May 19th

32 years ago today Steve was born.  He was in Orlando and I was a month and half old baby in Alexandria, Louisiana.  

He was born the oldest, I the youngest.  

He grew up playing in the woods, taking care of his animals, spending time pretending and learning with his brother and sister and learning school from the comfort of his very own kitchen table!  

I still remember the first time I met him and who all he was sitting with.  I still remember the first time I heard him play piano.  We were 15.  At that time I had no clue we would one day be married!

So now, 17 years later, I have watched Steve change from a teenager to a man.  Over the years he has grown in his love for the Lord, as a leader, as a husband, as a father and a friend.  He is steady.  And loyal.  He's the hardest working person I know and rarely do I ever hear him complain.  

So, May 19th is a day worth celebrating in our home! So celebrate our man of the house we will...bring on the steaks and carrot cake, the presents and the fun!

3234 Oak Tree Lane

Over the last couple of months, Steve has been building a playhouse for the girls.

It's about 6 feet off the ground, looks like our house =), has a great view, and is so.stinkin'.cute.

When I see the playhouse in all its adorableness (not sure that is really a word!), I think of the hours and hours of fun the girls are going to have playing house and school and restaurant, the hours of reading and eating and laughing, the hours of sister-talks and friend-talks, the times they'll run up there for a good cry or to just think for a while. But that's not what I think about most when I look out my window and see the house with the address 3234 Oak Tree Lane. (Reagan's address for their new place!) I think most about the man who put the house together and what a labor of love that house displays.

What a dad. What a man. He has so much to do and yet he takes the time and money to make something special for his girls. Regularly I think they don't realize how good they have it. And then I think in many ways I'm glad they don't. I tell them regularly, but they have nothing to compare too. That their dad enjoys playing with them and teaching them to throw baseballs and climb trees and weed the yard is normal for them. I am so thankful that they have a dad that will stop and listen to them and tickle them and pray over them. Who will take them out for breakfast dates on Fridays and Lowes dates on Saturdays and read the Bible to them over breakfast. Who will take them on walks and teach them to ride bikes and dare them to do things I wouldn't do!

When I look at that little yellow house with a tin roof, I see another expression of love from a dad who adores his girls. I hope that little house weathers a lot of storms (and any large falling tree branches!). More than that, I hope the Lord uses it and the many other ways their dad demonstrates love and care toward them to set their eyes and hearts on HIM, and that He uses the ways that Steve loves them as their earthly father to reveal to them that He, their Savior, loves them even more. My heart is full of gratefulness when I see my girls being cared for by their dad.

Dating Isn't Just for Before Marriage!

I love when we have a date night on the calendar!

I look forward to going out with my man and spending time just as his girl - titles of "mom", "teacher","house cleaner", "dinner maker", "laundry washer", etc. are put on the shelf and it's time for the boy and girl who fell in love with each over 11 years ago to enjoy some one-on-one time! With date nights out not being too frequent, and wanting to cultivate thinking about hubby more, I thought it was a good time to start thinking about date nights in! A while back I would try to plan regular date nights in. I have really been slacking over the past, say, couple of years!

So, here's what I'm doing for the year...

For Valentine's Day, two of my friends and I planned a fun scavenger hunt for our husbands. We had such a good time planning the hunt and dinner! One of my creative friends made our guys shirts that they had to wear (and the writing had to be visible!) in order to get all of their clues at the different stops along the way to finding us. Oh, what did the shirts say? "I Love My Hot Wife"! They went to QT for their favorite treats. (We had already paid for everything and their snacks were with their next clue!) Next they went to Dick's Sporting Goods and they had to go all the way to the back of the store to the fishing department where they found their next clue with a jar of gummy worms and a note saying "hooked on you"! From there, they went to La Parilla where they picked up chips and salsa (well, that's what it was supposed to be - it was actually someone else's meal!). Next they had to find their next clue "Where Shopping is a Pleasure" and then to Longhorn where my friend found out they carried her husband's favorite dessert! Their last clue led them back to one of our houses where we had a fiesta awaiting our guys - starting with a pinata, lots of yummy Mexican food, and we ended the night watching 3 Amigos. It was a blast - both the planning and actual date!

