Happy Halloween a Few Days Late!

We love Halloween! It is so much fun watching the kids dress up and have fun! The last several years, several of our friends have come over and we all go trick or treating together. That makes it even more fun! This year even us adults got into the costume action. :) Here are all the kiddos, minus Catherine and Chandler who joined us later.

Eric and Wade started conspiring at church last week about their costumes, but it was top secret! They were too funny about it. All the kids thought Eric was Hannah Montana, but I'm thinking he was a little too out there for her, so I'm going with Brittany Spears. :) I'll let you decide for yourself! The other two were prisoners, must be friends of Brittany...ha ha.

Of course when we found out the men were dressing up, we couldn't be out done! So, we decided to go as them. I think we got pretty close...how about you?

Princess Jasmine and Tinkerbell

After hitting the neighborhood houses, we headed to Aunt Jen's for a yummy Halloween cake, did I mention that Jenny rocks?

Girls 'n Grace

I recently made a new discovery, and with Christmas around the corner, I thought it was worth sharing! Maddie and Ella are both huge American Girl fans, but there is a new set of dolls out that I am really excited about. They are called Girls 'n Grace. It is the same concept as the American Girls, except these are based on Christian principles. Plus the dolls are the same size, so they can wear the American Girl clothes! This is a quote from the website:

"Each of the characters in the Girls 'n Grace series discover and grow in a relationship with God based on His new covenant of grace. Simply stated, they live in an embrace of God's grace."

This is a very new series founded by Christian author Pam Davis. Currently there are only 2 characters and several look alike dolls, but more are coming soon. They also have mother/daughter bible studies coming soon. Check out their website and see what you think!

Pumpkin Time

So, Eric has been having severe pain in his tooth. To make a very long story short, he ended up having an emergency root canal done on Sunday. Bless his heart, his face started swelling and has just been miserable. Yesterday, he just wasn't up to going to work. Problem is, if he stayed at home, he couldn't sit still. He would have gotten into some project and would have ended up in worse pain than he started. I have been wanting to take the girls to the apple orchards and the pumpkin farm in Ellijay, so he agreed to go with us. I drove so he could rest. Despite him being drugged, we really did have a great day! Here we are eating apples at Hillcrest. Maddie normally isn't an apple eater, but her front tooth is close to coming out and we told her that eating an apple would help. :) She's already asked for another apple this morning.

I thought these were some cute pictures of the girls in the pumpkin patch.

searching for the perfect pumpkins

Notice, Maddie is still eating her apple.

the final selections

I'm it

I was tagged by Angie, this morning, so here goes.

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

10 years ago I:
1. had been dating Eric for just a month
2. was in my second year of teaching
3. didn't know how easy life was
4. only had to take care of myself and my dog
5. could wear a size 4

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. work on Jaded (my bible study)
2. do laundry (that one never goes away)
3. scrub toilets (please don't be jealous)
4. make breakfast, lunch and dinner
5. teach school

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. chocolate
2. humus and pita chips (me too! Angie)
3. peanuts
4. cereal bars
5. cookies

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off our house
2. Pay for my parents' house to be remodeled (dad does all the work himself, so it's taking awhile)
3. Pay for Jenny's college tuition
4. Give lots to our church building fund
5. Travel

5 places I have lived:
1. 64 Reid Circle
2. apartment/dorms in college
3. 8 Spring Bluff
4. 114 N. Tibbs
5. 1802 Oakmont Dr.

5 jobs I have had:
1. Chic-fil-a
2. Kmart
3. campus foreign language lab
4. elementary teacher
5. stay at home mom/homeschool teacher(by far the most challenging!)

The rules say I have to tag 5 people.So I'll tag:
1. Jodi
2. Cindy B.
3. Lacey
4. Brittany
5. Justin

Disney World

Well, finally, here are some pictures from our trip to Disney World. We had so much fun. The girls have said several times that they miss Disney. This was Eric, and Maddie, and Ella's first trip to Disney. It was so funny to see their reactions to everything. Maddie and Ella somehow changed personalities while we were there. Maddie was "chatty Cathy". She couldn't stop smiling or talking. And the amazing thing was that she ran to all the characters and talked to everyone! Ella on the other hand was so in awe that she couldn't say anything to anybody. She walked around with her eyes as big as saucers the whole time. These are just a few of our favorite pictures. Here we are just before we left the house.This was Maddie and Ella's first plane trip. They were sooo excited!

Pop never looks at the camera. :)

watching the Festival of the Lion King...in awe

Princess dinner

Ariel loved that Maddie and Ella had the same color hair as her.

Epcot, or apecot as Maddie first called it

Maddie took this picture. I thought it was too funny not to include!

Maddie and Ella loved the teacups, but I had to include the picture of the 2 big kids!

Fresh off Space Mountain...yes I said Space Mountain. Ella is a thrill seeker, but Maddie surprised me again. She rode lots of rides that I never thought she would get on.

We got to be in the Family Fun Day parade in the Magic Kingdom. Maddie and Ella thought they had won the lottery!Ella's favorite ride. She's a little partial to elephants.I wasn't kidding when I said Ella's eyes were as big as saucers!

Let's Go to the Movies

*update* This is a movie clip below, even though it may not look like it. Just click on the play button.

You may have seen previews for this movie, but in case you haven't, I wanted you to know about it. It is by the same people who did Facing the Giants which is another must see. This one is about marriage. The preview looks really good. You can read more about it at this website.

Pardon me while I get on my soapbox for a moment. Y'all satan is after our marriages. If you are married, I pray that it is a stong, healthy one, but please don't become complacent. If he hasn't yet, satan will attack you. Marriage was God's plan...a perfect plan. The enemy wants no part of that. Mine has been attacked before and will be again. We have to continually work at it. We must guard our hearts and minds in Christ...continually. Plus, if we are going to support any movie, one based on Christian principals is a good one to choose. OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox. Thanks for humoring me. :) Now, go hug your spouse.

A Quote and a Thought

So...the girls spent the night with Gran and Pop Friday night. Saturday morning, Gran and Maddie had a conversation about chores...seems to be a topic of a lot of conversations around here. Anyway, Gran was telling her that she had some chores to do Saturday morning. Then they talked about Maddie and Ella's chores. The girls just can't quite understand yet why they have chores to do everyday. Gran explained that as a family, we all have things we need to do to help out. She said your mom has chores to do too, like laundry and cleaning and whatever else she listed. To that Maddie replied and I quote,

"Those are not Mommy's chores, that is her life."

Most days that is exactly how I feel. My life seems to revolve around the mounds of laundry around my house, and trying ever so desperately to stay one step ahead of needing to be the next show of "Clean House". Many days I wonder if I am doing anything for the kingdom. But God reminds me ever so gently, this time through Eric, that I am doing exactly what I was called to do. And while that may not be all that glamorous, and some days not all that fun, it is for a purpose. Maddie and Ella are watching and learning by my example...scary ain't it! If I ask them to do their chores with a happy heart, then I need to do the same. They are two precious souls that God created. If they learn to tune their hearts to Him and follow His calling, then I have done something for His kingdom.

Lord, only by your grace can we be an example of you. Fill us right now with your Holy Spirit so that we may accomplish what you have called us to.
Amen