Four new kitties

We have kittens at my mother's if anyone is looking to get one. They are about 3 weeks old right now. There are 4 of them. I can get you specifics if you are interested. Three are the prettiest smokey gray and white. And the odd ball is a tabby and white spotted. They have already had quite the adventurous life. They were born under a bush and moved to an old dog house on the back porch. Mama Kitty must have felt threaten because she moved them only not to be found. We thought they were lost and then Friday with all the rain, they got moved from the brush pile they were hiding under to dryer land. Now they are making their new home on a chair on the covered front porch. These pictures were taken shortly after their new move from the underwater brush pile to higher land hence their fuzzy appearance.

BOO to you! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Any excuse for a family get together is fine by us. Nonnee'and Papa, Nana, CreCre, Denise, Aubrey and Tucker came over for trick or treating and dinner. Tonight we had chili dogs and cupcakes. They were delicious!!! Caroline decided she would stick with a hot dog because in her words " I don't want mine to be cold" Ha! Isn't it funny how a 3 year old sees things. We took the kids around the neighborhood. Carson just wanted to walk. He could of cared less about trick or treating. He was just enjoying being a big boy and walking all by himself. Caroline on the other hand was really into it this year. Each house I got a report back as she left " I said trick or treat and thank you" I even joined in the festivities and pulled out an old costume I had and dressed up like a pumpkin. Tucker was an alien this year and Aubrey was a war lock. As you can see they are past the day of 'cute' halloween costumes. Maci came by too and was the cutest little lady bug for her 1st Halloween. We didn't get to see Ady Grace tonight. We will have to report on her costume later but I'm sure she was extra cute for her 1st Halloween! Caroline and Carson ended up with matching costumes. I bought Carson the cutest blue monster off e-bay and it ended up fitting Caroline better than him. That was fine with Caroline she claimed it as hers the minute she saw it because she wanted to be a 'Gruffalo' for Halloween. In case you may be asking What's a Gruffalo? It's the cutest book I think we've read. We received it from imagination library. It is a must read! He actually has orange eyes and a black tounge and sharp purple prickles covering his back. (yes I have read the book enough I have it memorized) Despite the descrepancies in the costume from the book Caroline loved it so we decided they could just match this year. Afterall they are MY little monsters anyway. Good night! And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This was NO Charlie Brown Pumpkin!!

To carve or not to carve... That was the question this year.


We opted to make a Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin at our house this year and it turned out incredibly cute and without mess was finished in about 10 minutes.




Not to fore go tradition we joined in on pumpkin carving with Aunt CreCre. My sister the talented carver found the largest of large pumpkins for this years festivities. Friday night we set out to Aunt CreCre's for a night of pumpkin carving and pizza. What a fun time we had. Everyone had to take turns sitting on the big pumpkin and then monkey see monkey do... Although it's not everyday that you see a pumpkin large enough for an 8 year old to fit in, so fit they did. I thought it would be so cute to get a picture of Carson in the pumpkin (he did not think it was so cute) Caroline was quick to follow and then Aubrey and Tucker took a turn fitting inside before Christi got a hold of carving a design.

Come by and Support!

Fall Frenzy Set for October 24
Junior Auxiliary will hold it's first annual Fall Frenzy on Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Trust Company Bank in Brighton, TN. This is a new finance project for our chapter. It will be a one-day shopping and community event where vendors and other nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity to come showcase their products/services to the public. We are also planning to incorporate a countywide children first art contest into this day, so anyone attending would get to see the art of our county's students.



Form more information and to see a sneak peak of vendors, please visit www.tiptoncountyja.org!

Don't forget to visit our Patty Cakes booth to see all our newest stuff!

I just love this picture of Caroline. She loves shoes and will wear anyones. This time she found Uncle P's boots which are about as big as she is.

Monkey toes and a Banana

Do you say no when a child that you have to force to eat fruits and veggies ask for a banana? Me I say SURE even at 5:30 in the morning when we are trying to get ready to start our day off to work. I fixed Caroline a glass of milk and the banana she asked for and the next time I rounded the corner this is how she sat watching cartoons in my bed eating her banana and holding her cup of milk with her toes. That's my little monkey toe girl.

Fun at Fletcher's Farm

On the way to the Pumpkin Patch we go...


We took a trip out to Fletcher's Farm Saturday night with Bryan and Holly Wolfe, a couple from church and their kids Griffin and Lacey.It was a wonderful time I highly reccommend. A very inexpensive night of family fun! The kids loved the hayride and each got to take a pumpkin home.



