Merry Christmas!

This season has been wonderful for our family and we pray that it has been the same for your family. We are rejoicing in the birth of our Savior and are thankful for the sacrifice for our sins. May the Lord be first in your hearts and minds during this time!

Gingerbread houses

The 4-6 grades at school are divided into groups and given a gingerbread house to decorate. The parents donate the supplies and some assistance if they are available. This year was a little hectic because it was planned for Tuesday afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating! So the decorating was moved up to Tuesday morning. The 5-6 grade teacher taught me how to make the "concrete" icing and I was BUSY! The houses were all decorated and then judged by the teachers. Well, this year Luke's team came in first. They put a reindeer on it and a man sitting on a bench. How creative! All of the houses were creative and it was hard to just pick one favorite! I'm glad I didn't have to vote! Some of the others had lamp posts, sleigh on the roof, cross on the front of the church, mortar in between bricks, etc. After they are dry, they are taken to the nursing homes in the area to make Christmas more special for those not able to be with family.

Christmas concert/program

Monday night was the Christmas program for the school. Praise the Lord the weather cooperated and they were able to have school that day! This was Luke's first concert. He said he was nervous, but he did well.

Cailin had a small part in the 1-3 grade program. She was also nervous, but was able to spout off her well-memorized lines! Her is a picture of her and a friend from school.

Luke was also in a play that evening. The 4-6 grades did a nice job! It took awhile for Luke to get his lines perfected but all the practice paid off.

Kristen wasn't in the Christmas program, but she was thankful to have been there. She had been sick over the weekend. Her big performance is at the end of the school year when she graduates from kindergarten!

Behind...again!

I am so far behind on my blogging! Our computer is having issues. I get in the middle of a post and off it goes. Maybe this one will post! (It did after about 5 tries!) This is me and Haley with our hoods on. She insisted!

Kristen is home recovering from a stomach bug. Haley was not cooperating at naptime and she popped her head around the corner and said, "I love you, mommy!" and I said, "I love you, Haley!" Her response was "I love you more!" Where did she come up with this? I don't know! But I do know it is so cute!

Meeting the Governor

Luke trying to get the dog to look at the camera! How funny!

Now, before you think we are REALLY important, read on! While visiting my parents last month, Dad said he wanted to take us to meet the governor. How exciting! I was thinking "I only brought Wednesday and Sunday 'nice' clothes and knew we had to wear something 'nice'!" So I said so to Mom--a couple of times! Then the date got changed which I thought was strange that it could happen so quickly. Anyways, Wednesday night after church I told the kids to be sure to lay their clothes neatly because they had to wear the same ones to meet the governor tomorrow. Dad and Mom both insisted that they could wear play clothes, which I couldn't understand. They wouldn't have let US wear play clothes to meet the governor! Dad finally could not contain himself any longer and told me the "governor" was a horse!!!! The laugh was on me! The kids had a great time checking out the politics of a farm!

Just Chillin'

I opened the fridge to get some water and this is what I found! Now, occasionally, Haley will put her baby bottles in the fridge, but this is the first time I have found the doll in the fridge. She is sure making life interesting. Notice the bottles on the left corner of the Capri-Sun box!

We are doing the whole potty training thing and she is doing fairly well. Her favorite is "mommy's potty," but at least she goes! So much for the potty chair idea!

She was given some chapstick by my parents. Kristen thought that was a great idea so Haley could now "dig" in her own chapstick! By the looks of this picture, she has the "digging" and the "smearing" down pretty well!

Fishing

Aaron, his dad, and Luke have been fishing a few times this summer. They have been going out to the post. On certain evenings the lakes are stocked with trout and it is open to the public to fish. The have all caught their limit (which is 4 each) each time they have gone. It sure is good eating!

Double Dog Dare

This is a game that the kids made up with my dad. He basically lays in the floor with his eyes closed. The kids run around him and try not to get caught! Sometimes they are all caught and other times they cheat and stay on the couch. It can get pretty dramatic at times. It is requested each time we go to Nanny and Papaw's!

Outdoor Pictures

On Luke's birthday, we took pictures of the kids. Here are some of the MANY pictures that were taken. I'm thankful they cooperate--for the most part.

Happy Grandparent's Day!

