At the Pumpkin Patch

One of our favorite things to do each fall is visit the local Pumpkin Patch. Will had been looking forward to it for a few weeks and Kate had no idea what she was in for! We went with our sweet friends and the kids had a blast together. This is the first year that I wasn't able to get as many pictures of Will ... he ran so fast from one thing to the next too excited to slow down for mama's camera. Don't worry - there are lots of pictures still, just 350 instead of my usual 500! Kate loved the animals until one Mr. Goat got a little too close and and was a little too grumpy. I hope she's not scarred for life! Will was really into the maze this year. His technique - run as fast as you can no matter what. Run like the wind to the the dead end and then turn around and run just as fast back! We all enjoyed the hay ride and picking out our favorite pumpkins. Sometimes, in the midst of enjoying such a wonderful day together, I stop and think about how fast time is flying. I wonder how many more trips to the pumpkin patch Will will really look forward to. Maybe this has to do with the picture that Will brought home from school this week - FROM A GIRL!

I'm okay. Really. For now, I'll treasure every moment.

Papa & Nana

Will and Kate (and John and I too!) had the best visit with Papa and Nana a few weeks ago. We went to the zoo, drove, to Kansas and back for a little ceremony (see post below), and played, and played, and played. They played baby dolls, coloring, and dress up with Kate and then switched to legos, animals, and UNO with Will. Everyone enjoyed the after dinner dance parties! Papa had Will laughing so hard one afternoon I thought Will would run out of breath. Kate LOVED playing ball with Nana. We can't wait until they come back!

Child's play

Is there anything better than watching your kids play ... like lost in their own imagination far away from any danger or bad thing, laughing, squealing, running, jumping, play? I love to sit back (a-n-d take pictures :o) while Will and Kate are playing. They bring me so much joy. I am one blessed mama!

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD ..." Psalm 127:3

So long Captain's bars

Some of you probably know and lots of you probably don't, that John joined the Air Force Reserves last October. It was a difficult (more like, painful!) decision to separate in March of 2007. He spent 2 1/2 years convincing me that the Reserves was a good idea ... I wanted both feet in or both feet out. I don't know how he did it (just wore me down, I reckon!), but we decided to go for it last summer. He now serves one weekend a month and a couple of weeks during the year. Since leaving active duty, John had missed wearing the uniform (crazy, huh?), he'd missed the camaraderie of the AF life, and probably most of all, he'd missed the smell of jet fuel in the morning! Well, now we think we have the best of both worlds ... he's back in uniform (which doesn't have to be dry cleaned), wearing boots (that don't have to be shined!), and smelling like jet fuel (ew!) one weekend a month and the rest of the time he's at home working hard at our church. We found out in April that John was selected to promote from Captain to Major and he pinned on his new rank on October 2nd. John's parents made the trip out for his ceremony. I'm so proud of my airman, and if I do say so myself, he sure is handsome in that uniform!