simple enthusiasm

My girl just told her one year old brother (while clapping her hands excitedly), "Chaaaaleeee, you are just going to love it when you are old enough to chew gum! It is sooo much fun!!" Then, she turned to me and said, "Mom, you know, I really like chewing gum because my mouth smells bad and it makes me smell better. Good, huh!"

I love how enthused she gets over the simple pleasures of life...and I like that she wants to smell good too....

our TN mission trip

My husband, my oldest, and I headed to Tennessee for a Sunday School class mission trip a few weeks ago. Our class (around 50 people in all - counting all the kiddos) put on a fall festival for a church plant with the hopes to spread the word about the new church, encourage the members, and support the staff. We had a great time and pulled off a lovely event! God gave us a beautiful day and good attitudes all around. I was so proud of this child of mine...he worked so hard all day setting up games for all the children. And, he played hard too with the multitude of children with our group. Overall, we had a really great weekend with some really neat people doing some really cool things serving a really awesome God!

more from our Fall

The Fall is a busy time of year. I guess you knew that already. Birthday parties, fall festivals, Halloween, school parties, football games....they can make a calendar page look pretty colorful with all the be here's and be there's. They can also make a mommy's camera card pretty full. This post is this mommy's attempt to assist with that little issue. So, here goes....an onslaught of catching up....some memories I have etched into my memory with my Nikon....moments I want to keep in my heart and my scrapbook....

My daughter enjoyed her friend's princess party. She is always up for a little dress up! My sweet hubby did an outstanding job carving our pumpkin with our oldest two at a fun Halloween party. They were hilarious - C loved the slimy innards between his fingers while S snarled her nose and "ooo, yuk'd" a few hundred times. The Coach and his favorite player enjoyed a great season of flag football - undefeated - Yay, Lions!
My baby boy was a precious dalmation puppy for Halloween. I took him to our annual Sweets for Seniors at a local nursing home and he was all about the candy gathering, singing songs, blowing kisses, shaking hands, getting hugged, taking pictures that was involved. My sweet little buddy.... And, the official Halloween pictures....we had the Gastons over for dinner and trick or treating and had SO much fun! The kiddos were wired with all the sugar intake and excitement!
Superman and Alice and our little Dalmation wish you a beautiful Fall!!

germs and manners

Well, my sweet four year old little girl told her older brother the other night (out of the blue - as we were driving down the road) that the next time he burped, he needed to do it into his elbow to catch the germs. Of course, her all-knowing older brother rebuked her by telling her that one was to only do this when one sneezed or coughed. The little girl I call my own again reinforced her previous statement over...."it is just what you have to do, Cade, next time you burp." Back and forth, they went. Finally, they asked for my opinion on this very crucial matter. I gave them my spiel on coughing and sneezing into our elbows and trying not to burp in public or at least excusing ourselves. They seemed satisfied with my answer. And, I was glad to have the chance to share a reminder on germs AND manners. You never know what conversation a ride home in the car will bring.

a day with the Dawgs

We took a little trip to Starkville to see the Dawgs play a couple of weeks ago. We tailgated, and played ball, and walked around campus. We had the best time! I had not been in two years....sooo, a lot had changed! Here are a few pictures from our day trip:My nephew, Jo, was able to go with us for the game....he bleeds maroon and hopefully had a big day keeping up with these two guys. Miss Syd was ALL about the cheerleaders and Homecoming Queen...as you can tell, she was all smiles and thrilled to have some time with each. The Queen was precious! And, she had been in MiMi's 4th grade class....so, Mimi and I took S to see her. She was such a doll to my girl...sat and talked and talked with her. And, my 4 year old was ELATED!! Great food (thanks, Mimi!), great time, great game (we won!)!! Go Dawgs!!!

a neighborhood parade

Our neighborhood had a fun parade/donut breakfast last weekend for Halloween. We had fun seeing all the cute costumes and meeting a few neighbors. Bear was highly impressed by the fire truck. It was a good way to start off a fun weekend!