A couple Snaps of B...

For those wondering where I've been and why no blog updates..hmm..Let's see.. I've been SHOPPING!! Okay not entirely, since I've only gone out to a store like 3 times in the last 3 weeks.. My Grandma taught me how to make her YUMMY delicious Raisin-filled cookies. I did tell you they are YUMMY, right?? Mom, Grandma and I made so many cookies this year. Sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, these yummy Cherry Chip cookies and MANY more. J also got into the sugar cookie making, he has his own little cookie cutters and made some cute little cookies. I'll photograph them Christmas day.

Only 2 pictures to show.. My handsome B..

Have a great weekend!!

Mis

Little J's birthday weekend..

We celebrated J's birthday down at Aunt Linda's (THANKS, Aunt Linda!!)... She decorated her dining room and made it into a nice 'Birthday room'.. J found the cupcakes but insisted he didn't get his fingers into the frosting..Hmm I think these pictures prove otherwise..we must have the conversation with J about telling the truth..

Grandma and Grandpa brought J a balloon, and it rarely left his side while he was awake!! And right now J is walking around holding his balloon.
He's such a happy boy..
And here's his Aunt Linda whom he adores!!

And Aunt Linda bought J an adorable Hot Wheels bicycle, complete with a horn, mirror and bicycle helmet. We couldn't leave the bike in her house all weekend, but J insisted on wearing the helmet- ALL WEEKEND!! When his helmet was on he was 'Hot Rod' - nickname given to him by Uncle Larry. While J was 'Hot Rod' he drove his race car around her living room, dining room and kitchen. The next couple pictures show those that J got to race him.. (Aren't they CUTE?)

J with Uncle Tim.. Doesn't Uncle Tim look like a great race car driver??? I just giggle when I see this one..And J with Daddy.. If I knew how to post the video, I would post what Dan captured on video. Me running around J's track with him, helmet and all..Yeah, right!!
Have a great evening..

Melissa

Let's Say Thanks!!

Thank our Troop Members for FREE through Xerox... All you do is pick which postcard, type in your name and home town and the kind people at XEROX will send your post card to a member of our military stationed overseas. HOW COOL is that.. SHOW your support.

Let's Say Thanks

Have a great Day. And thanks Jill for the idea and link..

Melissa

Thanksgiving..

I'm supposed to be packing the van, but I had to escape from that work to put up a quick blog post. I'm glad Dan has NO clue how to do anything on the net except peek at ebay and look up info on the cars. I've had this blog for years and he hasn't a clue what the name of it is... anyway, he doesn't know I'm here instead of out there..

Anyway.. as we near the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I wanted to make a post. I want to tell everyone how much I care and Love them. I have so many awesome family and friends that mean so much to me.

I have my mom who laughs with me and we're able to just sit and chat and spend such great time together, obviously where would any of us be without loving moms? Sorry for making you feel guilty earlier Ma', I know you still love me. ;)

My wonderful in-laws are such awesome grandparents to my children (so are you Mom!! But this is their line).. J-bear can't wait to see you two. He has absolutely missed Grandma reading to him in her chair with a warm snuggle. He's missed Grandpa crawling on the floor to 'get him'. We've all missed you immensely and can't wait for you to return home. (Oh by the way, if there's dishes in the sink, DAN did it!!)

My big sis and my sisters-in-law, wow, I don't know what to say about them. God really knows and has a plan for you when he provides your life with these built in great friends he gives. I just love having all these big sisters (yeah, I'm the youngest in the group, but I'm glad that we all have a unique relationship despite our age differences).

I also have a Secret Sister to be Thankful for. She has spent the last year praying for my family. She has provided me with wonderful words of inspiration through out the year by the way of cards, notes, music and awesome gifts. I thank you for my basket of goodies I received Sunday. I enjoyed reading the card with the 'message' you gave about all the goodies. Thank you so much for all you have given.

And my dear sweet friend in Georgia with Baby A. I look forward to seeing you in January. I miss you so much. Know that when we're sitting around our table with our family and friends I'll be thinking of you, Chris and Baby A and all that we have to be thankful for this year. Baby A is such a dream come true, not only for you, but for me. To know my best friend has a wonderful baby girl in her life now, an absolute answer to prayer, just gives us so much more to hold in common and bond over. (I can't wait for our next coffee morning. 'Tis sad that we have to wait so long to enjoy it together).

