Halloween

Back in the day, I use to throw really fun Halloween parties for the kids.  Mummy dogs, slime juice, monster munch...all the things.  This year it slipped up on me and we enjoyed 50 cent corn dogs from Sonic!  We met up with Maggie's friend Emma and trick or treated the neighborhood with them.  Afterwards we went back to their house for cupcakes.

Caroline on the other hand, went to her friend Amelia's house with McCall.  They had so much fun..we missed her dearly...it was our first Halloween without her at home.  Strange...this growing up thing isn't as fun as it seems.

 

Reading Night

 

Tonight Mags and I got to enjoy reading night at her school.  I enjoyed seeing her work on the walls.  Her class won the pumpkin contest.  Each kid had to decorate a pumpkin that described them.  Mags did a dalmation because she loves dogs.  This girl is working so hard and we are SO proud of her!!

Ortho Appointment

 Caroline went straight from swimming to soccer conditioning.  She has mentioned a time or two that her foot was hurting.  She mentioned it to the coach and he said she couldn't continue to come to conditioning until it was checked.  He made me feel like a terrible mother when he said "So you've seen the bump and she told you it hurts but you didn't think to get it checked?"  For clarification, I did get it checked by her peditrician and he didn't think there was anything to it, thank you very much!! 

So of course getting the appointment was top priority in her eyes.  Thankfully we were able to get one the same week. We went this morning to Sports Med.  They took x-rays and looked at it thoroughly.  Dr. J thinks it is a gangling cyst.  Because it is so small, he suggests just watching it.  He doesn't think surgery is needed at this point because it's so small plus it would take her out of sports until recovery is complete. PLUS he said "I agree with your peditrician, I don't think this is an oversite...you aren't a horrible mother!"  He scored major points for that one...take that Coach Byrd!!!!

Caroline and Jude

 

We have joked since these kids were about 3 that we were going to arrange their marriage.  Anytime they come to the states, we make sure they get to hang out together.  When Caroline was in elementary school, I would either sign her out early or Jude would surprise her when she got in the car.  It was always fun!  We wonder each year when they come home if 'this will be the year' they feel awkward around each other.  I"m thankful to say at age 15, they will still laugh, cut up and take an annual picture together!  Jude has officially grown taller than Caroline!  Love these two!

McEmfield Gathering

 We were so excited to schedule this date with our friends Chris and Charissa and Jeremy and Courtney.  We are always so thankful for any time we get with Jeremy and Courtney when they come to the states.  Our kids hung out at home while we hung out around town.  Thankful for time to catch up and hear about life on the mission field.  My only regret was that our time just wans't long enough...

Halloween Camping at Daddy Joes

This is one of my absolute favorite camping weekends all year!  We have a large group that gathers for the fun.  We book 365 days in advance to assure to we have reservations for the upcoming year!!  All of the kids have other kids to play with/hang out with.  This year was a little different in that we didn't sign up for all the activities because our kids were enjoying just hanging out.  I almost didn't know what to do with myself...Saturday night's chili buffet was delicious as always!  Thankful to come home to a yummy meal after walking the campground for 2 hours!!

Happy birthday Peep~

 Tonight we celebrated Peep with cake and ice cream!!  It was a good time being together with everyone.  What a gift to celebrate another year with her!!

Go GAMECOCKS!!!

Today was teacher appreciation day at Williams Brice.  They offer educators an amazing deal on tickets for this game.  This is our second year going as an entire family!  To make it even better, we got to enjoy it with great friends.  Our kids attitudes stunk and made us question why we bought 4 tickets instead of just 2 adult tickets but either way I am thankful for the time we had.  It was a great game.  In true Gamecock fashion, we lost it at the very end...oh well!  

 

Freshman Homecoming Float

 Caroline, McCall and Ella have been consumed by this float for the last two weeks.  I'll admit, Bridget and I weren't sure it was going to come together but it did!!  These girls had a vision and I can't believe how well it came together!!  They worked hard and it shows.  The sweetest part of the project was McCall's grandparents who were 'on site' to oversee things.  Lala made sure they had plenty to eat and Grandaddy made sure they had the tools they needed.  Way to go Freshman!!  They also won the spirit stick at the pep rally!  These kids are on fire!!

