Tuesday and Thursday since that day, they have done the same thing. They walk through the door and Maddie holds out her hand and Ella takes it and they walk in together. One of the sweetest moments of my week. Love these girls and the memories they are making together.

 We dropped off Maddie Grace first at her class and she whimpered for a second but then went right to her sweet and amazing teachers and was fine. We then went downstairs to take Ella to her class. She walked in and went right in to right her name on the board like they do everyday when they arrive. Ella is an old pro and loves school so waved goodbye to me and went to play with her friends. It also helps that one of her best buddies, Caroline who has been in her class since she was 2 is also in her class again this year.

And then Mommy walked by Maddie's room one more time on the way out to peek in on her her and she was already playing and dancing with her new friends. It was a strange feeling to leave the school alone and no kids in the car seats in the back but I am so glad that they have both loved preschool thus far this year. Maddie Grace literally runs into her class each morning without even looking back at me and same with Ella. It has been especially nice for me to have two mornings a week free. The preschool has been amazing for Ella and our family and I just know that Maddie will have the same experience as well. Here's to a great school year!