The Fighter's

They sat looking out this window from the time Ava got home from school until dinner time.  So excited... My Barbie (Ava), Hello Kitty (Kate) and...Olivia...who was supposed to be a butterfly but instead wanted to wear a princess skirt, ears and whiskers like Kate:-) This may be my favorite picture...Olivia trying to climb up the step, our neighbor laughing...and Kate looking on with concern:-)  Lou was bound and determined to keep up with her sisters!!

I got to chaperone Ava's field trip to the pumpkin farm.  It was a blast...they learned all about the different animals, picked pumpkins from the patch and took a hay ride.  I loved, loved, loved watching Ava interact with others in her class...if only I could be a fly on the wall in the class room once and a while!  Later that day Kate and I went and crashed her Halloween party at school.  Ava's teacher made Kate feel so welcome - she had a seat open for her, right next to Ava and made sure she felt included in all the activities.  Kate thought she was hot stuff!  I seriously give Kindergarten teachers mountains of credit for all they have their hands full with each and every day.  No easy task keeping 23 five and six year olds in line...but they do a fantastic, fantastic job!

I was ding dong ditched by my own 4 and 5 year old comedic girls.  Doug was out mowing...the girls were out playing...I was inside cleaning when the doorbell rang.  I opened the door to hear two little high pitched giggling girls and looked down to find this... Then Ava yelled out..."the pumpkins rang the doorbell mom!!"  Not sure where she came up with the idea, but I love her little sense of humor.  They did it again a more times...one time I opened the door to find this...my two little stinkers:-) 

Fall festivities started off with a friend's Halloween party...filled with festive food and mummy making.  The girls had a blast! Next stop - our church's Fall Party.  Filled with pumpkin making, chili, lots of running around with friends, bobbing for apples (in leaves) and a funny guy with a mini pink guitar and square dancing.  Next was Trunk or Treat with Kate's preschool.  The kids got to roam around from car to car and collect lots of treats.  Afterwards we went down to a nursing home and the kids put on a Halloween parade for the residents that lived there!

My beautiful niece (and Goddaughter) Mattingly was baptised today!  Such a special day - thankful for her and her smiles and the joy she has already brought to all of us.  I pray that as she grows - she discovers the peace and comfort and joy that comes with knowing Jesus and that she can share that love - and her smile with others.  And I also pray that she learns how to keep up with her big cousins and brother that were climbing pews, dropping goldfish and running like crazy children throughout the church on her big day:-) This just melts me:-)  The cousins! silly Ava... Love his curly hair! Beautiful Mommy and Mattie! Love. Smiley even after all that!