Memories...

I have been feeling so sad that my pictures got erased from the laptop. I was oh so happy when I realized that my mother-in-law is a major picture hoarder and has not erased anything off her camera in over 2 years. Oh, picture heaven! So, these are just random pictures that I am so thankful to have! We had a Halloween party at grandma Judy's house and this is Brayden the mummy. He was so proud to be totally covered in toilet paper!

Papaw the birthday boy and his sweetie!

Mamaw and Papaw and their great-grandkids. So thankful that my kids have these special people in their lives.

Nana got Molly this ironing board. It is unique because I think she got it at Goodwill and then painted it and covered it with fabric. All of Molly's friends love it and it is the first thing they want to play with when they come over.

Molly and her cousin Madyson. They got so excited when they realized they had the same shirts. These girls are a tad bit spoiled....but oh my stars...they are little miracles and I love them!

Nana and Papa Ostermiller and my Carter. We sure love us some Nana and Papa time!

Carter and Mamaw Allen.

Carter and his cousin Mason.

This was on Brayden's 8th birthday. He was so excited to get baptized. It was a super special day!

My sweeties on Easter 2011.

Madyson and Molly.

Grandma Judy with cousin Bennett and Molly and Madyson at the Coots family reunion.

Grandma Judy and my boys!

One of my kid's favorite things to do with grandma Judy is to go to Ocharley's and get rolls and butter and go back to her house and eat them on the floor. Sometimes they get Red Lobster rolls but Ocharley's is their favorite.

Papa Coots and his grand daughters! They love him!

Oh the sweetness of this picture!!

OOOPS.....haven't learned how to delete pictures....so this is a double! :)

Carter at his first Pine Wood Derby. Papa Ostermiller helped him put some weights on his car.

Molly and cousin Bennett. He is almost 2 now....so this was a while ago. Molly loves babies (real or fake!)

Molly has a special relationship with Mamaw Allen and is so patient with her when she asks the same question over and over again! :)

Oh the perfect-ness of this little girl! Holy yummy!

Silly girls at grandma Judy's Christmas party.

Caleb, Carter, Mason, and Brayden. Halloween 2009.

How in the heck did these girls get big so fast!

Molly and big brother, Brayden! Oh I can't believe these kids are mine!

This was at a rest stop on the way home from a vacation....I think it was when I had Judy's camera.

This is one of my favorite pictures. We went to Nauvoo a few years ago and took this. I think it was maybe 2009.

What I saw...

So, yesterday when my mom and dad and Robbie's mom and dad were here I was on the couch with Robbie, my legs draped over him, just relaxing and watching the kids play. I had my camera in my hands and looked over and saw the most wonderful picture....my two guys...my Robbie and my dad! I just had to take the picture. I don't think they even know I did it. Both in their white shirts...fresh from church...ties taken off to relax. I am so thankful that I married someone just like my dad....and am thankful for the example my dad has always been to me of what I should expect in a husband. I am a blessed wife/daughter. :)

My Family

Today was the Primary program at church. (where the kids get to sing and do little parts in front of the whole church). Molly and Carter and Brayden did such a great job. I love to hear the kids sing and could sit there all day and listen to them. My mom and dad came from Nashville to be here for the program and Judy and Papa were also there. I feel so lucky that my kids have 2 sets of grandparents who are so close and who they can have relationships with. I am also so happy that my mom and dad and Robbie's mom and dad are friends. I have had people look at me a little funny when I tell them that we all have Thanksgiving together or that we all go somewhere together. I guess it's not the norm! ;) After church we all came to our house for chili and pigs in a blanket and cornbread and banana pudding. I love this picture of my kids at the table with Judy and Papa and Nana and Papa! We had so much fun visiting with them and as always, were sad when they had to leave. Molly and Nana had some girl time in Molly's room playing with paper dolls and reading books and the boys were learning from Papa Ostermiller how to Indian Wrestle!
Molly's part from the program was "Heavenly Father gave us families" and she remembered it and did it all by herself! I can not believe that all 3 of my kids are old enough to be in the Primary Program. It was nice to just sit back with Robbie's arm around me (he got to sit with me since the kids were in his spot up front!) and enjoy my sweeties! I am thankful that they love church and they love to learn.

A few nights ago, Molly woke up in the night crying. It was about 3am. I laid down with her and told her I was there. She said "mommy, I need you to say a prayer so I won't have dreams about worms.". So, at 3am, I said a prayer that she wouldn't have dreams about worms. We both went to sleep after that. The next morning the very first thing she said when she woke up was "mommy, Heavenly Father listened to the prayer and I didn't have any more dreams about worms!". This little girl has so much faith. I want to be like her!

