Silly Aedan

Smiles

Upside down!

look at those chompers!

Go Dogs!!

Here are the boys in their new Citadel sweatshirts that Papa sent:

Stylin' Josiah

Aedan resting

Josiah trying to give Aedan a kiss!

Cheese! (couldn't get them both to look at the camara)

Josiah says, "thank you, Papa!"

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...