Halloween

Today was Halloween, and our church had a Fall Carnival this evening. The kids got to dress up and play games, eat, and jump on big jumpy things, and also slide down huge (blow-up) slides. Josiah and Aedan were lions, and they looked adorable! Josiah had a blast! He went down the huge slide with older kids, and then by himslef a couple times head first. I was really surprised that he went by himself, and proud that he was brave enough to try it. Josiah and Aedan did pretty well with the games inside as well. They both liked bobbing for plastic pumpkins, and Josiah tried miniature golf for the first time with help from some of our teenagers running the games. Aedan had his first sucker tonight. I can't believe I let him eat it...Josiah just recently had his first sucker just a few months ago. I didn't get many pictures at the carnival...it was difficult juggling both boys and a camara, but we did get our family picture taken:)

The carnival seemed to be successful. Yesterday Ryan and a handful of the teenagers went around to the neighborhoods surrounding the church and gave out fliers for the event. Ryan told me during the night that there were several families that were there because of the canvassing. There was a hay ride, and Mark (our Pastor) shared the Gospel with the children (and adults) on it. We didn't go on the hayride, mainly because Ryan couldn't go with me, and one of our kids might decide to jump off or something during the ride...maybe next year:)

Below are some pictures of our evening.

Josiah and Aedan destroying the flowers.

Aedan chewing on a stick

our cubs in their natural habitat

ready to go to the carnival

G.I. JOE

Aedan: my G.I. Joe

Josiah and Grammy

Ryan's mom came this past weekend to watch the kids for us, so that I could go on the Fall Retreat with the students. I am very thankful that she came! Josiah has already changed her name from "Grandma" to "Grammy". I think it's because that's what the kids call their grandmother on BOZ (a video series that Josiah LOVES). It was the first trip that I was able to go on with no kids, and also not pregnant. This past summer (on our youth trip), Aedan came with us, and I was pregnant (32 weeks) with Aedan the previous summer. Aedan wouldn't cooperate in the picture (it was almost his naptime)...that's why he's not in it.

Fall Retreat

This past weekend we had our Fall Retreat with the teenagers. We had 25 students that went. It was a great weekend, looking at different idols that we face in life (mostly geered toward teenagers). We went to Cedar Lake Camp, which is in Livingston (north of Cookeville). The camp was really nice. It reminded me some of Camp Buc that we used to go to in NC. Below are some pictures from our weekend.

This picture was taken from the lodge where we stayed.

This is an evening shot of some other cabins that are at the camp.

Half of the group at a session. (The other half is on the other side of the room.)

Ryan talking

One of the idols that we looked at during the weekend was "comfort/pleasure". Ryan had everyone pack up their stuff and carry it to an outside meeting room. Of course it was cold, and we had to sit down on cold cement where we were all uncomfortable. He just started the talk there, and then we moved to our regular (heated) location. At the end of the talk, Ryan asked the teenagers to get rid of their "comfort" items that they had brought with them on the trip. So, they left what they didn't really need at the meeting location, and took only what they really needed back to the lodge. Anyway...above is a picture of some of the students carrying their belongings accross the field.

The girls made up some AWESOME poems for the guys. I think we had more fun making them up together then the guys did hearing the poems. (I'm actually sure we did!)

Hanging out

small group activity during a talk

hanging out

hanging out while watching Octaball

more watching of Octaball

watching Octaball

playing of Octaball (before people got out)

"A Taste of Home"

Last Thursday night I went to "A Taste of Home" cooking school with some friends. It was in Sparta (just south of us) at the Fairgrounds. It was fun to watch her cook on the big screen. The girl (I can't remember her name), was very funny and entertaining. There are a couple recipes that she did that I'm going to try. We'll see how they turn out...

Trains, trains, trains...

This morning we went out to the train depot in town. Josiah was in heaven! He loved it! It was a chilly morning, so Aedan wasn't enjoying it too much. He's still not quite old enough to enjoy it like Josiah did. (hopefully soon!) Josiah could have stayed there for hours. Here are some pictures of our morning:

Ryan and Josiah

Josiah heading up onto the train

Josiah and Aedan checking out the train car.

Ryan and Josiah

Catherine and Josiah

Josiah on the train car and Aedan eating leaves.

Date Night!

Ryan surprised me this week, and told me that we were going out on a date! He gave me an envelope that had two Andrew Peterson tickets in it! My next question (of course) was about the kids and child care. Ryan had already taken care of it and had asked the Ledbetters (a family in our church) to watch the boys. It has been quite a while since Ryan and I have been to a concert (just the two of us). We tried to remember the last time. and we figured out it was in Columbia (to see Andrew Peterson) when Josiah was about 9 months old. We used to go to concerts so often. I miss our trips to Eddie's Attic in Atlanta to see Sandra McCracken. The good news is that we live very close to Nashville, which is where the artists that we listen to live. Aedan is FINALLY just about weened, so driving to Nashville is much more doable then it has been since moving to Cookeville. Andrew's concert was a release concert for his new cd, "Resurrection Letters" (Vol 2). Andrew played every song off the album and explained each one. It was awesome. There's a quote on his cd that I think summarizes it well:

"The world is full of resurrections. Every night that folds us up in darkness is a death; and those of you that have been out early, and have seen the first of the dawn, will know it--the day rises out of the night like a being that has burst its tomb and escaped into life."

~George Macdonald

I'm greatly looking forward to December when the Russells (friends from seminary) come to visit and we (the McGanns, Russells, and Lowhorns) go to the Ryman to hear Andrew's Christmas show.

The tickets that Ryan made me. (Since it was free, there weren't actual tickets...so he made some.)

Andrew Peterson

Here is a link to Andrew's myspace page if you want to go listen to his music:)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18271259&MyToken=9f620006-51c0-429c-b8dd-7af98059ef9c

Halloween Prep

I went to TJ Max today to get a costume for Josiah for Hall0ween. I have two options for Aedan this year. Ryan's sister handed down a lion suit and also a cookie monster outfit that both fit him right now. At TJ Max, there were several options for Josiah: a lion, a turtle, and a beaver. Honestly, I liked the turtle the best, but Josiah wanted the lion. So, we got the lion. I guess Josiah and Aedan will both be lions this year. Here are some pictures of the boys trying on their costumes.

Josiah the lion:"Roar!"

Aedan: my golden cub

Aedan checking out Josiah's tail

Who is this woman???

The woman below seems to be on TV a lot when Ryan flips through the channels. We stopped on her the other day and asked Josiah who she was....his response, "Mama!!" I was like, "what??!!!" and asked him again. He said, "Mama!!" It cracked us up...it was soooo funny. Who is this woman? Does anyone know her name? haha!

Josiah and his "Mama"

Josiah

Pumpkin Time

I bought Josiah a pumpkin yesterday! He was VERY excited! I prepped him all the way home that the pumpkin would be an outside pumpkin. He did quite well with it. When we went to the playground today, he said, "bye, bye pumpkin." I'm not sure if we're going to carve the pumpkin, paint it, or just let let it be. Here are a few pictures of the boys with the pumpkin. They turned out pretty well, except I couldn't get them to both look at the camara at the same time. (maybe next time)

"Spaghetti Ready"

Whenever we eat spaghetti, we get what we call "spaghetti ready". The kids strip down to their diapers...mainly because they get it everywhere! (Bathtime usually follows!) They both love spaghetti! It'll be interesting if we ever go out to eat somewhere and order spaghetti...Josiah will want to get "spaghetti ready!"

Josiah and Aedan loving their dinner!