Fall Festivals & Halloween

Our fall festival at school was last week, and Super

Girl was escorted by her daddy since I had to work.

She was so excited about winning her class quilt that she

insisted on leaving her bed made and covering up with it.

BBC Fall Festival was Wednesday night, but this is the

only picture I took. This boy LOVES God's Gorillas!

We went to Trunk or Treat at CHS last night.

And today, of course, was dress up day at school.

Happy Birthday Maz!

81 years ago today a baby girl was born. I doubt her mama could've imagined all the things that girl would turn out to be...daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, friend. The most important thing that baby girl ever did was to accept Christ as her savior and tell others about His love. One of those others was me. Happy Birthday Moms (or "Maz" as Emma lovingly renamed her when she began to talk). We love you!!

Nerd Day:)

Parties & Pumpkins {& Santa}

Yesterday started with a MUCH needed last minute haircut before we visited with the big guy in the red suit (yes, I know it's October), where E declared she'd like a back handspring mat, an American Girl doll with short hair, and a pink Gator. Luke asked for a fireman suit, a bouncy ball, and flowers for his mama (be still my heart:). Then, we were invited to 3 birthday parties within 3 hours! Unfortunately, time and resources only allowed us to attend two of them.

Justin chose to take Luke to Blair's party since it was during the Bama game and he knew there would be a TV (and let me just say that I'm not sure where this team has been all season but I hope they show up at the rest of the games), while I took E to J.T. and Kinlee's party (and stayed updated via the ESPN College Football app and my mama's texts;). When it was over we headed to Blair's to see the birthday girl and visit with Steven, Jennifer, and Ella (who loves me:).

Luke was in Heaven right in that sandbox!

 

Finally, around 6PM I talked the kiddos into leaving because they promised their Nana they were coming to spend the night. Apparently when I dropped them off, though, their night was just beginning because I was still getting pictures via text after 9PM. They carved their first pumpkin! (And Luke didn't have pajamas, so he ended up in Big Sis's pink pants, ha!)

 



Twin Day {Spirit Fridays}

Emma & Kinlee

All As {1st Report Card}

Our girl has worked really hard this nine weeks and came away with 4 As because of it! I took her for a celebratory cupcake this afternoon, and I hope it's just the first of many! We are so proud of you, Emma Catherine! :)

Frozen on Ice

For years Ashley and I have said we wanted to take the kids to Disney on Ice, but it always falls on the same weekend as Christmas Village and it's never very "boyish". 

A month or so ago we found out that Frozen on Ice was coming to Atlanta, and we knew we had to go.

All the kids LOVE Frozen. I do too. I'm not super crazy about kids' movies, but I loved Frozen from the beginning. And it had nothing to do with the music or the art, although they are both amazing. The best part of Frozen, to me, is the message. I love the fact that her sister, not a boy, saves her. What a great message for little girls!

Anyway, we didn't sit in the best seats but we had the best time. Emma belted out every word to every song, and every time another character came out that he loved (Mickey, Minnie, Woody, Buzz, Nemo, etc.) Luke yelled, "I can't believe this! I have you at my house!"

Luke {my little man}

The other night he was in the bathroom while Justin was shaving,

 so he had to get in on the action. He was so proud of himself.

In honor of Fire Prevention Week, the AFD brought the truck to

 FACS and talked to the kids about fire safety. Our friend Jeremy

 was one of the firefighters, and Luke ate it up. Thank you, Jeremy,

 for sharing this picture with us. Luke wore a plastic fire helmet on

 our doctor's office/home improvement store adventure that

afternoon and has played "fireman" every evening since then. He

 loves Mr. Jeremy and loved getting to wear "real fireman stuff". 

Petting Zoo {1st Grade Field Trip}

Today was the day E has been waiting for all week (or month) long -- Field Trip Day!

We went to the petting zoo in conjunction with our animal unit, and since her daddy was on Fall Break he got to go with her. It's always a really great trip, and this year did not disappoint.

I had to stay with my class, so I gave Justin strict instructions to take pictures. He did a pretty good job, except I don't have one pic of the two of them:/. I did snap one of the two of us together before he took her home.

7 & 4 Year Checkup {and tubs}

Today we took the kids for their 7 and 4 year checkups. I usually go by myself, both kids end up having shots, and it takes 4 or 5 of us to hold one down while a stranger holds/comforts the other one. Honestly, it's one of those situations you can choose to laugh or cry about. I usually choose to laugh, which makes everyone in the doctor's office question my sanity.

Since Justin was on Fall Break (must be nice, huh?) this week, I insisted that he ride with us. E doesn't need anymore vaccinations until she's 12, but Luke was due for 3 plus a TB test. And then there's the flu shot. If you're counting, we're at 5 sticks for my baby and one for the girl.

I got my flu shot on Tuesday, so she knew it was coming. She actually did pretty good. She didn't whine and cry and fuss on the way there (which she would have a year ago). She cried a little bit beforehand, but once they stuck her she stopped crying and that was that.

Poor Luke. They did the TB test first, and I had to hold him across my lap. Then he had two shots in each leg, while I held his arms and the top half of him, his daddy held his legs, and two girls shared the responsibility of holding him down and administering the "injections" (which I'm pretty sure the kids have figured out is just code for shots). E asked if she could sit in the room across the hall so she didn't have to hear him cry.

Bless.

Before their world was turned upside down, Dr. Ray gave them the gold seal of approval. E is 52 inches tall and weighs 58 lbs...tall and skinny. He was very impressed with her balance (he made her hop across the room on one foot) and immediately asked if she took gymnastics. Luke is 44 inches tall and 42 lbs. He was very impressed with his balance and athleticism too, saying that kids aren't expected to be able to hop on one foot until at least age 5.

Since we survived the doctor's office, we went to "the big slide" (aka Chick-Fil-A) for supper and ice cream. Then we went on a mad search for two matching white tubs...one left drain, one right drain. Lowe's, then to Home Depot, back to Lowe's, then to another Lowe's made for an exhausting night. Luke slept through the final Lowe's trip...on the tub. We finally made it home at 9:30PM.

Fall

The calendar declared it fall on September 23rd. I don't declare fall until two things have happened...we have a frost and we've been to the pumpkin patch. Both of those things happened today, so fall is officially upon us! ;)

This morning was "Men's Day" at church, so the men sang in the choir. I must admit that they did an AMAZING job, and I'd like to see them up there every Sunday. Justin even sat in the back row and sang...or mouthed the words;). Luke insisted he go too since he's a boy.

As we were leaving Wanda's after lunch Brent called to see if

we wanted to ride with them to the pumpkin patch, so we took a

spur of the moment trip to Lawson Farms. The kids had a blast!