We roasted weenies and made smores which was another big hit. If you have never made smores with cinnamon graham crackers, you must try it! I was skeptical but Holly said it was delicious and boy was she right! It was the perfect end to our busy week. We sat by the campfire and talked for hours while the kids played. We even joined in the fun on the see-saw. I think we might just make this our new fall time family tradition. Loving fall the way I do I can't think of a more perfect way to welcome the season!

Caroline and Carson showing of their newly claimed pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

James 1:17

No pictures this time. Just a minute to sit and collect my thoughts. Sometimes I realize how our moms must have felt when we were little. All mommies know what I mean. Why is it every time you try to use the bathroom or do anything for that matter, that's always when you hear a loud crash or scream or the kids are banging on the door wanting in the bathroom with you. Me time is definitely a thing of the past. Like today, in the short time it takes to make mac and cheese and hot dogs for lunch, here comes Caroline around the corner with the happiest look on her face and sopping wet and laughing. "Me and Carson are playing in the water HAHAHA" What water I think... Well it happens that in the laundry room I find Carson sitting in the floor delightfully splashing in the gallons of water he has spilled out of the automatic dog waterer that I just filled up last night. What a mess!!! There was about an inch of water covering the whole floor running everywhere. I had gotten on to them before I realized it. Stripped them down to undies and a diaper and sat them down for lunch while I cleaned up the mess. As I was kneeling in the floor wiping the water from the front and sides of the washer and dryer it was dripping off of, I had tears in my eyes. I thought to myself it's just water, it will dry and then this will seem so funny. My poor babies, why does it break your heart such when you have to get on to them. I was only trying to teach them not to play in the dog water but in the end I think I learned a bigger lesson. What's the harm in it? They were only being kids. I have a new understanding to my prayer of God please give me patience. And exactly as I said, now it seems so funny! The look on there faces was priceless. The smallest things kids make into something so fun!

I have finally gotten both the kids down for a nap. They have always taken a nap at the same time but lately Caroline is a struggle to get to take one. You know, when your such a big girl naps are a thing of the past. Although she sees herself as such a big girl I know she still needs a nap. Especially when she comes to my room at 6:15AM ready for the day to start. This leaves her quite whinny by lunch. I look at my sweet children as they sleep and though they will always be my babies, they are getting SO big. There are so many milestones that have come and gone and I am so proud of each new thing they accomplish. My babies are growing up so fast. I am so thankful for the career God lead me to. I always was drawn to the medical field. I have that passion to help people. I take such pride in the work I do but now with a family I am most thankful that God enables me to have a career I worked so hard to get to and still spend so much time with my children as they grow up. To me it is the best of both worlds. I can devote the talents God has given me in the medical field and enjoy giving my children so much. God really answered my prayers when Caroline was born. After 5 years of weekends and then nights, after maternity leave God opened the door for me to move to a day shift with 3 day shifts 12 hour each. This leaves me Thursday and Friday just me and the kids and then Brad home at night and on the weekend to pack in all the family time we can. It really is special time for us. Loving pictures as I do, I see just how much my children change in such a short time. It really seems impossible but we seem like we already have a lifetime of memories. Carson's new laugh is the best part of the day. God is so amazing in so many ways. He gives us the mind capacity to hold all these special memories in our hearts so that we can always treasure them. I am so proud of Caroline. She has been praying before dinner each night. It is a habit we are trying to instill in our children. She says the cutest things. It always starts with thank you for our food and drink and then an assortment of other things. It is so funny the things that are on the minds of children. Like "thank you for our food and drink and the best mommy in the whole world and daddy is to and for Carson and my bike and I want a new one from Santa and thank you Jesus, for God -Amen" This is when I know that I am going in the direction God has led me. If my children think I am the best mommy in the whole world then I must be doing a great job. Their happiness lets me know that all I have accomplished and all I do is so worth each and every day. Today one of my favorite Bible verses seems so fitting to add here...

"Every good and perfect thing comes from above." James 1:17

Now back to a busy afternoon. We are planning on having movie night tonight with all the rain we are having today. Maybe one day soon I will come up with the time to go through the kids clothes in the attic and sell some of them to make room. If anyone is in need or interested let me know and I will work on that size first.

Ramblings of Life

I love the Fall!


