A Getaway

This past weekend while the kids were visiting their dad, I was able to get away with a friend. We stayed at a cabin at Lake Lure and went to Chimney Rock. Aside from the torrential downpour while driving up the mountain in total darkness Friday night, the weather was gorgeous.


In front of the cabin Saturday morning.

The view from the top of Chimney Rock. We climbed our way up. After reaching the three-quarter mark, there was a small part of me that thought the elevator may have been a better choice.






Lake Lure

I also have good news to report. Abby told me that she saw Julia at school yesterday. Thanks to all who prayed!

Lapse in Judgment

Last week I had a momentary lapse in judgment and let the kids play with their food. Surprising to me was the fact that this was started by Abby and not one of the boys--although suffice it to say that Andrew has always been more about eating his food and not playing with it. He did take one little piece of tortilla and shape it into an eyebrow which he stuck to his head. I wasn't quick enough to capture that. These pictures still make me laugh. The kids had a blast and were a little shocked that I let this game continue.

Is Your Mama A Llama

Is your Mama a Llama?

Why yes, yes she is!

Yesterday I had the privilege of being a chaperone on Andrew's field trip to The Lazy 5 Ranch. LOVE that place! This little llama was three days old. We also saw baby peacocks, a baby giraffe and a baby zebra.



I am happy to report that this year, I was not sneezed on by one of these. That happened to me in a past year. And unfortunately for me, the thing had a mouthful of feed. Gross! I was a little fearful at times yesterday. The rule at the ranch is that if an animal has 4 legs, you feed it from your hand (or run the risk of having it snatch your bucket). If an animal has 2 legs, you feed it from the bucket (lest you be pecked by a sharp beak). If the animal is a zebra, you don't feed it at all. They bite. However, please feel free to pet the zebras. Huh? We did. Not a one of us were bitten. With the buffalo you can just drop--or dump--the feed into their mouths. Some of the kids had a difficult time telling the difference between a mouth and a nostril. I was sure a sneeze was inevitable. Thankfully, we were spared from the spraying of wet, slobbery feed.


I must confess that I have a fascintation with the backside of zebras. They are incredibly symmetrical.


I love this picture of Andrew and one of his classmates. They also went to daycare together. I like the way she is looking at her mom and Andrew is looking at me.


It was another beautiful fall day here. Lots of warm sunshine and Carolina blue skies.

Pumpkin Patch

Last night we went to the Pumpkin Patch with some very good friends. The weather has been beautiful here for the past couple of days and yesterday afternoon was no exception. This particular pumpkin patch is run by my friend's church. We stayed there for over an hour picking out pumpkins and letting the kids run and have a great time.
















At the pumpkin patch, Abby learned that one of her classmates from last year is in the hospital in ICU and on a venilator. This girl has H1N1 and from what I understand the doctors are uncertain what else is going on with her. Would you please pray for Julia?

The Vine

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

One Dollar Fifty Cents

Last night was Crazy Hat Night at Awana. Abby and Adam did not want to participate. I had purchased a hat at Good Will for 99 cents and in an effort to get Abby to participate at Awana, I put it on her head and tried to take a picture of her. She was not going for it. So, I bribed her. These shots cost me $1.50. I think it was money well spent.





She still didn't wear it to Awana.

After looking at the hats at Good Will, Andrew decided to create his own crazy hat.




He had also drawn a picture during the afternoon. I noticed that he was carrying it into church with him. When I asked him what it was for, he said he was going to give it to the person who announced that he won the Crazy Hat Contest (if he did win). Like an acceptance speech..sort of. It wasn't a contest, but something done just for fun. No acceptance speeches or gifts were needed.

Cupcakes = Craft

It seems as though it's been work, work, work around here. We've been getting home from school/work and it's been dinner, finishing up homework, reading, baths and off to bed. Last night I decided to break the monotony, and we baked cupcakes. We had three different icings and sprinkles. Each of the kids had their own cupcake to icing and decorate.

Andrew went straight for the chocolate icing and eating.


Abby also chose the chocolate icing and decided to use a little creativity with the sprinkles.



Adam chose the vanilla frosting. I thought for sure someone would chose Strawberry Mist, but it wasn't to be. They all wrinkled their noses when I told them what the pink icing was. Adam was all about the sprinkles. At one point he was licking them off the table.



All too quickly it became less about the cupcake and more about the craft of decorating. Between breaking the monotony and the sugar, bedtime was a little more difficult to achieve than normal. Good times!

Small Things

This past weekend Abby and I were able to spend some time with family and celebrate Caleb's third birthday. Kylie and Abby thoroughly enjoyed spending time together, and it was a beautiful fall weekend.








our lives are made
in these small hours,
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain — Rob Thomas

Fall is in the Air

Fall is in the air and that means Halloween is right around the corner. Are you ready?





I've been working on a project and came across these images from last year. They've had me laughing all morning.

One of the flyers from a local party store came in the mail this week. The kids have been perusing it trying to decide what they'll be this year.

What about your kids? Have they decided yet?