Halloween Fun

We FINALLY carved our pumpkins yesterday. Karson has been itching to do this since picking out her first pumpkin from Jackson's Orchard during her preschool field trip. We explained that they would rot if we carved them to early. WELL, those pumpkins rotted anyway (I guess because of the extreme heat we experienced at the first of the month). We've since gotten many other pumpkins from different happenings and events.

Matt did the carving since I don't work well with sharp objects. I had to scoop the pumpkin guts out by hand. Someone has to do the dirty work.

FALL FESTIVAL AT ALVATON (aka Nana's) SCHOOL

Isaac jousting and Karson cheesing.

Bean bag toss in Nana's room. Miles and Daddy.

The fish pond.

Pumpkin painting in the art room.

Karson wanted to have her hair spray painted which is surprising. She can't stand having her hair washed and had to wear googles in the bath up until a few months ago. My kids have funny issues with the bath and water and especially hair "washings".

Enjoying their candy necklaces from the candy spin wheel.

I had to include this photo of Karson and Miles. It's one my favorites. They love riding in the jeep together.

Mission Miles: Mystic Training

After weeks of vigorous training and learning "the way" of the Rangers, Miles has entered into the world of the Mystic Force Power Rangers taking on the role of the green one. Part toddler, part machine, he is ready to tackle evil and save the world in one victorious swoop. Seriously, I was tickled to find this costume at Kiddo's today. His sister and brother are thrilled having him as part of the Ranger team for Halloween.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Terri =).

Here are the rules--
1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


My 8 Facts:
(1) My front left tooth is fake because I knocked it out and broke my nose in 6th grade. I was playing tag with a friend and ran into a piece of plywood hanging out of her Dad's truck bed. Matt has the same fake front tooth (it was meant to be).
(2) Have an incredibly organized attic full of rubbermaid bins. That's not much of a surprise to those of you who know me and my meticulous ways =).
(3) Named my daughter Karson after the lead character in the movie SHAG. I also named Miles from the twin children in Uncle Buck (Miles and Maisy). Can you tell that I like movies???
(4) Have 5 piercings in my right ear and 3 in my left. I went through a weird ear piercing phase in college.
(5) Matt's mom and my mom were pregnant and working together at Dishman Elementary. We have a few baby photos together.
(6) Had the nickname "Chicken" in high school given to me by my ESA (our high school sorority--weird I know) big sister Chas Witty. I was crypitically thin and pretty fearful as most high school teens are.
(7) Have worked at various print publications including the College Heights Herald, Courier Journal, Valdosta Daily Times and Country Peddler. I was also the sports editor of my high school newspaper The Purple Gem.
(8) Was dared by Amy Pearson to pull the school fire alarm on the last day of school in 5th grade. "Didn't get caught neither"--prison Mike. P.S. Don't tell my kids that!

Okay, I tag Melissa D., Sarah O., Karen C. Larie V., Kim H. and Dana G.

Karson is 5 TODAY

February 24, 2002 after praying for almost a year and trying to conceive a baby, the Kroger brand pregnancy test showed a positive sign. It was Sunday morning and Matt and I were ECSTATIC. We wanted to confirm it with an E.P.T. (real deal--error PROOF) pregnancy test. After church, we purchased one, and it, too, was positive. We were excited all over again but decided to keep mum due to early pregnancy complications. Our baby would be the first grandchild and great-granchild on both sides of our families. Karson Ann arrived at 1:06 p.m. weighing 6 lbs., 12.25 oz. Dr. Kela Fee delivered her, and I am SO thankful that she was my doctor throughout my first pregnancy. Karson is one special girl and has never known life without loads of attention. Her family spoils her tremendously, and I can hardly believe that 5 years have already passed. We celebrated at The Paint 'n' Place last Friday with her friends and on Saturday with her family (at Miles party).

This is the most focused I have ever seen Isaac.

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The traditional handprint on the wall.

All her rowdie friends.

Blowing out (or should I say spraying out) her candles.

Larie made the cutest little ghost cupcakes for Karson's family celebration on Saturday. I have to tell a quick story about Larie and I from a few years back. We had a wild idea to make my wedding cake. The picture didn't look that difficult, and I had maintained a steady 'C' average in home economics. How hard could it be? Apparently, VERY HARD. We managed to cover my mom's kitchen in flour and icing. We also did the egg facials so we were covered in goop with nothing to show for all our hard work except one of my favorite memories with my dear friend. I love ya LL! Thanks again.

Miles Party at G.H. Freeman Park

Miles is 1 TODAY

I had just managed to squeeze back into my favorite pair of jeans, Isaac had turned 1 in January, I was no longer nursing and we had an updated family portrait on the wall of our new house in Plano. My parents always joked with us about moving into new houses and how we reproduced in each one (the Plainfield house is our 3rd home). Matt and I knew we wanted another child but were content as the parents of two young kids. We weren't taking any birth control precautions because "oops's" didn't happen to us. I took pregnancy tests monthly just to ease our curiosity. The month of February rolled around, and I took the monthly test because we had a ski trip planned for President's Day weekend. Being a great snow skiier and all, I needed to know my options--bunny slope or bunny slope. I mean really, the bunny's are tricky and it's not easy popping your shoulder back into place on those rope pulleys. Back to the subject, the test was positive. And, as those of you that have taken pregnancy tests know, the first test is NEVER accurate and another test is required. Race to the store for another test, again (shocking), positive. I remember feeling many, many different emotions that day (coupled with a bit of anxiety). I had to call Melissa D. just to confirm that she too was pregnant. Of course, she said no, and here I was all alone with a zygote and no one to get chubby with. Nine months later our baby Miles entered the world at 12:17 p.m. weighing 8 lbs. He was born on a Tuesday as were each of our children. Tuesdays child is full of grace. Miles has brought us lots of joy and we're lucky being his parents. His big birthday party is on Saturday.

We got him one of those Bounce 'n Spin Zebras which is sure to bring many injuries but LOADS of fun.

Karson drew him a birthday picture. I think that's her giving him his presents.

School Pictures

We doubled up on pictures this year. We're having a directory made for church and got the traditional family portrait on the blue marbled background. The very next week, Karson's preschool had pictures taken. I decided to take the kid crew back for another round. I don't have the church photos but here are the school photos. Kuddos to both photographers for doing such an excellent job!

Happy 80th Papaw H.

My grandfather turned 80 years old yesterday. We went to Louisville to celebrate. October is a special month in our family because of all the birthdays: Papaw 10/11, Uncle Mike 10/21, baby Miles 10/17 and Karson 10/22. It's also a month where lots of weight is gained, kids are temporarily insane due to high amounts of sugar(combined with Halloween candy), new toys clutter the floor, our bank account is depleted and we count our blessings for another year God has granted us to spend with the ones we love.

We really should've warned Rafferty's that we were coming.

The candles were trick candles and kept re-lighting. The kids were tickled by this "magic" trick and enjoyed blowing them out over and over again. I imagine the cake was sprayed with spit numerous times, but it was still quite tasty.

We got my Papaw one of those photo books from Walmart.com. They are pretty neat and actually affordable compared to most sites.

HAPPY 80th PAPAW!