Happy Thanksgiving!

I Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you

in Christ Jesus.

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A wonderful, caring (hot-sorry, I couldn't resist!!) husband, who is also my best friend, and a wonderful father to our children!

2. Three precious, beautiful children, each with a unique spirit and personality, whom I love with all of my heart.

3. A loving and purpose-driven church family.

4. Family whom I love to spend time with, and whom I have been through much with-and we're still going strong! (;

5. Friends who like me for who I am, not something that I pretend to be.

6. A beautiful home, which I get to spend all of my days in.

7. Most importantly, a Savior who was willing to die on the cross for my sins, Who has given me an eternal home in heaven!

Enjoy your day, and don't forget to count your blessings!

Gwyneth's First Santa Claus Encounter

When we went to The Picture People yesterday, Santa Claus was hanging out in the store. While I was agonizing over which pictures to choose, (: Nancy handed her over to Mr. Claus. You can't tell it so much in this picture, but she LOVED him! She kept laughing and grabbing him. She even found out that, Yes!, his beard is real!! He ended up holding her and playing with her for about 5 minutes! She wouldn't go back to Nancy. Hope she enjoyed it! It probably won't happen again (I refuse to stand in line 2 hours for my kids to sit on Santa's lap!!!) am I a bad mom?

Gwyneth's 9 month pictures

Nancy and I took Gwyneth to get her pictures taken today. She had just waken up and was not too sure of the situation, but I think they turned out well!

I'm going to check to see if the rest of the session is on the web, and I'll post the link.

It's A Party!

Haydn's new passion is drawing and writing. His specialty is books, as he has written a couple, and is now collaborating with a boy from school on another! He writes pages all the time, and everywhere. He even writes pages in the van wherever we go. He has a rubbermaid tub that he has turned over for a desk, and off we go. These are non-fiction books, too. No stories, here. He is out to inform kindergarteners everywhere about the world. My personal favorite page comes from the book "Things Under The Sea". After giving facts about turtles, bass, and a myriad of others, he writes "Do you know that sea monsters are just a myth?!" How funny. Anyway, last weekend he made a clubhouse out of a train (you've seen it before with mom in it!) He wanted to make a party and this is the sign he hung outside... Let me interpret... Men (are allowed) . Women (are allowed). You can bring your cats and dogs (all of them). BUT, here's the catch. No Kissing (heart) and NO SMOKING!

Christmas Trees!!

Dad is getting a shipment of Christmas Trees to sell at The Barn! I am so excited- I mean, how can you beat fresh cut live trees?! I think he is getting 4 varieties too. From the way Tiffany talks, there are some really neat ones. (none of them are hard a pokey!!) If you are in need of a tree this year and live close (: stop by The Barn and get one! He is always very reasonably priced, and I have a feeling they won't last long. But there aren't JUST trees. There's also live garland and wreaths. Even if you don't need any of these, and you drive by and I'm there helping out- stop in and see me!!!! (I might even share some hot chocolate!) My mom made the advertisement. Isn't it so clever? It is a map, cute picture of a Christmas tree, and information all rolled up into one! I totally botched it, though! I couldn't figure out how to get it on here from the format she gave me, SOOO- I printed it and scanned it into my computer. I'm almost out of colored ink, so I had to fill it in with crayon *whoops*, and my scanner is kinda junk. But, you get the idea (It was much cuter before I got ahold of it!) Now, I just need to talk John into a live tree this year.....

Biggest Loser Weigh-In

Last night, I was watching Biggest Loser, and Hutch snuck into the living room from bed. They were weighing in and, OH, I was on the edge of my seat. I figured I'd deal with it during the commercial break, and just let him sit with me and watch! He ran into the bathroom, and came back in with the scale. He dumped some of Gwyneth's toys from her "toybox" and THIS is what he came up with! He said, "beep beep beep beep beep.... firty free!!!"
*does anybody watch this show? I actually yelled at the television last night!!!!!! I can't believe Amy voted Coleen! Later, I thought about it though, and I think Amy made a good strategical move. Seriously, everyone will vote Vicky off soon enough! Her true colors are showing! grrrrrr.!

Lunch at Granny Sharon and Papa Brent's

Sharon made her almost-famous Vegetable Soup for lunch on Saturday and invited us over. We had a great time hanging out with Brent & Sharon, Whit & Carolyn, Miss & kids and Scott & Christy and Zander and Zeren. After lunch, we watched the Buckeyes game on the internet, played euchre, and ate some more! The kids played like maniacs-as you can see below, all of the boys took shirts off, as they were too hot!