(I don't have the pictures from that evening, but he happens to be wearing the shirt right now!)

The next morning, for Steve's Valentine's gift, I made him a passport and let him know we were going to go around the world this year from the comfort of our own home. Each month I'm planning a date night in with a theme from a different country. I knew giving him this gift would help keep me from getting too distracted and actually follow through with planning a fun night in for us.

So, the beginning of the month we spent an evening in China!

He brought his passport...

He came to the restaurant "Love"...

Our meal began with egg rolls and spicy shrimp bao...

Next came our main dish of Mandarin Orange Chicken, Vegetable Fried Rice and Szechuan Style Green Beans...

With our main dish, we also had Sake for the first (and probably last) time! I used my grandmother's tea set from Okinawa. (I am aware, too, that Okinawa is in Japan, but it looked good with our set-up!)

Next came the Wonton soup...

And for dessert we enjoyed coconut ice cream and fortune cookies...

Another fun part about the meal was that it really took me no time at all to prepare. Trader Joe's did most of the work for me. The girls went shopping with me and helped me pick out everything for their daddy's and mine special evening. It was inexpensive and I was able to put it all together while he was putting the girls to bed...

I had borrowed a Mahjong game from a friend, but after spending way too long trying to figure out the rules, I had to come up with a Plan B. So, I went to The Dating Diva's website and found another idea. We played a silly game called "Wok Tok" (like Mad Gab). It was so fun just being goofy together and laughing! I already have April's date night idea and can't wait to make it happen - and I really love that Steve's already asked me what we are doing next!

It was Indeed a "Happy 4th of July"!

We had a great time celebrating our freedom as a nation all day yesterday! We started off the day by going to the parade in downtown Woodstock. Um, I love "small town USA"!! We loved being with our friends and watching the kids scoop up candy and wave at the people going by! After the parade, we took our stacks of Chick-fil-a coupons and enjoyed lunch - we had 13 little girls and 1 little guy in our bunch. That's a lot of kiddos!! And they all did super!! After naps, we headed over to the Gralniks. It was a great afternoon and evening talking with friends, listening to kids run in and out and playing together, laughing over Yahtzee, and of course, grilling out! We missed the fireworks because of the rain, so Reagan is hoping her Daddy will set some off tonight!

How grateful I am for our freedom as a nation, but I think hubby said it best on Sunday morning when he was able to encourage the church with this the day before the 4th...

"Tomorrow we will be celebrating our freedom as a nation. And it is a freedom worth celebrating. We are free to be here this morning with nothing to hide and worship God. But what we are celebrating here this morning is even more worthy of celebration. We are free from sin! Christ has paid the price for our sin once and for all. We are not only free today to meet together in this nation, but we are free to come before a Holy God. We are free to commune with him and praise him.

Romans 6:6-14, 22-23 "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace...But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us worship God this morning with the worship and rejoicing that comes from the knowledge that we have been set free!"

It's Been a Decade...

and there is no other place that I would rather be than in his arms!

A little over 10 years ago I said "I do" to my man. At the time we had no idea what was in store for us on this adventure called marriage. We had no idea the joys and trials we would experience. We had no clue we would move so many times, have so many different jobs, have three beautiful girls, move out of state, buy a fixer-upper home, and so much more. We didn't know we would miscarry our first child or be apart for weeks at a time because of the way God chose to bring provision into our home for a season. We didn't know we would have different people live with us for seasons or that we would save money for a big 10 year get away by selling records! We didn't know that 10 years later we would actually love each other more than the day we were married. I didn't think it was possible. But it is. I love Steve. I regularly stand amazed, that God, in His great grace and providence, has allowed me to be this man's helper. I'm amazed that he would have even wanted to marry me, and not only that, but has stayed with me and loved me and continues to learn to pursue me and most of all that He loves the Lord. He is a man I respect and admire. He is the one who sees me at my best and my worst and loves me even at my unloveliest! He challenges me to do hard things and he makes me laugh everyday.

