Happy Fall!

These are a few weeks late...but still in time!

This was after Auntie left, but before the trip to HPU and that was all two weeks ago! I went with a moms group from our church to a place called Old McDonald's Farm for a day at the Pumpkin Patch. The boys had fun of course!!! There was even a train - which I might mention was the second out of three that they rode in ONE week! It was train heaven!!!

They loved all of the pu-kins they were shaped like balls!

When your husband is a garbage man

A few weeks ago Nate had to work the National Night Out in Conroe and so the boys and I headed that way to be some support.

It was a fun night. There were trains, fire trucks, police cars and free hot dogs - it was a little boys dream! Here are some pictures from helping daddy!

TT

Our anniversary was on October 1st and we celebrated our 5th anniversary!!! For the past four we have managed to sneak away for a trip which we decided would be our "gifts" to each other. This year we planned MONTHS ago that we would take a walk down memory lane by heading back to Charlotte where it all began.

Then Nate got a new job. And we found out we are moving November 1st to Corsicana, TX (that is an hour south of Dallas). So our trip went out the window.

Yeah for a job...Boo for my trip.

So last minute Nate's Aunt, Jean, aka, Auntie (pronounced with a Brittish tone) for Blake, and TT for Owen came to save the day!

Last year she visited as "Nantie" - a combo of Nanny and Auntie for those of you who are slow at my nicknames - and we went out of town for a few days...this year she returned but we stayed at our house and utilized a free babysitter. BTW she really liked us going out...because she loves us but loves having her great nephews to herself!

One fun thing she and I did was take the boys to ride their first train at Hermann Park. This was just as big of a hit as I had hoped. They are obsessed with trains and were so excited to ride! They proudly told their daddy for the next few days "I ride train! It go FAST!" We also got to play in the fountains, chase ducks, eat a picnic, see a horse and because it was by the medical center we saw LOTS of helicopters. It was an A+ day in the life of Blake and Owen.

Here are some pictures of our time with TT!

On the train!

Our date on our anniversary!

What 5 years brings you!

I have a few other videos...but this one pretty much sums up how Blake felt about the train!

HHHH-PPPPPP-UUUUUU

This past weekend Holly and I took our four kiddos with out hubby's to our college homecoming! We had a lot of fun! It was a ton of work, but not nearly as bad as we had thought it would be. My group made it through the weekend with only one timeout and one melt down each! I thought that was pretty good!
It was fun taking the boys to such a special place and equally as fun seeing faces I hadn't seen in years. Howard Payne is a special place and I am proud to be a part of it!
Here are a few photo highlights!

Here we come! At 8:30am!!! We got to stay at some of the Heston's family friends...this was our view when we woke up!


Owen was very concerned with Booper (Cooper) all weekend...he was trying to get him to say "Cheese!"


At the parade - they really loved the band! I think it was a shout out to Uncle Pete and Aunt Whitney!


Holly and her crew!


The boys sliding at the "Little Jackets Nest" - a play area just for kids.


Payton was singing the Alma Matter and ready to say "Ahh Sting 'Em!"


Here the kids are in front of Old Main Tower.


Me and my crew! (they were very tired at this point!)


Me and Holly!

I.am.energy.

Labor Day and Kingdom Focus

So over Labor Day we had the privilege of our friends the Ramsey's coming to stay with us! We hadn't seen them since May and they hadn't been to our home in 2 years! It was a blast having them here.

We also got to keep Drew one night so Lindsay and Hal could go to a wedding in the Hill Country. We had no idea what it would be like to have three 2 year olds (Drew is 4 months younger than B and O) - but I am pleased to say they did AWESOME! It was no different than having just two. I guess it helps that Drew is an easy kiddo!!!

We took them to the store and even made it to church ON TIME!!! It was so fun!

They are one tough gang!

Geeting ready for church was brought to you by Elmo on our bed!!!

On our way to church

This is our first night all together. We had been having a serious dance party...this is the calm version of it!

On another note...at our Mom's ministry meeting this morning God totally blew my socks off! I so happened to be sitting by a women who was really struggling with the fact that she had 3 miscarriages in the past two years and had not allowed herself to grieve those babies and was having a hard time moving out of her "low place" as she called it. I was able to share with her my story as well as pray with her. I am amazed at how God uses us and our stories to be his hands and feet to other people.

I have to go back tomorrow and most likely will be having another D&C...as I was sharing this with my sweet friend Abbey she told me she would be praying that I don't get stuck in the "why me's"...I don't want to get stuck there either. I want to be open and aware of the moments that are all around me that won't replace my baby, but that will allow me to minister to other hurting people and give them the same hope that I have. I want to maintain a kingdom focus through all of this and I am grateful for opportunities like this morning to see beyond myself and to see what this life is really about.

That is all I got for now!!!!

Wher oh where have we been?

For some reason, I have been seriously lacking in my blogging. I think the only people affected by this are family who live vicariously through the blog to see those two sweet boys named Blake and Owen.
We have had a ton going on the past few weeks. On a serious and sad note, I had a miscarriage a few weeks ago. I was 9 weeks along and since have had a D&C that did not go according to plan and have had a really hard time recouping. I am hoping to be back to normal soon.

On other, happier notes we have had so many visitors. God made me to be a people person and so he had lots of trips planned before any of this happened. I was so thankful to have the past few weeks filled with family and friends to help me get through this time.
So here is to catching up. I can't promise rhyme or reason to pictures...but at least you can see how cute the boys are!
These first two are for Auntie...because she sent the boys these very cute outfits!!!
Thanks Auntie!

We also had a visit from Nini and Pops. They spoiled us all rotten! It was great! I did a really bad job with pictures, but one day we went to the Children's Museum in The Woodlands. We had a great time...the boys loved it.

Here are the best pictures I got.
They really loved getting to drive the fire truck!

And if you are wondering about Christmas presents...we love trains!

Ok! More to come later!