2011 Fall Catch Up

We are just about caught up!  This fall started with the first day of school.  I cannot believe my kiddos are getting so big!  I have one more year with SweetTate and then he will join them on the first day of school on the porch for the picture.  Crazy! 

For our traditional First Day of School ice cream, Mamaw, Meme and Granddad were here.  That was a real treat!  (They were here to attend a funeral.  We would rather had them for a happier occasion, but it was good to see them.)

Fall also brings with it football, of course.  The kids have each run with the school flag down the field after we scored.  They think they are so cool!

It also brings the routine of gymnastics every week.  This year all three kids are participating.  Like everything else here, it is 30 minutes away.  Thankfully it is on the same day, but the boys are in one class and SweetDoll is in a different class which makes for a long evening.  We really like the coaches and they are all learning balance and corrdination that will help them in whatever sport they do. 

SweetBoy has a show lamb again this year.  This is "Thunder."  He decided on that name really hoping it would inspire the weather to let it rain a lot!  Snowflake and Lightnin', his predicessors seemed to have that affect!

Then the craziness of the fall sets in...but it is a good crazy.

A friend contacted me last spring about doing a retreat at her church.  I was so excited to be part of what God was doing there with those ladies!  We had a wonderful day, and it was great to reconnect with my friend who I hadn't seen in a while.  The adventure to this story is that I put in the address to the Tom-Tom and said "shortest route."  Whoa!  I went about as straight as the crow flies on some back, back roads!  But I arrived safe and sound.  On the way home, I found a little more traveled roads.  ;)

Then it was time to meet my newest nephew!  We had a cousin's wedding that my brother and his family came down for.  It was great to see them!

That brings us to SweetDoll's birthday.  And is anyone surprised that she wanted to go ride horses?  No.  So that is what we did.  We had just had a good rain and the pasture didn't look quite as dry as it had been.  It was pretty and a fun day!  That place also has a great spot to take pictures!

 I love these kids!

A while ago I was reading Jill Savage's blog and she was having a giveaway.  The prize...tickets to the 2011 Hearts at Home conferences.  Eleven years of being a mom and I have never been to a conference specifically for Moms!  Oh it was good!  Just what this weary Mom needed!  Part of the adventure here was that it was in Colorado Springs.  I had not ever been there, but it is absolutely gorgeous!  More on this on the next post, and there is more about the confernce on my guest post on her blog!  If you ever have an opportunity to go to a Hearts at Home conference, you will be blessed!  Here is a picture of Jill and I. 

Fall is also our town's festival where SweetDoll rode in a float for the first time.  The boys did the bike parade and they all had a good time.

And of course the festival in SweetHeart's hometown.  Mamaw's corn chowder. Y.U.M!  It was good to be with family there too.

And there you have it.  Whew!  You are all caught up--well, the reader's digest version anyway.  Now I feel like I can post something without feeling like I left something out.  And I have a backup of my scrapbook.  ;)  Thanks for following along!