We are so grateful that we were able to get away for the longest amount of time we've ever been away to celebrate the goodness of God in our lives last month. We enjoyed each other and made memories in one of the most beautiful places we've ever been too. (I already put pictures under May of our trip to Hawaii!)

I can't wait to see what the next 10 years, and the next, and the next hold. I'm sure there will be much joy, many trials, many blessings, much laughter and tears. More memories and Lord willing, a lot of change and growth for our family. Hopefully we will set an example for our girls that makes marriage appealing, but most of all that our relationship will point them to the Gospel and goodness of our Savior, for without Him, we would not be able to have this testimony thus far!

March...April...May...June...Where is the Time Going?

This year is zooming by and I wish I could record day by day the funny sayings that the girls say, the ways they are growing and changing, the progress on our house, the many memories we are making, but I blink and another day goes by. I actually began the first sentence of this particular post three days ago, but quickly was interrupted by a little girl who wanted me to read "Charlie Cheese 1, 2, 3". It was only her and I here at the house, which is extremely rare, so I wasn't about to miss a few moments with just her and her little stack of books and Little People. Then, by the time I sat down again, I looked at the clock just to realize it was time to begin dinner. So, that's where the days go, and ever so quickly. It's quiet time and coffee, breakfast and dishes, getting dressed and reading, play-doh and grocery stores, swim lessons and VBS, time to work through conflicts with the littles, yard work, house projects, remembering to water my two living plants, tickle times, lunches, dinners, laundry and more dishes, exercising, snuggle time, game playing, prayers and lights out. Then going back in for a last peek at exhausted little girls who are snuggled up with their blankies - one in particular still talking in her sleep!

So, here's a few pictures from the last few months that show some of what we've been up too!

March

Steve took Reagan and Sydney camping in our woods!
Finally warm enough to go to the park!

Sweet sisters!
Mud - from head to toe!
This is what it looks like when you get to girls together to make two freezers full of meals and someone bursts the water line in your front yard!

We had some dear friends over for some good food and friendly competition!
The little stinker (the one in the pink) and our family morning out fishing.

Everything looks so peaceful, right!?! This was the trip when I tangled three poles, Sydney dropped her pole in the water, Steve slipped in the water going after the pole, he ran over his new tackle box, and we didn't get a single bite...all in under an hour!!

We began redoing the kitchen!!
Steve had his first meet!

Too cute!
Worship time in the kitchen to some Daryl Evans!
More kitchen remodeling!

April

May

June

And I'll Dance With Cinderella...

My husband is an amazing father. I mean tears well up in my eyes just thinking about him with my girls!! He truly is the dad I dreamed my children would have. He loves them dearly and he is daily learning how to communicate that love to them better and better. He guards his time with us. He makes us a priority. One day, I am excited to see how God blesses him through the girls because of his faithfulness to God and his faithfulness to us. May the fruit of all his labor be very, very sweet!

This past Saturday, yes after Junior's departure, Steve had a special date planned for all 3 girls. (I had a special date planned with a book, paper, pen, and sub!) Earlier that day I went and bought the girls new dresses for their date with Daddy. (It's not uncommon for him to take them on dates, this one was just a little different!) By 2 o'clock, Reagan was dressed, had picked out jewelry and knew how she wanted to wear her hair. She was so excited! Chick-fil-a (they are an amazing franchise, by the way!) hosted their Daddy/Daughter Date Night, so they had their reservations for 5:30! All the girls were given roses and candy, a little cow and questions to ask their Dad. Steve was given questions to ask the girls. And of course, there was ice cream with sprinkles!! They all had a blast!

Sydney and Reagan both like this song by Stephen Curtis Chapman. We know it's true, too. Hopefully we will make the most of our time with our little Cinderellas!

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oooooh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ooh-oh ooh-oh I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ooh-oh ooh-oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Due to Inclement Weather...

once again, His plans were not ours!

