From Our Family to Yours

Wordless Wednesday

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an 8 year old

Our baby girl turned 8 years old this year. To celebrate her birthday, she asked for an "art party." And me, being the art-wanna-be that I am, was totally up for it! She invited all of the girls in her class as well as her soccer team. We had three different "stations" where the girls could get their art on. First, we had a bead table where necklaces and bracelets were made. Next, we had the ornament table, where one could paint, draw, sticker, or pretty much any way you want decorate an ornament. And third, was personalizing a tumbler with art, your name, or whatever their little artistic hearts wanted to do.

I think the girls had a great time, and P loved every second of it! Here are some pics from the big day..










Happy Birthday baby girl! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday

Incredibles--take three

The Incredibles showed up at our house again for Halloween this year. I do believe this will be their last year to trick or treat with us. It's been a good run. Check out how the Incredibles have grown over the past three years.




That last one is a little taste of Violet's attitude and Dash exhibiting his super powers. Be very afraid.

Oh, and time, could you please stop moving so quickly.

Wordless Wednesday

. . .

Ella Kate Stanley

She was known as MamaKate to us. My mother's mother. On Sunday afternoon, October the 4th, she went from this life into the presence of Jesus.

She was 84 years old. She married my Grandaddy when she was fourteen and he was eighteen. Boy, was that a different day and age. You know, when you said "I do" and it meant for life, come what may, good/bad, rich/poor, sickness/health. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary; yep, seventy years of marriage this January. Wow! And if he's said it once, he has said it a hundred times, "If I could, I would have kept her another seventy." Their story is a true love story.

In my mind somehow they have always seemed timeless. I grew up going every summer and every Christmas to visit. They were farmers and worked very hard, very long days just to make ends meet. But they loved each other. And they were happy and content with each other and with what they had. And let me tell you, it wasn't much.

It's hard to think of her no longer being there when you walk through the front door of that house. My heart breaks for my Granddaddy and the huge void that it has left for him. He is lost without her. He is the most selfless man I have ever known. He loved her with all of his being and still does. Death is heartbreaking and grief is overwhelming at times. But I choose to celebrate that she is with the Father. I know we will see her again and for me, that makes heaven even sweeter.

Wordless Wednesday

More Fall Break Fun

To round out our little fall break vacation we ended with a trip to one of our favorite places, Chattanooga. Chattanooga is where Ryan and I met so it holds a lot of nostalgia for us not to mention it is just a great city! We made a little stop at the Discovery Museum. Papa Don and Grandma Ruth met us there, and we got our museum on. We had a great time, and the kids loved it!





After the museum we introduced Papa Don and Grandma Ruth to a little pizza place we love called Mellow Mushroom. We split a pizza and had a nice time visiting with them. Lots of fun, good food, and the company was great too!
I am grateful we got to get away for a couple of days this year. Nothing extravagant, but lots of fun and good memories made as a family. Love my family; they make life fun!

Day Two of Farm Livin'

We woke up to clouds and drizzle. But when you are on a farm, you do as farmers do and you brave the elements, right? So we jumped in the golf carts (because every good farmer gets around his land via a golf cart) and we headed to do some fishin'. On our way to the pond we came upon three deer standing in a clearing. It was misting a little but so quiet, peaceful, and just refreshing to take in.
Once we got to the pond we got our bucket of worms, and I gave a crash course in putting your worm on your hook. P was not a fan, but if you're gonna fish, you're gonna put on your own bait. Peyton was the only one of us that got a bite all morning. She went to battle with a 12ish inch catfish and just as we were about to pull him out of the water, the line snapped. Big bummer! Nevertheless, she was thrilled and every time she tells the story the catfish gets longer and bigger.
And fishing with Mason is less than desirable. That's all I'm gonna say about that.



We spent the rest of the day exploring, hanging out with the horses, and just enjoying getting to spend some time together. It was a fantastic vacation and we are already planning our next visit. I am hoping this trip becomes a tradition for us and will be something that our kids will look back on as adults and have such fun memories of.

Farm Livin'

This year for Fall break we took a weekend trip to a farm. It's a fantastic little place on the plateau called Avans Farms. Needless to say, P was a teeny, tiny bit excited and to be honest, so was I! We left on Saturday morning after an 8:00 a.m. soccer game (blek!) and got there about lunch time. We got settled in to the guest house, had some lunch, and set out on the golf carts for some exploring on the 10 miles of hiking/riding trails. We spent the afternoon riding the horses and the surry. The surry was made in the amish community just south of us, and we all got to take a turn driving it. So neat! After the horses we got to take a hay ride and then we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows around the bond fire. The weather could not have been better. Day 1 on the farm = success!

when dad is in charge...

Sure do love the boys in my life!

just a picture of poor health...

well, a few weeks ago P got the you know what. Yep, the pig flu. Bless her, with all the talk of the "H1N1" that she has heard, she was mortified when the Dr. told us that is what she had.
After doing this for about two minutes, she was back to her usual self.

So thankful for our health and healthy kids too!

a boy and his birthday, part II

After much persuasion, M finally agreed to leave the jumpy place and head to his favorite place to eat, "chick-a-lay" That boy does love himself a chicken nugget. And the indoor play ground, well, that's just an added bonus. All in all, it was a great time for a three year old little boy.

Mason, you have brought such joy and fun into our lives. We have lofty goals for year three of your life... 1) putting our business in the potty. 2) keeping all sharpies, nail polish, and scissors off of our furniture. You can do it! Love you big boy!

Mason's 3rd Birthday Party from Ryan on Vimeo.