Halloween

Okay, we had an awesome time trick-or-treating with friends in our neighborhood. Ryan and Evan have been talking for weeks about being Auburn Tigers and tonight was their debut. Chase also debuted tonight on his first trick-or-treat outing. He was more interested in the various dogs he met at each house. It is an understatement to say that he loves dogs. We found out that Ryan loves tootsie roll pops. I think every picture we have of Ryan shows him with a tootsie roll pop. Not the same one mind you. Oh no, he had several.....

Tootsieroll pop Number 1, 2 and 3

Pumpkins Galore

Saturday pumpkin patch visit was a blast. They loved the hay rides, pumpkin pickin, and the fried apple pies. This is a tradition we started with Ryan when he was 7 months old.

Favorite Chase Moment

Two weeks ago we went to the North Georgia mountains with some friends for the weekend. We had a awesome time visiting with friends and seeing the mountains beginning to be in their prime. So unlike Chase who likes to sleep a lot, he woke up Saturday morning around 6:30. He and I had an awesome sunrise moment. The cabin was dark and quiet when we laid down on the den couch. I let him lay down on my chest facing out east towards the large french doors that led out to the porch with a view that is incredible, mountain view. In the pitch dark, I told Chase to watch that the sun was coming up. I only expected him to sit there for about 10 seconds and then jump up but I was wrong. He sat there for a couple of minutes and I kept whispering to him to watch for Mr. Golden Sun. After a little while the sky started to turn from black to gray and then barely light up. Chase didn't make a peep but he started pointing. Amazing. He had been listening to me and watching. He seems to love nature and he seems so intrigued, inquisitive, and observant. He surprises me. After we witnessed the sunrise we both fell asleep which was also a treat. He is such my sweet baby boy. I hope I will always remember this Chase moment.

Sweet Lunch

My favorite day of the week... undoubtably, Thursday! I work 1/2 day, have lunch with Darryl, and run some necessary errands and pick up the children at 3:30. My favorite part...lunch with Darryl. Has it been 3 and 1/2 years since we have had a quiet lunch together? It feels like it. On my way out the door last week, I picked up the diaper bag. Go figure. I had to remind myself where I was going. Our lunches (2 so far) have been awesome. Not so much the $3.99 Subway turkey on wheat. Just the adult conversation with my hubby. Can't wait until this Thursday. I got another date:)

Strangely Dim

Last Sunday I attended church in Piedmont, Al where Darryl's family lives. It is always amazing to me how how there is always at least one thing that really speaks to me during church service. I try to always go with great expectations and I am never disappointed. After a week I don't remember what the message was about but I certainly remember the message God had prepared for me because I have thought about it all week. I believe it was the piano music while the offering was being collected. It was a simple tune but it really got me to thinking. I have heard it many times times but this time I actually focused on the words. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus." Actually, stop what you are doing, and turn means you must look for Him. "Look full in His wonderful face." Where do you best see His face? Outside, in your children, in the Bible, when you close your eyes? And when you see Him... "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace." Things of this earth would be...circumstances, good, bad and indifferent. It doesn't matter. All circumstance goes away. I am guessing this is how Moses felt when God hid him in the clift of the rock and revealed His glory to him. And that's it. No verses. Just a simple chorus. But wow! If we actually did this everyday, more than once a day....

D's BIG bassy fish.

Darryl went to south Georgia a couple of weeks ago on a guys weekend. He caught his best bassy fish ever. And ofcourse, he HAD to bring two home and add to the ever growing many species in our deep freezer. The kids really enjoyed the homecoming and I had to include these photos. Again, Ryan is in his fall uniform. He's still wearing the helmet.

Yellowstone

We love, love, love Yellowstone. We were so excited about going and the trip did not disappoint. We have talked about the trip to everyone since we got back. We went out there in mid August for a week with my folks. We flew into JacksonHole, which is an amazing little town. We spent the night there. The next day we drove through the Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone!!! We were 3 nights in the Canyon, 1 night in Mammoth, and 1 night on the lake. We saw amazing wildlife, scenary, and shared many good times. We did a little fishing (my first Yellowstone cutthroat and first Grayling), a little hiking, a lot of site seeing. It was neat seeing all those new things through the kids eyes. The kids were hilarious as usual. Here are a few pics.
Two of my favorite moments..... picinic in the northern part of the park (I included a photo) and dinner in Gardiner, Montana (the north entrance). Can we move!