Now that's something to smile at!

Aubrey is following in the steps of her big sister and got her braces on! Now we have two that can not eat anything sticky, chewy, crunchy or hard. Pretty much stinks right around Halloween.... o well...more for me! :)

Arboretum

What makes a great day at the Arboretum?

Great Weather.....

Beautiful Flowers.....

Happy Kids....

but most of all.....Sharing the day with great friends....

Pumpkin Spice and everything nice!

The girls had the day off school for 'Fair day' but instead of the Fair we opted for the Celina Pumpkin Patch. Yes, I just took Cody there last week but the girls have been begging to go, so here I go for round two!

The kids had a ball feeding the animals, jumping off hay bails, riding tractors, picking up stray kittens, begging to bring home stray kittens, train rides, hay rides, picnic lunch and picking out the best pumpkin out there.

This my friends....is how memories are made!

Pumpkin Pie

Today our little playgroup made it out to the Big Orange Pumpkin Patch for a fun outing. The kids had a great time going in every different direction. Here are a few fun pictures......

Forget the thousands of pumpkins, he would rather play on the tractor.....
Much to my surprise, Cody did NOT eat the goat food.
Sweet friends......
Missy and Bode.....

Xaela and Tiffany.....

Family snap shot

For all you girls out there....everyday you wake up and wash (maybe), dry and style you hair. Most days (there is always that 'bad hair day') it looks pretty good. But, when you have your hair cut and styled (by a professional) it for you, you feel amazing. They can always get it much straighter then you can and it feels so light and fresh. You almost hate to wash it because you can never get it feeling and looking that same way. All that to say..... we had family pictures done this past weekend and that is how I feel. Photography is my love, but I am the one always behind the camera, taking the pictures. So to have someone do that for us it felt wonderful.

My mother-in-law was wanting to get the whole family (a task in of itself) together for Christmas pictures. After much planning it actually did happen.....and this is what Haley was able to capture. What great memories we are able to preserve.

Just for fun.

He just looks so innocent, doesn't he..... Never trust a book by its cover! :)

Million dollar smile!

Yesterday Ashlyn went to the orthodontist for the works! Bless her heart, she has a mouth full but is taking it like a champ. She has top braces, top expander and bottom expander type thingy. In about a month she will have her herbst put on and in a year, bottom braces. This morning I asked to get a picture and through her smile she told me it was really hard to look happy when you are in so much pain. My heart breaks for her but this is her season of life! I sent her off to school loaded up with Motrin and stopped by Wal-Mart and bought them out of wax! Hang in there Ashlyn....it will get better everyday.

Life doesn't get any better then this....

Pure joy.....

Chloe sneaking in a lick.....

One last time....

As the boating season soon wraps up we decided to go out one more time.....My mom and Barry took all the grand kids (minus Cody) for the night. It is so nice to have a (somewhat) quiet night...remember we still had Cody. It gives Dell and I a little reprieve and refreshed for the next day. I cannot really say my mom and Barry got much rest.....they had 4 girls with them and some (most) are a little hormonal. I knew going on the lake the next day would be a stretch....we would have several tired kids......but, I was prepared. I was right but it was all good.

We let Cody miss his nap and he was a trooper....if he could live on (or in) the water he would be happy. We figured out why he is so enjoyable in the water....he has nothing to squeeze or squirt and get into trouble when he is in the water. Once he got in the water I gave him a apple and a banana and he was one happy camper. He just floated and ate...doesn't get much better then that. All 4 girls took turns having a meltdown and Cody won the 'good kid award'. Here is a e-mail from my mom....

I always enjoy my girls—all of you—even the whiners, and the guys and just getting out and having fun. Love you and I’m glad y’all were a part of it. Cody wins the ‘good kid award’!!! He’s the best thing I’ve ever seen—at least on the boat and in the water. I think that bottles with lids holding forbidden treasures, and stuff in spray bottles, and things in boxes, and things that can be pushed into things are all distractions for his. Next time take 3 apples.

We wrapped up the day with a little chocolate cake and brownies then it was time to get home. Everyone needed a shower and Ashlyn had to read a book (yes, an entire book) before school today for a test. Nothing like waiting til the last minute. By 8:00 the house sounded wonderful.....it was quiet and everyone was IN BED! What a sweet, sweet sound. **** As I am writing this at 10:00am the next day, Cody is still asleep and I don't think he will be up anytime soon. **** I started to get a little worried about him so at 11:30 (in the afternoon!) I went to make sure he was OK and WOKE him up. He slept a total of 15 1/2 hours last night! WOW! He sat down and had breakfast as I was having lunch....too funny!

Despite all the whining and crying...it was a good day.

Cody's Lucky Day....

Cody helped himself (sigh) to a box, yes a box of Lucky Charm's. The problem is that he only likes the marshmallows. So, he went into my closet, shut the door and plopped himself down (hoping not to be found) and picked out ALL the marshmallows in the box and left only the cereal. Luckily, I did discover that he was gone and caught him before he finished off the entire box. He was not happy with me when I took it away.....o well!

The girls sure are not going to be happy when they go to pour themselves a bowl of Lucky Charms and find they have no marshmallows.

...and their off!

Aubrey's first day of 4th grade....
Ashlyn's first day of MIDDLE school.....

The first day of school is here again. I have to say I really enjoyed summer with the kids this year. I know that each 'first day of school' means they are another year older and are experiencing new aspects of life each year.

This summer they enjoyed having some time off, sleeping in, sleep over, staying in their pajamas all day, staying up late, being totally off schedule, playing on the computer for several hours at a time (it was summer after all), talking on the phone for HOURS, swimming anytime of the day, and just being lazy!

But, I am a person who thrives on routine and I have to say I look forward to getting back in the swing of things. Going to bed early (my favorite), getting up early (not my favorite) and doing all the crazy afternoon activities.

One more goodbye for Layla.....Several friends sent me this prayer and I thought it fit perfectly for what I was feeling.....I know they are out of my hands when they are at school but I know that I can pray for them often....what peace that gives me.

A Mom's Prayer On the First Day (and every day) of School

Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full. And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do.

But a mom still has to ask.

Will You walk with them?

Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it?

Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away?

Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn?

Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?

Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience?

Will You bless them for their efforts?

Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full, the ones who feel alone?

Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them?

Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?

Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care. Amen.