Trick or Treat?

We had a bit of a scare. Poor Rhett had a stomach virus and almost couldn't go trick o' treating but by the time the night arrived he was feeling much better and we decided to go for it anyway. We defintely didn't get too close to other children, but I just couldn't imagine having to keep him away when that was all he'd been talking about all week! We did go and had an excellent time and got lots of candy, candy, candy!

Ella told me she wanted to go as a "Happy Wicked Witch" this year and I looked for the happiest witch outfit I could find. There is a pointy hat, but tonight of all nights she told me she wanted her hair in pigtails and I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to put her hair up. Forget the hat, Ella wanted her hair up!

She is giving me a mean wicked witch face.

Yes, that is a huge bow. No, I wouldn't put it on her on any other day (I would though if I knew I wouldn't be made fun of! I love bows.)

Rhett said he wanted to be a turtle. I said, "A ninja turtle?" and he said, "nope, just a turtle." Luckily the gods were with me and there was only one turtle costume at TJ Max that I just happened upon that was just his size. Shew!

He kept calling the shell his "shelf." Don't look at my laundry. Who wants to do laundry on Halloween?!

Joe modeling the pointy hat. We went as the "cute couple" (ah - how cute!).

Ella saw Daddy giving Mommy a kiss and she wanted to do the same. Now that is cute.

Somebody asked me what Lucy was going as and I said "warm."
I could just eat them!

Pumpkin Carvers

For Family Home Evening we did the tradition carving of the pumpkin. Rhett had a good time digging out the guts while Ella decided to sit that out and just cut small pumpkin pieces into smaller pumpkin pieces. Lucy crawled around looking for random items that might have fallen off the table to give her some idea of what we were doing. They decided on carving a spooky (or as Ella would say it "pooky") pumpkin and were very quick to remind us every night up until Halloween to light it.

Twinkies

I am so excited to have girls that are going to be so close in age!! How cute do they look dressed alike? I hope they love each other as much as I love my sister. I wish Lisa and I were closer in age so that we were able to grow up together, but perhaps our realtionship wouldn't be as it is now if I didn't know how to appreciate her. At least we never were fighting over who got to wear a shirt the other one wanted. I hope Ella and Lucy never take each other for granted.
Lucy knows when the flash is going to happen and always quickly closes her eyes.

Rhett is 5!

I can't believe that he is 5 years old. Two years ago I held his 3rd birthday in this very spot. Walking on ground that I had previously walked on for a similar reason. The days have passed so quickly and I am very grateful that each year passes with comfort and health. That being said, the party went perfectly. Rhett had a lot of his friends come and he had a great time. The pavilion is in a park with playground galore and we had pizza and cake and presents. It was a Spiderman theme as you will see and for Rhett's birthday present from Ella, she decided to blow out his candle for him - much to our surpise. She was sitting right in front of it so I guess it looked like a big, shiny red button. We of course lit it again and Rhett had his moment and then played and played some more!

This is Catarina. Pretty much the love of Rhett's life. They go to school together and obviously share the same love of Spiderman which is a good foundation for a strong relationship. Up until the time she arrived Rhett kept asking if she was coming and when was she going to get there. Thank goodness she came!

I have such a wonderful family who helps me out tremendously with every birthday party (Mother not pictured, but she is definitely included!) and I am so grateful for them.Yes that is a cop. What can I say? Do you think that I would throw any kind of party that a cop wouldn't eventually show up? I just decided to go ahead and invite one so I could get on his good side early. (He is also the husband of one of my girlfriends.) Catarina's mom in the navy blue, I should probably get on her good side as well the way Rhett talks about Catarina.

Jumping for [Birthday] Joy!

For Rhett's 5th birthday we decided to buy a trampoline. I found one in pretty good shape on Craig's List but I really had to act fast. Turns out everyone wants a used trampoline. Joe and I were pretty reluctant to get one and most commonly refer to them as "death traps" but knowing how they build muscle and self-esteem we couldn't see not getting one. It definitely was a good purchase and I think I probably enjoy jumping on it just as much as they do.

"Switchback" to Cass, WVa

The day after we arrived in WVa, we visited Cass Scenic Railroad. Cass was a logging town that had the Greenbrier River running right through it, and used it as a way of transporting the logs. When the the railroad was built, the town of Cass no longer needed to have life or death moments on the river unclogging jams and jumping from log to log to escape getting caught in a jam. These logs would float down river early spring when it was was at its highest from the melting snow. As you can see in the pictures, it has been a while since that river has been used for log transportation, but on occasion it will flood.

