Happy Fall Y'all!

Well, as much as I loved the background that I had, it was time for a change.  Fall is here so I just had to update for my second favorite season.  This one will only be around for a few weeks though until December comes.

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

2009

Look at how much this guy has changed in just a year!  He may not be a baby anymore but he is MY baby!

 2010

Our Rye-Rye

Birthday Surprises

Well, today is my birthday.  Yeah!!! 

I have always loved my birthday.  I'm talking countdowns in my head from like, well whenever I get a new calendar and start filling in all those major dates.  Over the past years it hasn't had a whole lot of splendor like it used to.  I had such fun parties when I was kid.  Always a costume theme and lots of fun.  Even in college we made a big deal out of it.  But, since I got married (10 days before my birthday) and kids came along it hasn't had as much attention.  I guess that's the way it works.  I'm fine with that.  I will even announce my age if someone asks.  Yes, this would be #36!!!  I am starting to see the wrinkles or "laugh lines" and I have spotted a few gray hairs.  I lean on the fact that Proverbs 16:31 says "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness."  while we, I, struggle, I have been blessed with a life filled with so much.  So much more than the overwhelming majority of this world.  I have also been blessed with wonderful friends.  Friends that even though we don't see each other as often as we used to still remember.  I haven't expected anything in years.  Like Codey said, "It's not fair we never go eat for Mom's birthday but we always do for everyone else's."  I would just rather spend that money on something else.  I would rather have my family with me here in my home on this day.  I have a special day when we are all together.  But, this year Jeremy did take me out.  It was an anniversary and birthday dinner in one.  Yes, Dave Ramsey would be proud.  I also had these flowers delivered to me...

...from a very special friend.  Thanks so much Linda for making my day, for making me feel special!  In addition, I got a call from a friend asking if I would be home and could her and her son come to visit.  I have had sick kids all week, and one today, so I told her that probably wasn't a good idea.  she said she just wanted to stop by.  When she got her she had a gift and her little son sang "Happy Birtday to you".  So sweet!  She gave me this...

...wonderful necklace that her and a friend make.  They are selling them to fund their mission trip to Russia this Thanksgiving.  It says "Faith" in Russian.  So beautiful and so sweet.  Thanks, Erin.  You are a true friend!

I had several calls and lots of those Facebook messages and I am thankful for each and every one of them.  I am blessed to have such great friends and family.  HaPpY BiRtHdAy to ME!!!!

Pumpkin Contest

It's a pumpkin dressed as a ghost for Halloween.  Complete with a headband, I might add.  (The missing paint parts are from the many drops she received from the car into the building.  Beauty marks I guess!)

Brogan had a pumpkin decorating contest Monday at Food Club.  She came up with how she wanted to decorate her pumpkin and did it all by herself.  When we got there there were some very ellaborate carved pumpkins.  Everyone got to vote on their favorite and the winner won "bragging rights" for the year.  When Brogan saw the others she said "Mom, you had better vote for mine.  Then at least I will have 2 votes."  So, like a good Mom I did vote for hers.  And, so did many others. 

She got 3rd place!! 

I am very proud of her first try at decorating.  Now she has some grand ideas for next year...Watch out Peeps!!

End of 1st Quarter- AOA

Well, the 1st Quarter has ended for AOA.  Jeremy has survived his dual roles as 6th grade teacher and Athletic Director and has made some good strides in turning some things around.  Codey has managed to survive being back in school with his peers without me being too hard on him or getting too upset.  He is in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, on the student Council and is looking forward to trying out for basketball in the next couple of weeks.  While he has some things to improve on, I am glad of the transition that he has made back to "school life".  Joshua, well, he has continued his goal of making all A's throughout his schooling career.  He is particpating in Interact and Fellowship of Christian Athletes this year.  He also ran cross-country for the first time and is trying out for basketball.  During this busy quarter he also spent seven weeks rehearsing and performing in "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Huntsville Community Theatre.  He has done a great job!  They all have!  So proud of my boys!!!