I've been so excited about hosting our Care Group's Christmas party at in our home. I've struggled a little this year with missing the familiarity of the long standing friendships and family in Orlando. I've missed the parties and dinners and baking days and shopping trips that have been associated with the people we love dearly - especially that would happen this time of year. So, planning and preparing for the party last night was exciting for me! Reagan and I went out around 3 to pick up wood for the fire and cut holly for a centerpiece for the table. Then around 5 I went outside and I couldn't believe it...there was ice on the driveway! Then I looked out the front window to see traffic at almost a stand-still! Seriously?!?! By 6, I made myself come to the reality we were going to be eating a lot of cookies by ourselves tonight. And I was disappointed. And I tried to have a good attitude. But for a few minutes I didn't. I told Steve I just didn't want to plan and look forward to anything because it seems like God just doesn't want me to do the fun things we plan. I know, I know...boo-hoo.

Steve graciously corrected me and encouraged me. (I love this guy!) And then God quickened my heart to a piece of Scripture I've held near this year..."The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Sure, I missed seeing all my friends last night and having fun and celebrating Christmas with them, but I was grateful they were all home safe, too.

And instead of pouting, God gave me the grace to change and enjoy the rest of the evening! Reagan, Sydney, Jordyn and I read about the 3 Wise Men and about Stinky Feet (their favorite story from the Jesus Storybook Bible) by the fire and then we watched cartoons before bed. Then Steve and I were getting ready to eat cookies, drink hot chocolate and play Scrabble (he really was trying to help me =)!) when he had the idea to bring some goodies out to the people who were desperately trying to get home. Now that was fun! It was fun to see the surprised look on the man's face when he got an unexpected treat. It was fun to help two ladies who had pulled over and had been sitting in their cars for hours because they were both scared to drive on the ice. It was wonderful to be able to bring them to our house so they could go to the bathroom and have a drink and something to eat. God knew those ladies would need a place to be refreshed last night. That has been my desire for our home. That people would come in and be refreshed. No matter how little or long they stay. And last night, once again, He answered that prayer - even if it was just for a few minutes! Then we played Scrabble and Steve beat me, but once again God showed me that even when His plans aren't my plans, He never changes and He is always good and worthy to be praised. So, I will keep praying and keep planning, but I'll hold those plans loosely, too. Knowing that even though I plan it is He who truly orders my days.

# 18

Concert

Steve took Reagan on a date to a concert Friday night.

She had so much fun. She was very excited. She couldn't sit still and randomly yelled things out to Steve throughout the concert.

My favorite was "This is louder than Jordyn!" =)

Blog...What's That?

March 8? Seriously, that was the last time I blogged? I'm feeling like time is flying by and I'm trying to grab it by the coattails as it zooms past! Mama, you've probably fallen out of your seat by now as you see a new entry listed!

So, now I don't know what to do...updates galore again or start from this day and move forward? A few updates just so I don't forget! =)

Since April, we've had 7 birthdays to celebrate, our anniversary and Mother's Day. Steve and I both turned 30 this year, Reagan 6, Sydney 4 and Jordyn 2. And we celebrated 9 years together!

Quick updates:

Me - Yep, I really turned 30. My sweet hubby took me away for my birthday and shopping for a night and day. It was very sweet of him, but I'm not sure we'll do it again for a long, long time. The going away part I hope we get to do again soon =). The shopping together part, not so much! It was a good and revealing getaway and Friday night was a lot of fun, but come Saturday some ugliness began to exude from my heart and has continued to be revealed through multiple situations. Although I'm so thankful for revelation, the Cross of my precious Savior, being able to repent, a husband who has been patient and kind, it has been a bit of a difficult season for me personally. But God is faithful and He is answering my prayers and for that I'll gladly take the pain of seeing my sin if it means I get to see more of His holiness and goodness!

Steve - He is a man of many talents! He's been working hard at work (as always), working hard on the house, and growing - by God's grace - in many different areas. And he still finds time to make us laugh everyday! The girls and I went to Orlando for a week and he worked his regular job during the day and worked on putting in new doors, painting, putting in trim, etc. in the house at night. Amazing!

