Leaf days of November

We are both blessed and cursed with many trees in our yard. On one hand I like that our yard feels like it has been there for a long time and has shade and character. On the other, I absolutely hate fighting with the leaves every year. Well this particular Sunday after church we decided to have some of the college kids over to "help" us. They played with the kids so that Allen and I could get it done but that works too! Anyway, one of them got my camera and made it her mission to capture the day. I am really glad she did because I feel like these shots are what childhood is all about. Playing outside and enjoying nature.

Kaylen was asleep when we started working. She came outside looking like she does in that picture. She is becoming a real Punky Bruster with her own style.

Tripp was all about the lawnmower. That really makes me nervous but as long as Allen was there, I felt okay with it. He was never happier than when he was pushing along with Allen.


Well, he also liked the leaves. Pretty much this kid is always happy. He has a big temper but he also has tons of fun. I cant imagine life without him. I think we would all take ourselves too seriously without him reminding us to have some fun.
His looks crack me up. If he knows you are taking his picture, this is what you get.
When daddy wouldn't let him push along with him, he got his own lawnmower out.
Kaylen loves this bike. She has a little bit bigger one but I think it scares her. This is just her size.
I really want to print and frame this shot. So stinking cute!
See the look in his eye? He really doesn't put up with much from anybody these days. He is TROUBLE! :)
Sweet darlings trying to help out with the yard work.
I know this shot is very candid but it depicts the essence of childhood to me. Running carefree having a blast on a nice fall day in the front yard. I know I will miss these moments.
I also love moments like these. Playing with my kids. Tripp loves to be tackled. And Kaylen loves to tickle! Fun times.
Tripp rolling on the ground playing with a ball. Such a boy!
I think it is good to enjoy yourself even in the small tasks. Being a family and working/playing together is what it is all about. We need more days like this. I hope you all remember to capture the ordinary days of life.

Actual Halloween and a drawing...

Kaylen has really gotten in to drawing these days and I dont want to forget them. I know the actual drawing will be lost among all the other things I wish I would have saved. That is why I am putting it here. I am hoping I will be able to come back and look at things from over the years here.


Now, Halloween is loooooong past but times have been crazy lately. Here are a few shots from the day. Kaylen's hair was so hard to fix and it really looked great this time. I had to get the kids dressed up 3 times this year. Once for their program at school. A second time for the church event on Saturday and then once again on Sunday night for trick-or-treating. This was actually on Saturday. Here we all are and it is the only shot that we are almost all smiling.
Kaylen was such a poser. I have countless pictures where she is striking some sort of pose. So super cute!
Here she is man-handling Tripp, as always. But they are both smiling and enjoying themselves so it is fine with me!
We had a blast on all three occasions but this was a jam-packed Halloween and I hope the days are more consolidated next year to fewer dress ups!

So many events, so little time to blog about them!

LAST SOCCER GAME!

We had one more soccer game after awards day. This was a great end to the season. Kaylen really wanted to make a goal. That didn't happen but she did awesome. She got in there and played! I have some pretty good shots of her really concentrating and playing her heart out. That is what it is all about!


Bye soccer season! See ya next year! Now we are doing swim lessons and next will be basketball!

And just in case you wondered where Tripp was during these games... EVERYWHERE! I can't contain him. Here he is under the bleachers playing with an extra ball. He is really, really full of life. Sigh.

TATE FARM FIELD TRIP

We went to Tate Farms last week with her school. Of course it was the day of the horrible weather and school closed early. Thankfully we had great weather while we were there. It was just extremely windy! Here we are with the perfect pumpkin. Trust me, we checked out every single one in that field!

Here K is posing again. Notice the clouds above. Bad weather was definitely on it's way.
Of course the corn pits are always the favorite part. Actually they are my favorite part too.

She wouldn't smile for me so Ms. Shelly got her to laugh.

Here is her entire class. Well, Alexis wasn't there and she was greatly missed by Kaylen!
Here is Kaylen and Rylie sporting their cute shirts that Emily and I made together. I love to see the two of them together. Such sweet friends!

SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PROGRAM

Well, this will be a sneak peak to my kids Halloween costumes this year. Kaylen picked this out and it turned out so cute. Tripp is the sheep and Kaylen is Little Bo Peep.

Aren't they so cute together?! At least I think so. A mother is always biased. Well, the program was not a success for Tripp. He was the one kid whaling during the program. I got him and he was fine after that. So the program wasn't totally ruined because of him! :) There is always next year. This is making me wonder how Santa pictures will go this year. Kaylen, on the other hand, sang so well! She finally had a good program. (there was a brief stint of nose picking again.)


Well, I will be back next week with an update from actual Halloween. Have a great weekend everyone!

