It's the Little Things

I love this time of day ...

Homework is done, dishes are washed, lunches are made, clothes are folded, toys are put away, everything is quiet and everyone is still for a short moment in time.


*We've used several different books and children's Bibles for our devotion time with the kids, but currently, we're reading the Read and Share Bible with Kate and The Jesus Storybook Bible with Will. 

Trick or Treat

Well, I actually did it ... 7 posts in one weekend and I'm all caught up.  And I'm all out of anything cute/funny/half-way interesting to say.  If you're still reading, you are a true friend and if I had an award, I'd give it to you.  Hopefully I'll blog once or twice a week and you won't have to endure a flood of updates to your blog list/inbox ... thanks for keeping up with our family!

We had the perfect night for trick or treating - slightly cool, but not cold at all.  We have the perfect neighborhood for trick or treating - lots of families and young kids.  The only complaint was from our little Rapunzel.  Most people were out going door to door with their kids, so they left a bowl full of candy on the steps with a sign that said "take one", or the really exciting "take a few"!  After going up to a few of these houses, Kate came back with her bottom lip poking out so far that she could have easily tripped over it.  "I can't even say trick or treat, daddy!"  Thankfully we found a few people at home and our little princess got her wish.  Will was in full trick or treat mode this year - he hit up more houses in less time than ever before.  We really enjoyed spending this time together as a family and with our neighbors!

Eureka! Springs, AR

Our sweet friends invited us to join them for their annual weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  We were excited to get out of town for a little bit - the 5 1/2 hour drive was a walk in the park compared to our summer excursions.  So, we let Will skip a day of school (shocking, I know), loaded up the van, and headed out of town.  It always amazes me how you can be driving through what seems like the endlessly flat plains, you take a right turn and all of a sudden you're curvy swerving through the mountains.  I'm proud to say that I only asked John to slow down twice once we hit the curvy uphill climb.  He would want me to tell you that I also had my right foot pressed practically through the floorboard and a death grip on my armrest.  We toured the town, rode a trolley, window shopped, and saw an outdoor Passion play.  More than anything, we enjoyed our friends, laughed too hard (is there such a thing, I don't know, but my cheeks were killing me), and stayed up too late (and regretted in when the kids were up at their normal time the next morning). These are the kind of friends who are more like family, who live life with you - the good and the bad, and who are there to cheer you on no matter what.  We are blessed.

Cruising through the mountains

Thankful for these guys!

The dads get our fire roaring

We want s'more!

We found a great park to let the kids burn off some energy

Will was the only one to brave Mr. Rob's spinning on the merry-go-round

Flying high

Love my boys!

Waiting for lunch

So many laughs all weekend long!

I don't think Kate is too sure of why they were standing next to this statue

Walking through town

Can't wait till next time!

Papa and Nana's Visit ... also titled Delta = Don't Ever Leave the Airport

Just a few day after Pops and Mimi headed back to Georgia, Papa and Nana were on their way from Virginia.  They had a few hang-ups on their inbound flights and didn't make it until almost midnight, but we hit the ground running on Friday morning.  Will and Kate, as with most kids I imagine, enjoyed every minute of showing off their new tricks, talents, dance moves, and knock-knock jokes.  Papa and Nana brought a fall gingerbread house kit to make with the kids and they worked on it for the better part of an afternoon.  There was a soccer game on Saturday, followed by play time at the park, church on Sunday and also a birthday celebration.  Monday we went to gymnastics, dance, and then back to Will's school just in time to have lunch with him.  Thanks to Delta (see title) we got an extra day and night with Papa and Nana as their first flight home was canceled.  We loved having them here with us and look forward to their next visit!

Papa and Kate working on the frosting for the gingerbread house

The kids loved the decorating part and Kate may or may not have already been on a sugar high ;o)

Chief Gingerbread House Inspector

There was a whole lotta this going on

The finished project

Papa and Nana got to see Will in his last soccer game of the season

He got to play goalie - one of his favorite positions

You-know-who wouldn't miss a chance to cheer for her Bubba

We celebrated Papa's birthday with cupcake brownies and Bluebell ice cream

Kate was thrilled to have an audience at her dance class

Papa and Nana love Chick-fil-a just as much as Will and Kate!

Nana is the most patient reader ... she read book after book after book (you get the idea!) and no that book isn't upside down, it's a 2 in 1, and yes, Nana read them both

Please come back soon, Papa and Nana.  We love you!!!