What works for one...

Just a quick post...at music class a few weeks ago I noticed that Cara, Linda and I happened to set our things down beside each other.  Apparently great minds think alike.  It really breaks my heart that Lands' End doesn't make these anymore. 

Camping weekend

This past weekend was our church campout at Loyd Park in Grand Prairie.  This is the 3rd year we've done this, but this is the first year we've had our camper...and the first year we've taken Rachel.  It was incredibly cold, incredibly well attended, and incredibly rejuvenating.  We spent Friday getting things set up, grilling hot dogs for dinner, sitting around the campfire, doing a lot of this...
...
put the kids to bed and stayed up late playing games.  The kids are really getting the hang of the camping thing and slept great the entire weekend (I'm sure the nice warm beds next to the heater didn't hurt!). 

Saturday morning we woke up early and had an amazing breakfast, played football, rode our bikes, snacked (too much), etc.  Rachel found a little time to "color"...

...Ethan played games with Hannah...

...Clay did more of this...

...and apparently I walked around taking pictures of everyone since I have nothing to document that I was actually there.  We have the best spot there where everyone has their camper or tent set up in a huge circle with a pavilion in the middle and the kids literally just run around and play the entire time.  My kids were so stinking happy!  We sent around a potluck list for our dinner Saturday night and ate GOOD...
 
When it got dark we all sat around the campfire, snuggled up with our kids, and sang all of the church songs we had memorized (if you were raised Church of Christ then you know this went on for a while!).  I got a little choked up sitting there - outside in the cold - surrounded by my Christian family - holding my children - singing praises to God - being perfectly content.  I really needed that.  After we put the kids to bed Clay and Brandon went on a Starbucks run (seriously!) and we stayed up way too late (until our fingers were completely frozen) playing games.  Sunday morning we all ate breakfast together and then sat around the campfire for a church service...

I'm not sure where we'll go in March, but I'm already counting down the days!

Davis Days

We have had so much fun these past few weeks hanging out with the Davis fam.  It's funny how we'll go weeks without being able to get together, and then the planets will all align correctly and we'll see each other more than once a week.  I think God just knows when we need each other most!  (For any new readers out there, Cara and I were roommates all 4 years at A&M.)  A couple of weeks ago we went to the Dallas Arboretum to check out the pumpkins:

We were at one of the most photogenic places in Dallas and of course I forgot my big camera, so my little camera got some sunshine that day


The boys giving a superhero pose


Infamous pumpkin house


With Davis #4 on the way, we'll be filling up this bench next year


Instead of getting the kids together to trick-or-treat this year, we went to their church's trunk or treat and had a blast.  We let Rachel ditch the hot elephant costume and replaced it with Ethan's pirate costume from 2 years ago.  Note to anyone thinking of doing the same thing - put a bow in your daughter's hair so people don't ask how old he is.


Jack & Jo


Queen of the bounce house


Fantastic Four


Last Friday we spent an absolutely gorgeous day at the zoo.  Cara's mom was in town and kept Kate with her, so it was just the six of us.


Davis Trio


Wishing well


Ray-Bug on the train


And yesterday we all skipped out on music class so we could just hang out and let the kids play.  No one was too interested in having their picture taken so this is what I got:


We are so blessed to have them close.  Maybe one of these days Cara and I will actually get around to scrapbooking some of these pictures!

32 is the new 22

Happy birthday to Clay...32 years young.  Clay - one of the things I love most about you is that you are not a sideline husband or dad.  You are always right in the mix and happy to be there.  And here's the proof...


Okay...maybe that wasn't the best example.  Let me try again...








I love you very much.  Happy birthday!

Wordless Wednesday

Pics of Six

I can't believe it's really here - my beautiful niece Addision Grace is six years old today!  I wish everyone in the world knew her because she's just an amazing girl.  She's funny and loving and kind and super smart and playful and creative and helpful and a little bit sassy and obedient and easily adaptable and a million other things.  I still remember getting in my car November 4, 2002, and racing to Oklahoma to be there when she was born.  And I remember visiting her when Bryan was in Iraq.  And taking great trips to North Carolina to see her.  And now she's just an hour away.  Addi - I love you so much and I am so proud to be your aunt.  You are one of a kind and the perfect fit as the oldest cousin.  Hope you have a wonderful day today sweetheart and I'll see you this weekend!!!

July 2004


May 2005


September 2006


May 2007


November 2007


December 2007


February 2008


April 2008


July 2008


October 2008


WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, ADDI!

Learning

I get excited when the kids learn new things.  I love watching them do things for the first time and seeing how they respond to new things and new environments.  But the thing I get most excited about is watching them learn about the Bible, being a part of a church family, God's love, etc.  Last night during church Rachel was picking up all of the songbooks and Bibles and opening them.  She would put my hands inside and say, "old part - new part!".  I love that she associates every book with a Bible.  I'm so thankful that my mom is the curriculum developer for the toddler classes at church because she puts so much value into teaching the little ones.

Saturday night at church we had a chili cookoff that was a lot of fun.  Despite Clay's best efforts his chili didn't place (my dad's got 3rd!), but there's always next year.  Anyway, the cookoff was part of a youth group activity and we had a devotional afterward.  Clay led a few songs and Ethan went right up there to help him.  I love that he's already learning how to do that!

One day of fall

Last Monday was our one day of fall, and we celebrated by going to the fever patch pumpkin patch in Flower Mound.  This was our third year to go with the Pilgrims, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  E&R were both really into pumpkins (pumpees as Rachel calls them) this year.  There were some really cool hay mazes there, and we were even able to leave without having to administer any Benadryl this year!  We took our annual family photo...


...took pictures of the kids in their cute clothes (girl's clothes courtesy of Nicole)...


...stuck our faces in cutouts...


...measured the kids...



...put our hands on lots of pumpkins...


...watched Ethan tumble his way down the slides...


...applauded Clay on his 94th trip down the slide with Rachel...


...and left with a hankering for Cracker Barrel.  In the 23 minutes it took us to drive from the pumpkin patch to Cracker Barrel, Rachel decided to heat things up with a fever that she didn't shake until Thursday night.  So, despite that part, we had a great time!