Fall Break Fun in VA!

We enjoyed a few days at home for the beginning of our fall break.  Caroline has swim practice Monday and Tuesday.  We left early Wednesday morning to head to Richmond to visit Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed for our annual apple picking.  With fall break being the first week of October, it's a little early for the beautiful fall leaves and fully opened apple orchard, but we are thankful for the extra time it allows us to visit with them.  

Wednesday afternoon, Aunt Lill had an appointment so we putzs around once we got to Richmond.  We went downtown to the riverwalk and had lunch at Bottoms Up Pizza.  The Riverwalk was pretty but it looks like it never really took off.  I wouldn't recommend going back unless they did a lot of improve it.  But it was fun to say we went.  Bottoms Up was one of the first places that we ate with Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed once they moved.  The pizza was good and it was fun to take the girls.  We visited our first of 3 Plato's closets and found some cute things.  

Once we got to Aunt Lill's we enjoyed relaxing and trying out their new electric bikes.  They are SO fun!!  Andy has been asking for one and this sealed the deal.  This would definitely be a nice splurge in the future. We enjoyed games at night, no building projects this year!! :-)  

The apple orchard was pretty quiet.  They originally told us only one section was open for picking.  However, I explained that I drove 7 hours from SC and would really like a variety of apples.  The sweet lady was SO kind to give us a few pointers and I'm thankful to say we got exactly what we wanted. :-)

There is nothing like the first slice of apple in the orchard!!!!  And the hot apple cider doughnuts along with hot apple cider, oh my goodness!!  So good!

Caroline drove us around Midlothian which was a big deal...her first driving experience in a new state!  She did great!  She maneuvered a round about which was impressive.  We visited lots of thrift stores, which made the girls extremely happy!! 

 Saturday came all too quickly and it was time to head home.  As always, we are so thankful for this time with Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed.  We appreciate them opening their home to us.  Already looking forward to next year!

Bottoms Up Pizza...then vs. now

Bottoms Up Pizza was one of the first places Aunt Lill and Uncle Ed took us to eat when we visited them in Richmond.  It's a neat little pizza shop downtown, with the train tracks overhead.  We took this fun picture of us and it hangs on our fridge.  I only thought it was right to take another picture when we visited with the girls.  SO much has changed since that first visit in 2007!!
 

Caroline's first passenger

 Amelia came over to hang out today.  When it was time to take her home, Caroline said she would drive.  So Amelia is her first, non family, passenger!  I think these two are going to enjoy lots of time in the car together over the next few years!!

Aunt Jill's birthday present!

 Unlike me, lovingly known as the fun sponge, Aunt Jill gives the best birthday presents.  Life has been crazy and we were finally able to get together today.  She gave Maggie her birthday present. Lots of arts and crafts items but the hair chalk was the favorite.  She and her sweet friend Mica immediately went ot work on their hair this afternoon.  Thanks Aunt Jill!

A fun weekend at the beach

This weekend we tried a new campground, Myrtle Beach Travel Park.  It was an easy destination without all the beach traffic.  The campground was nice.  It was less than 15 minutes from the aquatic center.  The only draw back is that it is mostly ALL sand except the main road in and out.  Therefore we had to sweep a whole lot.  But truly it wasn't bad...we enjoyed time on the beach and at the pool.  We were super close to our friends Chris and Charissa and could see them standing on their balcony from the pool deck.  We got to see the harvest moon rise over the ocean which was gorgeous!  We also experienced King Tides for the first time which was crazy!  We had a few hiccups with dogs and attitudes but as always when I look back I'm so thankful!  We are so grateful for our camper and the opportunities that it allows us.  I believe that Satan wants to steal our joy in any way that he can...but I'm thankful for grace and redemption through Jesus that allows us to ask for forgiveness and move on.  And Lord willing, we will remember teh good times and not the crazy ones!!