pumpkin pumpkin

I love autumn!  It's my favorite time of year!  Love love love the colors and the crisp weather!

I'm also chomping to go to a pumpkin patch.  Hopefully before October ends we can get to one!

So today, instead of a "pumpkin" patch we sat in front of Brookshires and took pumpkin pictures! Ha!

If I hadn't of told you where we were you would have never guessed uh!

Also my free lightroom expired so this picture is SOOC.  I'm chomping to edit my pictures too!  And have to wait now :(

Patience, Patience!

I have none!

And this isn't all we did today!  Can anyone guess where we went this morning?  A hint...it involves a vegetable!

The Crum Family

This morning I met my running buddy, Michelle, on the running trail.  NOT to run, but to snap some pictures of her sweet family!  See Michelle knows that when we run I take mental snap shots of the scenery...I know it sounds strange but I do.  

Michelle and her hubby had triplets and then 2 years later had Miss Samantha!

Can you say HANDS FULL!  I can't imagine!

They were so fun today!  Full of energy!  But that's what makes it fun and interesting!

Sweet Jenna!

This one I wasn't sure was going to turn out.  But after cropping it might be my favorite!  I love it!  I think it captures each child perfectly!

Jordan

Joshua

Samantha

who was a little bashful at first.

Michelle and Mark!  Thank you soooo much for letting me hang out with you this morning!  Your kiddos did fabulous!  See you Monday on the trail M!

My boys!

These two are special!

Love them so much!  And love how they love each other and play so well together!

Griff absolutely ADORES his big brother and big sister!

He wakes up in the morning asking for them!  And when he wakes up from his nap the first thing he ask is "Is it time to pick Alli and Walker up from school?"

LOVES them!

This boy right here is something else!

Not sure I've ever seen another like him!

Maybe we can just say HEAD STRONG??

I'm sure this will be a wonderful quality to have... one day.

And this boy here...he is just so stinkin' sweet...to the core!

Love his little spirit and sensitive heart.  He's going to make an awesome husband one day!

Today Walker is giving his first speech.  He is going out for Student Council!  I can't wait to hear how his day is going!!!  Saying a prayer for him this morning :)

Before I forget...

These are two stories that I don't want to forget!  So I am putting it here...because you know one day I hope to put my blog in a scrapbook :)

My boys are being pursued...both of my boys.  And this has all just happened recently and I'm not sure how this mama feels about all of this!

Walker has a sweet little girl in his class who also goes to our church.  And her mama has told me several times that A comes home and tells her that "that Walker, he is just a nice boy."  And just talks about him a lot being so nice.  So last night she told me a story about A talking about Walker and then said, "You know , not in a boyfriend/girlfriend kind of way."  And me to myself thought...yeah...better not be ;)

Well, this morning I get a phone call from another friend who teaches at WAlker's school and who's son is one of Walker's best friends and they just happen to be in the same class this year.  She was calling to tell me a "funny" story.  How her son came home from school complaining about not having anyone to play with.  And she asked why not?  Well, because Walker is playing with a girl now...see where this is going?
So my friend past Walker's classroom the other day and peaked in while they sat quietly listening to the teacher read a book.  She noticed Walker and A sitting on top of their desk...side by side...with her HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER!!!!  I'm like.....EEEERRRRRRKKKKK.  Brakes on!  I know...I'm freaking out...but that's my baby...hands off ;)

ANYWAY....

Now on to my other son...my other baby!  He has a little girl in his Wednesday night Cubbies Class that has been eyeballing him.  She went from talking bout "that boy Griffin" to my boyfriend Griffin.  So last night during our Cubbies song...you know...

We are AWANA cubbies we're happy all day long.  We know that Jesus loves us that's why we sing this song...

Well at the end we find a friend and hug.  And we always sing it 2 times.  So first time around last night Griff turns and hugs me and his little friend Colvy (Colby) turns and hugs him and I hug them both.  Sweet!

Second time around, it is slowly approaching the  hugging part when I see S sneak her way up towards us.  And squeezed her way in-between me an G.  And then throws her arms around him and takes him down y'all.  TO THE GROUND!  I looked at her mama and said did you just see that?  You daughter tackled my son.

