Happy Halloween!

I really love Halloween. I think it's because it's a no pressure kind of holiday! Costumes, kids, candy, friends, and a hayride! What a great night! Now that Banks is older, he really love the Halloween Hayride too. I love to hear him tell the stories of the night afterward. He is just such a sweet child, and things like this mean so much to him!

Eli was a good sport through it all. He seemed to enjoy the hayride. Maybe next year he will enjoy it a bit more!

Evan and I - the hostesses! I love having Evan for a neighbor and a friend!

The family at one house had birds that the kids could hold! Very cool.

I love this picture of Banks and his daddy heading out to trick or treat...

So glad Katie and her crew came as well! Love her family and sweet kiddos!

Best salad in the world 10/30/11

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Pumpkin Carving 10/30/11

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Pumpkin Carving!

I love that Jonathan carves a pumpkin with our boys every year! It's been fun to watch Banks with this tradition each year, and I really enjoyed Eli's first attempt to help (I did not, however, enjoy constantly monitoring him to ensure he did not eat the pumpkin seeds).

Such a cute little pumpkin himself!

This is about right.... Eli doing is own thing, destroying something (newspaper). Banks watching from a distance because he doesn't like to get slimy.

As a side note, it took Banks and Jonathan about an hour to settle on a pumpkin design. Banks was drawn to very complicated patterns, so we had to sell him on something that was a little more our speed!

I think Jonathan did a pretty great job with the pumpkin!

Checking out the inside....

 Again, such a sweet little pumpkin himself!

Camping in the back yard

Jonathan and Banks decided to camp out in the back yard. They gathered wood from the land behind the house, built a fire, and cooked dinner (hot dogs) for the family. Banks said it was the "best. camping. ever!"

I'm so glad Jonathan takes the time to do things like this with Banks. This is definitely the kind of thing only daddies can really do well!

FBC Fall Festival

One of the most exciting days of fall is the fall festival! Banks loves to go and see his friends, play games, and of course - dress up! Eli will probably love all those things too, eventually. For now, he just wasn't sure what this monkey suit was about.

So, when it came time to talk about halloween costumes, I planned for Banks and Eli to match, or to be some kind of pair. Banks wanted to be a dragon though. And I just couldn't see Eli as a dragon on his first halloween. Then it dawned on me.... I guess halloween is actually supposed to be about the kids! So, if Banks wanted to be a dragon then he was going to be a dragon!

A friend from the University made this costume for Banks. How AMAZING is it! (Thank you Julie D!) She is so talented, and she was so generous to give her time to do this. I cannot express to you enough how much he LOVED his costume!

It's also worth noting that he was completely unaware of this wings. He ran into everybody and everything!

Please notice his little tail sticking out the back of the train! Ha!

Happy Birthday, Mac!

We are so lucky to have one of the sweetest nephews ever! I can't believe sweet Mac turned one in October! He is growing so fast into one of the sweetest little boys I know. I'm so glad we were able to be there to celebrate with him!

Happy Birthday, Mac! Uncle Jonathan, Aunt Sarah, and cousins Banks and Eli love you so very much!

Setting Traps with Pappy

Banks loves to go to Nama and Pappy's house! A recent fascination (for both Banks and Pappy) is setting traps in the woods to see what they can catch! Banks was pulling for a Grisly Bear. Pappy was pulling for an opossum. They actually got a raccoon.

Banks was not scared a bit! Never fear. The raccoon was released unharmed to the wild.

Edisto Island 2011

I am so thankful for my sweet college roommates. I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend one weekend with them and their families every year. They are some of the most challenging, loving, encouraging women I know, and I am so grateful for their impact on my life. I love watching their little ones grow up too! Even though it's been several weeks since our trip, Banks is still asking about his friends Peyton, Garrett, Finn and Lucy! He loves baby Wyatt too, but there wasn't much playing with Wyatt since he was only a few weeks old!

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Banks and Peyton

Sweet Eli with his daddy

I do love this sweet baby.

If I could make a movie trailer for my life, it would have some pictures of these sweet children playing at the beach... it made my heart happy.

Our phenomenal view, thanks to Erin!

Pretty sure Erin and Steph did not mean for their little girls to go in the water fully clothed, but it was certainly fun to watch them play!

We had the beach almost all to ourselves, and the weather could not have been more perfect! 

The kids played Red Rover with the grown ups.

When it was time to come in and get cleaned up before the big Clemson game, Banks did not want to leave the beach. He and Jonathan took an extra little walk.

My favorite little Tigers!

Lucy and Peyton resting and watching a movie.

Oh my.... look at all those children among us! And next year, Steph will add one more to the mix! 

Love these girls and their families!

Thank you girls for a wonderful weekend!