Trunk or Treat

Ok...this picture isn't from trunk or treat. It's of Brylee's new dress made by an "old" friend from my elementary school years. I found her blog through my cousin Andria's site. I ordered this dress and a purple one with her initials smocked. I love them! I'll probably get B's 1 year picture made in the purple one. We had a great time at trunk or treat. Here are two of my favorite costumes: Here is Mr. UPS (Will). As he went around to the cars, people put the candy in his box. So cute and clever.

Oh and here is Sarah Palin (Loren). I love this girl. She is always so creative with her costumes.

Mickey and Minnie had a blast at their first trunk or treat. They didn't get any candy, but they got lots of attention!

All three kids ready to get some candy. Not sure if you will remember last year's costumes, but we are really similar this year. Austin stayed in the Nascar family...last year as Tony Stewart...this year, Jeff Gordon. Derek stayed with the baseball theme...Harding last year and Arkansas this year. Sorry for all of you who are so imaginative and hand make you children's outfits. Not this momma! I'll order from ebay or the nascar store anytime :)

Pumpkin Patch perfection

We took the kids to the pumpkin patch yesterday. Usually we just go up the street to a church that does a small one on their property. But this year they didn't have it. :( So we took the kids about 2 hours away to Grady, AR. We had been to the Hardin Farm before with Derek but this was Austin and Brylee's first visit. We had a GREAT day! The weather could not have been more perfect. The kids did great in the car and were not ready to leave the farm when we said it was time to go. Here are some pictures from our fun day. Thumbs up for the hayride. Austin was so excited to go "pick" his pumpkin.
We didn't do the tire swings too much. My boys tend to get a queasy stomach after a few swings.
Petting the animals.
Playing in the sand.
This is a "take two" picture of me and Kent. Derek took one first, and with the magic of a digital camera I saw my wonderful double chin. So I quickly deleted it and took hold of the camera and snapped one myself. Notice me stretching out my neck. HA!
My sweet little farm animals!
We found the perfect pumpkins.
Brylee couldn't keep her eyes open any longer.
Kent found this sign by the animals and wanted a "boys" picture. Sometimes the differences between boys and girls is so evident! Case in point.
Brylee really liked the animals. She wasn't afraid at all.

Derek's glasses

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this sweet picture. Doesn't he look so smart and handsome!

Still here...just busy!

I've started my 6 weeks at Derek's school filling in for a 1st grade teacher who had a baby. It's going good. I just don't have the time I'm used to to do the things I like to do...like blog! :) Just wanted you to know that we're doing good. Brylee is staying with Aunt Julie and is slowing adjusting to not having me during the day...SLOWING adjusting. Austin is doing great staying all day in aftercare when pre-school is over. He's actually more pleasant in the evenings b/c they have to take a nap. Derek got glasses last week and looks so cute. I'll post a picture later. Kent's busy working on grad papers and preaching. Hope you all have a great weekend. Oh, and if you need a quick laugh, check out Magen's blog. Mary Claire sings her ABC's. She's so precious!

Chatty Kathy

Enjoy the sweet video of Brylee's babbles. Notice the cool book she got from a friend at church.

Sweet Soccer Stud!

Where's Waldo...I mean Austin? Please don't judge me and my messy garage. I just wanted you to see where Austin fell asleep while waiting on bub and daddy to come home from work and school. He was so hyper about his first soccer game and couldn't wait to show them what he looked like in his uniform. I knew he was outside waiting and when Kent came in and asked where Austin was, it kinda worried me. I told him he was waiting outside for them to come home. So we went in the garage and found him wedged between the ball boxes, basketball goal and other random things that I can't tell what they are in the picture because of the horrible mess! Sweet, hyper but exhausted boy! Down and ready for the game to begin.
Bless his heart...he gets sweaty and red faced, just like me!
Yea Wildcats!
In celebration of Austin's first soccer game and his four goals scored, we let him pick where he wanted to eat dinner. To McDonald's we went! Kent and Austin got into a small ice cream fight. I think Austin was the loser.
Austin was so much fun to watch during his first game. He was so aggressive (don't know where that comes from :)) Of course he knows the rules and how to kick b/c of big bro. He loved every minute of it. In fact on the way to the car after the game he said, "Who cares about this week. I want it to hurry by so I can get to my next game!" I'll try to add a video soon.

Good weekend....well except for the hogs game!

This picture is from last weekend at our Fall kick-off party at church. Our FLC was turned into a jump zone! We had over 100 people come for hours of fun.
This picture is a little dark and I took it with my camera that has 2 flashes, which means Brylee's eyes are closed! But I wanted you to see her hair. I've been putting it up with 2 bows into little pigtails! She just sits and lets me play with her hair! I LOVE it! Her hair is so fine that the bows don't stay long, but isn't it precious.
Derek passing during the punt, pass, and kick competition.
D getting his 2nd place award.

We had a fun, stress free weekend. Friday night EHS didn't have a home game, so we stayed in. Derek went to a sleepover. It's amazing how "loosing" one child can make a difference in the house. Derek doesn't usually cause too much commotion, but it was really different without him here. Probably because Austin had no one argue with :)



Saturday was pretty busy. Austin had a birthday party at 10 a.m. and Derek had one at 2. Between the parties we endured the torturous game. Poor hogs...I'm afraid it's going to be one long, painful season. But I'm not a fair weather fan. I'll still be sporting my hogs attire!



Saturday afternoon Derek participated in the pass, punt, and kick competition. He's been looking forward to this for 2 years. You have to be 8 to compete. He placed 2nd in 8/9 year old division. The boy that placed first was great. Derek and I both think he turned 10 yesterday :) It was a good learning experience for him. Now that we know what is expected, he's already looking forward to next year. If you place first in your division at the local level, you move on to Little Rock. And from there you go to a NFL game to compete. Our neighbor went all the way to the TN Titan game last year to compete. She got 2nd!



Church was great yesterday. We are having such a wonderful turnout to Bible classes. For so long we've tried to get kids pumped up about coming to class. But truthfully, you've got to provide good adult classes and get the parents excited about class in order to get the kids there. I guess we have a good line up of adult classes this quarter. Our children's classes are all full and we had over 50 in Kent's marriage class. Also, last week was our kick-off for our small groups. We had 80% retention from our Sunday morning attendance in our growth groups that night. AMAZING! God is working in this church. I can feel it. We are growing in number but also in purpose. What a blessing!



Soccer games begin tonight. Derek has a game tonight and Austin's is tomorrow. Pictures to come!