Happy Thanksgiving

We hope that everyone has a wonderful day today. We are so blessed--we have freedom of worship, food on our tables in abundance and to the point of being picky, clothes on our backs which we are also picky about, warm houses to sleep in, cars to drive....the list goes on and on.

More and more these days I think about all of this. We are trying to impress this on our kids--how blessed they are and how they should be thankful and not grumpy!!! God tells us to be thankful in all things. He doesn't say to be thankful for all things but in all things. That is a lesson that took some work for me when we left Asheville and with struggles our country is facing.

Today, we are taking Drew and Shelby (and Landon) to feed the homeless in our community. Casey is getting to stay with her Uncle Jack and Aunt Jammie. They offered to keep both of the little ones but Landon is having a little trouble with his breathing these days and I opted to keep him with me. Casey is carrying around her book bag with all of her dress up in it. She's pretty excited.

Drew and Shelby are excited about helping out today. I don't think they realize that there will be children there who don't have a home to live in. We've told them but I don't think its sunk in for them yet.

So have a wonderful day. Enjoy all of the wonderful blessings that you have--even when they seem like they are few and far between!! We love you all and miss you!!!

Steve, Tracie, Drew, Shelby, Casey and Landon and Max the "baby"

PS Casey was just looking at Max and asked why he was a baby now!!!

Don't laugh!!

Now, I'm a little worried to get my hair cut. Not because it's been a LONG time since I've had it cut. Not because I'm worried Steve wont like it. Not because I really don't enjoy change--sometimes!!! (Hey, the same person has been cutting my hair for 14 years!!)
So why would I be worried?
Well take a look at Max!!
DON'T LAUGH!!!!!!!All I can say is, "we're sorry Max and I'm glad that the same people wont be cutting my hair!!" Max's hair cut is really our fault. Poor guy! We have let his brushing slide but no more. Plus, after he hurt his back, he wanted nothing to do with being brushed and he made sure we understood. Don't worry Max, next time will be soooo much better!

Just what the doctor ordered!!

Steve and I just got in from a wonderful date!!! A date!! Yep around here they can get pretty expensive--after the sitter and then depending on what you do.
So where did we go? Out to dinner with my brother and sister in law. We had a great time. We let them choose the restaurant and we all had a good time. Well, I hope they had a good time.

So what did the kids do? They had fun with Ms. Michelle. Thanks Melinda, she was great. It was so nice to leave and no one was crying. Although in an attempt to get out of the house before that could change, I left my jacket. Do you know how cold it is tonight? COLD!!!! Anyway all the kids had a good time and Michelle said she would even come back again. Yea!!!

What am I going to do with her?

Casey that is. This girl never ceases to amaze me.
Take today for instance.....
I was grading some papers and things were going along so nicely. I had Casey in a pull up so that she could go down for a nap and Landon was busily playing with cars.
Then I smelled "something"! Then the following...
Me: "who is stinky?"
Casey: "Lanon"
So upstairs I go to get a diaper. While I'm getting a diaper, Casey goes in the bathroom. This is nothing new--she goes to the potty a lot by herself. Well then I pull Landon's diaper off and find NOTHING!!! At the same time, Casey comes out of the bathroom naked! I got this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know some of you are laughing hysterically right now.
Well I asked Casey where her pull up was and she said in the trash. Casey is "clean" as far as I can see. She comes over and puts her baby down as I finish dressing Landon. That's when I see it--her BABY is covered!!!! I mean it is awful!!!
After putting Landon's diaper on we all go into the bathroom and guess what? It's clean!! A small smear on the toilet seat and a small smear on the stool. The rest? I guess the pull up. How is it that an almost 3 year old has more success getting off a nasty pull up without making a huge mess and if I had tried to take it off her the same way, we would have both needed a bath!!!
I must say I was so shocked and pleased that I didn't have a huge mess to clean up!! I just finished cleaning up the spots Casey missed in the bathroom and on her bottom and put her to bed.
What next? That was quite clever of her. Telling me it was Landon and then trying to take care of it. I think we have a long road ahead of us.

