Three or four in One!

Three posts in one or four! I have not updated in a while- life has been so crazy that I haven't taken the time to update all of you on our life!!!!!(or update my virtual scrapbook!) So the first post- THANKSGIVING!! We went to Kentucky this year and it was just us and shane and brit and all 5 kiddos! We went up on Tuesday and then came home on Sunday! Needless to say it was fun, but not exactly restful! We went to the campus and played on this rope swing one afternoon- then enjoyed Thanksgiving lunch that Brittany did most of the cooking for and then Brit and I went shopping and then we cheered for Alabama during the Iron Bowl. The pictures describe a lot of our craziness!!!

Decorating the tree- We had fun decorating and you can't decorate without cookies and hot chocolate! All the ornaments were on the bottom, so I had to go back in and fix them and suprisingly there were not many broken!!

Making cookies with me!! Seth took this picture and you can obviously tell that I had not showered!! But it was fun and I love my helpers in the kitchen!

So...really four posts in one- we went to the Atlanta children's museum on Tuesday (cause it is free on the 2nd Tuesday of every month) We went with our friend Carter and the boys had a blast- they loved fishing in the water thing- even though they got wet - and they had these really cool motor/tractor thing that the boys loved and they especially loved it when their daddies encouraged them to dump the balls on top of other mom's heads!!! Oh and we lost caleb a few times or misplaced is a better word- he would just wander off and I would think I was watching him but thankfully they had lots of great workers that found him twice and i saw them walking with him with him looking for me!!!!! Ha! Great parenting- but he was only gone for like 20 seconds so I really am not that bad of a mom- just a mom of Caleb the great hudini!!!!this is blevin and carter dumping the balls on the other moms!!! I don't know who had more fun- the little boys or the big boys!

A greased pig???

The goal is to recruit people to Christmas conference-Right? (now called new years conference!) So- the single staff guys- Ben and Matt decide that it would be good to have a big BBQ and have a greased pig chase! Where you get a pig- grease it up and chase it!! So- Ben finds a pig at a pig farm for $30 and brings it home today! During story time this morning Ben calls my phone (which he never does), so I answered and he asks very quickly for seth- and I tell him where Seth is and he informs me that the pig has escaped and is running through a nearby really nice neighborhood and on the golf course!! So- there are six guys (four of the five staff guys) chasing a pig in this neighborhood for over an hour!! They finally find and catch him!! Blevin is so excited and told atleast 3 people in the grocery store that his daddy was going to catch a pig and I just smiled! When we get to the BBQ tonight- I have great compassion for the little guy and feel sorry for it - and DID NOT eat any bbq (it kind of freaked me out) So- all that work and planning and about 60 people came to the cookout- but the little guy got complete stage freight and wouldn't run when people chased it!! The kids loved chasing it- so it was fun for them- but other than a funny day- the greased pig did not perform- But gave numerous laughs!! It is funnier to me cause I lived it- but hopefully you can appreciate the great lengths these guys will go to to try to get someone to go to conference!!!!!
Here are some pics of the little guy and my little ones chasing it!! And in case you didn't know- they stink SOOOO bad!!!!

My Sweet Blevin is 4!!!!

I can't believe I have a four year old!! My sweet- compassionate- loving first born is now four!! He was somewhat confused since we had his party a little over a week ago- and since his idea of time is a little off- and he was disappointed when he realized he was not going to get more toys!! In order to make his day special- I let him pick what he wanted to do- we had his favorite breakfast- Eggo waffles and eggs with candles of course and then he watched lots of TV this morning- played transformers with mommy- got to rent a movie at the store and watch it this afternoon- got to play on the computer and then go ride bikes and then pick where we went to eat dinner- Ci Ci's (his favorite) and then we came home and had a cupcake and me and Seth told him the things that we had been encouraged by in his life in the last year (this is something we just started tonight, but want to do every year)!!! So- I think his day was special!! At dinner- I asked him several questions- so this will give you some insight into Blevin- "What are you most excited about now that you are four?" Blevin-"I can play games( on the laptop)" and then "What do you want to accomplish in your fourth year of life?" Blevin- Eat Pizza!!! - so games and pizza are important!! So- to my sweet first born- Happy 4th Birthday!!

Check out these Superheroes

So...we had a superhero celebration on Saturday celebrating Caleb turning 2 and Blevin turning 4!!! Although I was completely stressed all week- it was great and I am glad that the boys had it together!! My friend Allison took most of the pics with her camera, but this will give you an idea of what happened!! All guests arrived- greeted by Blevin- a.k.a. Bumblebee the transformer and Caleb-a.k.a Batman and went to make a superhero mask and get a cape (that I made from plastic tablecloths) then we played two games - one of which was going to find two villans and "tie" them up in a chair with toilet paper. Then we had cake and ice cream. I also followed my sweet husbands leadership and did not make the cake- but bought it- and then opened way too many presents- our friends and family were so gracious to us!! It was a BLAST!!! Blevin got like 6 transformers and I have thoroughly enjoyed using my brain and putting them back together over and over!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Trick or treat! These three words have such power on a night like tonight because it means that Blevin and Caleb come home with a pumpkin full of candy!! We started our festivities on Wednesday when we made cookies, decorated them and delivered them to our neighbors. It was fun and they were all very appreciative!!

