Boogers...It's What's For Breakfast

This morning Grace came into our bedroom and said quite sincerely, "My boogers don't taste like anything." 

I looked at her kind of puzzled and asked, "Do they usually taste like something?"

Once again, not a drop of guile anywhere, she answered, "Yes."

I quizzed her further, "What do they usually taste like?"

"Boogers."

Now, let me tell you, I try to make it a habit to not laugh at my children when they are serious about something, but I couldn't keep a straight face through this one.  I was trying not to die laughing!

Prayer Interrupted

Mom: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for my girls. Thank you for their personalities, both the good and the bad.

Grace: I'm the bad!

Innovation

Yep...he came up with this one on his own!  He was even ok with dragging it around on the ground once the helium was gone.  :)

 

Leaving a Legacy

While my parents were here I overheard mom say to dad, "I think they are only going to remember us for our phones."  Dad replied, "That's ok.  At least they'll remember us."  So, here is usually how you will find my kiddos while grandma and grandpa are here.  They will also remember grandpa for his $5 bills, and grandma for her crafts, and both of them for the beds they get to share while they are here.  If they are like me, they will remember their open Bibles too.  I won't even share about where I remember my papaw reading his Bible...it's the same place my dad reads his.  ;)

 

My Little Tractor Pullers

This weekend was our neighbor's Fall Pumpkin Festival.  We always love visiting and the girls couldn't wait for the tractor pull.  (Johnny did it...he just didn't really care about it like the girls did.) 

Gracie Mace made a full pull for first place in the five-year-old class.  She was one of two full pulls all day (the second was a nine-year-old boy.) 

 

Libby pulled a 19.6 for first place in the eight-year-old category, which she was THRILLED with!

 

Here is a picture of the girls with a little guy who won for the six-year-old class.

 

Here is one last picture of my little tractor pullers who are headed to state next September!  :) 

When I grow up...

Today Grace and John's Sunday School class drew pictures of what they wanted to be when they grow up.  After they drew them, the other children had to try to guess what it was by their picture. 

Grace drew a wonderful horse with her on the back so she can be a cowgirl when she grows up.

 

Then there is John!  Oh sweet John!  He is my little comedian, although the teacher assures me that he said it with all belief that this is what he is going to be when he grows up...

 

In all honesty, I do have to say that I am impressed with his drawing and all the letters he wrote on the bottom of his page (which are to spell John).

I love my kids!

Farmer Tucker Had a Farm...

Our neighbors host a spectacular Farm Festival the first weekend in October every year.  We LOVE being able to help out in any way we can and this year we had the opportunity to walk (or ride in the kids case) in the Labor Day parade.  Chris just couldn't resist putting us all in overalls for the parade and I thought it would be cute.  Maybe this is what we'll wear for our next family pictures.  ;)

All the kids were sitting in their barrels waiting for the parade to start when we suddenly couldn't find Gracie!  No worries, she had ducked down in the barrel.  Crazy kid!

Libby thought that was a good idea, so she ducked on down for a photo op, as well.

We can't wait for the festival, nor can we wait to do the parade again next year!

Thanks Aunt Judy!

What does Aunt Judy have to do with this monster?

Well, she sent the kids each $15 to spend on vacation.  Both girls wanted to go on this bad boy and mommy and daddy told them that they had Aunt Judy's money still if they wanted to spend it.  Both girls chose to do so.  Mind you, Libby was tall enough to do the course, but Grace was JUST tall enough to do it with a chaperone (a.k.a. mom).

 

We all got harnassed in and made our way to the first level of torture fun.

 

Literally, as soon as we first hit the platform, Libby grabbed on to the pole and hung on for dear life. 

 

The worker coaxed her.

 

He cajoled her.

 

He comforted her.

 

Alas, to no avail.

 

Grace, on the other hand, strode right across the first activity, which was a plank.  She finished out the triangle with one obstacle (think supper plates in the air placed about 1 1/2 feet apart) scaring the heebee jeebies out of her.  I learned quickly that she could scooch her snow boots to the front edge of the "plate" and I could rest one foot behind her and I would hold onto the hook on her back and she could make it.  She actually did quite a quick job of it for her fear!

 

Once through the first three obstacles, Grace and I headed up to the next level.  Grace didn't like the obstacles that she had to step over empty spaces so she just wasn't sure if she could even do this one.  Look at that face!  My poor baby!  I have to say that I think the fact that I poured so much of myself into encouraging her, protecting her, and pushing her on to the next limit probably made the whole experience easier for me to handle.  I am not afraid of heights, but I was definitely looking after my daughter, not looking down.  I knew I was safe, but had to convince her of the same.

 

With the encouragement and the fact that she knew mommy had her back (quite literally) she made it across even this obstacle.  At the end of this obstacle (although there were many more to do) was the holy grail, the exit slide.  Yes ma'am, Grace shot for that exit!

 

While we were up in the air playing around, Johnny and daddy rested and waited for us.  Remember that tired picture from earlier?  This is about five hours later.  He's still awake, but this is his best effort at a smile. 

 

And one more effort to put a smile on at the end of the night.  Nope, not happening.  Poor guy was out before we made our way out of the parking lot!

 

Overall, it was an outstanding vacation and we had five wiped out humans by the end of it all!  :D

On Top of the World

...or at least the ferris wheel.  :)

 

The Rides

 

 

I think he was watching one of the roller coasters here, but I am still pretty sure that he could have just laid down and gone to sleep at this point.  :)

 

 

 

Libby is full of apprehension.

 

Mommy, I am so mad at you for making me get on this scary ride!

 

Seriously. Freaking. Out!  And, then there's
Grace...lovin' it!

 

I cannot BELIEVE you made me do that...AND you took pictures!

 

Log Chute

What?!  What do you mean this isn't a picture of the log chute?  Oh, yes...funny story!

The first ride we went on as a family WAS the log chute.  We all got off and we were all a bit damp.  At that point we decided to split up.  Daddy would take the girls (because they could ride quite a few rides that John couldn't) and mommy took John.  The girls were itching to ride the "Pepsi Orange Streak" so that is where they headed.  John and I wandered around for a few minutes and then hit the end of a fairly long line.  We were standing and waiting when I suddenly noticed water trailing by my feet.  I flipped around to see what was causing it and, oh yes, that would be my son standing over a rock peeing his pants!  I was mortified...but at least it just blended in with the dampness from the log chute!

Anyway, that is how we got this picture, we had to wait for daddy and the girls to get off of the ride so we could get keys to the van and "take care" of our problems.  :)

 

 

And here is Johnny's first ride AFTER we fixed everything up.  Tee hee!