Apples

We have been looking at apples this week with Christian and Rylen. 

We did a taste test to decide which kind of apple everyone in the house liked best and made a graph to chart our results.  The overwhelming majority of our house (4 people!) chose the Gala apple as their favorite.

We also made observations about an apple we chose and drew a picture of that apple.

And we ate a tons of apples!

Fall Ball

Well, Brogan has been playing softball again.  This time she decided she wanted to play Fall Ball so we had a short 6-8 weeks of practices and games.  It was more instructional than competitive but she just wanted to be out there with the bat and ball in her hand.  I took pictures at just one game, but I had some fun with them, of course. 

Happy 14th!

2 "I Do's", 5 kiddos, and 14 years later...

Happy Anniversary!!!

Jeremy planned for us to go out to dinner today.  He set up for a babysitter, hence son #1 Joshua, and we went out for a quick bite to a nice place, just the two of us.  They had already eaten dinner so we told the kids that while we were gone they couldn't use the stove, oven or microwave.  When we got home we came home to a surprise for us from the kids...

 Fresh Baked Cookies!  Yummy!

It was so sweet of them!  Yep, they made it for us.  It was a group effort. 

They used the microwave and oven.  But, it was for a good cause I guess.  Thanks kiddos!  All of you are so super sweet and we love you!     *PSST: Next Time Obey!*

Happy 3rd Birthday, Rylen!!

Happy Birthday, Rylen!!

Our little bambino that we tried so hard not to have.  More on that later.  But, God had other plans for our lives.  He had a plan for YOU!  He has a plan for YOU!  One that is glorious!

You fill our lives with joy, headaches, adventure, trouble, activity, laughter, fun and lots of love.  We love you and can't imagine our lives without you!

XC State

 

Joshua competed in the TAPPS State Cross Country Meet this weekend.  It was his first state cross country meet and he was a freshman competing against a lot of juniors and seniors.  There were 97 participants in his group.  He started to get nervous with the number of boys there so Jeremy told him to just run his best and not push himself to hard where he would get hurt.  (He had his last 2 performances of TKMB to do still!)  He did just that!  He came in 84th out of the group with his second best time of the season. 

I was very proud of him and how he ran.  Especially after seeing the finish...

Joshua sprinted the last 100 yards, at least!, and they other kid just couldn't stay with him.  Joshua beat him out in the end by sheer determination.  Way to go, Boss!!

Dress Up Fun

The kids have been bugging me about Halloween and what they want to be.  I don't buy or make ellaborate costumes for them so they basically have to use what we have or be creative.  Brogan asked if I would get "the box" down from the attic so they could look in it.  They had a blast going through it! 

I heard this conversation taking place at one point:  Brogan "I think I'm going to be a princess."  Christian "Brogan, You ARE a princess!"  Brogan "No, I mean for Halloween."  They were so sweet and cute!

Then...

It was all in fun though!

It's A Boy Thing

Don't ask because I don't know.  All I did was take the picture...

They are precious though aren't they??!!

Family Camp-out

We camped at Huntsville State Park this weekend with lots of family.  This has been planned for a year and we were supposed to be at Galveston State Park to celebrate the life of my dad.  We were supposed to anyway.  Instead, Joshua got the part of Jem in TKMB and my Mom felt bead missing his opening night.  "Your Dad wouldn't want to miss opening night." she said.  So, everyone moved their reservations to Huntsville and almost everyone attended opening night.  It was agreat weekend of relaxing, remembering and fun for the kids. Here are just some quick pics..

Playground fun...

The bikes were a huge hit...

Chit-chatting...

The big boys enjoyed lots of football...

 They were dirty from head to toe...

 Mom and I wanted a picture of the grandkids together...

The grandkids not so much...

 Oscar learning to ride without training wheels...

A great time was had by all!!!