Harvest Fest 2013...

We started October 31st with dance classes.

The girls were asked to dress in costume.

Here's my little paper doll.

She managed to dance the entire class in this thing!

She has a fall performance on Friday evening.

I'm looking forward to seeing what she has learned.

She loves dance class and loves her teachers. 

Looks forward to it every week!

We were at the church the entire day.

Between running errands for Harvest Fest and setting up!

My Mama helped me make Sydney's costume this year. 

I can't sew.

But I can use scissors and hot glue. :)

She was a cherry pie with whipped cream on top!

This was right before Harvest Fest started and bless it.

Can you tell someone didn't get a nap?

But Sydney perked up once we gave her some food. 

Some of our Journey Kids!

Such a sweet surprise when I saw these two walk through the door. 

4-hour round trip just to come to our Harvest Fest. 

Love my little bro and sister-in-law!

The kiddos had a great time!

My SIL and I planned Harvest Fest together this year. 

It was such fun working with her.

I sort of have hair envy too. ;) 

Love her!!

Love to all,

Las Vegas...

Today is the anniversary of my very first date with Alex Averitt.

19 years ago!

We were seniors in high school and met up at a halloween party.  We ended up ditching the party to drive around and talk and find a movie.

We ended up seeing Forrest Gump because it was the only thing to see after we drove to several different theaters. 

I'm going to be honest, I didn't care for the movie, I still don't care for it to this day.  

But I knew that I wanted to get to know that teenage boy that sat beside me in that dark theatre, refusing to hold my hand.  

He was different.  

He loved Jesus and he was smart and he refused to hold my hand. 

And knowing him the way I know him now. There's no doubt he wanted to get to know me better because the man can't stand anything about halloween.  To meet me at a halloween party was probably torture to him.  

Alex had a business trip in Las Vegas last week.  

He finished up with work on Friday and I flew out to be with him for the weekend. 

Aunt Joy kept the girls and we were so appreciative!!

He picked me up at the airport and we headed to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

He booked a beautiful suite at The Venetian.

It was late and we were both so sleepy after dinner.

We're parents to two, small children.  Our bedtime is 10 p.m.

We walked past this oxygen bar and decided to give it a try.

They told us we would feel like running a few miles afterwards.

Um, not so much. 

But I had no problem staying awake for the concert!

Faith and Tim have been married for 17 years.

Just like me and my sweetie. 

The concert was such a sweet surprise!

We had a great time.

The next morning - room service was a treat.

And shopping was a must.

There is much about Vegas that I do not care for.  

We don't gamble.

We don't go to the clubs.

But we do eat.

And the restaurant selection is fab.

I'll continue to dream of the heirloom tomato salad that I devoured at Delmonico's.

Me and my honey.

We did cheesy things…like taking a gondola ride through The Venetian canals.

And I loved every minute of it. :)

This picture makes me laugh!

This guy sang to us and everyone was staring.

I had no idea what he was singing but it was great fun.

I can't even describe how wonderful it was to have this time with my man. 

Even though we've been together for 19 years, 

God continues to teach us and grow us through this wonderful thing called marriage.

Don't let anyone tell you that after marriage, you can't have those "butterflies" that you had while dating.  It's simply not true. 

I'm so thankful I get to do life with Alex.

He still gives me "butterflies."

I love you, babe!

Three no more - she's turning four!

Today is Amelia Joy's 4th Birthday! 

We started our day with snuggle time in Mama's bed. 

I sang Happy Birthday to her and then she immediately wanted to jump

out of bed and see her Daddy. 

We made one of her favorites - cinnamon rolls out of can.

It was necessary to have four candles stuck in the cinnamon roll. 

Then she opened a couple of gifts from Daddy and Mama. 

We had plans of taking her to pick out her first big girl bike.

I realized today that my daughter is much like her Mama. 

She really loves to surprise people and give people gifts. 

And we should have surprised her with the bike vs telling her she could pick it out.

Learning my children's love languages is so important.  

And this little girl seems to be wired a lot like her Mama. :)

She forgave us and agreed to go to Toys R Us to choose her own bike.

She test drove a few and decided on a Lalaloopsy bicycle with training wheels.

Even picked out a matching Lalaloopsy bike helmet. 

Sydney test drove a couple of bikes too. 

She also hid behind some boxes in the bicycle aisle and gave us a good heart attack.

My stomach is still upset from those 3 minutes. 

Longest 3 minutes of my life. 

Don't let Sydney out of the cart - lesson learned.

We went to Cracker Barrel after bicycle shopping.

We had lunch before taking Daddy to the airport. 

And then we had ice cream.

Cotton candy and vanilla.

While out for the day, people would stop and say, "well Happy Birthday to you!"

Amelia would smile and say, "thank you!"

She would then ask us how they knew it was her birthday.

She insisted it was that she looked older today.

We took a long bike ride when we arrived home.

After her bike ride, she wanted to paint with some of her art supplies that she received for her birthday.

And then jump on the trampoline.

We had mac-n-cheese (requested by the birthday girl) for dinner.

And then she blew out her candle on the ice cream cupcakes!

This is her "I'm exhausted - get me to bed" look.

We had the best day celebrating our girl. 

She's such a gift. 

We love you to the moon & back, Amelia Joy! 

Happy 4th Birthday!!