halloween in hope gardens

We had our neighborhood Halloween party on the same day as our music class dress up day. Since I had learned earlier that day that Jonas' monkey costume was not going to work, we pulled a quick wardrobe change and pulled the fireman costume from our dress up clothes. He was much happier (at least long enough to get pictures and enjoy a few minutes of the party).
Thanks to my friend Rebecca for the chef's hat, I was able to pull my baker costume together in five minutes! (David showed up late to the party as a "business man." ha!)

The party host family...Rebecca (the Cracker Barrel worker), Alex (the mechanic), Gavin (the firefighter WITH his fire engine) and sweet Zack (the race car driver)

And of course, "the baker" had to show up with some yummy treats! I made vegan chocolate cakes so that my vegan friends could enjoy them as well.

And what's a Halloween party without bobbing for apples?!

Sweet London who was quickly calmed by the sweet witch! :)

Our friend Jessi brought three very delicious butters that I could not stop eating! (Thank goodness I am not vegan. :))

Another fun time in the Hope Gardens neighborhood!!

In the Neighborhood

For weeks now, David and I have been wondering why there have been so many cars at an old factory down the street from us, espcially on weekends, since it was supposed to no longer be in use. We also kept seeing a former car lot filled with cars and signs saying, "Extras" and "Catering" and "Event Parking." Very mysterious!! Just the other day we learned that Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow were making a movie in in this old factory. I learned tonight that Gwyneth was seen at a restaurant in the neighborhood next to us. I keep hoping to see her walking down the street. Ha!
Picture above from here.

Hope Gardens Luminaria

Our neighborhood wanted to do an event over the holidays so I suggested a luminaria. We used to do this in my dad's neighborhood at Christmas time when I was growing up. I have fond memories of it, so it was easy to convince the others to try this in our neighborhood. Our playgroups planned the event. So, as the days approaced closer to having it we slowly kept scaling the event down....we all have kids two and under! We ended up having the luminarias around our neighborhood park and offered free hot chocolate (thanks to Jessi's mom for an incredible mix) and cookies (I baked up some slice and bake cookies). It was cold but the kids from the neighborhood and our own kids had a fun time (and the adults did too, of course). Maybe next year we can expand to the sidewalks in front of our homes!

Summer Olympics in Nashville

David and I live in Hope Gardens, a neighborhood just minutes from downtown Nashville. A neighborhood committee has begun to organize fun events for the kids in the neighborhood. Last night, Asher and I went to our neighborhood playground to watch the "Summer Olympics." The kids drew different countries' flags on the walking path and made signs for all the different events, including the water balloon toss pictured above. Asher enjoyed throwing the wiffle ball around (that they later used for a spoon relay contest). Unfortuntely, there wasn't a ball throwing contest for Asher to participate in so we just watched.The kids were all given medals to award their hard efforts in the night's events.

This is my friend Rebecca with her little boy, Gavin. Rebecca is the one who has been organizing all of these fun events and does a great job!