Carnival

Well, it is over...I'm so tired, but we got the carnival done!! The kids had such a great time and I'm so glad that I was a part of this fun event. The high school kids all showed up to run their booths and did a great job!!! The smaller ones just loved being there and having fun with their church friends. Here is our family photo from the event. I think you can tell who we all are this year. Of course, Grace decided to not join the family and be Madeline (the little french girl, it's a book and a movie. We finally got the movie and Grace looks JUST like the little girl who plays Madeline!)
Captain Hook is holding the croc who ate his hand...he is the cutest little croc that I know!!

Our friend, Brian Hodnett, so wonderfully was the object of affection for the pie throw. Susie didn't know what to think of this at first (she LOVES Mr. Brian) but when she saw that he was laughing and having fun, she decided to try it, too!! 

More camping trip pictures

We took the kids to the Visitors center in the state park. If you look real close at the picture, you can see that Grace is touching the horns of a longhorn steer and the little boy (Bryce) is touching the leg of a bison. I thought it was a neat piece of art, they just thought it felt cool.
The museum had a place were you could learn about all the animals that live in the wildlife refuge. I think Grace has Elk and Deer antlers on her head...I just thought she looked cute!
We took the kids to a place called the "Holy City" and they have done the last days of Christ all around the grounds. We had been about 6 years ago when we lived in Duncan, OK, and we took the Sissons' girls when they were little to show them this neat little place. Our kids were still a little young, but they understood the 3 crosses. Every Easter, they have a play and act out the last days of Jesus' life. I think it might be really neat to see in person.
Susannah and her friend McKynna decided to go off by themselfs while we were at the campgrounds. I think we ran (I did) for about 5-10 minutes before we found them. They were more than half a mile from our campsite and had NOT A CLUE that they were missing. They got big hugs and big lectures when we found them.

For all of you that were worried that Parker didn't stay warm enough, here is a photo to prove how I dressed my little boy. I think he was warmer than anyone else! 

Camping Trip

This past weekend, we went on a family retreat with our church. Well, it was supposted to be a family retreat with our church, but only 3 other families went and the other young families all had conflicts with the date. So, we 3 young families and a couple with grown kids went on this great weekend in the Witchita Mountians, just outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. It was a beautiful weekend, cold, but beautiful.
Here are all the kids, except for Parker. He was asleep in the backpack on Aaron's back. Even Daisy made the family trip and all the kids took turns with her on the leash (it was a state park with a leash rule.) Actually, it is a National Wildlife Refuge, so there were bison (Go Harding!), Elk and deer all over the place. The kids really liked seeing the bison from the car.

I put this picture in so that you can see our new tent in the background behind Grace. It is called "The American House Tent" and beside our tent was our friend's tent that the 4 of them slept in for two nights. Yes, ours is way too big!! Lots of fun was had and the kids were WAY dirty when we got home Sunday night! I can't wait for the next trip!! 

This little one....

Look at the little face of this girl...how sweet, blue eyes, blonde hair, big smile.....STINKY POOP!!! Yes, you read it right. She went to bed last night, no problem. About 10:15 we heard her singing and playing. I was going up to put Parker in his bed and when I got to the bottom of the stairs, I smelled it. Yes, it. You know what I mean if you have ever had a 2 or 3 year old. I called to Aaron to come and he smelled it, too. We walked up the stairs together and were mortified together, as a couple. Aaron found the guilty one hiding in her bed. Here is the conversation...

Aaron, "Susannah, what is on your hands?"

Susannah replies, "It's dirt, Daddy."

Aaron "No, Susie, it's NOT dirt, what is it?"

Susannah still replies, "It's dirt, Daddy."

Aaron gettting angry and making her smell her very dirty and poop covered hands, "It's NOT DIRT, SUSIE, WHAT IS IT?"

Susannah says very quietly, "It's poop, Daddy."

Aaron says, "Yes, it's poop. Do we play with poop?"

Susannah replies sweetly, "But I was making a poop castle"

Yes, our small blonde headed one had made little castles out of POOP on the landing at the top of the stairs!!!! Can you believe that? Of couse we could hardly keep a staight face when she made the "poop castle" comment.

Of course, she was very properly punished, given a bath and put to bed in the guest room. Aaron and I spent the next 45 minutes cleaning up the "poop castle" from the carpet. I recommend the "little dirt devil" carpet cleaner for anyone with small children. It has saved our carpet and sanity many times in the past 5 years. Parker slept thru it all. What a super baby!!!I'm off to wash sheets and get ready for our camping trip. Yes, we are going camping with our church and our 4 month old!! Prayers for our crazy family will be much appreciated! :) 

Reading to my brother

Yesterday I was folding laundry on the couch and Susie was reading books, sitting on the floor. I went to get a load out of the dryer and when I came back in the room, she was reading to Parker (well, more like telling him the story.) It was so cute. They sat there together for almost 45 minutes...she really likes her time with him and I'm so glad. I really thought she would be lonely when Grace went off to school, but now she has found a new playmate!!
Coach McCoy, the head football coach for the Graham Steers, taught Susie how to hold her fingers and say, "Hook 'em Horns!" She finally figured out how to do it on her own yesterday (it only took her like a month or so!) and had to show the camera...not that we are converting to Texas fans. But we do love to watch Colt throw that football and score touchdowns!
 

WE'RE MOVING!!! (again...)

