LEAVES ALL AROUND

I never realized how much I love FALL. I guess I never recognized all the beauty in the colors, which is heightened by the crisp air. I am surrounded by mayestic views in every direction. The hillsides and mountains around me are in a constant change, ranging from the golden yellow to the firey red and every color in between. While driving down this street 2 weeks ago, I think I startled my children when I started yelling, "No really, do you know how beautiful this is?" I wanted them to enjoy it as much as I was. I'm sure they probably didn't, it's taken me years to really sit back and enjoy it all. I figured I would at least document the beauty of nature with my beautiful children in it so they can remember it later in life, and so I will never forget it.

We Got Tagged!

7 Weird things about me. (Debbie)

1. Most people wear seatbelts, but I am obsessed with them. Everyone has to wear them in my car. My motto is "ARIVE ALIVE", and I have been know to yell it out the window when I see kids bouncing around the back seat in neighboring cars.

2. I HATE things around my neck. I cannot wear turtlenecks for sure, and I've only been able to wear necklaces in the last few years.

3. I think I could seriously die by being tickled. I stop breathing and almost pass out. I think it goes along with the neck thing, because that is where Jon tickles me (well, used to, he knows better now!)

4. I don't know what it is but I play with the zippers on my jackets. I don't notice it in the summer because I never wear jackets, but when it cools down I find myself fidgiting with them all the time. They get worn out from it. Weird, I know!

5. I drink so much water when I go out to restaurants. I usually end up having to visit the ladies room multiple times, then end up running from the car to the bathroom when I get home. I think its because someone is bringing it to me and I don't have to go get it myself.

6. I can get car sick so easily. I can't turn around in the car to talk to my kids or get them anything. When we go on girls night out I always have to ask for the front seat, or at least the middle so I can see out. It is so embarrassing.

7. I play bass guitar in our family band, that is a little weird isn't it?



7 Wierd things about me (Jon)

1. President of mens book club (ie read the movie review and then go watch it).

2. Loves to cook while my wife is out changing the oil on the car.

3. Punishes kids by making them play in my band.

4. I have a "Wall of Fame" so I can show off my friends and family.

5. I glue all of my puzzles together.

6. I've been in more musicals than my wife.

7. I onced shaved Debbie's initials in my chest. It came out backwards because I was looking in the mirror.

Our Own Sandy Beach

We just finished a big project in our backyard. We were'nt planning such an extensive project, but you know how projects go. They tend to grow and get bigger then you had planned, take longer, cost more, but in the end you were glad you did it. It started out with getting some curbing for around our garden box, then grew to getting about 150 feet of curbing all over the yard. We needed to know how big to make the sandpile before we could do that curbing so we ended up getting a swingset. Our good neighbor Steve helped us remove grass and dirt with his tracktor, and also helped with the 3 truckloads of sand that was delivered! Come to find out, you don't need a nice planned out sand pile, you just need a pile of sand!













This was the first load of sand.






I'm glad we didn't have to wheelbarrow all the sand.


The second load of sand.

Steve hard at work, thank goodness for that.

There is never a shortage of kids playing in the backyard.

Our new swingset. Everyone does love playing on it. Jon and I even took turns on the slide. I never want to put one of these things together AGAIN!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

It's always a bittersweet that first day back to school. There is excitement in the air and a little fear in the eyes of the children. Moms, too, may have a little something in their eyes, some a sparkle, and some a tear. For me, it reminds me that I'm one year closer to them leaving the nest for good, and that is always a little sad for me. We have to enjoy them while we've got them! I could have time stand still right now in my life and be completely happy, but that is not the case. So I will try my best to bend with the changes that are coming in the lives of the little precious ones in my family, and grow into new stages of life. Hopefully, we will continue to find as much joy in the future as we are filled with at the present.

The Gang at the bus stop

Paityn's First day of kindergarten

So excited to ride the bus, is she really big enough?

Dawson thinks he's ready for school, give mom a few more years to get used to that idea!

Jon and Deb in Nashville

At the big Grand Ol' Opry Hotel

With friends Anthony and Gabe

Riverboat Cruise and Dinner

Toured a Plantation used in Civil War as a field hospital.

Nashville Nightlife

After landing, we raced over to the Wild Horse Saloon to see Pat Benatar. It was GREAT. She really rocked the house!

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

So I'm sitting here with my computer savvy sis-in-law Stephie, and I wanted to venture into the land of BLOG! It's a little scary for those of us who don't what we're doing, and this may be my only entry until Stephie comes to visit again, but we'll give it a try.