Fall Carnival

The youth group put together a fantastic carnival for the kids of the church and the community. I got a few pictures Naomi at the games and Johnathan checking out the pottery station before Johnathan tuckered out. I took him home to discover that he had a fever, so he snuggled on the sofa while Naomi went on a hay ride, watched the pie-eating contest, and won way too many cakes at the cake walk!

All Dressed Up

...And ready for costume night at Awana!
Can you guess what Kevin is "dressed up" as?

E is for Everyone! This costume fits Naomi because she loves to cheer others on. She is enthusiastic to the core!

Hot Diggity Dog! Ezra is so yummy, I could eat him up!

Johnathan picked a policeman costume this year, which is very appropriate, because he strives to protect his family - from a whole host of "bad guys" who seem to lurk around every corner.

Busy Baby

Ezra has had a busy week practicing his new-found skills, including...

Sucking on his thumb to get himself to sleep when his pacifier is hiding from him... Trying rice cereal and apples for the first time...

Grabbing his toes, and....

Sticking them in his mouth! (It's easier when those pesky jammies aren't tying him down!)

He's also getting the hang of rolling from his back to his tummy. I'd call that a busy week in Ezra World!

Three Little Pumpkins

Our trip to Farm Patch this year to pick out pumpkins...

Here it is, folks - the largest pumpkin in Texas!

Goats and chickens in the hay maze

Naomi and Johnathan helped scoop out their pumpkins that evening, and we toasted the seeds with several different flavors. I just realized we never took any pictures of the final product. That's probably because the scope of our creative ideas did not match with my mediocre carving skills. Johnathan asked me to carve "a superhero with a cape" into his pumpkin and Naomi wanted a crown with jewels and the letter N. I'd describe the results as... minimally recognizable. Next year we may need to purchase some pumpkins to practice on first!

Our Ninth Anniversary

I will take a heart whose nature is to beat for me alone,

And fill it up with you, make all your joy and pain my own.

To that place where one heart is made from two,

I will go there with you.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Catching Up in Fort Worth

One of the True Woman conferences was held in Fort Worth this year, so when a group of ladies from our old church in Casper came to the conference, we got to see them! We combined the trip with an appointment in Dallas to get a new AFO for Johnathan. While Kevin took Johnathan and Naomi to the orthotics appointment, Rachel and Ezra got to hang out with the group at their hotel.

Ezra got lots of snuggles and hugs from everyone (including Mrs. Jodi and Mrs. Lynda, below)...

And Rachel cherished a couple hours to sip Starbucks and catch up with her Wyoming sisters in Christ.After their appointment, Kevin and the big kids came back and we walked a little in downtown Fort Worth with the ladies who didn't go to the pre-conference seminars. Naomi and Johnathan especially enjoyed Mrs. Melody, who took good care of us in Casper. They talked her ear off and curled up in Barnes and Noble to read books. Thank you, Cornerstone friends, for hanging out with us - seeing you was a blessing!

And a Few More...