Grandma Time

My kids love the time they get to spend with their grandmas. Unfortunately with school in it doesn't happen as much as they would like. Last week I got to go to lunch with a dear friend that I don't get to see very often and my kind mother volunteered to watch the kids. We rented 'How to Train Your Dragon' so they all curled up on grandma's bed to watch the movie. It was so cute I had to take a picture on my way out the door.



I'm so glad we live so close to our families that our kids get to spend good quality time with their grandparents and really get to know them.

Pirate Island

Our friend Cameron celebrated his 5th birthday at Pirate Island last week. The kids had so much fun being with friends and playing all the games and on all the rides.









Vanessa's attempt at playing skee-ball







All the kids that came to the party

Things Vanessa Loves

Vanessa is a very happy, loving little girl. She loves so many things and is very good at showing her love. Here are a few of the many things she loves.

She loves her new horse she got for her birthday (she even tries to read while on her horse).







She loves all kinds of stuffed animals and babies (dolls) but she really loves the big ones that she can climb all over.





And last but certainly not least, Dixie. She loves Dixie so much. Anytime she goes passed Dixie she doesn't just go passed her, she has to go over her. She has done this since she could crawl and still does it even though she can walk.





Ally saw me taking pictures so of course she had to be included.



It's so fun to watch Vanessa learn and enjoy life and everything about it!

Beautiful, Goofy Kids

Sunday while we were getting ready for church I just had to get pictures of my beautiful daughters. They both looked so adorable all cleaned up and dressed up and ready to go I had to pull out the camera. Of course Ally was more than thrilled to strike a pose (or ten).





Vanessa was a little more hesitant but still very cute.



As soon as the rubber band goes in her hair, she is trying to pull it out.



I wanted to get a picture of the two of them together, hmmmm...easier said then done.



And finally, a cute one.



Ally wanted a picture with Vanessa on her lap but Vanessa wasn't thrilled about that.



Then they decided to get goofy. I got Andrew and Ally slinkies which they decided to turn into trunks and bug eyes.









It was a really fun morning hanging out with my beautiful, goofy kids. I am truly blessed!!

Flag Football Finals

Andrew's football team made it to the finals!! He was so excited. It was really fun to watch his team play and their excitement to be in the finals.



Unfortunately they lost, but they played hard and had a lot of fun. They all received second place medals which Andrew loves! He took it to school for show and tell. I am so glad he enjoyed it and the good news is that he wants to play again next year, which means he really enjoyed it.





Later that night he was being really goofy and put on his medal with the fire hat he got at the fire station he went to on his field trip that day.



He is such a fun, goofy kid. I love having him as part of our family. He definitely brings so much joy into all of our lives.

Ally's Field Trip

I went with Ally's class on her field trip to the pumpkin patch at the Red Barn. I love the Red Barn but not on days when it rains like it did the day we were there. It was really cold and wet. We started out on the hay ride and headed to the apple orchard where the kids learned about the various types of apples and even got to pick their own apples.



We then rode up to the pumpkin patch but because of the rain our tractor decided to bypass the patch to go straight back to the barn. Ally couldn't get inside soon enough.





The kids all got an apple cider donut, which after taking a bite of Ally's I wish I had accepted one, they were delicious!! Even though it didn't go as planned, it was really fun to spend the day with Ally and her friends from school. Ally was quite disappointed she didn't get a pumpkin but we will get her one whether it's at the pumpkin patch or the grocery store. Sometimes we have to make do with what we can.

It's All About Attitude

This morning I was lying in bed after a night of little sleep (no my kids were not up, it's just me and my lovely insomnia) listening to my kids in the front room very loudly playing and having fun with each other. I was thinking 'do they have to be so loud?' when Jim rolled over and said, 'we sure are lucky aren't we?' Wow!! That hit me hard!! We are lucky to be blessed with three fabulous, healthy kids who really do get along and take care of one another. After hearing him say that it changed my attitude. I continued laying there listening and this time enjoyed the giggling and screeching in joy. I found myself not getting upset when the screeching quickly turned to screaming because they started fighting over something. I remembered something I learned a very long time ago, we can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. It's all about our attitude. We choose to view things negatively or positively. Even though many times when I am tired it is easier to be negative, I can change my attitude and be more positive which makes me and everyone around me much happier.
I have said it before and I know I will say it again but I love to watch and listen to my kids when they don't realize I am. I know they are being truly sincere with one another and not just putting on a show because they know I am watching them. One day while the kids were playing out front I had the front door open (not smart during fly season, just a side note for you to learn from) and could hear Ally talking. I quietly went to see what she was doing and...



she was sharing her grapes with Vanessa. I took the picture and they heard me



Later that same day Andrew and Vanessa were out back playing together. I couldn't get a picture of them without them knowing but still got some cute ones




I love these kids and am so grateful to have such good and fun kids who are, most of the time, very kind and loving to one another.