happy halloween :)

visit with jonathan

Today the girls were at school and Shannon had the day off so she and Jonathan came over to hang out. Both boys looked very cute and I of course couldn't resist taking just a couple quick pics. I also know that Jonathan's Grandpa reads my blog now :) and especially enjoys getting to see pics of his first grandchild...so, Grandpa, consider the pics of Jonathan especially for you! :)

Watching the dogs. He thought they were pretty amazing.

Petting Scout's tail while watching one of the other dogs.

Looking oh-so-very cute in his fall outfit. :)

Telling me all about the dogs! :)

While he was standing there like this, I had a flash-forward and could see him as a teenager. Dressing all preppy like this with girls texting his cell phone nonstop! :} Looks like he should be in a boy band. Hee hee!

Finally! More of a real smile than a "cheeese" smile! :)

Evidentally this leaf was very interesting. :)

while the cats are away, the kittens (and their nanny!) will play!

While Mommy and Daddy flew out to California for the Breeder's Cup horse race this week, the kids and I (and Lauren, who once again came to help me out!) had a very relaxing week here at home. My kids are much more laid back and obedient when I am the only one at the house during the day. We have had fun just being together and haven't done too many out of the ordinary, exciting things...until today! This evening we went to "Boo at the Zoo." Kids can dress up and you walk along the path at the zoo and pause in your walk at each of the 20 or so candy stations to get a treat put in your bag. It's a very easy way to go trick-or-treating and doesn't take all that long. They even have a dounut at the end for both children and parents! The girls were excited today and couldn't wait to get in their costumes!

We had Ariel, Jasmine, and a baby vampire!

The back of Jasmine's hair...not quite like in the movie...but about as close as we could get it.

A very cute little vampire, if I do say so myself! :)

Cool dude.



On the tram that took us right up to the main entrance of the zoo, where there was no line! The bottom entrance had a very long line.....

Lauren and the baby pose for a quick pic before we head in. Isn't Lauren's fifties outfit cute?? She says this is the last year she's gonna dress up for Boo at the Zoo.....we'll see! ;)

Jonathan came again also, dressed in scrubs just like Mommy wears! He was too cute!!

Sisters. Princesses. Free candy. What more could a girl want out of one evening?? :)

Back at home and ready to say our bedtime prayers after reading our Bible story for the evening.

quick pic

Just a quick picture today of my "little sister," Lauren, in a tree. :) She rescued me yesterday and gave up spending the day with her best friend to come over and babysit for me so I could run over to see my mom, family, and friends for a little while. Thanks, Lauren!! :)

faithful servant

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Acts 20:24

And that is what my grandfather did. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a son, a brother, a friend, a doctor, a hero, a missionary, but first and always he was a servant of God. He brought glory to his Father in everything that he did. He was kind, gentle, loving, generous and so many more words that I could add.

My grandfather and me when I was 8(?) months old.

He always LOVED working outside. And he LOVED homegrown fruits and veggies! :) His tomatos were always the best. I would sometimes eat two whole tomatos just for a snack. Although, not when I was as little as I am in this picture. :)

He loved to laugh and try to make me laugh with him.

I love how he's holding my little hand here. :) I have no idea where this picture was taken...but I think it was from our trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Kenya, where they were missionaries.

Can you tell which of his four daughters is my mother? :)



He loved one woman more and more every day of the almost 67 years that he and my grandmother were married. When he first started getting alzheimer's he told my grandmother, "I don't know why you have to take care of me when all I've ever wanted to do is take care of you." Even after Alzeimer's had taken most of his memory, he still loved to sit and hold her hand or put his head on her shoulder. He was always a gentleman to her. He loved to plant gardents of fruits and veggies where ever they lived and always made sure to include a bed of sweet smelling roses for my grandmother at each of the 40+ houses they lived in over their lives together. (Ask my grandma and she will gladly tell you the exact number of houses and the location of each one! :)

My Grandma loved him back just as much. This is a peom she had written for him some time ago. It was on the front of the program for his funeral yesterday.




A Lasting Love

All our years together shine,
Each one a luminous star
Against the dark blue background of time.
How fine a thing -
Two lives knit in one,
God's plan -
Watching the leaves bud and fall;
Quiet dawns give way
To noontide's blaze -
Then suddenly evening's haze -
God's Hand.
Hearing the music of the other's soul;
Blending our songs in praise,
Embracing our days with gladness
Learning God's way;
Finding together high adventure
On the common road -
Knowing the deepening joy
Of a lasting love.