We want to wish all of our grandparents a "Happy Grandparent's Day!" We love you all and are thankful for you!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

Luke's birthday was today and he turned 9 years old! I can hardly believe that he is 9. Time is going way too fast! He had a party with a few friends from school and his cousins. The theme was a cookout with a campfire. I got a recipe from Family Fun and made a campfire cake. It was fun and turned out really cute! We roasted hot dogs and made s'mores. It was a fun evening complete with 4 wheeler rides.

Luke got saved this past year and we are so thankful for his decision! He is a good big brother to his sisters. His favorite pastime is basketball--actually, anything outdoors! Happy Birthday, Luke! We love you!

Our Garden

We have really enjoyed our garden this year--well, most of the time. It has been a lot of work! We have canned tomatoes and green beans. We've eaten squash, zucchini, corn, beans, peppers, and okra. The Lord has really blessed us for which we are thankful. Here are a couple of pictures when it was tilled and pretty. During vacation, missions conference, and the rain, the weeds got away from us!

School's In!

I know...I am far behind in posts, but now that I can upload pictures to the computer I plan to get caught up!

Luke, Cailin, and Kristen started school August 21. (For that matter, so did Aaron. It's just not as momentous as the kids starting!) Luke is in 4th grade and is learning that he has to study now. Mom doesn't HAVE to sign his assignment pad or check his homework, but has often asked to see it. His handwriting is still improving for which I am thankful!












Cailin is in 2nd grade and has said her teacher is "tough." She is loving it, but says it is boring, as in "I already know this stuff!" I know that will change!















Kristen started kindergarten this year! I can't believe she is "gone" all day. It was a transition for me to listen to her talk when she was home with just me and Haley. Now she has to fit it all in when she gets home! It's hard to believe she is in school. She has a new teacher this year and absolutely loves school!

Aaron is getting into the swing of things also. He doesn't have as many students this year, but he is teaching Algebra II and Geometry as well as his history classes. The math classes are keeping him busy!

So at home it's just Haley and me! What a transition! It's been fun. She is so fun to watch and listen to! She has learned to get in the fridge and get the milk and chocolate out for her chocolate milk! You can tell she knows she's cute!

Grandpa's Visit

Papaw Raglin came to visit and I got a couple of pictures. I forgot until after Luke and Cailin had already left for school, so Kristen and Haley are just got theirs taken. Haley always says, Owie! Owie! Owie!" when I comb her hair. She let dad do it without so much as a grunt. I guess mommy isn't very careful or she has picked up a bad habit from Cailin!

Sick, sick, sick

Haley was sick the first weekend of April. She woke up with a high fever and it stayed for 2 days. I took a picture of her being cooled by a wet washcloth. I am praying that this year she will be healthier than she was last year! She has been through many different sicknesses and we are so thankful for her health recently. Praise the Lord for doctors and their wisdom!

Our Little Cardinal Fan!

Go Cardinals! The girls have all worn this outfit and I decided to take some pictures of Haley in it. She was very cooperative for the camera this day. This was the beginning of April! Kristen didn't have a Cardinals outfit, but the picture turned out well.

Dreadfully Behind!

It seems like the fast forward button has been pushed on life around here! Things are going well and we are staying busy. I will try to get caught up on all the goings on around here. Bear with me though, because I know some are at least 2 months old.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Yesterday was our 11th anniversary. It seems like yesterday that we were married. How time flies! We had a great day together! A friend stayed overnight Friday night and Aaron and I were able to go to yard sales Saturday morning without any kiddos! The post was having a "Post-wide Yard Sale." Well, it wasn't fantastic, but Aaron did find ANOTHER riding lawn mower. He will sell the other 2 and keep this one. At least, that was the last plan! After spending the morning at yard sales, we spent a few hours at home. Then a couple from church volunteered to watch the kids while we out to dinner. They also have 4 kids around our kid's ages, so it worked out nicely. Aaron and I went to Mizeki's which is a Japanese Sushi Bar--and, no, we didn't eat sushi, but everything else was yummy! We are thankful for the marriage that we have. Although it has its ups and downs, the Lord is gracious and we are happy! (We got a new camera and will have to upload a picture later!)

A Big Girl

Haley has graduated to a big girl bed. For now it is in our room until she gets the idea of what it is for and then it will be moved to the girl's room. I can't believe my baby is moving out of the baby stage!








She has also learned to climb UP and DOWN the stairs. A couple of stairs have been no problem for awhile now, but our stairs are all wooden and fairly steep. She definitely likes the freedom that it brings!