October at Our House

Hey there!

Fall is in full swing in the Thompson household.  Usually it starts with some simple fall decorations like real pumpkins but faux branches from Pottery Barn, since we found out we’re allergic to real ones.  Then October arrives and brings colorful birthday banners for the boys, whose birthdays are a week apart.  Then the kids decide to make their birthdays extra festive by blowing up dozens of balloons, which settle all over the house.  Finally, cascades of Legos make their way out of birthday wrapping paper, and live on the floor until they have been made and remade into dozens of buildings.

It actually sounds rather idyllic until you see the aftermath of the festivities:

The rolled-up rugs are waiting to be returned to their places, moved because we are in the middle of having three appliances rolled out on hand trucks and three more rolled in.  I am very excited to be done hand-washing dishes, and Dave just surprised me with a very cool dark-blackish-silvery-blue washer and dryer set, which all have yet to be delivered.

Deacon wanted to invite a couple friends bowling, so that’s what we did.  The pictures aren’t so fantastic (neither are my kids at bowling), but you get the idea.

He was also wearing his plaid blazer at one point, which is his most beloved article of clothing:

In the morning, he opened his presents (you can see the birthday-banner chaos).

He turned 7 but got a 12-and-up Lego set from Grandma and Grandpa.

But it didn’t prove to be too much of a challenge for him, as he finished it the same day:

Judah also got Legos, plus a whole box full of old stamps and a box of vintage springs that he was very interested in at an estate sale.  He loves to study old stamps and make things out of spare parts.  Here are the springs:

He and Bennett have been making animals out of them:

For Judah’s birthday dinner, we went to the new Franklin Red Robin for the first time.  In WA where we’re from (Spokane and Seattle), Red Robin is a fun, frequent event.  Here, not so frequent.  The closest one was far away in West Nashville, so we were excited to have one near us in Franklin.  I hate to say anything not nice, but it definitely wins the award for worst-designed restaurant in Franklin.  The colors are a mix of dull and jarring and the layout is less cozy than eating at a gas station.  The food was even better than we remembered, though.  I can see us having some tough decisions to make in the future.

The picture below captures the personalities of our kids perfectly:

 

And here’s lovely Bennett, being kind and sweet to her kitty.

Then, it was time for our well-child doctor’s visits, where we found out Judah and Deacon were off the chart for height.  I think they’re about a head taller than everyone else their age.  Bennett and Judah enjoyed their visit (Bennett just came for the ride and got a sticker), but Deacon wasn’t so into it.

 

We are also adopting a frog this week, which Judah wanted instead of a birthday party (he actually wanted to go find the frog outside on his birthday).  We didn’t find one, so to the pet store we go.  This also means we’re going to be regularly buying crickets, which is enough reason to not get a frog.  But Dave thought it would be memorable bonding time for him and the kids to make regular trips to the pet store for bugs.  So he’ll be in charge of that and I’ll be in charge of having some time with just me and a delicious latte.

Hope you all are having a happy October so far!