Ward Fall Fest and Pumpkin Patch

This weekend was a busy one, we had my sister down, so it was fun to hang out with all 3 sisters!

My little monkey!SM the Builder, Can you fix it?

painted face (that lasted like an hour)

Standing up all by myself checking out the turkeys and chickens

mmmm, funnel cake

happy sister, not so happy kids

this is the one, mama

he loved the animals, though they scared him

but who doesn't like a nice sheep (or goat, Shawn)

He's up, up, up- and now he's down.

GJ has taken his time, but this weekend he took a couple steps and then Sunday, motivated by Dez (or jealous) he took several steps outside at chruch and then more inside and later at home he took over 10 by himself. Hooray, we have a walker!
But then later that afternoon we went to the park and he kind of jammed his foot going down the slide with SM. I didn't think much of, but he continued to cry for the next 20 minutes and then any time he moved it at all (and he is not a big crier, especially when I am holding him). He slept okay, but was still not putting weight on it this morning, so we went to the doctor, who thought it might be broken so he sent us to the hospital to get some X-rays. Luckily they came out negative, so now if he is not walking again by Wednesday we are going back, but I am not sure what they can do at this point, but I really doubt its going to get better that fast. Poor kid, he was so close, and now he won't be walking for a while!
So I am stuck at the hospital for like 3 hours while we are doing all this so I call Tad and ask him to pick up SM from preschool, and he finally makes time and then gets to his car and realizes no car seat. Luckily Matt was able to go get him. And the day is half over, what else could happen? SM did take a miracle 3 hour nap.

Brothers

Wicked!

Tad and I actually went out on a date. Alone. How nice. We saw Wicked downtown at the Fox and enjoyed it thoroughly and I didn't worry once about the peeps.

Boy after my own Heart

Heaven

I know, its October. Its now officially fall, but I planted a bit late. Ike almost toppled my plants and they were bent and sideways for a couple weeks till I got better stakes that Matt put in. All of that worry for just a few fruits, but I am really attached to my plants. I can't tell you how much I love fresh tomatoes. I hope I can get a few more before it gets too cold. A small harvest, but worth every bite. SM wants to go pick them the second they turn pink and he was so proud when he came inside with one and ate it!

Beach!

This weekend we went down to the Florida coast to visit JJ and Steph and check out their new place. Its so nice to have relatives who live by the beach! We loaded all 7 of us into the van and took off in the morning. We made it to Gainesville and Tad had a little tour of a company he has an interview with in two weeks. I wish we could have checked out the city a litte more, but we still had a lot more driving. We mostly hung out at the beach, ate ,played games and listened to a little conference. It was so relaxing! SM with a big hermit crab
GJ had an okay time. It was so hard to rub your eyes with sand in them and then have sand on your hands and it was a continual circle of discomfort. He did like playing in the sand and water though, some of the time.

but only if he was in the mood.

We made a big turtle. Swimming in the Gulf.

We played a lot of Rock Band, and a little Guitar Hero. Its very hard, but way fun, I got addicted, so feel free to invite me over if you have it!

the extended fam
our peeps
We were very worried about the car ride home, but we only made two stops and there was very little crying, so overall, it was a great trip and we plan to go back soon!

YUM!

We pretty much make some form of homemade pizza (pizza rolls, calzones, french bread) every weekend and of course I have my two little helpers. Here SM is helping me roll out aerate the dough. Later for movie night, we made homemade chocolate ice cream too. It was fabulous. SM licking the parts clean. And last but not least, here is a shot of my chunky GJ. Gotta love those legs. He still is not walking, but he leans on everything or anyone he can. He is quite the sweetheart.

Please comment!

We got our family shots back, so please take a look and tell me which #'s you like, even if you wish to remain anonymous!

Family Slide Show

Suwanee Day!

Saturday we went up to Suwanee and they had a big city festival. I think SM's favorite part was riding a bus from the parking lot to the city park. He loves most forms of transportation. They had tons of food, booths, and of course bounce houses. We had a great time. He keeps talking about how FAST the slides were. My handsome blondies.