~ Virginia Brown

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8


http://www.legacy.com/knoxnews/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=118682951

trip to the zoo

Tuesdays are my most…um…quiet days of the week. The girls have homeschool classes that day so it’s just the baby and me. Since we don’t go anywhere very often, I tend to get a little bored with just one kiddo to watch after! This past Tuesday though, we got to get out and go to the zoo, just the two of us! It was so much fun to be out with just my baby and he loved seeing all the animals. I let him out of the stroller most of the time and just let him run and wander his way around. I think he enjoyed all the leaves on the ground, the patch of painted pumpkins, and the signs and recycling bins along the paths that made great sounds when you bang on them, the most! :) I took my camera but forgot it in the car and decided not to go back out and get it once we were there which turned out just as well since my memory card was back here at home in my computer! At least I had my cell phone with me so I did get a couple pictures while we were there.

This was inside the new frog exhibit. There were all kinds of frogs and bugs and the biggest centipede/millipede/something along that line thing I had ever seen! Eww! Most of the time in this building was spent answering my baby's many "Wha's 'at??" questions. :)

It's a "lurlle"!! I love the way he says turtle. :) He loves turtles and points them out whenever he sees a picture of one, so he looved being able to see one this close up - and even sit on it! :)

The weather was so perfect for being out! I LOVE fall and it was fun to be out and see animals from God's creation that we don't see every day. :)

a very full weekend

Every October for the past several years, I have had Michael's nieces and nephew come stay with me while their parents go to a board meeting for the Christian camp they run during the summer. We all look forward to this weekend together and I enjoy planning fun things to do with the kids. This year, though, I had a bit of help planning the activities, as you will see! :)

Lauren has gotten to know the Brown kids over the past year so I borrowed her for the weekend to hang out with us. The four Brown kids came Friday morning, so for the day I had 8 kiddos! (The baby was asleep at this point.) The weather has been beautiful so we played outside all afternoon. Everyone got along well and the older kids helped out with the younger kids.

Friday night, Wendy and Dinny offered to have a bonfire in the back yard where we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. (yum!!) They also pulled the TV out on the back patio and we all watched Over the Hedge together. By the end, everyone was snuggled up under blankets, but it was a perfect fall evening activity and everyone loved it!

On Saturday, it has become tradition that Uncle Mike comes and hangs out with us for the day. We had been working on some plans to take the kids up to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlingburg area but our plans changed slightly with the gift of some free tickets thanks to my girls' dad having a vet clinic and knowing lots of people in the area! We kept everything a secret until we got to each place and the kids were properly excited at each stop. :)

First stop was the Ripley's Aquarium! Here are Emily, Claire, and Lauren going through the aquarium tunnel. This was probably their favorite part of the aquarium.

Next stop was an old time photo shop. They had so much fun dressing up in the old clothes! :) The man in charge kept calling me "Mama", Uncle Mike "Pops", Lauren "the Boss", and Evan "Little Man", which totally cracked the kids up! :)

Our final destination, and probably the biggest hit of the day was Dollywood!!! The Brown kids had never been there and couldn't believe we were getting to go! Here we are about to get on the River Rampage ride...where we all pretty much got thoroughly soaked!!

Ok, I LOVE this picture! :) It makes me laugh every time I look at it. This was a new ride. Lauren said she would ride it if Abby would. Michael said it was a little more intense than he thought it would be but he was too busy laughing at Lauren squealing and screaming to bother screaming himself! :) There were about 20 seats like this in a circle and it spun around while going back and forth on a structure shaped like an empty watermelon slice. (The only way I can think to describe it...)

After a fabulous time at Dollywood, complete with a treat of funnel cakes from Uncle Mike, we all came back to my place to order pizza. As an added bonus for me, one of my former roomates from college was in the area for our college's homecoming and spent the night with us! My little apartment was nice and packed with people everywhere! I loved it! :)

Anita, my roomate from my sophomore year of college. We always have a blast together! Her visit was way too short and we stayed up way too late just talking!

We had a very busy, action packed weekend but it was great to get to spend time with some of my favorite kiddos and it went by altogether too quickly!! Ok, and that being said...I am off to BED!!!