Of course I won't forget Dan and my wonderful boys. Growing up I never imagined marrying and having 4 children (I always thought 6!!).. I didn't imagine they'd all be boys. I pray these boys grow to be strong men, strong in their faith. Grow to know their time here is limited, and this is not their home. Each of them gives something. D gives his time, he works hard to be the helper I need. B works hard to do things we need done. L is our love, he spreads so much love in all the cards, drawings and such that he creates to tell us how much he loves us. And J, he's our cutie right now, he says things when you need a smile or laugh. He loves you and tells us often. He also loves everyone he says. These boys are just so sweet and I am so Thankful for them.

And what's a post without pictures??

So Rejoice in the Lord Always...


And Love one another...
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Give Thanks in Everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Melissa

Injured..

Poor guy. He just happened to be in the path of a moving train track piece.

Enjoy..

Melissa

1 week later..

Exact SAME location..

Last Thursday..This Thursday.. BRRRR.....


I don't know about you all..but I sure like that pretty ORANGE/Yellow FALL background.. Sniff, Sniff, Sniff..

Melissa

Hello snow, Goodbye Fall..

We'll sure miss you. The gorgeous colors you always share.
The happiness we get from a tickle..
We loved the hats that you would bring..
We could lay in your warmth daily..
Playing in your leaves brought so much fun..

Goodbye..

Reflections of Christ..

Here is an AWESOME Godtube video. View it and take it all in. Though you'll recognize the song, really listen to the words and feel them. Take in the reality of Jesus through these artists' eyes.

Amazing use of light to reflect the Light that still shines. Reflect on these images. Feel them. Feel the love, power and grace that Christ has given for you. Be moved. Be inspired.



Here's the web-site if you'd like more information.

http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/

You can view the gallery here.

There are some powerful images of Jesus' ministry in there..and powerful words in the song they chose:

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be.
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, Lord take and seal it, seal it for they courts above.

Hope you enjoy. Grace and peace be with you.

Melissa

Sad...

So J comes to me the other day and says in such a sullen voice, "Mommy, I'm sad. I'm very sad." So I ask why is he sad? His response: "Because I really want one those pieces of candy".. He was wanting a couple Hershey Mini Kisses. So I made a smiley face with them and let him pick which ones he wanted out by color.


And today, he really is sad. My J-Bear isn't feeling very well. He's planted himself in Daddy's chair, all covered up with his favorite green dinosaur sweatshirt on (wearing the hoodie of course) and his green cuppie..
Check out that eye..Poor little guy. The good thing is, he should be feeling great for our Thanksgiving trip to visit Aunt Linda and Larry. Aunt Linda has a wonderful surprise for him, but I'm not telling because I don't it to get back to the little guy. So just make sure you check out the blog after Thanksgiving.

We're praying to see Grandma and Grandpa at Aunt Linda's too. They're down with Uncle Eddie in Florida. Unfortunately Uncle Eddie won't be making the trip to Georgia. We will REALLY miss him and we pray he gets all better real soon. We miss you ALL so much. After J talks on the phone to gma and gpa he thinks they're home and wants to go up to their house to see them. He LOVES and adores them.

Have a great day.

Melissa

FINALLY, I can post again!!!

We've celebrated another birthday here.. Little J is now 3 years old. Can you all believe that? I know I can't. It really feels like Dan and I just left to go that birthday party that we never made it to. Seriously. (For those who do not know, J was almost born in our mini-van. No pain before we left, drive about 30 minutes and BOOM labor hits, water breaks and well you know you have very little time after your water breaks especially with a 4th baby.)

He has been such a wonderful addition to our family. We've called him Baby J since day 1..Literally. I call him Joe-Bear, Baby J, I've thrown in a JJ, Bug, JoeBug..well he has lots of 'pet' names. I'm so glad that he will not be of age to begin school until 2011, I get all that extra time to take in this little guys cuteness and love.

I have an adorable post for next time. Right now I just wanted to share Baby J on his birthday.


Brotherly love and FUN..

His favorite birthday present came from Grandma M..
Elmo and J rolled around and were buried in the leaves several times. Can you see the leaf fragments in his mouth..Poor guy was spitting them out for quite sometime afterwards.
Check out how dirty he was. L gets home from school around 3:45. We went out to play to soak in our last day of warmth for a little bit. We were out there, MAYBE an hour!! He got this dirty JUST in the leaves..
And the beautiful sky on his birthday..

Love you, J-Bear..

Me

Free Falling..

Enjoy..