Soccer Awards

We had our end of the season party for soccer this week. I didn't tell Kaylen anything about it for some reason. I guess it just never came up. Anyway, we had pizza and cake after the game. When the kids were done eating they had them all gather around. They didn't say why and the coach just started talking. He began by describing this first player as someone who was new to soccer this year. They started the year off a little timid but by the end of the season they were in there kicking the ball and playing with the boys. So Kaylen Wilson, this is for you. She was so stunned that he was talking about her and she had no clue what she was supposed to do. She was really surprised that she was getting to keep something and this was the first time she had ever gotten a trophy. It was a priceless moment. She shock and excitement on her face was awesome. And let me tell you, that girl wanted to tell everyone she had a trophy. She had to take it with her in the bathroom for her shower and then wanted to sleep with it. We compromised by putting it by her lamp on her dresser so she could look at it all night. She is dying for show and tell at school so she can take it and show all her friends. That moment was worth every practice and game we have been to. Having kids and watching them get so excited about the smallest things in life is such a reward. I am so glad to be a mom to both of my sweet babies!

This one was her own posing. She was so excited!!!

She didn't like this picture as much because you couldn't see all of the trophy.
So that led to the following:

Then she decided that she really wanted a picture with her brother. That didn't go over too well with him...


But no worries, that is nothing a little man-handling can't eventually fix. Notice she is looking at me and holding her trophy up to be photographed while making sure her brother is in the shot.
These two are really very sweet to each other. He does hit her and she does try to control him but they also love each other and every night she is the only person he will hug and give kisses to no matter what his mood. I love that. Both of my kids are getting so big. I have really noticed changes in Kaylen lately. Something about the way she acts and looks just doesn't seem small anymore. These are good days and I am soaking them in.

Chaganooga

I have been meaning to post about a recent trip to "Chaganooga" as my daughter calls it. We had a great time getting out in nature and seeing the sites of the city. If you have small ones, this is a great place to get away to for a long weekend. I hope to go back way more often.

We went with the Bolton's and the Foxes. So six adults and six kids! I can't believe how good everyone was. Here mine are on the way to our first excursion: The aquarium!

The freshwater sting rays were so cool. This was the very first thing we saw and I didn't think the girls were going to move on!
This stroller came in handy on this trip.
Here are our oldest three hanging out together. I think this is still at the freshwater sting ray exhibit.


Okay, so this picture really is cool. When we were in the butterfly exhibit, a large butterfly landed on Allen and let Kaylen "pet" it and Tripp held her hand while she touched it. So sweet! Tripp loved the penguins. Mostly the plastic ones.

He also loved their freezing cold water that you could feel. Granted penguins weren't actually in the water he was touching. That wouldn't have been nearly as sanitary. Kaylen and Tripp both checking out a huge fish tank filled with tons of ocean life.
Joseph is the cutest kid. He wasn't feeling like his overly joyful self on this trip but he was still really good. Seriously, look at that face! She is going to be in trouble in about 13 years!

Rylie being a little momma to Tripp while Kalyen does her "duty" and sits there for the picture. One of the few shots of our entire gang. (well, minus Cohen but he was on the other side of the camera with his momma)

Sweet smiles from the girls. They really do play so well together.
I love this picture of Tripp because this is so his personality. And I think it is so cool how his left eye is more brown than his right one these days. Not sure how they will end up but they are really unique right now. He loves to clap these days. His absolute favorite thing to say is down. He just wants to run. ALL DAY LONG!

Me and the kids in the little tube that goes in the fish tank. After all there was to see at the aquarium my two were sacked. I love seeing them snuggle and nap together. It warms my heart to watch them interact.

We stayed at a cabin that was out in the middle of no where. LITERALLY. But they had horses and a creek. It was really fun to walk around and explore with the little ones. Here are a few of the horses:

This is the one the kids liked. The pony. Of course he was the meaner one and they couldn't really pet him that much.

One morning we went for a hike and found the creek. The kids had fun throwing rocks in the water.
We didn't even brush the girls hair, we just went and had fun.

The older three kids did ride horses around in the yard. They each rode with a parent and were all scared but brave and proud of themselves for doing it.
Here is Andrew about to ride and Kaylen and Rylie are excitedly awaiting their turn. They all loved just seeing the horses. The next day we went to the Children's Discovery Museum. Kaylen called it the Museum of Fun. They had an awesome water feature that entertained Tripp for a really long time.

This sand pit was an area for them to discover dinosaur bones. It was also a huge hit.
It was fun to watch them playing and exploring. Kaylen found a baby and took her to "school". This floor was an area for kids to gain understanding of what it would be like to be disabled. (That has nothing to do with the baby in the picture - not sure what that was up there for) Anyway, they put on blinders and used a walking stick, they pushed themselves around in a wheelchair and other things of that nature. I thought it was a good experience but Stewart thought it was creepy to see the kids in wheelchairs. I sort of agree with that too.
This picture of Andrew cracks me up. He kept asking me to take a picture of him and he would pose. This was my favorite. He is such a little character! I think he may end up with Jeremy's sense of humor... HILARIOUS!