Running, Laughing & a Slutty Raccoon

Most people think that when they have kids their social life goes completely out the window.  I'm sure we have all heard the childless couples out there using this as an excuse.  For me having kids is what really gave me a social life.  These days without preschool, birthday parties and play dates I probably wouldn't get out of the house much.  I've said it before and I will say it again - we are very lucky to live in a community with such a great group of kids and parents.  Last Friday was Avrie's preschool jogathon.  I remember my friend Missy going to her Avery's jogathon last year and how much fun she said it was, so I decided to take Piper to the school and check it out.  Oh man am I glad I did!

I cant really put into words how ridiculously cute and funny the jogathon was.  It sort of reminded me of one of those nature shows where they've captured wild animals and taken them to a new place to live.  They open the doors and some critters go right, some left, some freeze in terror - well this is pretty much what happened when the jogathon began.  Kids were running in all different directions, with people on the sidelines trying to herd them in like a bunch of sheep, there was a lady with a water hose spraying water on them when they ran past, it was just adorable!  This is where I also had one of those rare mommy moments where I was so overcome with it all that I wanted to cry.  Avrie looked so big, running as fast as she could at a school function. It hit me like a ton of bricks that she was definitely on the uphill race to being a big kid, a proud and sad moment at the same time.  Afterwards the kids were all treated to an ice cream and they even allowed little Piper to sit down with the class and have one too.  It was a very special and fun day!

On Saturday we met up with Morgan's cousin Erin and her family- Brian and baby Graeme at Peter Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma.  We had plans to have a little picnic, taste some local cheese and pick some pumpkins. We started on setting up a really nice picnic complete with smoked salmon, wine, cheese, and even pumpkin ice cream.  Turns out the yellow jackets were extremely hungry and wouldn't leave us alone so the picnic was cut short before it even really began.  We moved on to picking pumpkins and we were doing pretty good until Avrie realized there were worms on some of the pumpkins and then she went from looking for pumpkins to looking for worms.  My sweet little country girl - the worm collector. It was great to spend some time with Erin, Brian and G-Man and we got some really good pictures.

After the pumpkin patch I met up with my friends Emily and Danielle to go costume shopping.  I haven't dressed up for Halloween since I was in Middle School and I had no idea how difficult it would be to pick a costume out.  It amazed me how there seemed to be a regular version and a slutty version of everything.  I saw this really cute raccoon costume that I thought I could wear to Avrie's preschool party.  I asked to try it on and they brought me a slutty version with fishnet stockings and the whole bit.  Really.....a slutty raccoon?  Needless to say I didn't try it on. I also figured out that one of the prerequisites to work at a Spirit Halloween store is that you have to be rude.  I cant get over how rude all the employees there were. 

After trying on a few costumes I finally settled on a Girl Scout - and seeing as how Girl Scouts are all about the buddy system my friend Danielle is going to be one too.  We are really excited to be going out this year.  The girls are going to the sitters and the rest of us are going to the Costume party at Dinuccis.  I know its going to be a blast but I need to remind myself not to have to much fun because I have a lot of baking to do for Avrie's preschool party the next day. Speaking of Dinuccis - Emily and I decided to swing by there on our way back from costume shopping for a drink just because that's what the guys always do - that's fair right?  We stayed for a couple hours, had a few drinks and a lot of laughs. The guys seemed to have had a good time too, at least I'm guessing that by the varmint gun left on the kitchen table.  I can only imagine how/why that got out. 

It was a really fun week and I am so excited for the weeks to come!  Taking Avrie trick or treating for the first time, hitting up a couple more pumpkin patches, preschool parties, birthday parties, play dates - my social calendar is full and its all thanks to two beautiful little girls!  Mommy loves you Avrie and Pipey!