Tyler

Alyssa (and Gwyneth)

Andrea (eating!)Gwyneth was loving a little car-thing that Sharon has.
As you can see, Hutch, Zander and Zeren are missing! Oops!!

Sharon is serious about her vegetable soup. She had 2 (YES TWO) roasters brimming with it!Sharon sent us home with full tummies, and with a HUGE container of soup. That's what's for supper tonight, and, I put a bunch in the freezer. Thanks!!!

Grandparents are Great!

Today at school, Haydn had a "Family Breakfast". He was allowed to invite two people for a fun morning in his classroom. He invited Grandma Shirley and Papa Larry.

They made a craft

They sang some songs

They had a snack

They read books

Haydn also had the privelege of walking them to the Commons Area to show them his picture posted on the wall for great behavior. They had a great time!

They stopped by our house before going home since it isn't very far from the school (;

We had some fun in store for them here!

Hutch showed grandma his tent

Gwyneth played with Papa

Hutch put on a "horse show" for them while I served them coffee

AND Vegas gave Grandma a BIG slobbery kiss (she is crazy-in-love with my mom)

Tom Turkey

*My name is Tom Turkey and I'm afraid as I can be! I'm wearing my disguise so you won't catch me!*

Haydn's teacher sent home a picture of a turkey, with instructions to create a turkey disguise. I had a headache the other day, so I laid down for a short nap. When I woke up, this is what Haydn and John had come up with! I think Haydn's turkey won the award for the heaviest turkey!!

Chasing Gwyneth

I caught her! What an ornery little girl!!

**She has her top 2 teeth! I think 2 more are ready to pop through!

Flag Football End-of-Season Pictures

A couple of weeks ago Haydn finished Flag Football. They had a great time and it is so fun to watch Haydn play! We had to stress this year that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game. There are rules for a reason, and regardless of how you feel about them, you follow them!! John helped coach, and I think that he did a stellar job as well! He cracked me up some weeks with his cup of coffee out there (:

Here is Haydn scoring a touchdown. We had to laugh because he ran backward half way down the field to make sure no one was catching up to him! Don't worry, Haydn!

Here is the official team picture. This was the only game that John missed because he got called in, of course!

We're looking forward to basketball in a few weeks!

Green Tomato Relish

I just heard the last jar 'pop'. Sweet success! I made half a batch of Grandma Lloyd's Relish tonight after a request from dad. yum. The smell brings back such wonderful memories of

"g-ma" as I used to call her sometimes (;

Some days I still really miss her...

Gwyneth is 9 months!

It seems like both yesterday, and a long time ago that we brought our little baby girl home from the hospital! Because we had to wait on test results, we weren't dismissed from the hospital until about 9 pm. We came home in terrible terrible weather! When we got home, the boys had fallen asleep on the way home, so we carried them off to bed. The next morning, Hutch woke up and she was in her swing. He went over beside her and said, "Oh wow! She gets to live at our house!" It didn't click in his mind until he actually saw her in real life at home! We are so blessed to have her in our lives (and both of our other precious children)!

She is sick for the first time. I took her to the doctor Friday because she has some cold symptoms. He said that he didn't think she needed an antibiotic, but prescribed a decongestant, antihistamine for her. Here were her stats at the office:

18 pounds 10 ounces

29 1/4 inches

She has doubled her birth weight!

Fall Pictures

I heard about 20 times today between the television, radio, and real people, "Go outside and enjoy the day! It is going to be the last 'nice' day of the year! There's a cold front coming in tonight, and then it's going to be COLD." I figured that I should stop procrastinating on taking the kids' pictures for fall. When I picked the boys up for school, I changed them quickly and headed out. Gwyneth wasn't in the best moods-so there weren't many great great ones of her, but hey, at least she wasn't crying in all of them!

I said, "Show Mommy how much you love each other." This is what Hutch did. Gwyneth's not feeling it!My little man

Hutch was into getting pictures today, thankfully!

Gwyneth, sweet little one, loved the leaves!

I let the boys explore for awhile.

Hamming it up

I climbed half way up the slide, and thought this would make a cool picture

This is one of my most favorites! This is the scene I see so many times in my life-and I love it! I'm ready to leave, and I've just called the boys. Here they come, each in his own little world. What you don't see are the "treasures" that fill their pockets or are hidden from view. Haydn has a bunch of hickory nuts and Hutch fashioned a sword out of tree bark.

They will reside on our Nature Table