Annual Halloween Lunch...well sort of!

So this year, do to crazy weekend schedules and Brooklyn being in school full time we opted for a Halloween after school snack party. Brooklyn came as a peacock and Jack was a Jack in the Box. Both were darling.

We had a nice little spread.

We had popcorn ball ghosts, egg monsters, kiwi-steins, monster toes, and big mouths. All was yummy, but the popcorn ball ghost was the hit of the afternoon. My favorite was the kiwi-steins, but the kids did not like them.



We decorated felt pumpkins and painted pictures with edible paint onto brownies. Those turned out lovely.


Can you guess which 3 are Brooklyn's and which 3 are Jack's? Brooklyn's is a "brewja" - witch in Spanish...no clue if I'm spelling it correctly, a jack-o-lantern, and a vampire. Jack's are all race cars. I guess he didn't quite understand the Halloween part of the assignment. :)

My favorite part of the afternoon was watching them dive into the popcorn ball ghost. I turned around only to find them each head first in the ghost. Yummy!


The only thing missing was 3 little Bright children. Maybe one day we will all live close enough to have a BIG Halloween lunch together.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed in myself this year. Visit my post about last year's Halloween lunch and you will understand. I wasn't nearly as creative...Ros said, "This is your rebuilding year." I guess that's true...I've got to start planning now for next year. As Brooklyn was getting in the car to leave, she said, "Thanks Aunt Emily, and don't forget to do this again next year!" So she is already planning too. :)

Tie-dying this summer

Brooklyn had been wanting to learn to tie-dye, so the weekend before school started we got a handy-dandy kit and went out in the back yard and tie-dyed 2 shirts and an apron. It was fun, but a little messy.

Fun in the Florida Sun

I spent 2 weeks in August and 1 week in October in Florida. August was humid and hot, but I really enjoyed October. In October we stayed right on the beach...which was heavenly. I loved running each evening on the beach. I could get use to that.

Here is a picture of me and 3 of my co-workers. Can you tell that one of these feet is not like the others?


I almost stepped on this lovely washed up on the beach Jelly fish. glad I didn't step on it.

Happy Birthday Kate!

Sadly I only have the pictures on my phone...so that's not a lot and they aren't very good quality, but I still wanted to acknowledge that today is a celebration of something great! The day I became an AUNT! 9 years ago today Kate came into our lives and our family. We couldn't have been happier! I hope you have a great birthday. Wish we could be there again this year!

Cute Halloween Craft

I love Halloween and I love to decorate my house. I decided to make a new decoration with my favorite candy to decorate with, but never will I let one pass through my lips. Candy corn are cute, but nasty!

Here is a picture up close.

I like them, but they are delicate. I hope they can make it to next year.

Mani/Pedi Time

So a while ago, my mom took Kate and Clair for a pedicure. When she got back from South Carolina she told Brooklyn about it. Brooklyn has been dying to get one ever since. She simply adores Kate and Clair and wants to do everything that they do. The start of school seemed like a good enough reason to have a spa afternoon. Mom, Britni, and I watched as Brooklyn got a little mani/pedi pampering. She really seemed to enjoy it. The pictures are not the best quality...they are taken with my iPhone. I have more pictures to post later. I need to be better about posting things.

Our last summer hurah at the beach!

At Myrtle Beach enjoying the end of summer! Clair at the beach on our first morning! Kate looking for a great beach find!

Bowen working on the Bright sand castle!

The sunrise the first morning!

The kids loved playing in the sand and the waves. We had so much fun. We can't wait to go back in a couple months and enjoy a less crowded beach!

"I feel like a REAL woman!"

That is what Brooklyn said to me, as we were having a "Spa afternoon." We started with making chocolate cookies in the easy bake oven. Then I gave Brooklyn a french manicure (only because I didn't have any other colors). Then i put make up on her and did her hair. As I was putting make up on...she said, "I feel like a REAL woman!" I busted out laughing. She's already gorgeous, but look at the heart breaker that came out at the end.


FYI...we also worked on our minds, by practicing reading. She's not just all beautify...she's brains too! :)

Camping at Devils Fork and Hiking too!

Here are some photos from the rest of our camping trip including two hikes...one to white water falls and one to stump house mountain tunnel. Yummy camp food - this was our hot dog dinner and I made a yummy pineapple upside down cake in our new dutch oven! I love that thing!

This is the white water falls gang!

I seriously have the most beautiful kids...I just love taking pictures of them!

Now on to the stump house mountain tunnel. There is the enterance behind Bowen and Stephen! Such a cool place- literally!

Our long weekend trip ended on a bad note - Kate got bite by a spider at some point. Her ankel got huge and she couldn't even walk on it. It was red and swollen and tender to the touch. I had to take her to the doc and they put her on heavy antibiotics. Luckly after about 3 days on the meds we started to see improvement!

A day at Beautiful Lake Jocassee

As soon as school was out we headed off to camp with some of our neighbors for a long weekend! We were lucky to discover that some good friends of ours from church were planing on being on the lake near our camp site with their boat and sea-do. They were SO kind and great examples of good members of the church! They incited us all to join them on the lake and boated us out to a little island where they'd set up a shade tent in a little cove. Here is Clair riding off to the island with Brother Taylor - I think Clair is going to be our thrill seeker! She didn't' hesitate to jump on the sea-do and wanted to go faster! Just look at that lake - isn't it beautiful! Here is Brother Smith with the first of three boats full to ferry over to the island! Kate wanted to ride in the boat - NOT on the sea-do!

Now Bowen's turn on the sea-do!

Here we are on the island...the kids plated in the water and in the sand and just had a blast!

Bowen REALLY liked the sand! He also really liked taking a ride in the little kayak.

Clair and her little friend Zoe loved the rube ride! They kept their thumbs up to go faster the whole time!

Here is Clair after the tube ride - at which time she proclaimed -"This is the best day of my whole life!"

Kate rode on the purple scarier tube, but had the protection of her favorite YW from church, Alexis! I am so glad she has good girls to look up to that are kind and considerate!

Clair got her first sting - a wasp we think. She was "uncomfortable" for a long while...but later she said, "Even though I got stung, it was still the best day of my life!" So, no harm done I guess!

The weather got a little stormy - but man I love this place! Now the Bright family has been bit by the lake bug and we long to have a boat of our own!