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.