Bible Memory Update

Our goal for this school year is to memorize 40 Bible verses each.  So, here is our update after 11 weeks...

Christian knows...
John 3:16
1 John 4:14
Psalm 147:5
1 Corinthians 15:3
1 Corinthians 15:4
James 2:10
Acts 16:31
John 20:31
Psalm 118:1
That's 9!!

Some verses have stumped him a little and it is so cute when I ask him if he is ready and he isn't.  He says "Um, no, I think I need a little more time."  Overall he is doing great and can remember his past verses without any help.  Way to go, Pappy!



Brogan knows...
Romans 3:23
Jeremiah 17:9
Romans 6:23
2 Corinthians 9:15
Acts 16:31
John 3:36
Psalm 100:3
Jeremiah 10:10a
John 17:17b
Psalm 119:24b
Romans 15:4a
Psalm 25:4
Ecclesiastes 7:20
John 1:1
Acts 4:12
Psalm 86:11
Genesis 1:1
Revelation 22:13
Isaiah 45:21b-22
Psalm 99:3
Psalm 139:2
Psalm 147:5
2 Corinthians 13:14
John 3:16
That makes 24!!

This girl is rockin' and rollin'!!  She is over 1/2 way there in just 11 weeks!  She loves Awanas and the challenge that it provides each week.  I am so proud of her and her accomplishments so far.  Keep it up girly!

Halloween!!!!

It's getting harder each year to get a cute Halloween picture.  The boys are just to cool for costumes now so to get a shot of all of them together is very rushed.  Here they are...our (BIG &) little gobblins!

Joshua: Texas A&M college student, Codey: A normal kid,

Christian: Surfer, Brogan: Pirate (She bought the costume herself!), Rylen: Bumblebee Transformer (of course!)

This year we went to the Halloween Carnival that the 4H Club puts on every year.  The boys had to work to earn hours to show at the fair so the little ones got to have fun and play games while they were working.  Brogan entered the costume contest with her friend, Maddie, and they made it into the Grand Finals.  Brogan was second in her group and Maddie was third.  neither of them placed in the finals, even though we thought they should have!  Tey did great though and it was a fun evening for all! 

We also went to our church for their "Character Quest" where the kids went door to door through the church guessing Bible characters and completing a riddle.  They had games, pizza and door prizes also.  I gave the kids a break from camera for that but they sure had fun!

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.