Halloween Happenings

I am a little bit behind in my blogging, but I wanted to post pictures from Halloween. As usual, Jonathan did a fabulous job carving our pumpkin. Anna Caitlin and Joshua helped clean out the guts, and then Jonathan carved an awesome Mario.

Daddy and the kids carving...





The Great Pumpkin...



We had a blast on Halloween night. The Poythresses and Walls came over to grill out hotdogs and chili before we went trick or treating...



And then, Mr. Lawerence came with our hayride! Jonathan, Lawerence, Drew, and Tate worked all day Saturday on the trailer to get it just perfect for Halloween night...

After loading up, we were ready to go trick or treating. We had our friends from Ms. Carol's house (Chappy, Tate, and Luke), our cousins (Macenzie, Abbie, Thomas, and Nicholas), and our friends (Anderson, Campbell, Kade, Rennan, and Bella). We had so much fun hitting all of the houses in the neighborhood! We are already planning our trip next year.

Super Mario Power...

My three cuties...

Ford friends...

The monster cookies Anna Caitlin and I made for our friends...

Happy Halloween!!

Thankful

Reflecting over the past year has been a journey of highs and lows. We have celebrated many milestones: Anna Caitlin's last day of Kindergarten and learning to ride a bike without training wheels; Drew's last year with Ms. Carol and his first experience at baseball; and Joshua's first words and first steps. We have had moments of pure joy and happiness: a wonderful week in Disney World with Grammie and Granddaddy; the first "real" snow my children have ever been able to sled in; a fun trip to the beach with Mama Judi and Papa Johnny. And we have experienced the single greatest loss of my life: saying good bye to my Dad.



Throughout the past year, one verse has presented itself from Phillipains 4. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Jesus Christ." I am so thankful that I have so much to rejoice in, even as I journey through the lows.



SEVEN REASONS I AM THANKFUL:



7. I am thankful for my job. I absolutely love the opportunity I have been given to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. I am so blessed to work with some of the best people I know, who have become a part of my family.



6. I am thankful for Ms. Carol. She has been such a blessing in the lives of each and every one of my children. She loves them and nurtures them and they love her so much in return. She teaches them how to love one another and how to love God, and I will forever be indebted to her.



5. I am thankful for my home. I am thankful for the everyday sounds that fill these walls each and every day. I love listening to my children's footsteps as they run to our room in the morning and the sound of them laughing in the playroom. I am thankful for the yard that they play in and the kitchen table where we sit down each evening to spend time together.



4. I am thankful for my friends. I have been blessed with some of the most wonderful friends in the whole world. Friends who have celebrated all of the good times with fun and laughter. Friends who have supported me through the hard times with unending love and concern. Friends who have seen me at my best, and seen me at my worst, and love me just the same.



3. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that I have been given two parents who have taught me true, unconditional love. Parents who demonstrated what a family should be in their daily lives. Parents who took me to church every Sunday and Wednesday and believe that prayer changes things. I am thankful for the time I had with my dad and I am most thankful that I know that he is now in Heaven, watching over us.


I am thankful for Jonathan's family. I am thankful for grandparents who love my grandchildren and would do anything for them. I am thankful for aunts and uncles who love my children and call to check on them.



2. I am thankful for my husband and my children. I am thankful that I married someone who loves me unconditionally and brings out the best in me. I am thankful for a marriage that is grounded in faith and respect. I am thankful to be married to someone who puts his family first, no matter what. I am thankful for the three most wonderful blessings I have ever been given. I am thankful for their health. I am thankful that they all have such big hearts and sweet dispositions. I am thankful that I am the one they call mommy.

1. I am thankful that God loves me. I am thankful that He is faithful to walk beside me in the good times and the bad times. I am thankful that He wants what is best for me and that He listens to my prayers.

I HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR.

Camping FUN!!

