Rapunzel.

The best I got

Of the girls... very disappointing!

Fall festival.

Oak, Luke and Dade.

Ranger.

Dadeism.

Dade has been using his digital watch to time the events of our day. He reported our time in and out of a store as "four minutes, 29 seconds, and 16 instants." {16 hundredths of a second}

Lukeism.

While we were reading a book on the history of the American flag, Luke said the General who asked Betsy Ross to sew a flag was "General George Washington D.C."

Just like big brother.

Edom art festival.

Dade began running fever Thursday; I made him sit out at his game Saturday morning  because he was not fever-free for 24 hours (a drawback to having a nurse-mom!). So we only spent an hour-and-a-half in New Diana instead of the usual three-and-a-half! The big boys took a road trip with Tommy and PaPa to look at an old truck and some land. Donna and I took the little two to the Art Festival in Edom, just outside Tyler. There were lots of vendors with all different kinds of art -- ceramics, glass, paintings, and even woven pine straw items! We all helped Audrey paint a canvas to bring home. We took Ranger with us, and he attracted quite a bit of attention. I had several kids ask if they could have him! We met back up at the Goforths' to watch the Rangers WIN GAME FOUR of the ALCS! 

Mr. Six?

Every few weeks at KIDZ Life, the kids get to pick a prize from the treasure chest. These glasses and nose were a big hit -- several kids had them on as we were waiting for parents to pick up. When Dade put his on the picture of Mr. Six flashed in my mind! Do you think they might be related?!

Little women.

Movie Reviews.

MUST SEE -- Courageous. {You may need a stash of Kleenex with you for this one.}
GREAT for the kids (and their parents!) -- Dolphin Tale. We took Dade and Luke to watch this last week. They sat on the edge of their seats for most of the movie. IMMEDIATELY after we left the theater we pulled up the Winter Webcam and are already planning a trip to Clearwater to see Winter in person on our next Florida trip!
I was able to watch a pre-release of Snowmen which opens in select theaters October 21. It is a story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that - while fame may be fleeting - true friendship lasts forever. The film stars Bobby Coleman (Last Song), Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs), Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models), Josh Flitter (Ace Ventura Jr.) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future). What will be your legacy? What will you build that lasts? Snowmen prompts audiences of all ages to ask these life-defining questions, while affirming that it's not what you do that matters so much as how you do it. Rated PG. However, the content seems more suitable for older children.

A reminder for myself...

Come in, but don't expect to find
All dishes done, all floors ashine.
Observe the crumbs and toys galore.
The smudgy prints upon the door.
The little ones we shelter here
Don't thrive on a spotless atmosphere.
They're more inclined to disarray
And carefree even messy play.
Their needs are great, their patience small.
All day I'm at their beck and call.
It's Mommy come! Mommy see!
Wiggly worms and red scraped knee.
Painted pictures, blocks piled high.
My floors unshined, the days go by.
Some future day they'll flee this nest,
And I at last will have a rest!
Now you tell me which matters more,
A happy child or a polished floor?

...Author Unknown

I was asked to sit on a panel to answer questions at our homeschool meeting last month. One of the questions that was asked was, "how do you keep your house clean?" I LOVED what a friend shared: if you're coming to see me, stop by anytime; if you're coming to see my 

house, please call first!" 

Over the years, I have had to let go of the expectation that my house will be like it was B.C. {before children}. Now, there are things I do all day, everyday {laundry, picking up}, several times a day {dishes}, once a day {vacuuming, sweeping the living areas}, hopefully once a week at least {scrub the bathrooms}. I try to clean the bathroom while Wyatt is playing in the bathtub. The boys help out with the wet swiffer. And all the kids love when I give them a spray bottle and a rag to clean the wood and glass in the house. Dade, Luke and Audrey are responsible for putting away their own clothes. The boys often help with loading and unloading the dishwasher (this is an "extra" on their chore board which makes it worth more money!). They also help me match and fold socks for an extra commission. {This is the chore board we use -- I have not looked at this site since we ordered them several years ago, so I just saw the reward tubes and LOVE them!} 

SO... my house is RARELY as clean and organized as I would like it to be. But, we are home just about all day most days of the week. I want my children to LIVE and THRIVE in our house, to make messes (and learn to clean up after themselves!), to play and explore and have fun memories of growing up here. 

Dadeism.

We sang Jingle Bells the other day. Dade said it was a "city song, not a country song."

Audreyism.

She had a rice Christmas tree for zert {a rice krispie treat for dessert }.

Sound asleep.

Wyatt fell asleep eating his lunch!

Food on the Table.

Have you discovered Food on the Table yet?! You choose the store where you shop, what types of meals your family likes, what main ingredients you want to use for the week, and whether you want quick, low-fat, simple, etc. meals. The site narrows down the recipes for you based on your requests and what is on sale that week! You are then able to create a meal plan and print or send a grocery list to your phone! I have high hopes that it will help me get out of my dinner rut!

Fishing.

Luke says that fishing should be a daily habit!

Proud momma.

Holding baby Caroline.

Rangers Game!

These are the official Rangers fan photos... more pictures to follow.

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&userid=texasrangersfanphotos&gallery_id=2764248&image_id=53&pos=53

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&userid=texasrangersfanphotos&gallery_id=2764249&image_id=12&pos=12

The boys headed to Arlington as soon as football ended Saturday morning. They got there three hours early just as the gates were opening and were only a few feet away as the Rangers stretched and warmed up. The boys were in awe! They went to the left field home run porch and balls were flying all around them. Ian Kinsler hit a foul ball that the boys quickly picked up. A Rangers employee picked up another ball during BP and gave it to Luke when he asked for it. A back-up catcher gave Luke a third ball; Luke asked if he could give it to a kid nearby that didn't have one... the boy was very grateful!

Their seats were on the ground level in the left field foul area. Dade loved EVERYthing about the game! Luke's favorite part of the game: getting a ball, watching Josh Hamilton hit, and when the Rangers won.

Do Everything.

This song has been resonating in my mind a lot lately. There are many days that I think to myself {as I am picking up dirty clothes, sweeping the floor, putting shoes away, wiping toothpaste off the bathroom counter... tasks that seem incredibly mundane and NEVER ending}, "Why am I doing this? Why does it even matter when it will all be messy and out of place again before I turn around?" But I was created to do EVERYTHING for HIS glory. Even when I feel unappreciated for the work. Especially when I begin to feel like what I do doesn't matter... otherwise I would allow bitterness to take root and grow in my heart. May this truth bathe my heart and mind every day.

Too big for his britches.

My parents kept the kids Friday night so that Tommy and I could have a date. The big boys and Audrey saw my mom drive past and took off with her. I was getting Wyatt's clothes gathered when he got out the front door and followed as quickly as he could down the "dog trail" stark naked and barefoot!

Luke's latest Lego creation.

We drove to see Mamaw and Papaw on Thursday. In between stops, we got ice cream and drinks at Sonic. Wyatt's shake was not coming out of the straw very easily so he removed the straw, licked the end, then stuck it back in making a mess all over the lid and himself in the process!