Who is this?

Our day was filled with.....

with many things.
Dancing....

and

painting
and

watching Cinderella (I love this picture it says it all--Katie loves cars and has carried these 2 around since she got here and Casey loves Cinderella and carries her doll all the time!!)
There was also some fussing and laughing and tears and just all out fun--even with all the rain. Landon has enjoyed having the girls to play with--most of the time!!! I think Drew was ready to trade them in last night though.
Who knew that a 2 1/2 year old who is scared of storms at night is delighted by them during the morning!!!
I think Katie (my niece who is 15 days older than Casey) and Casey have had a great day and I know at least 1 person who is going to sleep great tonight!!!

Drew....

Well time is flying by at our house. Drew is growing up so fast. He's riding in the front seat--you know now that he's as tall as I am what can I say?!! "NO YOU MUST STAY MY LITTLE BOY!!!" That's just what I want to say.
He took his school work and went to my parents last week. I think he had a blast. They went boating with gators and then he got to be there when my granddad got a deer the other night.
He wasn't hunting with him but I think he would go now!! He has shown everyone his picture holding this deer. He's definitely growing up!!!

Here come the.......

Girls.....

Don't they just look so cute!!

I don't know about Steve but....

I wasn't quite ready for this!!!
Thanks to the way Shelby was dressed, Steve even "recognized" the flowers she's carrying.


Today was a day of laughter and tears. I spent the afternoon going through a ton of "stuff". I mean you wouldn't believe all of the stuff I "found" today. Well some of you would. Among the highlights in the paper category: the receipt for Steve's high school ring, a card that Jack made me when he was just a little guy, and cards from my students both here in Columbia and in Greenwood. There were a ton of other items I found and had fun looking at but in the grand scheme of things, realized that it was time to let them go--the first t-shirt I can remember getting from dance but know what I remember about the shirt--Jack getting sick all over me while I was wearing it!! It was fun and I think that Shelby also enjoyed my little stroll down memory lane.

So So Suck Your Toe All The Way To Mexico....

Here you go...

For all my buddies who asked, the links are back!!! It's a "slow" night can you tell?

What is about a shower

that makes people sing? We have been pondering this phenomenon for quite some time. Steve and I are sitting downstairs right now listening to on of our children sing in the shower. Just for the record, 2 of the 4 are in the bed asleep!!! Oh the joys of being a parent.

News Flash #2

Casey only wears a diaper for naps and night time now. She has been working really hard at being a "big girl.". We are so happy!!!

News Alert!!!!

Landon can walk!!!
I somehow missed posting this on here!!! Poor 4th kid. He's been walking about a week and a half. Sorry to have forgotten to put this on here.

Are you ready

to go and vote? Tomorrow is the day and I hope that if you have not already done so, that you will get out and vote--it truly is a privilege!!! Steve and I voted on Saturday. It wasn't to bad--we only waited 3 hours. I know you're thinking how can 3 hours not be bad? Well last time we waited 3 hours to vote, we did it standing in the rain and this time we were inside a building.
Several of you know that I have strong opinions on this election and that my nerves have been totally shot at times. Well this weekend was just what I need. Yesterday our sermon was from I Peter 5. It was on being humble. Being humble is not something that happens to us but something we choose and after yesterday's lesson, I think it can be a good mark of where your spiritual walk. I will just say that I need to work on this area. Then today, Mimi sent me just what I needed. I'm going to post the link here. It's from In Touch Ministries. You know sometimes I just get in the way and get so wrapped up in my emotions and what I want/think/whatever that sometimes, I have to be reminded who is in control--God not me and He is sovereign.
So if this election, or work, or the economy has you stressed--or even life in general, then take some time today and read this and then have a chat (well actually we need to listen) to the one who is in control.
Have a great day.
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=dhKHIXPKIuE&b=2288445&content_id={CDC64ADB-5C7D-4047-92BF-DD8DB9C0B8C8}¬oc=1