November wrap up

November went by quickly between work and fun. Here's how we spent the last week or two of November... We took this kids down to the Taft Theater in the city for a kids production of Peter and the Wolf. Charlotte and Oliver got to make crafts, see instruments up close and then we watched the orchestra play some of our favorite songs. The kids loved every bit of of it...especially a Skyline lunch downtown afterwards.

Melissa got to attend both kids' Thanksgiving parties at school. Can you tell that Ollie is proud of his turkey?

Charlotte tasted pumpkin pie for the first time and came home with some pilgrim and indian finger puppets. We had several puppet shows over the next few days at home :)

Melissa always comes up with clever Thanksgiving shirt ideas for the kids. Our kids love to paint, so this one was especially fun for the them! You'll see the finished product soon.

We all got up early on Thanksgiving morning and drove to the city so Charlotte could run in a fun run. That is her lucky tutu and leg warmers you see. She was most excited to see her kindergarten teacher there to cheer her on. Mr. Stahl snapped this picture at the finish line.

Proud of Charlotte and her medal.

Here are the cute shirts all said and done. The kids are pretty darn cute too, huh?

The day after Thanksgiving we made our annual trip our to Corsi Tree Farm to pick out this year's tree.

Ollie looks pretty tough with that saw doesn't he?

Charlotte was a great helper dragging the tree to be baled up.

Marching off with our tree!

Annual picture in the red sleigh.

The next day we came to the tree farm again with our friends the Smiths. Look out for our Christmas card for those family pictures.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Looking forward to Christmas and more time with family and friends.

happy halloween 2016

Halloween is probably one of the most favorite holidays of the year around our house. We carved pumpkins and had a little get together in our cul de sac. But one of our little ghouls didn't feel so well, but we'll get to that. Ollie was so excited to pull the top off of his pumpkin...can you tell?

Charlotte was a little grossed out...can you tell?

Ollie was a little concerned at first why we were poking so many holes in his pumpkin, but after the grand reveal, he was impressed.

Our nephew Ben got a new football and he was really excited about. Go Bengals!

A little checkers on the back patio.

Here are the finished products. Ollie picked out Curious George and Charlotte just wanted a snowflake. Jon did the Bengals logo, Amanda did an owl and Ben free handed a scary face.

Mommy turning our kiddos into Dalmatian puppies for trick-or-treating.

Cutest puppies on the block.

Ollie played the part well as usual and was crawling around everyone barking and pawing at things with his gloves, errr...paws.

Charlotte didn't go to school that day because she was a little under the weather. After she got her face painted she kind of broke down and decided that she wasn't going to trick or treat. This happened last year too. Doesn't she just look pitiful?

But Ollie was pumped and ready to go!

Awwww.

Can you tell that this boy is ready to go?

This was him telling me that we needed to go to just 3 more houses for candy.

We wish that Charlotte and mommy could have made it, but the boys had fun walking around our neighborhood and getting some good loot. Ollie even made sure that he got some extra for his sissy and was certain to give it to her right when we got home.

apples and pumpkins oh my!

It's seems like Fall is finally here and so we headed off to our favorites locations for apples and pumpkins. We love having traditions and it is so much fun to look back over the years to see how the kids have grown. First off...A & M Apple Orchard (yes, I know that Ollie has a pumpkin in his hands below)

Charlotte couldn't wait to see the pumpkin patch at the orchard even though we were there for apples only.

And our favorite for pumpkins...Shaw Farms.

Charlotte's not the only one who knows how to lay down some hop scotch.

Butt cracks and chickens just go together, don't they?

Happy Fall from the Hess Family!

Ollie's first day of preschool

Today was Oliver's first day of preschool. After a fresh haircut and a new shirt, he was ready to go. It's strange to have both of our kids in school now, but we can't wait to see all of the things that they learn this year. This post is all about Ollie, his big first day and getting to soak up a little bit of time with mommy and daddy, without his sister in tow.

It was neat to log his height on our growth chart. He is just about an inch taller than Charlotte was on her first day of preschool.

That face is killing me.

Proud to wear his backpack for the first time.

A couple shots outside before we left for school.

These two love each other in a major way. Charlotte was so proud of Ollie and couldn't wait to hear about his day when she got home from school.

We tried to get this picture before school started but it just didn't happen, so here is one we snapped after school.

He didn't want mommy to leave him and there were a few tears, but we said goodbye and left it in his teacher's hands. He ended up having a great time.

After school, he had the pick of any restaurant and he chose Skyline. He may have been born in Virginia, but his blood flows with Skyline now.

We are so proud of you Oliver James. You are our baby boy, but you are growing up into a fun little man. Glad we got to share this first with you. Class of 2031 here we come!