Pumpkin Carving

This weekend we had our annual pumpkin carving.  We have been doing this with our kids since they were very young.  This is one of the highlights of the Halloween season.  Once my sister had her kids,  she joined in on the carving fun. 

Of course McKinley, Ethan and Peyton couldn't wait to dig all the gooey pulp and seeds out the pumpkins.  Paxton thought the whole thing was yucky and wouldn't have any part of it.  He cried when McKinley tried to get him to stick his hand in the pumpkin.  When we were done Peyton said,"Te-Te, can we 'crave' a-nud-er one?"  I just love her accent. After about an hour we had our masterpeices.  So glad McKinley and Ethan can do more of the carving now!

Clemson Football

I have to say there is nothing like a college football game.  Especially one in Death Valley.  The band, the roar of the crowd, food from the consession, the music, the enthusiam, all the orange and purple...it's all just great and we LOVE it.  Every year the kids look forward to making the long trips to Clemson to watch the tigers play.  Last weekend we went to see Clemson play Georgia Tech.  What an exciting game!  We were on the edge of our seats during the entire game.  It was so close the whole time!

Ethan and McKinley touching "Howard's Rock"

 

Before heading over to the stadium we spent some time hanging out in "Tiger Town", where everything is CLEMSON!  Clemson has a beautiful campus and the kids enjoy walking around.

After the game we headed to the field.  While on the field, we bumped into my cousin Christy and her family.  This is not the first time we have bumped into them at a game.  We are so proud of our tigers!  C-L-E-M-S-O-N   T-I-G-E-R-S  Fight Tigers, Fight Tigers, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!


Me with my cousin Christy after the game!
 

The Song that Shakes the southland!!!

The Stinnett Family

I've always been amazed at how God leads certain people into our lives.  Almost ten years ago, God sent Todd and Charisma Stinnett to our church.  They had one son, Tanner, and Charisma was pregnant with her second child, Nicholas.  I was actually pregnant with McKinley at the time.  Nicholas and McKinley were only 4 short months apart.  Their stay at Buck Creek was a little over a year.  But in that short amount of time our love for them grew and we became great friends.  Charisma is a great mother and helped me so much with my new little one.  She was a great encouragement for me being a brand new mother.  She made motherhood look so easy.  Right after little Nicholas was born she became pregnant with Madison.  Madison was only a month old when God called Todd to move his ministry back home to Tennessee.  I remember being so sad when they left, but I know when God speaks we need to always listen.  After moving back to Tennessee, God blessed Todd and Charisma with three more beautiful children: Shelby, Benjamin, and little Elijah.


The Stinnett Family

This past week their whole family came to the beach for a fall vacation because Todd was preaching at our Homecoming service.  We were able to spend lots of time catching up with each other.  The kids had a blast together and they hated to see them leave today.  McKinley and Ethan are already talking about going to the mountains to visit them.  I thank God for allowing us to get to know this wonderful family and that He will continue to bless them and their ministry. 



Shelby, McKinley, and Madison



Ethan and Nicholas

McKinley with Baby Elijah

14 Years Ago...

I married my best friend. God has blessed us with 14 wonderful years.  In those years we have learned so much about each other and ourselves. We have learned to lean on each other through the good times and the bad times, knowing God would ultimately take care of everything.  We have been blessed with 2 beautiful children.  But as you know with children there are challenges.  We thought we would never survive the sleepless nights and I know that I wasn't the easiest woman to live with during that season of our marriage.  But our children are growing so fast.  We are now in that season where we are constantly on the go to get them to and from dance, football, etc.  At times we don't feel like we take a whole of time for us, but this season soon shall pass and we are trying to enjoy our children in this stage of their lives.  They are our life right now and that is OK.  I look forward to what God has in store for us!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Thank you God for all the seasons in our lives and for bringing us together so many years ago.

Pads, Helmet, Cleats, Oh My!

Well it is hard to believe that my little man is playing tackle football this year.  Today he officially got all of his football gear.  His team is the Cowboys.  He is beyond excited about playing "real" football.  I had to take a few photos of him in some of his gear.  So grown up!

Watch Out!

50 and Fabulous

My sweet friend, Nancy, from work celebrated her 50th birthday today.  When she came to school today some of her sweet friends from the 600 hall had decorated her door.  She is a beautiful person on the inside and the outside.  I am so blessed to work with such a wonderful group of women. After school we celebrated with a delicious chocolate cake from a local bakery.  It was yummy! Happy Birthday Nancy! May God bless you with MANY more!!!! LYMI






The Birthday Girl!



Our Crazy group after eating chocolate cake!

Now that's a lot of First Grade teachers!

 

Chiefs Game

Our Friday night football game got canceled this past week because of the rainy weather.  It was rescheduled for 2:00 on Saturday.  We all loaded up and headed out to cheer on the Chiefs (and the Lions since that is where Curtis and I graduated).  Of course the Chiefs didn't win.  They really held them during the first half but things fell apart in the second.  The kids have always LOVED going to football games.

McKinley had fun hanging out with her friends and even saw her third teacher Mrs. Campbell and her daughter, Brooke.  She loves both of them and still keeps in touch!  Ethan was running around with his buddy Braydon.  I will be so excited to see fall come!  Are you ready for some football????

Mrs. Campbell and Ms. Brooke