Month in pictures, October 31 and Halloween

OCTOBER 31st

Happy Halloween! Abby is Cinderella!



Cinderella dancing with her Prince Charming.

Cinderella and Mom at the preschool party.

Cinderella and her best bud Spiderman.

Hope you've enjoyed the month in pictures!

Month in Pictures, October 29 and 30

OCTOBER 30th

Abby and Daddy carved a jack-o-lantern! Thank you, God, for pumpkins!

OCTOBER 29th

I LOVE baby feet. Always have! And Andrew has some cute ones! Thank you, God, for tiny toes and tiny fingers.

and here's the sweet face to go with the sweet feet.

Hippy's dinner

Last night I was telling Abby that we weren't going to be home for dinner (church night). She was very concerned that Hippy and Polly would not have anything to eat. The next thing I know, she had her play phone and was talking away. I asked what she was doing...she told me, "I called the pizza man. He's bringing pizza, cheese sticks, and pizza sauce for Hippy's dinner".

Month in Pictures, October 27 and 28

OCTOBER 28th

Abby's idea of high fashion. I especially love the high water pants. Those are her are favorite. She wants to wear them everyday. Thank you, God, for little girls!

OCTOBER 27th

Andrew was so tired last night. Rick was on the sofa with him and he fell asleep. Thank you, God, for sweet sleeping babies.

Hippy's latest happenings

Hippy is having yet another birthday. This time it is a Dallas Cowboys party and his cake has a star on it, like the Cowboys' helmets. He also went to the Hokies game last night. Apparently the Hokies played a team called the Pinks and they won! Hippy was so happy they won. Abby has been playing dress up today and she has adorned Hippy and Polly with all sorts of necklaces and bracelets.

Fall Family Fun

Andrew in his Hokie hat.
Abby the Hokie Cheerleader.

Two little Hokies with Grammy.

Grandaddy and Andrew.

Grandmom, Grandad, Abby, and the HairWolf.

Month in pictures, October 25 and 26

OCTOBER 25th

OCTOBER 26thThank you, God, for our two precious kids. They just love each other to death. In that first picture, doesn't it look like they're up to something?

Month in Pictures, October 23 and 24

OCTOBER 23rd

I was at the Short Pump mall on Thursday, and I didn't prepare for how chilly it would be (well, I had Andrew bundled up, but I didn't have a coat for me). So I decided to go in Starbucks for a hot chocolate. I have never bought anything from Starbucks, I don't know if I have ever even been in one because I'm not a coffee drinker. Anyway, I ordered my drink and was floored when she gave me the total of over $4. For hot chocolate!!! And it wasn't even that good. Don't think I'll do that again. BUT, Thank you, God, for warm drinks on a chilly day. I'll just get them somewhere cheaper next time :)

OCTOBER 24th

Ryan and Hannah came over to play and they enjoyed some play-dough time. Thank you, God, for Ryan and Hannah!

So many books, so little time....

If you know me, you know that reading is one of my favorite things to do. I'm not reading as much now as I was before Andrew was born, but I'm happy to say my reading time is picking up. Right now I am reading Revenge in Paradise by Terrye Robins. It is Christian fiction...light, humorous, with a little mystery mixed in. It's really cute. It's actually the second in the series and it takes place in Hawaii, which is fun. One of the staff members at my church lent it me. Since I lead the Christian fiction book club, a lot of people give me books either because they liked them and want to see what I think, or they want me to read them and see if they're any good :)



Prior to this book I read the first two books in the Sign of Seven trilogy by Nora Roberts. They were a little strange, but very good (can't put down, stay up too late reading good). I was disappointed that the 3rd and final one doesn't come out until December.



Next on my list will be our November book club selection, Plaguemaker by Tim Downs. It's an FBI-type suspense. There aren't many of those in the Christian fiction genre, so I'm looking forward to it. I've never read any of Downs' books, but he has quite a following and his books get awesome reviews.



Books I want to read soon....

1. the new JD Robb (coming in November)

2. Dawn's Light (the 4th and final in a series by Terri Blackstock)

3. Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin (she is my FAVORITE Christian author)

4. She Always Wore Red by Angela Hunt (2nd in a series, the first one was hilarious and touching at the same time)

Month in Pictures, October 22

OCTOBER 22nd
Abby enjoying her favorite at-home lunch: spaghetti-Os, fruit, and a roll. Thank you, God, for food!