You read it right. Aaron got his transfer letter on Friday and he is going to be a log analyst (still with Schlumberger) in downtown Ft. Worth, here in the great state of Texas. Aaron is really excited, it is the position that he wants and he is going to be home regular hours for the first time in our married life! I, on the other hand, completely LOVE Graham. Great people, great schools, we love out house and really love our church. BUT, I am so excited for Aaron and this promotion, and where he goes, I will follow!
He starts on Dec. 1, but will go to a 2 month (yes, I said 2 month)training class in Abu Dhabi in Feb. Yes, it is one of those very scary places somewhere south of the Persian Gulf, I think. So, the kids and I are going to stay here until school is out...that is the plan for today anyway...I'm sure something will change and we will have to scurry around at the last minute and do something else! So, tonight I looked at about 250 houses in the NW side of Ft. Worth and I am very tired now!!! If you know any good towns, areas, neighborhoods, etc....let us know! I need all the help I can get!

The Texas State Fair!

 

ARRGG!

I'm only saying "ARRGG!" because blogger can be so silly sometimes...I get all this typing done and hit "publish" and then it all disappears! Oh well!

Grace went to a pirate birthday party this weekend, along with a birthday party at the movie theater. I think she is partied out now, but she won't tell you that! Getting her up for school this morning was going to be a bear, so we sang and made it a game. Somedays, you just gotta do what ya gotta do, right?

SEC football was just AWESOME this weekend! The Hogs beat #2 Auburn and moved into the top 25! Way to go, Razorbacks! Even better for our whole household, the Tennessee Vols had a GREAT second half against Georgia and beat them at Georgia!! It was a sweet comback and win! We were very excited. Also on Saturday, Colt McCoy did another great job leading Texas against OU. There is something about that game that I love and I love it more when I don't have to hear, "Boomer Sooner" a million times!!

Yesterday we had a potluck and helped with the clean-up afterwards. Who knew scrubbing dirty dishes, wiping tables and grossing out Troy Wolfe could be so much fun? We really do have a great time with our friends at church. Small group last night night was wonderful. We have a super group and love being able to open up and share with our close friends in Christ. Of course, the girls like it when group is over and they get to wrestle with Brian!

We had a great weekend. What did you do? Give us a comment and let us know what you have been up to, even if you haven't commented before!! 

Parker's new toy

Daisy likes to sit next to Parker where ever in the house he may be...she is quite the silly little puppy.
Last night we went to Target and bought the last Bumbo seat that they had in the store. He loves his new little chair and thinks he is a big kid because he can sit up by himself, all 3 months old and all!
Here are the two males of the house after church last Sunday. Little ones (and their daddies) are so cute in their polo shirts and kacki pants! 

LOST and mom jeans...

It all started again last night. Jack, Sawyer and Kate are back again along with some new others. Aaron and I really enjoy watching LOST so we were so excited that it was back last night. We, of course, TiVo it so that we can watch it later without the commercials and it was great. We got a little more background on Jack, his dad and Jack's wife. Poor Kate, I don't know what they did to her, but her eyes just looked so sad. Isn't it so funny how we get into these character's lives and can't wait for yet another week?
Well, last night while we had paused LOST to change a diaper, I remembered that I had to make a jello salad for a funeral today. It was only 11:00 last night, no big deal....akk! Since Grace has started school, I have turned into an early bird. Yes, I, the one who could stay up all night to start and finish a project. now go to bed around 10:00-10:30! So, going to Wal-Mart last night at 11 was not something I was looking forward to doing. I got to the store, got all my stuff, and got in line. Then this girl in her very early 20's, I'd say, comes up behind me in the line and we start chatting about the fish she was buying at 11:30 at night. Here are her words, "You know that nursery water that you can buy for babies? You know, you're a mom, it is really good for fish" DO I LOOK LIKE A MOM? Do I wear mom clothes? Don't respond to that "fashion queen" Jess. I mean really, I think I still look pretty young, maybe she thinks I'm just a very YOUNG mom! I took it as a little compliment and paid for my jello salad fixings and drove home to make a jello salad at midnight so that it could congeal by 10 this morning. So that I might put on my "mom clothes" and drop it off at church for the funeral.....and I don't even own a pair of "mom jeans"!!!

Jake is going home!!

Thanks so much for praying for our friend Jake the past 2 months. They are going to release him tomorrow and he can go home with his family. He will still have some rehab to go though at home in Wasilla, but he will be home!! The Anchorage Daily News did a story on what happened on the day of the accident. You can read it http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/8255545p-8152197c.html. (Yah, I know, I can't figure out the link thing and blogger is being difficult today) It is a great story, but be prepared to hold your breath!! Reading it was like reading an adventure novel, but I knew all the characters and I knew that the ending would be good, eventually!!

Cheap diapers...

Our baby shower that the ladies at church gave us back in June was great....we asked for clothes (unless ya'll really want to see Parker in pink and yellow) and diapers. Parker is now 3 months old and I still haven't had to buy one diaper and we still have many many left. I'm so very thankful. One bit of advice, don't let your 3 month old sleep late in the wal-mart cheap diapers....they leak and leak good they do!! I took Grace to school this morning and left Parker in the bed with Aaron. Aaron got up and left before 9 and Parker slept until 9:30....When I went to get him, the whole bed around him was wet and so was he!!! So, now we have given him a bath, put on a new diaper and clean clothes and will not put him in the cheapies to sleep in any longer!! They are great during the day, but not for night usage!!!