Glory goes to God alone

This video is from Thanksgiving. We are very thankful for cousins. Even though they don't get to hang out every day, when they are together they have so much fun!

We give God all the glory for our wonderful family and for His wonderful gift of life to us.

Magic Christmas Lights

So, last year in Fort Worth, we saw an amazing light show. The house was in a typical neighborhood, but we LOVED seeing the lights and music together. This year in Alexandria, I was doubtful that we would find such a show. However, tonight...we found one! I LOVED it. I think a little more than the fort worth show because it had a real train on tracks...and more. I was impressed and so was Laura Beth! See the video, but better yet...see it in person. 5201 Argonne Blvd. Alexandria. It's pretty awesome, I think.

Jesus' House

Lately, Laura Beth has been thinking a lot about Jesus. Understandable since, she learns about Him at church, school, and home. In December, she obviously knows His birthday is coming soon. She will probably attend 4 Jesus Birthday parties in the next week. ha! That being said, we have been house hunting (ugh!) and praying to God for His direction as to the house He thinks is best for us. So, we have prayed with Laura Beth in our car in front of a couple homes that we were trying to make decision about. Today, as Steve was driving to one of the homes to view, Laura Beth begins the following conversation:

LB-"Daddy, is Jesus real?"
Steve- "yes"
LB- "Where is He?"
Steve- "He is Everywhere."
By now, Laura Beth is probably wondering about Jesus' HOUSE, because we always look at houses.
LB-Where does He live?
Steve- "He lives in Heaven, but He is everywhere too. And He is with us now, and thats why we talk to Him. He hears us."

At this point, Steve started to talk to her about Prayer. He started to tell her about why we pray at the houses, etc.

I wish I could have been there to hear her voice and this conversation between these two people I love so much. God is so wonderful!

Shopping for Shoe boxes

In our home, we do a Samaritan's purse shoebox each year. Laura Beth calls it the present for "the little girl." Well, this year (as well as other youth in recent years) I had the privilege of shopping for more shoeboxes with some of the wonderful youth 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls below from KBC. They were so much fun! We are blessed to know them. 

Tea for Two

First, let me preface this post. I have seen some of my photographer mom friends take pics of their children and I copied some of their ideas. :)

Second, I only got these few shots that turned out okay out of like a BAZILLION other shots. ha!

Now, to tell you about our Tea Time.

My neighbor's yard is GORGEOUS...I mean really, it's just beautiful. I look out my window after a cool snap and Wah Lah, Beautiful yellow tree! I'm thinking...I need a photo of this. Then, I remembered that the girl's Christmas dresses are brown :) Sweet. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!

I KNEW when I took this picture that I would cherish it forever. 

This picture is cute, but could have been better if I had taken my husband's advice (that he gave in previous photo sessions), to WAIT until the sun was not straight overhead. :( Shadows, squints, ugh.

More shadows in the photo below, but I feel like "mother photographer of the year" since I single handedly (literally) got this 6 -month- barely- sitting- up- on- her- own child to sit in that chair and not bite the dirt...AND I got her to smile. ha!

It was a fun time. However, I must admit here for the world to know... it ended in tears. Laura Beth was crazy cranky about the sun being in her eyes (Hence, not so many photos of Laura Beth on here). Furthermore, Julie Ann was sitting on a pine cone (we live in PineVille) during one shot. Ouch. Then, Laura Beth didn't want the Tea Party to go inside. Oh Bother. Photography is hard. I should stick to speech therapy and cleaning the house.

Our Wabee and Jill

When Wabee and Jill come to town, Laura Beth gets SOOOO excited! Mainly because Wabee usually has a "surprise" for Laura Beth. ha! BUT ALSO, because Wabee and Jill play with Laura Beth the WHOLE weekend. I also LOVE IT when they come to town, because they offer GREAT adult conversation, fun, AND they help me with my house in some of way (clean, unpack, Vacuum, etc. Who doesn't love that?)

Our first adventure was the Safari. It was a chilly day, but we loved it! Look at Wabee sporting the bjourn.

Bruiser the camel is my personal favorite of the Safari. Here he is finding his way to the food.

After the Safari we headed off to Sweet Frog, a self serve Yogurt place in Pineville. WE LOVE THAT PLACE!!!

Of course we had to go to Chuck E Cheese too. Laura Beth doesn't like the "Flash" on the camera...so hence the crazy face.

This picture cracks me up! It's Laura Beth's impression of Hannah Claire on this "roller coaster" ride at Chuck E CHeese. Too funny!

All in all, we ALWAYS have a GREAT time when Wabee and Jill come to town. We miss them every day in between the visits. However, we LOVE to "FaceTime" them. PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN SOON Wabee and Jill!

Pumpkin Patch!

The Mears Family

The Colvin Family. 

(Hollie, BJ, James, and Kathryn)

Hollie made those shirts. Aren't they adorable?!