Yes that is Carson finally big enough to get Caroline back. Although he really only wants to do whatever she is doing it just so happens that the pack n play made for her babies is not big enough to hold them.
Tonight may be long. Sometimes you feel the need to be longwinded and tonight I have several reasons to be. Nothing of much importance other than it is 10:00 and I finally have the chance to sit down today. Only have to switch the washer and dryer 1 more time for the night! But Brad is sick is my main reason for staying up, though I am already exhausted. He's had a fever since last night that hasn't broken and it is time for him to have more medicine at 11:oo at the earliest so for all he does for me I will ignore that bed that has been calling my name for several hours and share with all that care to read of my wonderful, busy as always ramblings of life.

Friday, one of my friend's little boys who was born a couple of weeks after Carson was suppose to come over and play that afternoon. The day started out WONDERFUL! Both my children slept in until 8:30! That is nothing short of a miracle at our house. Getting to sleep in left me feeling quite revived. (little did I know I was going to need that feeling later in the weekend). We started our usual Friday morning with breakfast and then to throw in a little twist we bathed both dogs. They really needed it after all the rain we have been having. Then back to routine. We cleaned the house, changed the sheets, caught up on laundry (or so I thought)just the usual and the Jennifer called and said they wouldn't be able to make it, Ethan had a fever. What to do, what to do???
So we turned our afternoon into a snapshot because I love taking pictures, especially of my kids. With our afternoon play date canceled, we came up with lots of fun stuff to do. While Carson went down for nap, Caroline and I decided we'd paint our toenails. She picked purple this time, her new favorite color. And we painted her fingernails as well upon her request although it was mostly gone by the afternoon since she can't seem to keep from biting her finger nails. Then as quick as they could dry we busied ourselves with her new art easel Lia, Chase and Maci got her for her birthday. She is becoming quite addicted to it. As soon as she gets up she says "I need to draw on my board" And that is the last statement she whines as she reluctantly goes to bed.
Then on to her new cupcake maker Aunt Cre Cre got her for her birthday. We decided we would try it out and make herself and Carson a cupcake for snack when he woke up from nap. Yes, Caroline was skipping nap. I hate that she is already growing out of naps but from time to time it is just not worth the battle. Plus we usually have a lot o fun spending some girl time together just me and her. Now back to the cupcake maker... Keep in mind that Christi as no little girls so despite that the box clearly reads 8 years +, this was the present she picked. I will say however, Caroline loved it no matter the mess or the fact that the icing reminded me of the taste of Pepto Bismol. Not even Carson would take a 2nd bite of his and he loves to eat any and everything. But Miss Caroline finished her with a big grin.
Then Carson woke up and we decided we would play outside.

We swang and swang, and the we had races, I never seeming to win because the rules kept changing (not that I was trying to win) and then we rode bikes. In for a drink and potty break, daddy would be home soon and there were errands to still be run. AND THAT'S WHEN I HEARD THE SWEETEST SOUND...

"Mommy... you are the BEST mommy in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!" Now I know this will not always be the thought in her pretty little head but at the moment it brought tears to my eyes. I though we had a pretty fun day but that definitely topped it off.
Yes, these are my dogs freshly bathed begging me to throw them the ball. They really do not get to play like they did before the kids became so active.




Saturday we went shopping at Mistle Toe Merchants with Momma and Juliana, just because we love stuff like that and boy did it wear Caroline out. I couldn't resist the sweet little picture when we got home.
Now Saturday afternoon I decided to spend getting the kids closets switched out from summer to winter. Brad laid on the couch and watched football while I had a little too much help switching the closets. We finally got out the sleeping bags and the kids played in them for a good while. Brad kept saying he didn't feel very good and about 10:30 I realized he had fever. It hasn't broke since, I'm thinking he has the flu so he is quartined to the bedroom since I haven't gotten the kids flu shots yet. That is where he has stayed and slept all day today. I can't get his fever to break so I am on fever watch with him tonight instead of the kids. I know he feels horrible, but I also know how much he does to help out around here and how hard it is when he is down so I am hoping this doesn't spread to anyone else cause if both the kids get it I am going to need him better to help with them.
Today we celebrated Brad's birthday dinner at momma's. Although he was unable to make it because he was sick. He had requested momma make him roast this year and I knew she had put it on last night so the dinner went on. We took pictures for him though. So that was my busy weekend that is finally coming to an end. Will I get to those 89 new messages or maybe those will just wait another day.