Thursday evening was the annual Clemson downtown trick-or-treating where all the businesses downtown give out candy to the kids for Halloween. So after naps on Thursday we got costumes on, picked up Jeremy from work and headed downtown. The kids loved it!
Spider man and Miss Clown ready to go!
Headed downtown...can you tell Lydia was NOT excited about this!? She clung to my hip the whole time;)
Last Thursday Cayce and I left town about 12:30 and picked up Sage and Susan in Greenville and the four of us headed to my parent's lake cottage for 3 nights! I am so thankful for these friends, they are such a gift from the Lord. We all met in college and they have been an encouragement to me these past 12 years! It was so fun being with them and getting away from the normal routine of life to relax, talk and play. We played games, ate, danced, cried, took a walk, took boat rides, watched our Tigers play (wahoo!), and just straight up chilled! I am so thankful for my parents letting us use the house and I'm thankful for my sweet husband letting me leave town (again) and watching the kids while I was away (and he cleaned the whole house while I was away, what a man!!!). Another great part of the weekend was that Brandy drove down from Richmond on Saturday to spend the day with us, we had sweet time with her! We missed our other college friends who weren't able to join us this weekend. We'll be sure to do it again!
All 5 of us ventured to the pediatrician this morning for Carson's 5 year well-check and for a round of flu shots! Carson did great during his check-up but we sure did end with a bang as we had 3 screaming kids after their flu shots, whew...glad that's over! Here are Carson's stats:
Today is a big day in the life of my little brother! Five years ago this month my brother, Michael, decided he wanted to be a lawyer and has worked incredibly hard to see that dream come to fruition! He graduated this past May from William & Mary Law School and took the bar exam this summer. He has been living at home while job searching and working for a temporary job. But today he both accepted a job offer AND found out that he passed the bar!!! So it's official...he's an attorney! We are so proud of him! We are celebrating with you bro!!!
This weekend I had the privilege of spending 3 nights in Asheville with 2 of my favorite people in the world, my mom and my sister. We've had this weekend planned for about 8 months and it was well worth the wait! Mom spoiled us good. It was a refreshing weekend away from the normal routine of life. You may wonder what exactly happens on a mother daughter weekend....by all means...let me show you...
...we eat out at fun and cute little restaurants like this one...
..we walk around the cute town and look at all the cute shops...
..and shop some more...
...and get dressed up and go out to nice restaurants...
...and sleep...
...and go to places like the Biltmore Estate...
...and we talk and talk and talk about life and basically anything that comes to our mind! And this is our idea of a good time! I am a blessed woman to have a sister who is so fun and real and easy and I love her very much...
...and I'm blessed to have a mom who initiates weekends like this to love on her daughters! Thank you mom for a wonderful weekend and making me feel so pampered and loved. You are truly amazing and I'm so thankful for YOU and for the example you have given me of a mother with 2 daughters....the shoes are big to fill!
And a BIG thank you to my sweet husband for letting me get away for 3 nights while he stays home with the kids. What a gift!
Last Christmas Papa & Nana gave Lydia this pink riding horse and she loves it! Just this week she has figured out how to get on it and ride it. Before this she would just push it around. My little baby is growing up! Thank you Papa and Nana for this toy, she loves it!
It is so funny to watch her problem solve and figure out how to get her led around this pony
Carson is doing a great job riding his new big boy bike from Grampa and Grammy. He still needs help getting started and just falls to stop but he can ride it good. I didn't think he would be riding it this soon since it's such a big bike. Way to go Carson!
This past Sunday was the Gainors last Sunday at church (until they visit for a Sunday in December). It was a very emotional morning and day for me. We decided to wear the little Indian attire that we have in honor of the Gainors. Brandy had just recently given us this hand me down India outfit that Sarala outgrew so I put that on Bryn and I wore a shirt that Amy bought for me from her time in India this past summer. Bryn walked into church before me so Brandy saw her first and by the time I turned the corner to see Brandy she was in tears....and those tears kept coming the rest of the day for both of us. We are so excited to see the faithfulness of God as they follow Him in going and yet we are terribly sad as we will miss them dearly! We will miss our friends!!!
Pastor Ken recognizing the Gainors before the church
This weekend was our annual college fall getaway at Camp McCall. The kids and I joined Jeremy and the group there on Friday for dinner and stayed the night and headed back home after dinner on Saturday evening. It was nice to get away and enjoy the mountain air and more "rustic" conditions for a night. Russ Bennett was the speaker this year and the students were encouraged and challenged by him as he taught from the Word. I enjoyed getting some time with his wife, Miranda. It's always good to leave home long enough to really appreciate your own bed:)
Russ teaching on Friday night
Carson & Bryn playing with their glow sticks (b-day present from cousin Kolson)
this is the front of our cabin
The Gainors came up on Saturday afternoon and after watching many people take their turn on the big swing, Sarala asked for her turn and they her do it! Here is Gray, Sarala & Brandy going up for their turn.
she did so good!
And then, of course, Bryn wanted her turn after watching Sarala. And they even let her go! So Krystal, Bryn and I went together. It was so fun!
She was so brave...although right when we took off for the first swing I thought she was going to pass out from fear but we calmed her and kept telling her what a big girl she was and then it turned into a good time for her;)
Last Tuesday I got to go out with 2 of my favorite girls! It was kind of a bitter sweet night as we know we won't have these opportunities after the Gainors move to India. We are going to miss them terribly but we are so excited to see all the good things in store for them as they faithfully go! It has been such a sweet season for us to be together and share life in the same community and church home. Thank you Jesus for giving us this sweet season together! Our next triple date just might be on skype:)