 Picking our favorite pumpkin.

So Sweet!

James Colvin. 2 weeks older than Julie Ann. Serious cutest in that little guy!

Julie Ann. She's pretty cute herself.

Petting zoo.

KK the pumpkin.

Laura Beth the pumpkin.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH.

Mother's Day Out Fall Party

Mother's Day Out friends. KK, Brooke, and Laura Beth.

I know she is thinking "Daddy please take this picture without flash." She hates the flash...my little hyper- sensitive-child to ALL 5 senses!!! (Note: "Mother of the Year" right here...I made that cookie. ha!)

This picture below is funny because KK, Laura Beth, and Matthew (note: boy transformer) are sitting together. KK and Laura Beth always play with Matthew and talk about him a lot at home too. hmmmm.

Oh October!

 Last year, we were in Fort Worth, TX for October. This is a picture of Laura Beth from a year ago.

This year, we are in Louisiana! However, this picture was taken in TN. We went to my best friends wedding and visited the Zoo while in Memphis. 

 It was "boo at the zoo" weekend, so there were lots of Halloween Decorations.

 Family Photo! We had a great time with Gran and Papaw.

Laura Beth looks a little discouraged by Chloe, the sea lion, being behind us. 

Laura Beth loves carousels...all carousels.

Julie Ann was tired.

Playing on the playground at the zoo.

We also had a GREAT time at the Children's Museum of Memphis.

Shopping!

 Cutest Firegirl EVER!

This was a movie dress up place. Laura Beth was the dragon. Then, the movie screen put her into a movie.

\

Family photo at Jennifer's wedding.

Julie Ann and Steve.

Laura Beth seriously posing at her music performance at church when we returned from Memphis. Thats her best friend Katherine on her right. 

We are ready for this weekend. Tomorrow is "Cookies and Characters"at the Merry Market in Alex. (Don't worry, you know I will post pics.) Today, Laura Beth got a flu shot. She was very brave. Julie Ann sleeps...yes, read that again. Julie Ann sleeps ALL night. I don't get up...not once. Well, that is until she teethes...which should be any day now. Ah hmm. Thank you God for bringing me through the last 6 month of sleep deprivation. 

More pics and movies of October to come....

Cajun Cooking

Okay, so maybe it isn't EXACTLY "Cajun" cooking...but it is definitely a Louisiana staple. ha!

We had a very LOOONGG week. It started in Jackson, MS with our Nephew Gage's birthday last weekend.

 Here is a video recap of that super fun day!

Papaw with his two youngest grandchildren (Julie Ann left and Ann Thomas right)

As for the girls, Julie Ann is getting so big. She tripod sits now. She is very personal and loves to have attention. She laughs out loud without prompts at her sister (It is quite hilarious and Laura Beth just adores it). She stills does not like when it's time to sleep. She also doesn't like to stay asleep. She was sick with a cold last week, so that didn't help the situation of attention and sleep at all. ha! But man, she is so cute! This is a picture of Julie Ann at 5 months old.

And Laura Beth is doing well too. She LOVES her new car, "the big white one with a T.V. in it" as she labels it. It's a kinda lengthy story as to why we have a new car and how it came to be ours, but lets just say we are thankful for the new addition. I miss the van AND the gas price that goes with this Expedition is no fun...but still, I am thankful. Here are a few pictures of her washing the new car (which is something she absolutely LOVES to do). 

This past Sunday, Steve and I came down with the stomach virus at the EXACT same time. We went to the doctor on Monday to rule out food poisoning, as the virus was bad and hit us both at the same time. On Monday night, Laura Beth got it. We are thankful Julie Ann didn't get it. We are loving this fall weather. We look forward to a month full of activities. 

So Far September

Ok, so maybe some of this is from August. ha! 

We went to the circus one weekend. Laura Beth had a blast and Julie Ann slept through most of it. 

 Uncle Bill with his nieces. THEY LOVE HIM!!!

I caught these guys like this. So funny. AND they are SOOO CLOSE to the T.V. ha!

Hannah Claire holding Julie Ann. She always wants to hold Julie Ann. It's so sweet.

Brushing their hair and getting ready for bed together. 

Mammy telling Julie Ann "I love you"

 Steve giving biblical truth to the girls before bed.

 Bampa saying good bye before heading home to MS.

Church Pincic

Pineville/Tioga football game

Julie Ann at 4 months old playing in the exersaucer for the first time.

Little State Fans. Laura Beth INSISTED that her Norah doll had to be in the picture. ha!

 Family picture at the "Gone Wild" Safari. The nice lady who took the picture wasn't sure how to use my camera. Hence the "uninterested" Julie Ann and "done" Laura Beth expressions.

Feeding Bruiser the camel. 

A cool Jerusalem Donkey with a cross on his back. 

Jerry the Giraffe who likes carrots.

Eye to eye

Overall, we are thrilled about the cooler weather and fun fall activities coming up!