Thanksgiving

On Wednesday we headed down to Columbia to see Ryan's family. We left around noon, and got there around 9:00 (et). We got stuck in holiday traffic some, which slowed us down. Josiah and Aedan traveled well, so that was good. McDonald's playgrounds are VERY important! Here are pictures from our weekend.

Catherine and Aedan

Josiah enjoyed falling into the leaves off of the driveway! " Here I go"

falling into the leaves!



"Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

resting in the leaves

Ryan and Aedan

Aedan wasn't a fan of the tricycle!

Josiah LOVED riding down the hill in the driveway! He didn't even pedal. He almost went off the driveway out of control a couple times:)

Here's a picture of Josiah going down the driveway from the front!

Grandma's kitty cat was a favorite. Josiah spent a lot of time chasing the kitty. We had to teach him to let the cat come to him, and to be very gentle.

Aedan loved the cat, too. I think he only grabbed his ears a couple times.

Josiah and Taryn

Josiah and Taryn on the tricycle together.

Josiah and his cousins: Cooper, Zachary, and Taryn (Aedan was napping, and Meena is also missing from the picture)

On Friday my dad drove up to Columbia from Charleston to spend some time with us. We went to Riverbanks Zoo. The boys were GREAT and Josiah loves animals. He had a blast! Here are some picutres of our day!!

Lion

My dad attempted to take Josiah on the merry-go-round, but Josiah didn't like it at all. I think they only went around once. It's a good thing they were the only people on the ride. You can see the fear in Josiah's eyes before the ride started.

Josiah and Papa

Zebra

They have a really neat area to feed the giraffes. Josiah liked being close to the giraffes, but would drop the food when they would try to eat from him.

Papa and Joisah feeding the giraffe.

Papa and Josiah with the elephant.

Josiah and Aedan on a lizard!

This picture was taken in the rainforest exhibit. Papa and Josiah are looking at a crocidile.

After the zoo, we went to Fudruckers. The boys ate very well, and (once again) were great!

My Wreaths!

Here's the wreath that is currently on our front door. I have saved it since I bought it after Christmas last year on a SUPER sale. I got it from K Mart for less than $5.00!!!! I love it! Since I found one after Christmas last year, I have also been looking for a fall wreath (on sale, of course) for next fall.

I found this wreath at T J Max on sale (50% off) for $8.00! It actually looks cooler in person then in these picutres. I also looked at Walmart and K Mart. I didn't like the Walmart ones enough, and K Mart didn't have any. I am happy with what I found:)

An Attempted Photo Shoot

Princess Party

I had a "Princess Party" with the girls last night, while Ryan had a "Man Party" with the guys (at the church). We watched "Cinderella Story", ate BBQ, cookie dough, and cheesecake!! After the movie, we made crowns out of pipe cleaners. Below are some pictures of our evening.

Here we are in our beautiful crowns!

The girls making their crowns.

Watching the movie...notice our male guest:)

Clare brought a cake from Baskin Robbins!

All Things New

Come broken and weary. Come battered and bruised. My Jesus makes all things new, all things new. Come lost and abandoned. Come blown by the wind. He’ll bring you back home again, home again. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new. Come frozen with shame. Come burning with guilt. My Jesus, he loves you still, he loves you still. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new. The world was good, the world is fallen, the world will be redeemed, so hold on to the promise. The stories are true that Jesus makes all things new. The dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new. All things new.

Words and Music by AP, Ben Shive, Andy Gullahorn Ephesians 5:14 Isaiah 65:17 II Corinthians 5:17 Revelation 21:5

Invisible God

I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the moon in the space of a dark night, for the smile on a face in the sunlight. I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the sound of the storm on the window, for the morning adorned with a new snow, for the tears on the face of the old man made clean by the grace of the good Lamb.And oh, I long to see your face, Invisible, Invisible God. All the works that you have made are clearly seen and plain as day, so mighty and tender. O Lord, let me remember that I see you everywhere, Invisible God, in the seed that descends to the old earth and arises again with a new birth; in the sinner who sinks in the river and emerges again, delivered.And oh, I long to see your face, Invisible, Invisible God. All the works that you have made are clearly seen and plain as day, so mighty and tender. O Lord, let me remember, your power eternal, your nature divine. All creation tells the tale that Love is real and so alive. I feel you, I hear you, Great God Unseen I see you in the long, cold death that the winter brings and the sweet resurrection spring.
~Andrew Peterson

Family pics

I took the boys up to the church today to take some family pictures...or least attempt to. The weather was really nice so I thought I'd try it. Here are the pictures:

Ryan and Aedan going down the slide.

Josiah and Aedan going down the slide together in their sweaters from Gigi! Aedan looks scared!

We took a bunch of family shots. (The secretaries helped us out:) This was the best picture. You may be seeing it on a Christmas card soon!