Autumn Moments

Little road trip to Covington, brought us to our favorite little Jenkins girls.

 They were thrilled to have a sleepover.

She got to wear jeans and a patriotic tshirt on Veteran's Day. We didn't have a patriotic shirt and I wasn't about to buy one so I borrowed a red shirt from our friend Matthew.  OH MY WORD!  She had quite the meltdown for feeling as though she looked like a boy.  I strung her a quick necklace to soften the blow.  Lawdy be!

Gianna was chosen to participate in the Living Rosary at school.  I have NEVER seen her so nervous.  I really thought she was going to bolt.

Went to brunch with this handsome man...sweet godson, Nate:

Sometimes she's still and quiet...

sometimes....

This girl....

Had lunch with these three buddies from their old school Poise-N-Ivy.  So happy they are all at the Queen.

Hoping these two will always be friends...

She didn't leave the dance floor at this wedding....

My Goofy Girl...

Backyard shenanigans...

Putt Putt...

School besties at a fishing tournament....

Little groupie came to hear her buddies play some cool music at Luna's...

With mommy at the school carnival...

These classmates are a precious pair - when they don't drive each other nuts.

Blossom...

A girl and her dog...

Loves Japanese food, and is pretty darn good with chopsticks!

Always makes friends with the waiters/waitresses....

They made her a crane...

Before school one day...

Here's the turkey G and I made for Thanksgiving....

These are the other two turkeys....

And then there's this goose...

Something else!

Piano Lessons

So, did I mention that Gianna began piano lessons this semester?  My sweet friend gave me a heads up about a piano pedagogy program at McNeese State which is a program where a music professor teaches Piano/Music students how to teach piano lessons to young children.  Basically the professor teaches four elementary students (paired with college assistants) for 45 minutes and then the last 15 minutes each students goes with a college student for private lessons in practice rooms (which are videoed and later viewed by the professor.)  It's just been about 8 weeks, and I am beyond impressed by how much Gianna has learned.

Below you can see the professor in the background with Gianna at a keyboard with her college counterpart.  They all wear headphones and can hear the professor and only their keyboard.  They professor can hear ALL the keyboards.  Super cool to watch.

Home practice has been challenging in that 1st Grade had been a rough adjustment and between homework and learning another completely new skill - her little brain is being taxed in a whole new way. I selfishly and realistically take credit for a good bit of her success, because I really push her to meet her goals and complete her tasks.  It's been exhausting, but but it has been fruitful for my little  musician.

After a couple of lessons:

This is after five weeks:

 And this is two weeks later(with a little extra zip with the help of the percussion back-up track)...

Not too shabby, huh?

Oh - and the lessons end up costing roughly $10 per hour.  Seriously! I've NEVER heard of lessons that reasonable.  So pleased with our experience.

Scarecrow Walk

Took a little jaunt over to Texas border to Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange.  They had a scarecrow walk throughout the gardens.  The scarecrows were made by various groups, organizations, classes, businesses, etc. who made their entries from only recycled materials.

We went with Gianna's older friends, Annie and Sarah - and their moms.  We each have only children (girls) so they have a lot in common.  They are a hoot together.

There were pumpkins EVERYWHERE!

 This was one of my favorite entries --- Flat Stanley.  So clever.

Here is a little slideshow of our day....

Trick or Treat - Halloween 2014

 So we went to an awesome Halloween Party the week before the holiday at the Washington's.  Stellar, as usual!

 There was a fantastic face painter there....

Ben was an American Ninja Warrior....hence the flag.... 

 Mary Elizabeth had fun too....

Cleopatra rocked it! 

Some of my favorite sweets....

Fab BOO lous, for sure!!!!

Check out those cheeks!

Gianna wanted Cleopatra facepaint, but I managed to convince her that a butterfly was more fairy-like.

 Cute, huh?

So for the actual day of Halloween, I thought I had facepaint, but didn't. I had to use eye makeup instead.  Not too bad.... 

 I did have a bit of guilt for not letting her be Elsa, but she really stood out in her costume....which, by the way, cost less than $10 total.  

Got the costume at a garage sale for almost nothing. Got the shirt for 50cents at a 2nd hand store.  Made the wreath from flowers I bought at the Dollar Tree....and glued the extra on some shoes that were falling apart.  Not too shabby!

This is our Trick or Treating Crew.  They were so cute.

 And Mommy was a good sport and dressed up this year.  I didn't tell Gianna what I was going to be.  She got a kick out of it.  My own mother, however, couldn't believe I was leaving the house like that.  Thanks for the support, Mom. :)

My friend and I got so tickled taking all these pictures.  She really egged me on.  I think she's planning on blackmailing me.

So are you ready for THIS?   I found this picture of when I was one year old.  I think I might have been the ORIGINAL Waldo!!!!!!