We took the kids on their very first camping weekend with our friends, the Stevens. We had such a great time! We camped at Red Top Mountain, right on the lake, which was beautiful! The kids had tons of woods to play in and rocks to climb, so it was the perfect spot. And so close to home too.



We got there Friday afternoon to start the weekend. Uncle Roger brought his camper up for us to borrow...thanks Uncle Roger! We grilled out hamburgers, thanks to Ken, and played at the campfire. Later, we headed over for the Haunted Hayride and storytime. We started with storytime where they told ghost stories around a big bonfire. We looked down and Drew and Mariella were holding hands...cutest part of the whole weekend!! The Haunted Hayride was an adventure, if you have never been on it. Anna Caitlin was terrified from the very beginning. She put her head down in Jonathan's lap and did not look up for the next 30 minutes. Some of the ride really was scary, as people would come up to the wagon and follow you and reach for you. Michelle and Kinley almost ended up in our lap at one time. But it was alot of fun!

The next morning, we got up and Michelle cooked us breakfast. Are you seeing a pattern?? Going camping with the Stevens was great....they were very prepared with food :) The kids spent the day riding scooters, bikes, and the Gator. We played down at the lake and in the woods, and had a great time just hanging out.

We did have one scary moment when Drew and Mariella were missing. We looked everywhere for them...bathrooms, campers, woods. They thought they would be funny and hide under the cabinets under the table in the Stevens' camper. Those two are a trip!


That night, we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows over the fire. We made smores and had a great time. We cannot wait for our next camping adventure!!

Backyard Bonfire!!

This year, we had our second annual backyard bonfire with some of our favorite friends!! There is no better way to celebrate fall than smores and roasting marshmellows! We started out our night roasting our hotdogs over the fire. Some of the kids barely got theirs warm before they ate them, but everyone had fun!

Next, we roasted marshmellows and made smores. I think the kids had more fun just roasting the marshmellows and then giving them to all of the adults to eat! Ms. Kelley brought candy necklaces to make, which they all loved. Lots of play time for the little ones and lots of good conversation and fun for the grown-ups. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends! I am so thankful that our babies are growing up together!

The girls...


The kids...



Sweet friends...

Cagle's Corn Maze

This year, we went to Cagle's Corn Maze with the Poythresses and Walls. The kids were so excited about finding their way through the maze. Luckily, this year, it was MUCH warmer than our trip there last year. We started out in the "hard" maze, were we did really well. We actually finished it in about 15 minutes. The kids were much better at the trivia questions than we were...especially the bible ones!



So, after we finished, we thought we were pretty good at it, and we set off on the "easy" maze. It was NOT easy! At some point, we all got seperated. Now, I am not convinced that was not the plan. Somehow, Dana (6 months pregnant), me, and mom ended up with ALL of the kids (7 to be exact) while Shanna, Brent, Jill, Jim, Jonathan, Karl, and Lisa ended up by themselves. Tell me that was a conincidence! Our group somehow ended up crossing over the lines back into the wrong maze. It took a while, but we finally made our way out of the entrance to the other maze. Oh well, at least we found our way out!



After we finished the mazes, the kids had a great time jumping on the bouncy pillows and running around. Everyone had a great time!

Fall in the South...THE FAIR!!!

Fall is my very favorite time of year. And the fall brings one of my very favorite things to do...THE FAIR! There is nothing like the fall weather, the rides, the great people watching and the food!! (Especially the corn dogs and the funnel cakes :)



My kids love going to the fair as much as I do. We went with Shanna, Brent, Macenzie and Abbie, and then met up with the Wallaces.



The kids had a blast. We bought the wristband to ride all the rides they wanted to, and they rode all night long! This was Joshua's first time really riding anything, and he was all smiles.



We even met up with Anna Caitlin's friend Gabby, and they got to ride a ride together!



We finished off the night with some yummy food, and of course, a funnel cake!

My kids did not get in bed until 11:00 (even though the first grade was doing standardized testing...whoops!), but it was totally worth it. The fair only comes once a year and we enjoy every minute of it!