You can ride the train to a mock logging town mid-mountain or continue to ride to the top, which we have done before, and see the breathtaking view. But with the littles ones in tow (mainly Lucy) we decided to keep it close. It was a good decision considering a bumble bee decided to claim my foot leaving me with a slight limp and looking for tobacco.

The Shea engine. It pushes rather than pulls - more leverage.

We had a smiliar picture 9 years ago when we came to WVa for our honeymoon and visited Cass. I never thought I would see myself a few cars down, 9 years later, with 3 children. Epilogue.
So beautiful with the many shades of green. It almost looks like a prop backdrop against the mountains in the background.
Check out the rods on that engine! (Did I sound "guy" enough?)
Brings literal meaning to "She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes." I guess this is an example of where they got the line, but what was the reason behind pointing out the obvious?
The Greenbrier River. No longer for logs, just fish and fam.

" Our cute whittle wucy" - Ella.
The children had a great time and we actually had to force Ella off the train. Thank you Mom and Dad for such a wonderful trip to Cass. We can't wait to go back when the kids are older and see the whole tour. I'll wear closed toe shoes next time.

Visiting "The Camp" in WVA

We try as much as possible to make our way up to WVa where Joe had spent many a childhood summer visiting with MaMa, uncles, aunts, cousins and good ol' farmwork. WVa holds a lot of sentiment for the Carver/Moore family as well as being rich with history. While we are there we also try to visit "The Camp." The place where Joe steals away for about a week's time (making me a "hunter's widow" - tv sports wives can relate) and any other time we make our way up there. It really is a nice retreat filled with ladybugs, an outhouse, and mountains and mountains of God's beautiful green earth and a wood stove smell that brings nostalgia when unpacking from an overnight's stay. We are very blessed to have it and look forward to the day when the kids are a bit older and can share in the same nostalgia - and possibly a deer or squirrel or two.

Lucy trying to get into the camoflauge experience. In WVa they start early.

Rhett just inside the camp door.

Ella and her Pa Paw by the wood pile.

For some reason Lucy thinks leaves are edible and then quickly remembers they aren't once they reach her mouth. Rhett and his walking stick.

The morning after we arrived, Uncle Kermit had the children come over to his garden (a walk away from MaMa's) and retrieve pumpkins that now anxiously await on our porch for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe...

On Aug. 13th I decided I would take myself and the babies up to Bristol for a visit with Mother and my big sis and her hubby, and babies (not so little anymore) in tow. It always sounds like a great idea to lovingly squish our 13 bodies into a ranch style home throwing blankets on the floor for children and the adults in beds. Much to our surprise (again - because we have done this before) it is hard to accomadate that many people. But we somehow made it work and Mother so graciously let us make it work so that we could enjoy each other's company all the time and not be so spread out in hotels fighting naptimes and bedtimes.

The children had a ton of fun together and not too many fights ensued. I am very grateful to have been able to visit with them all and can't wait to see them again.

Surprisingly, Gage and Wyatt created these poses themselves. I was just the photographer.

Zoe was so fun and loving to be around. I have to say I had the most fun with her this trip than I have ever had. We had a great time playing "Monkey-in-the-Middle" with her and Cam in Ms. Kim's pool. She can throw that ball like a bullet!

Lucy's behavior on the whole trip was wonderful! I am very blessed with "happy" babies and can travel pretty much anywhere without much worry. But, like any mother, I do.

Pretty as princesses. There would be many times that we would look around and say "where are the girls?" There were only a few "that's mine" battles, but about 90% of the time they got along beautifully giggling and laughing as they went to bed. I hope they will be close friends as they get older.

Needless to say, by the end of the trip. Everyone was tired.

This is one of the reasons why everyone was so tired. Delaney and Berk were awesome at helping me with the babies and cleaning up. I am so glad I got to spend time them and see how much they have grown. Berk - I can't wait to hear "Kip" again. I was telling Uncle Joe all about it.

These were the apples picked from Lisa and Mike's old home and they were so juicy and sweet (just like me)! Mike and the kids brought home big bushels everytime they went.

Even though we had our differences from time to time (what would you expect with that many people in a house?), I am so glad we got to be together and I will treasure every moment - past, present, and future that we get because it will slip away faster than sand in an hour glass.

PS - Grannie's not an old lady - the allusion just seem to fit.