Month in Pictures, October 21 and I really want my binky!

OCTOBER 21st


There is a whole story to this picture. See below.....Thank you, God, for binkies!


I want my binky!


I'll just get it myself.

Almost.....

Now I'm a happy boy!

Month in Pictures, October 19 and 20

OCTOBER 19th Daddy rocks Andrew to sleep after a busy weekend. Thank you, God, for weekends!

OCTOBER 20th

My handsome husband taking a break from work. Rick really is the best husband any wife could have. Thank you, God, for Rick!

Our Weekend

We had a nice but busy weekend. On Friday night Abby's friend Mahaley came to play while her parents enjoyed a date. Mahaley is only two but they played very well together. Abby did a great job sharing! One funny thing that Abby told Mahaley. She showed her Andrew and said, "my mom had me a brother".

On Saturday I was lucky enough to go to an all-day scrapbooking event. I got so much done and it was great to be with other ladies. My friend Julie was there, too. I used all the pictures I have of Andrew so far! So his book is caught up. I'm so excited about that! Afterwards I went to Target and enjoyed shopping and browsing in peace. Then I went out to eat by myself and read. Rick took the kids down to Emporia to visit with his family. Judy and Becca took the kids to the pumpkin patch. I understand that Abby was scared of some scarecrows, but she said she had fun and was proud of her pumpkin.

On Sunday we went to church, and (this is very rare) I actually got to go to a grown-up Sunday School (I'm usually teaching a babies class) AND to worship! I watched most of the race, but I'm so sick of the same people winning. It's getting boring!

We won't talk about the Hokies or the Cowboys.

Month in Pictures, October 17 and 18

OCTOBER 17th

Abby enjoyed having Mahaley over Friday night. When it was bedtime they watched Elmo together. Thank you, God, for friends and fun! And for Grandmom.....Happy Birthday!

OCTOBER 18th

Can you find the two cutest little "pumpkins"? Grandmom and Becca took Abby, Whitt, and Andrew to the pumpkin patch. Thank you, God, for pumpkins.

Month in Pictures, October 16

OCTOBER 16th

This is the way we spend a lot of our time, all three of us in the chair with a book. Abby's current favorites are Chrysanthemum, Franklin's Halloween, Arthur's Halloween, and Princess Me. Andrew isn't showing a preference but he does listen! Thank you, God, for books!

Month in Pictures, October 15

OCTOBER 15th

Andrew in the church nursery with his little friend Ziva. Thank you, God, for a church that loves and nurtures babies!

What's going on with Abby and Hippy

Wanted to share some funny things Abby has been saying lately. When she wants Andrew to do something, I always tell her he's not big enough yet. So now she is asking us "Is Andrew bigger enough yet?". When she wants to wear her hair down (no pony or pig tails), she says she wants to keep it "longer enough". When you ask her to do something, she responds with "I'm just going to play for a little minute.".

Yesterday I gave her a snack while I was doing something in the kitchen. She took it into the family room and I heard her say the "God is great" blessing. How sweet!

Just thought you might want to know that Hippy will be a dinosaur for Halloween. Polly will be a dragon. Abby will be Cinderella. Hippy has been having fun in dog school. Apparently hippo/dog years are very short because Hippy is constantly having birthdays. He had one the same day as Abby, the same day as Uncle Stephen, and now he will have on on Halloween.

Month in Pictures, October 14

OCTOBER 14th

A picture of a picture! I was so excited our family pictures came today! Thank you, God, for pictures.....a cherished possession.

Andrew at 5 months

It's hard to believe Andrew is already 5 months old. He is smiling, laughing, rolling over, putting weight on his legs, and trying to scoot himself when laying on the floor. He loves to be outside or riding in the stroller. He is interested in toys and loves to chew on them! Abby is his favorite person and she can always get him to grin.

We are still working on him as far as the fussiness and spitting up. We started putting rice cereal in his bottle so we are hoping to see some results from that soon. This week I am going to work really hard on naps. He doesn't take good naps and I'm wondering if some of his fussing is due to that. So he continues to be a challenge but we absolutely love him!