My Scouts

Robbie is an Eagle Scout. Isn't that neat? Yes, yes it is. :) And my 2 boys are well on their way. I love that the boys go to Scouts together every wednesday night and that they know that it is something that is important to take seriously. And, um, I just got asked to be a den leader! That's right folks, this girl who knows NOTHING about scouting is now responsible to get these boys advanced and to enjoy and love scouting. Our first few meetings have gone super and I am actually really excited about it! Just yesterday a mom of one of the scouts told me that her son said that I am really nice and that he is more excited about scouts now than he has ever been. Ok, already SO worth it. Last night was Brayden's first pack meeting and he was so proud. He was awarded his Bear. he looked so sweet in his uniform. After a kind of heartbreaking day (more on that later) it was nice to see him so happy.

I love this picture because these boys love their daddy and they know that he is always going to be right there beside them and is going to encourage them to achieve their goals.

Carter was called up to demonstrate the scout hand shake. Man, my boys are growing up! Carter was also called on to stand up to show what a complete scout uniform looks like. :)

This is right before we left for the church. I am so proud of both of these boys. They are good boys and are going to grow up to be some pretty amazing young men.

A little side note....the scout master who is standing with the boys is Gary Croxall. I will spare the long story....but when I was little, like probably 4 or 5, we lived in Pocatello, Idaho. I would go and 'visit' a few neighbors regularly. That was back when kids could roam the neighborhood with no worries. One of the neighbors I would visit, well, was his GRANDFATHER, Mr. Croxall!!! Gary and his wife moved to Bowling Green a year or so ago and when I heard the name I thought of my Mr. Croxall but thought there was no way there could be a connection. But there was! So now I kind of feel a connection to him because, well, I used to be visit his grandpa! I just think that is really cool!!!!

Happy Birthday Papa Ostermiller!

November 9th is my daddy's birthday. Oh how I love him to pieces. The kids and I wanted to make sure he had a super special day so I picked them up from school and to Nashville we went! I made a tortilla casserole and a cake (half german chocolate, his favorite, and half plain chocolate, mom's favorite) and got a few fun decorations. He didn't know we were coming but mom did. The whole way there the kids were talking about surprising Papa and where they were going to hide and who was going to give the cue to yell surprise. We got Papa the trick candles that sparkle and the kids thought that was so fun! Papa was a good sport and kept blowing and blowing and blowing!

Big boy Carter was the official lighter of the candles.

These kids seriously could not wait for Papa to get home. Brayden was looking out the window (sorry, Nana, about the plant!) and Carter was on the step ladder looking out the peep hole. They were out of control crazy and excited for Papa to get home.

Brayden...look at that sweet little head! :)

The boys tied the balloon to Papa's bedroom door because Carter said "Papa always goes to his room first so that is where it should be".

Presents from Nana and us and pictures from Molly. Molly picked him out a Transformers card and said "oh, Papa is going to like, love this card!"

A very pitiful home made cake...but it sure was yummy. Carter actually ate it! It was the first time I have seen him eat cake!

Happy Birthday, Papa (dad!). We love you so much and are so lucky that we got to spend some time with you!

More Fall Fun

Molly loves crafts! She was having a little down time with the finger paints that Jenny gave her. She started out with her shirt on but I think that the warm sun coming in from the dining room window prompted her to just take it off and enjoy the warm sun! That's my girl! Um, not that I take my shirt off and sit in the warm sun, but sometimes I want to! :) Halloween wore this girl out this year! She started the day at her pre-school party, then headed with me to both boys' class parties, then came home and switched to her Dorothy costume (from when she was 2!!!) and off we went to get our trick-or-treat on! Her most favorite place in the evening, or any time really, is in the recliner with her daddy. I guess he is just comfortable, kinda like John Wayne, huh?

Every Halloween we stop by yhe nursing home to see Papaw Allen (Robbie's grandfather...my kids great-grandfather!). All of the residents are always so happy to see us and I know that my kids are going to remember going there. Sometimes they complain about going because I think they get a little nervous there sometimes, but they sure love Papaw Allen.

Carter as Frankenstein...picking his nose. He actually said "hey mom, take a picture of me picking my nose!". Um, ok, weirdo. hehe.

And this is what I got when I told them if they just stood still for a second for a picture that I would let them run across the street and start trick-or-treating. Stinkers.

This is Molly and her little neighbor friend, Caleigh. They love each other so much and it is so fun that we live close enough that they can just walk back and forth to each others houses.

My pretty Dorothy- Nana Ostermiller made this costume a few years ago and I think it made her feel good that Molly wanted to wear it again.

Our first stop at the boys' school was to Brayden's class. The teacher has a rule that they can't start eating until every student has a plate. It was so funny to watch those kids. It was like they were being tortured. And when they got the ok to eat....oh boy...talk about some faces getting smashed in some cupcakes! :) I love my Brayden. He is such a good boy!

For Molly's class party they had a contest to see who could get the most and least messy eating cupcakes with their hands behind their backs. Molly was not going to get messy....so she kept sneaking her napkin to wipe her face.

A row of pretty Princess friends waiting for musical chairs. Molly got so cracked up playing that game. They all got the giggles. It was precious.

Happy Halloween 2011!!! Another fun year with some pretty special little people!