Reagan - our little LuLu finished school right before we headed to Orlando and has been enjoying her summer so far! She just turned 6 and I love her quote of the day on June 4..."This is the best 6 year old day of my WHOLE life!" She got her first bike and has surprised me by how well she is riding. She continues to be a super helper and a super talker! =) She makes breakfast in the morning for her and her sisters, dusts the stairs, living room and our room, loves reading and making mud pies! She also loves visiting our neighbors and is asking more and more questions about the Lord which has made for some precious conversations lately!

Sydney - all you have to do is say "diaper" and you'll have her rolling! She is a stinker, but a very funny stinker! She also got a bike for her 4 year old birthday and has been doing really well riding, too! The first time she rode it she flipped down our little hill, so it took her a little while to get up the courage to try again. The other day I put them in the tub after they had been outside for hours, and I went to pull out her braid and realized her hair and scalp were just full of dirt. She informed me she was just trying to bury her head in the dirt. I had to wash her hair about 10 times and I'm sure I didn't get it all out! I never know what she's going to say...or do!

Jordyn - is 2 now! She is growing and changing and I'm so grateful for the changes I've seen in her over the last few months. She is a tough cookie, but God is at work in her and in us! She hasn't been passing out for the last probably month and a half, but she has started stomping her feet and hitting. BUT she's also started responding so much quicker, and loving on her sisters more, and talking a bit, and she LOVES to dance - especially when we listen to music in the car! I love when we turn into our driveway and she yells "HOME" and gets excited. Today I took her to our neighbors to play and she and I bounced on the trampoline and I didn't want to stop because I've never seen her laugh so hard! She was snorting she was laughing so hard!!

The house - we've been enjoying our home! I've been a little antsy to finish up some of the not so fun projects (like painting trim) and move onto some more fun projects, but we are also really trying to live life too and not be consumed by the home projects. Thankfully, Steve is better at balancing that than I am and having 3 little kids has limited the time I can paint, etc.! I want to enjoy the immense blessings we've been given, be wise with our time, and one day finish the windows! =) We have really been enjoying hours in our yard. The girls will play out there as long as we'll let them, Steve loves to work in the yard and so do I (I even got to mow for hours the other day which I love!) and we love to sit on our front porch and talk and read and watch the little animals run around. I've been going out almost every morning now to drink my coffee and read and journal, and there is much to be said about being outside and being still before the Lord before the whirl of the day begins!

OK, I do believe my Starbucks is wearing off so it's time to wrap up the updates. Oh, so much more has happened, but I think I'm going to start fresh and maybe pop in some of what I've missed blogging about over the last couple of months with pictures!

Dinner for My Honey!

I love doing special things for my special man! And a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? Steve has been working so hard (he always does), but this month, he has been kicking tail! He's one of the hardest working people I've ever met. He doesn't look for any recognition, but he does everything he does with excellence. The grace at work in his life has been so encouraging! Last week he was gone every night, except one, so Friday night I was able to make him a special dinner! We ate by candlelight by our Christmas tree with Jim Brickman and Celine Dion for entertainment! It was a wonderful night and I loved including the girls! They went shopping with me and were excited when it was time to go to bed, because they knew their Mommy was planning something special for their Daddy! (Steve played the part of "Prince Edward" while I prepared dinner! He went to the girls' "Royal Feast" they had made out of Legos and danced with his little princesses!)

So, here's what we had!
Crab Cakes with Lemon Dill Sauce (Paula Deen)
Steak wrapped with Garlic Herb Butter and Spinach
Cheese and Wine Risotto
Roasted Asparagus
Shiraz

And of course, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk!

(Will add pictures soon!)

Making a House Our Home!

So, I've been off of blogging for a while and have much to catch up on! This one may be a little lengthy, but I know my brain won't remember long and I've already probably forgotten much! My goal was to update about the house frequently with lots of pictures, but that hasn't happened! So, here's the scoop!