This afternoon we started by carving our pumpkin (the first time we have had a chance as a fam this week) and we have a little way to share the gospel while you carve that we got from our church last year - so we did that and then off to get the candy or booty!! We went with our friends Terry and Mary Ann and their kids- suprisingly- there was no one out (Friday night football) so we got lots of candy! Caleb's bag was so heavy that he could barely carry it by the end- but he would not let go of it! Caleb actually got the most- I guess 'cause he was so cute when he said trick or treat and thank you!! It was fun and now I can enjoy all their efforts- kit kats and snickers!!

Our friends- Luke-Kate- Taylor

Enjoying the "Booty!"

Caleb does not have two black eyes- I tried to make him look a little like Johnny Depp and this is how it ended up looking!!

why daddy works at chick-fil-a

so- seth has an office "nook" in our house and the other day it was confirmed by caleb why he does not work at home but goes to chick-fil-a and drinks gallons of diet coke and tries all the free samples!!! he was just trying to help his dad out!!

Happy 2nd birthday Caleb

My sweet, rough and tough little man is now 2!! It is so weird that I don't have a baby anymore because he is a big boy! We are having a joint party for him and Blevin in November- but we tried to make his day special. It started off with candles in blueberry muffins and he got several phone calls and every time someone started singing to him- he sang along!! Then he got to pick where he wanted to eat dinner and it was CiCi's (the boys favorite) and then we finished with cupcakes (in the shape of a "2") and more candles to blow out!! It was fun and I can't believe he is already two and talking to me in complete sentences- but thankfully he still needs me sometimes to cuddle!! so- happy birthday caleb and thanks for all the smiles and laughs you give me!

mmmm- he ate the icing off of one and asked for another and of course I gave it to him- cause it is only your birthday once a year!!

being with good friends

This past weekend I got to go spend the weekend with a great friend, Catherine, and go to another friend's (Ginny) wedding and see so many old friends from college! It was so refreshing and refueling to see so many faces I have not seen in so long and think about the good 'ol college days!! Seth and the boys had "man-time" here at home- and it is always good for me to get a little break from being a full-time mommy- so I am thankful for my husband letting me go and thankful for great friends- old memories and new memories in the making!!!

my sweet friends- angie-amanda-ginny-catherine-me-jenny-mary martha

(don't worry katie- you were missed dearly)

a new addition to our family

My little brother Elliott and his wife Sarah had their baby on Sunday at 5:52 pm. Collier Martin was 6 lbs 6oz and 19 inches long. Sarah was not due til the 24th, but he decided to come a little early and it worked out great for us because we were already in Birmingham and got to see him 2 hours after he was born!! Caleb was so sweet- he kind of had a terrified look on his face initially when my mom had Collier and then he started singing Jesus loves me in his sweet, innocent voice- I almost cried!! Here are some pictures of this little bundle of joy!!

Things here at west georiga are continuing to go great and very busy!! We have not had the phi mu bible study in the last few weeks because of fall break and homecoming but I had a group of 5 girls over for dinner tonight and have a dinner group coming over every wednesday night for the next few weeks! So- I am excited about this and getting to know the girls better! Thanks for you prayers! Please keep praying for God to save these women and men!!

The Zoo

We took a family trip to Zoo Atlanta on Friday to check out all the fun animals and just doing something different with the boys! The boys favorite part was the gorillas getting in a fight. Blevin saw the last of the fight, but the rest of us were too late- even though we ran to the exhibit when we heard the monkey screams- a momma was protecting her baby's food! We played on the playground, and of course- rode the "choo choo" Here are some pictures from our fun day:

Our little joeys

going to pet the sleeping pig- he did not mind- just kept sleeping

checking out the orangutans (spelling?) or monkeys - that is what every species is to us!!

looking at these nasty naked mole rats- they looked like hairless mice with big teeth-they were gross, but of course Blevin loved them!

check out that rhino!!

we finally rode the choo choo- it was the finale to our fun, tiring day after a juice break on the lions- of course!

cold mornings

this morning made me really grateful to be a stay at home mom and have a flexible schedule and feel the chill in the air. thanks to eastern time- when the boys get up at 7 it is still dark outside. so this morning caleb woke up and like usual just screamed my name and waited for me to come get him. it woke blevin up (because if you have ever been around caleb you know how loud the scream is!) and we all got in caleb's twin bed and cuddled and then caleb started kissing blevin with his "papi" (paci) in his mouth and blevin did the cackle laught that you can only laugh with! so... i just laughed too and thanked the Lord for his goodness and joy in life!

thanks

Some of the Phi Mu ladies - the ones that came tonight!

Thanks for all who have been so faithfully praying! There were 24 or 25 girls at the Bible Study!!!!!! I am so excited!! We talked about one of the misconceptions of Christianity and there was some good conversation!! There were several there that were not Christians and we talked a lot about a relationship with Christ and one girl asked me about helping her with a Bible study! So...thanks for praying and being part of this with me!

and..who doesn't like breakfast in bed? The boys got in my bed this morning and were watching a cartoon and I decided it would be fun for them to eat it in my bed. They got really excited and I was glad I had already decided I needed to change the sheets before Caleb spit out a whole mouthful of food, so then I did not get mad- but laughed!! But..probably won't do it any time soon again- atleast til I need to watch the sheets again!!

Trying to fit in his big brother's shoes...