He had always been afraid of bounce houses and would get out 2 seconds after getting in without ever jumping, but he finally got over it and had a great time and was jumping all over the place!

eeeeewwwww

I admit I over exaggerate at times (okay, most of the time) but I kid you not, this thing is 3 inches long and living under the deck. Linny and GJ went out to play and she is still hyperventilating. Not poisonous, just huge and gross.

First Day of Preschool

SM came down with a stomach bug Sunday night so he had to miss his first day of school Monday but he finally got to go today and he was so excited! He is attending Tallulah Montessori and just loved it! Check it out, its brand new this year and she still has a few spots left. I am very impressed so far and know he will have a great year. He didn't want to go this morning, but then didn't want to leave when I picked him up. He sure is growing up!

Six Flags

Friday after we had cake, we left the birthday girl home with the babies and Matt, Tad, SM and I went to Six Flags! They close the park to the public and only Coke employees get in from 6pm to midnight so after fighting traffic, we finally got there and had a blast! I mostly did the little kid stuff with SM and Tad and Matt took off to do Goliath and Superman and left me without a camera, so I didn't get any good shots of him on the swings or flying an airplane.We have never been to anything like this with him, so I had no idea how he would react or if he would be scared, but he wasn't at all. In fact when Tad and I went on Superman, he just kept telling Matt how he wanted to ride the 'roller poster.' We rode Thomas the Train at their new little village (mainly a play area, not as cool as I was hoping) and ate funnel cake and watched the firework show. SM fell asleep in Tad's arms as he waited for us to go on the last coaster. We had a great time.

She's here!

Linny and Matt arrived this week from BYU-I. Matt is doing an internship at the cartoon network and Lindsey is hanging out with the boys and her new baby, so she will be busy enough. We re so glad they are here in Atlanta! Friday was Linny's birthday so I made her an egg free cake and she got some cake decorating tools for her birthday and decorated her cake herself. Happy Birthday Linny! Sawyer kept asking where his presents were.

Last Day

Friday was the kids last day at school at GaTech Learning Center. We have really love it and were sad to go (as you can see from GJ's picture) On to new adventures! I don't think Sawyer really gets it. He keeps asking me today if we are going to school. He does start at his new Montessori preschool next week.

Chickens

I haven't taken a lot of pictures lately, not much going on this week. Very busy with work and GaTech started, luckily Tad only has one class this semester, but its from 4-7. Yuck. Kids are growing fast, GJ and I have colds, we got a lot of rain from remnants of the store, I say the more the merrier. I finally have two red tomatoes growing. The bean are doing well, but we had a caterpillar attack. It just broke my heart to kill them, but they were everywhere! SM helped me pick them off, but in one day, they ate about half the leaves.
I have decided I want chickens. Not now, since we may be moving with graduation, but I have been obsessed lately with backyard farming, raising chickens, eating more of what you grow and local foods. Too bad the kids are allergic to eggs now, so this may be many years out, but one day, I will have some chickens. And gaots. I hope.

Talent Show

We had a great show this year! Its so easy to put together a nice show when we have so many talented people. Most pictures are on facebook, but here is a small sampling. Bishop dancing with cane. Even though he is only 15, he sure is talented.

Jenny being nervous for no reason. She is AMAZING, singing and playing?!? My hero.

Tad playing a song he wrote. He is modest so he didn't mention that. Plus its still nameless. Great job honey! SM took the picture, so not the best.

He kept going back and forth about performing, but after seeing so many people up there, he sure wanted the microfone. He sang Grand Ol' Flag, and it wasn't his greatest rendition, but I was sure proud of him!

Me trying to move the show along. We did finish 1 minute before 8 o'clock and that was with an encore.

Mad skills, that is all I have to say. This is one of the 'band' and then Blake played a couple more songs. He had all the other parts programmed into his equipment from when he was in junior high. Amazing. Such an enjoyable evening and this year we had plenty of food, so I will deem it a great success!

Wordless Wednesday