Maddie played her last soccer game yesterday. It has been a great few weeks getting to watch her learn a new sport. However, it sure will be nice to have one less thing to do on Tuesday nights.

We went to Nick's parents church this past Wednesday night for their Fall Carnival. The kids had a blast and loved getting to wear their costumes.

Wonder Woman

waiting to ride the train

his favorite part

he got so tickled feeding this sheep...literally...he said it was "tickwing my hands"

We celebrated the kids birthday party this past weekend. We had to change our plans at the last minute due to the rain. So instead of May Farm we headed to Prime Time. The kids had a blast and Wyatt said "It is best birthday ever!"

Their invitation

Sitting on her saddle eating some pizza.

This was right up Wyatt's alley!

singing "Happy Birthday"

Blowing out the candles

Riding the bull with Grandad

He loved this game and won a lot of tickets!

Playing "Deal or No Deal"

My sweet guy

Maddie won 100 tickets and was SO excited!

Driving a car

Maddie and I played her first game of air hockey...she LOVEd it..and I had to tone down my "game" :-)

The kids got a nice surprise when Uncle Jame came in town...they were so sad to see him leave.

It is amazing to me that Maddie turned 5 today. It seems like only yesterday we had brought her home from the hospital to begin our new life as a mommy and daddy. We have been so blessed by her sweet life and find it hard to imagine how life was before we had her. Maddie is sensitive, compliant, warm, funny, imaginative, creative and inquisitive. It's hard to believe she will be starting kindergarten this next school year...but like everything Maddie does...she will rise to the challenge and excel wherever she is.
We love you Maddie, and you are the most wonderful daughter we could have ever hoped for.


My favorite things about Maddie:

**She is the best BIG sister. Maddie loves to play with Wyatt and teaches him all sorts of new things.

**She has a very sensitive spirit...although she usually only shares that with Nick and I. She tends to keep things to herself and then will share them with us later when no one is around.

**She loves to "help" other kids. I have been told by her teachers that she loves on the sweetest of the special needs kids in her classroom, I love that she has a tender heart for those kiddos.

**She is so smart! She amazes Nick and I all the time...her cognition and language skills are definitely above average.

**Lastly, she has a natural tendency toward worship. You can see this when she is singing or dancing. I love that God has touched her heart at such a young age.

A newborn

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

Silly girl at 5

My sweet Wyatt turned 3 today. I don't know where the past 3 years have gone...they feel like a blur with lots of amazing memories popping out here and there. I remember when he turned one and we started to see his personality emerge, it was then that he decided that his "laid back" days were over and he was going to start showing us who he really was.
When he was 15 months old, I remember thinking "Who is this kid?"...he was still figuring that out too...and we battled together to see what boundaries we needed for him.
Then right before he turned two, we learned that Wyatt can be strong-willed and stubborn but also incredibly out-going and loving.
This past year has been full of a lot of joy for us. Wyatt has the most amazing personality and I wonder almost everyday what kind of man he will be when he grows up. He is thoughtful, talkative, inquisitive, stubborn, head-strong, hilarious, sweet, loving, compassionate and adorable.
I am so excited to see what the next year holds for him. How becoming a big brother will be for him and how starting the KLT program will challenge him. I am just so blessed to get to watch this little blessing grow up right before my eyes and am thankful to be his mommy and the one he still needs hugs and kisses from.
Happy Birthday, Wyatt. You are one awesome gift from God!


My favorite things about Wyatt:

**He loves all things to do with Maddie. He is the typical little brother but will hang on every word she tells him and would prefer to be with her all day.

**He can make me smile when I am supposed to be disciplining him...he is a charmer and the older he gets the harder this will become.

**In the morning, he still tells me goodbye 3-4 times before I walk out the door and he hugs my neck really tight when I pick him up. I thought he would outgrow that after he turned two but am thankful he still shows so much affection when I have to go to work....it makes me smile every morning!

**He is so strong-willed...a trait that when refined, will make him an incredible leader someday.

**His favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings is going to the farm with his daddy and grandad. I like that he would prefer to do "guy stuff" and follow in his daddy's footsteps.

**He is into all things "Toy Story"...and his imagination is just exploding these days. When he was about to turn two, all he wanted was "Lighting McQueen" toys...now everything is "Buzz Light year". It sure makes shopping for him easy!

A day old with his daddy

2 years old...already full of personality

a few months ago...so handsome!

I tackled the Pumpkin Patch by myself last night....crazy! But the kids did great and smiled for me when asked. I think Wyatt tried to pick up every single pumpkin he could...it sorta became a competition between he and Maddie as to who could pick up the heaviest. They were unloading more pumpkins as we were leaving so we may just have to go back and buy one of the cool ones we saw!

My parents came in for a quick visit yesterday to see Maddie play a soccer game. The love when they visit and wait by the front door all morning until they get here. They both were so sad to see them leave but Nana and Papaw promised to come back next weekend for their BIG birthday bash!

Which way is the goal??

Maddie has just thrown the ball in

Papaw and Wyatt

Maddie's fan club

After the game we headed to Mr. Gaitti's....this is Wyatt's prize.

And then he shared....

Our Life Group friends went out to dinner last night to celebrate the many birthdays we have in October. It was a perfect evening to dine outside...and even better that we got to share it with these sweet friends.

Kathy showing Noah and Britton the stick bug on the rope.

Brooke and Abbye

The yummy birthday cake Abbye made.

Nick and Shaun