Mis

Trick-or-Treat

Enjoy..

Red Hair, Orange Shirt and Fall Colors all around..

Sweet J in the leaves this afternoon...


And for that individual who wanted to see a LEAF in the picture..here you go..We love you Uncle Eddie!!

Melissa

Smiley J...

Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jeff hosted a Hayride and Bonfire this evening.. It was quite fun. In the beginning the kids were all playing in the leaves. I think J enjoyed it..Here's his happy little face.. He was using his stick to move the leaves around (shown in the second pic, BUT he knew my camera was aimed at him so he didn't look at me)..


Yummy hot dogs roasting on a very warm fire..
When we returned home we dug into our Halloween costume container and J found this wig and had to try it on..
Enjoy..

Melissa

L's FIRST school Field Trip..

L's first field trip was today. I was fortunate enough to be asked to go along to help with his first grade class. This field trip was great. They went to our FAVORITE apple orchard! We've been going to this orchard for years. Here's a link to their website: The Stotler's Orchard and Apple Store .

If you are out their way you should stop buy and pick up a bushel of apples and a gallon of the BEST APPLE CIDER!! REALLY it is the BEST!!

My pictures of L picking his apple didn't turn out that great, so I'll just share one of him enjoying riding on their peddling tractors they have available.

Have a great evening..

Melissa

Little J..

We went over to Aunt Sharon's house today and I was able to play around with the light and brown paper some.. J gave me 2 pictures, LITERALLY!! 2!!!

So, I'll share half of them with you..
Have a great night..

Melissa

Costume fun at Aunt Monica and Uncle Ken's Campground!!

Aunt Monica and Uncle Kenny belong to a campground (some resort near Salt Fork)..it's a very nice campground, too.. Each year in October they host some Halloween fun. Trick or treating each Saturday, a costume contest, hayrides (we missed this) and a Spooky Cabin (one spooker was Hank and another was Brandon, so you should know it wasn't the big scare them so they cry and run), all the events were made for the fun times for kids. Well, and fun times for the adults, so many of them (young adults and older adults were in costume as well).. I went as the football fan in my red hoodie!! LOL..

So the boys and I headed down to Salt Fork. It takes about an hour and half to get there. We went through all 3 Casting Crowns CD's. Then we sang some other songs like I've Been Redeemed (echo), Amazing Graze, Sanctuary, The Littlest Worm and we went back and forth with the Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar game (which Luke each time yelled out the cookie was good). J was so cute, when someone called out that it was him, he would say "Who ME?" and then we'd say "Yes, YOU" he would repeat so CUTELY "It COULDN'T be"..

Anyway back to the campground.. Monica and Kenny have this permanent site now down there and behind them is the BEAUTIFUL sky. I left my camera at home, but I borrowed moms little point and shoot..

B was an Astronaut (thanks Aunt Linda for the ADORABLE costume)..


Then B was stung by a bee.. Poor guy!! His right side of his face swelled up quickly..
And for some reason, my kiddos like to stick their tongues out at me.. Here's J as a CUTE LITTLE TEDDY BEAR (thanks to Cousin Chrissy and Aunt Sharon for this costume)..He will definitely stay nice and warm in it..

And here's the whole gang outside the Campground Church.. We listened to a wonderful message concerning each of us being SPECIAL. God made us all with different fingerprints, looks, thoughts and speech. "We are a one-of-a-kind creation"..God knew how we would look long before we were born..

Here you will see Hank, Aunt Monica and Grandma in the back row. Brandon, Daniel, J, Bri and Luke in the front row..You'll even notice Daniel carrying Zippy Roo (the Spiderdog doing whatever a Spiderdog does)..D went as a dogwalker!! And L went as last years dragon costume, notice it doesn't fit him in the legs this year!! He won't be wearing this to around the house trick or treating, he wanted to wear this so Grandma could see him wear it.. Isn't he sweet, grandma bought this for him last year after Halloween because he wanted to be a dragon instead of a mouse..
Then J had enough and snuggled up on Grandma's lap and fell asleep. What a great way to end our day, huh??
So then we left and it was then dark. We saw two deer as we got on 77 but then NONE after that.. of course that doesn't mean they weren't there, but hey, we didn't see them and I LIKE that.. We did get to see the moon rising in the sky. It was absolutely breathtaking too..

Enjoy your Sunday..take a break..relax with the family..have fun with friends.. and remember YOU ARE SPECIAL!! GOD made you and He LOVES you!!

Melissa