On Friday, November 20th we closed on a home with beautiful potential in Woodstock, Georgia. It's an old farmhouse with a huge porch, a barn, a pool, a cool mudroom, beautiful trees, a little over 4 acres, 7 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, a keeping room, kitchen, family room, formal living and dining rooms, lots of junk in the yard, all kinds of fruit trees and who knows what's yet to be discovered! We have been so blessed! We were able to get a great deal on it, but it needs a ton of work! It has so much of what Steve and I have dreamed of in having a home and although the work it needs can be a little overwhelming at times, we are so grateful! We are grateful for all we get to learn through this process. I am grateful in thinking ahead in how we will be able to use our home to serve our family, the church, guests, etc.! I am grateful that this is one of the hardest things that Steve and I have ventured on and how it is teaching us to trust God more, be more intentional with our time, allowing us to see God's faithfulness and giving us opportunities to meet new people and learn so much. It is teaching me patience and contentment.

So, in 2 1/2 weeks since closing, here is what all has been done so far...

A new roof
20 out of 30 new windows have been installed
Reagan and Sydney's bathroom has been demolished (almost all the way)
New tub has been put in their bathroom
Stairs to master bedroom have been demolished
Ceilings in both girls' rooms and in family room have been scraped of popcorn
Ceiling in master has been scraped of popcorn
More wallpaper than can possibly be imagined in one house keeps being discovered =)
Wallpaper has been removed in both girls room
Drywall has been removed in Reagan and Sydney's room
New drywall is up in their rooms
Carpet has been removed in Jordyn's room...off the wall!
Carpet was added throughout the house so we could close, now it's being removed again
Trees have been trimmed around the house so roof could be put on and so it will be ready to be painted
Trim and ceiling in family room has been primed
New fans are up in family room
Electrical is repaired in Jordyn's room
2 new hot water heaters are in
Tons of phone calls have been made
Supplies have been bought for the new stairs
I have paint colors picked out for all the rooms we' hope to paint before we move in

Thanks to the Battaglias, Nick Campagna, Matt from work, Mom and Dad, Scott Snyder, Brad Miller, Kim Pfaller who have so kindly served us over the last couple of weeks. We are so appreciative.

We've had some great workers so far, too. If anyone in this area needs any kind of work done on your house, I can give you some great recommendations!!

Please pray for some warmer dry weather so we can get the house painted. Also, for wisdom and strength for my extremely hard working husband. This has been his busiest month so far for Steve's job, on top of that he's working so hard on the house and in taking care of all his girls. And we head to Orlando to be with our family for Christmas for a week! I am amazed at the grace I've seen in him! Please pray he does not get sick as our bodies are still not adjusted to this cold weather! Oh, and that we get a better quote for the a/c/heaters that we need. They are coming in pretty high. This is a short season and before we know it, we'll be in! We want to glorify God through this season, and although some days it seems as if we are in way over our heads, I know that in His strength we will make it through!!

This Psalm has been on my heart this last week and has been so helpful!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Ps 121:1-2

Now for some pictures!

Visit from the Traugotts!

We were so excited to get a visit from David, Kelly, Alyssa, Meredith and Brooklyn a couple of weekends ago! We talked and laughed and enjoyed catching up with our dear friends! We played a 4 hour game of dominoes, took 6 little girls out to dinner, worshiped at church together, went and looked at our soon to be house (Kelly was a lot braver than I was in the barn!), Steve and David took the girls for a walk in on one of the trails in the neighborhood, Kelly and I got a quick cup of Starbucks and we talked and laughed and talked some more! How grateful we are for our sweet friends! The girls played really well together! In fact, today I called for Sydney and she informed me that her name is now Alyssa! =)

Berry Patch Farm

Yesterday Sissy, Mark, Madeleine, Ainsley and Emma stopped in for a quick visit on their way home from Blue Ridge! We had a great time visiting...it went by super fast! The weather held out for us, too, so we were able to go to Berry Patch Farm to pick out some pumpkins! We walked around and looked at the few little animals they had and then took the hayride to the pumpkin patch. The girls had fun looking for their own little pumpkins and gourds. (Reagan has been wanting to buy gourds to decorate the house with for weeks!!) Then we had popcorn and boiled peanuts and watched the kiddos play on the play ground for a while! It was a fun afternoon. Then we headed home for tacos. Reagan was so excited about having a sleep over in her room with her cousins. All the kids were pretty worn out! It was funny watching Mark try to keep his eyes open as we were talking, too!

Now I need to go and figure out what all I'm going to make with my pumpkin!