Trick or Treat!

To say that these two kids had a fun Halloween would be an understatement! They were sooooo excited about everything going on. And both of them were obsessed with the costumes they picked out! We were dressed and ready long before it was time to trick or treat- ha! Last year, Cade was sick, so we all stayed home and handed out candy. But we more than made up for it this year. Heath hooked the trailer up to our car, added some hay bales and lights, and voila! It was a Halloween Hayride:) A lot of people in our neighborhood do this, and it is definitely more fun than walking. Cade would get off and run from house to house as fast as he could. Emmy "got it" too, and loved going to everyone's front doors. Sometimes she would say "twick or tweat" and sometimes she would say "give me some tweats, pwease!" I think it is safe to say that good times and sugar overloads were had by all!
The Princess of the Thorne house;)

Luke Skywalker- Cade is VERY into Star Wars right now. He especially loves the original movies.

Blue eyed girl...a.k.a. mini Heath

Apparently, you have to be very serious to be Luke Skywalker!

Ready for some candy!!!

The Fair!

We love the Wilson County Fair! It is definitely one of the most fun things about Lebanon (and apparently others agree- over 500,000 attended over the 9 day run). If you live in the Nashville area and have never been, I highly recommend it. The fair is usually held the third week in August and there is so much to see and do there. Of course the kids loved the rides, but they also enjoyed seeing all the animals, watching the tractors, the fireworks, etc. And of course, plenty of fair food was enjoyed by all:) It is always such a good time. We went several nights this year, and are looking forward to the fair's return next summer!

Emmy loved petting the pigs


Carosel

Kiddie tractor pull. So serious!

Cute guy on the right!

Driving sister in the boat

Pirates! Arrggghh!

Fun times!

Riding with Paji

Daddy said this ride was too long! Ha!

Time to go home!

Sweet Home Alabama

Our dear friends, the Crocketts (Ian and Heath have seriously been best friends since junior high), moved to Birmingham a back in February. Even though it was a great opportunity for them, we have missed having them here! We had stopped by to see their new place on our way to the beach back in May, but decided that we had to come back for a whole weekend, which is exactly what we did. It was so good to spend time with them. Heath and Ian even worked in some early morning golf, then later Banica and I went for some pedicures and shopping:) And if this picture is any indicator, the kids had a great time:

Cade and the triplets: Campbell, Elea Rhea and Ian Thomas

the big girls

Redneck water park. The yellow bucket was the diving board:)

I am sure that the new neighbors loved all of the laughing/screaming they were doing.

Emmy entertained the newest member of the Crockett family, baby Eli. Seriously one of the best babies ever!

Cheese!

Silly faces!

E is over it! She literally slept nearly all the way home- too much fun!

Emmy is 2!

I cannot believe that this baby girl is two! We celebrated her birthday on June 5 (Aunt Wendy's birthday, too!!!). We had planned on having a pool party at the farm. About an hour before the party, the bottom dropped out (hail, thunder lightning). We had to temporarily move part of the party inside, but then it cleared up (and thankfully cooled off a little) so the kids could play in the water.

Happy Birthday, Emmy! While I cannot believe it has already been two whole years, you get more fun and sweet every day!!!

New Dora trike from Pap and Paji


Cade had to try it out, too:)

Sam and Luke

TWO candles!

Emmy was so excited that her baby Brantley came. As soon as she saw him, she said "I hold him!"

Made by my talented mother in law

Cookies from my friend Neelley

My Martha Stweart buttermilk cupcake recipe was a hit:)

Ready to play in the water!

All the babies love "Aunt B"

Brad spent a good hour filling up water balloons. All the boys were intrigued. Coolest uncle ever!;)

Cade and Escher

Layla and Tarpley had a good time...

Opening presents. She got lots of girly gifts this year, which she was ao excited about. We have been ironing, bathing babies, dressing up, fixing hair, etc. all month!

"I be two!" That is what she says now when you ask how old she is.

Sweet Sam

One of her most favorite gifts: her own purple soccer ball from the Barretts. I guess all those hours at Cade's soccer practices and games paid off!

Happy 6th Anniversary!

Phoenix Ball, June 2011

What a fun and fabulous six years it has been! I am looking forward to many, many more:)

"...a man leaves his father and mother and unites to his wife. And they become one flesh." Genesis 2:24

The Beach 2011

Right after the kids wrapped up their MDO program in mid-May, we packed up and headed out for a vacation in the Florida Panhandle. We had the absolute BEST time! The weather was perfect (about 80 degrees everyday), no one got sick (a first for us on vacation), the kids were good (almost too good!) and best of all, Heath's mom and dad got to come:) We were beach bums, played golf (Heath, Rick and Cade), rode bikes, ate out at most of our favorite places and just enjoyed getting away. We were glad to be home after a week, but Cade is already asking when we get to go back- ha!

Digging the sand and getting ready to build a castle


Pap, Paji and the kids (and Cade with another face of course!)

The bay by Harry T's

Cade got his first face painting- he obviously wanted to go all out! It was not fun to take off, and he looked like he was wearing eyeliner the next day;)

in the hole Pap dug

mmmm...Dora shaped popsicle

Cade loved climbing this little tree by the golf course

the best we could do with all four of us

in Seaside with Paji- Pap had to go back home for work:(

Diva

Beach Baby

typical Cade

She always wants to mimick everything her brother does

Sweet ending to a sweet trip!