OH, and it just so happens that yesterday in the car Griff says, "When a girl kisses a boy the boys says EEWWWW!"  I said, "Who said that? And who has been kissing on you?"  He said, "Nobody said that.  And you kiss me mama."

Sigh...I'm so not ready...

LET'S GO PAMFERS

We now get to cheer for the junior high football players.  

Yep, the nights we have home games we "get" to watch Alli play in the band!

She loves it!  And they are really good!

But by the end of the day on days that Griff goes to school it can be rough.

He is tired and difficult.

I know it's hard to believe ;)

Running with the cows cross country meet

Today we drove to Hallsville and ran with the cows...

well, not really...there were no cows in the pasture.

After we got all our loving in...

we headed out in the middle of the pasture to wait!

On your mark

Get set

GO!

Here she is at the beginning.

1 mile in!

And on the home stretch!

This is where lots of encouragement is needed!

So this mama wore her running shoes and ran with her!  

She is doing great!  So much improvement since her first race!  We are not in it to win!   Just in it to finish it!  I told her it will get easier the longer she runs!  I'm not sure she is believing me ;)

Griffin William

Our little man is LOVING school which makes my heart so happy!

He begs to go to school early!  And waves at his teacher and waits on his new friends to walk into class together!  

He makes me smile!

And I am so thankful he is usually up for letting me take pictures of him!

This morning after his shower (that is why he looks naked) we watched a raccoon run thru our yard.  So what did we do?

We grabbed our camera and chased after him.  We missed the raccoon, but we got some sweet blue eyed pictures :)

Our horse whisper...

This sweet girl has a passion for horses!

This is Snow.  My niece's horse!

Snow has more energy than Alli's horse, Ginger.

Alli spent the weekend out at my parents so she could ride her horse.  Mom said she had Snow in the round pen working on getting her to jump the barrels.  

She would jump!

As long as Miss Alli wasn't on her back :)

Smart horse!

So Alli would get off and make her run in a circle and jump those barrels!  She would jump them every time...without Alli on her back.  And then as soon as Alli would climb back on she would dodge the barrels.  Bless her!  

She worked so hard all weekend!  We got home later yesterday afternoon and had to go straight to church and didn't get home until 8:30ish.  She was worn out and begging for a shower and bed!  LOVE my horse whisper!

Senior and Toddler

Finally, on Friday I got to try-out my camera on these 2 sweeties!

Devin, Senior 2012

Sweet, sweet girl!  

And then Miss Carlee!

Precious little thing!

I actually babysat Carlee's daddy when I was much, much younger :)

I'm really thinking I'm going to love my new machine gun ;)

My machine gun...

I think that is what I may call my new toy.

Why?  Because it is heavy and sounds like one... not that I've ever held one or been near one.

I got a new camera yesterday!!!  I'm going to love it, but like everything new you have to kinda step back and learn some things again.  I'm very excited to start taking pictures!  On willing clients ;)

Luckily, this morning G was very willing.  I've got sooo much to learn!  But am looking forward to jumping in with both feet!

Me and my machine gun ;)

Sweet Ava~

Because my children don't enjoy me "practicing" on them anymore...

I get to "practice" on sweet Ava!

Today she didn't really care though.

She chewed on a stick once ;)

Don't worry Lori, I got it all out of her mouth :)

She just refuses to smile for me!

I guess maybe she doesn't enjoy me taking pictures of her either...

SFA cross country meet

Alli is running cross country (xc).  She's been very dedicated this past month training.  And now has run in 3 races.  And each race she improves every time!

This race was at SFA.

Waiting for time to run! And getting encouraging words from her daddy!

Running her little heart out!

And all finished!  YAY!!!

I REALLY love the group of kids and parents that are involved in xc.  Very, very encouraging and positive people!  She had another race yesterday.  The second we drove up and I saw the finish line at the top of a steep hill...I thought, Oh no!  We are in trouble!  But this race Alli ran her hardest and fastest!  I was soooooo very proud of her!  And the best thing of all, she took time and enjoyed the view.  Her comment when the race was over, "It was really pretty back there!"

SO VERY PROUD OF ALLI!!!