Month in Pictures, October 13

OCTOBER 13th


Andrew is 5 months old today! We celebrated by getting a new hat. Doesn't he look handsome? Thank you, God, for Andrew (and cute baby stuff!)

Month in Pictures: October 12

OCTOBER 12We went to Becca and Nick's church today for Whitt's baptism. Thank you, God, for Whitt!

Month in Pictures: October 11

OCTOBER 11

We had a great time meeting our friends the Jenkins family at Red Robin in Charlottesville. In the picture, from left, Steph, Brad, Lela (age 2), Emma (almost 4), Melissa, Abby, Andrew, and Rick. Thank you, God, for our friends!

Just some pictures

Month in Pictures: October 9 and 10

October 9th Abby and Andrew love each other! Thank you, God, for brothers and sisters!



October 10th
After a particularly fussy evening, Andrew is finally asleep. Thank you, God, for quiet!

Happy Orange Day!

Today was orange day at preschool. Here's Abby:

And she insisted that her brother wear orange, too. Here's Andrew the "hairwolf", outfit courtesy of Aunt Becca:

We want to wish a "Happy Birthday" to Uncle Stephen. He's 20 today!

Month in Pictures, October 8

OCTOBER 8th Abby was so proud of these things she made at school. Thank you, God, for preschool and for the loving staff that works at hers.

What We've Been Up To

I haven't done a real post lately, so I thought I would update ya'll on what we've been doing. On Saturday Rick, Abby, and Dave went to the Hokies game. Abby had a wonderful time, of course! I was here with Andrew. Since Andrew's two favorite things are being outside and getting pushed in the stroller, I decided to take him to Short Pump Mall ("the short mall" according to Abby). We stayed almost the whole day and he was great. He dozed some and looked around some. I shopped a little and browsed a lot.

On Sunday we went to church, but I never made it out of the baby hall. I taught my Sunday School class (the Ducks) which are the babies who are crawling and just walking. Then during the worship hour I moved over to the Bunnies ("lap" babies, Andrew's class) to take my turn as a TLC (tender loving care) volunteer. In both rooms there were fussy babies, so it was a lot like being at home! Rick asked me how it went and I told him "Andrew was the good one, believe it or not!". But it was fun anyway. I love babies, especially when I can give them back after an hour! That afternoon I took Abby back to the short mall and we got the kids' Christmas outfits (the store was having a big sale). Then I took her to the grocery store, which is always an adventure. I got home in time to see the wreck-fest, I mean race. I was really hoping someone would win who doesn't usually, but Tony Stewart took the checkered. I think one of the reasons I haven't been all that interested in NASCAR lately is that the same people always win.

Andrew hasn't been sleeping or napping well the last few days. He has a lot of congestion, so he spits his binky out to breathe through the mouth. Then he decides he wants his binky back because his gums hurt and he wants to chew. I feel sorry for him. The dr wanted us to stay on the special formula another week, but I ran out Monday night and just didn't feel like buying it again because we see no difference. I guess I'll talk to her again on Thursday and find out what plan B (or is C, D, or E?) is. This morning he had another blow-out then peed everywhere while we were cleaning him up. Are we having fun yet?

Month in Pictures: October 6 and 7

OCTOBER 7th

You know you've slept well when you have a horn in your hair! Thank you, God, for sleep!

OCTOBER 6th

Abby rocking out with her "kintar" (aka broom). She was singing a song Daddy made up called "Scruffer Tickles". It was so funny, which was good for me because Andrew was having a particularly fussy day. Thank you, God, for Abby!

Month in Pictures: October 4 and 5

OCTOBER 5th
The end to a busy weekend. Thank you, God, for Daddy!

OCTOBER 4thAbby and Daddy at the Hokies game! Thank you, God, for a beautiful day!

Picnic at the playground

Julie, Ryan, and Hannah Sherrill joined us for a picnic and fun at the Kings Charter playground today.


Ryan and Abby eating.

Julie, Hannah, and Abby swinging.

Abby and Hannah on the teeter-totter.

Even Andrew got to swing!