Trick or Treat!

Yay for kids all decked out in adorable costumes! We did our traditional soup dinner before heading out to collect candy. Both sets of our parents came over, as did my brother, Andy, and Nathan's grandma. It was just the right amount of coolness to make trick-or-treating fun. Afterwards, the kids came in to sort their candy and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. How did your evening turn out?

Enjoying chili and potato soup

Jacob with his pumpkin

Emmaline with hers

And, here's Ellie

Getting candy from Mr. Tod

And from Ms. Cathy

Grandma, Emmaline, and Mimi

Happy Halloween!

AWANA Trunk or Treat

The kids had truck or treat at AWANA tonight. It was fun dressing up and collecting LOTS of candy. And, it was a good trial run for the real thing next week. Normally, this event is held outside, but due to the impending rain, they opted to move it indoors. The kids loved roaming the church halls with their friends as they filled their bags with sugary goodness.

Haz-mat Suit Jacob

Pumpkin Fairy Gabrielle

Pumpkin Fairy Emmaline

Getting candy from Papaw

Checking out his loot

So many choices!

Emmy was more interested in this dog, than in her candy

A Shooting We Will Go...

Today Jacob went with his daddy and Papaw Kevin to the shooting range. It was his first visit and he was so excited. With Nathan's profession, it is a necessity that our kids know gun safety, so I was glad that they had this fun opportunity.Hanging his target

Jacob and Papaw line up their shots

He had so much fun!

Christmas with the Curleys

This week will be known as "The Week of Christmases". We celebrated Christmas with Nathan's family today. Our gift to his parents and grandparents was a photo album of all the festivities surrounding Granddaddy's 90th birthday this past July. Granddaddy hasn't been feeling well the past month or so, so he was very appreciative of the book.

Every year at Christmas, I have a meltdown at some point because I get overwhelmed with trying to find places for all the kids' new toys. I've promised that I won't do that this year, so today is the first test of that.

Emmaline got a tent and sleeping bag

Jacob loves his new secret agent LegosEllie's favorite gift was a Furreal kitty that moves and meows

The cookie tray I took to share

Grandma's Christmas Party at Work

Today, Nathan's parents took the kids to a Christmas party where his mom works. It's a yearly tradition and they always have a good time. They visit with Santa, decorate cookies, listen to music, and make crafts. The afternoon is topped off with lunch out somewhere...this year it was at Burger King. I was volunteering at a church activity, so I met them for lunch afterward and they had lots of stories to tell.

Making crafts

Ellie refused to sit with Santa, so she hid behind Papaw instead

Jacob and Emmaline with Santa

Sleepover with Grandma and Papaw

I'm headed to a craft show tomorrow with my mom and sister (a yearly tradition) and Nathan will be sleeping since he has to work tomorrow night, so his parents offered to keep the kids for us overnight.

Jacob played with remote-controlled cars and various robots

The girls discovered a fun game of running and jumping on their pillows.
Emmaline can't quite jump yet, so she would just run and fall.

Ellie catches some air

3 Kids + 1 Air Mattress = Good Times

Bounce U

For a long time, Jacob has really wanted to go to Bounce U, so we headed there today to celebrate his birthday. He had a blast playing on all the inflatables. Ellie spent half the time pouting in a corner, but by the time we went to the second room, she was ready for fun. Emmaline had a good time too, but there were lots of bigger kids there, so we had to be on constant watch so they didn't run her over or crush her (which almost happened several times!). Ironically, when we got home, Jacob had a birthday party invitation waiting for him in our mailbox from his friend, Nathan. The party is at Bounce U!

Mommy the Protector

Whee!

Playing video games with Papaw

Daddy was on the other side and they were trying to hit each other

Buddy Walk 2009

It was a gloomy day, but there was a great turn-out for the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome at Delco Park. Afterward, we took out families to LaRosa's for pizza...it's become a yearly tradition.

Our team was able to raise over $1200 for this wonderful cause. It's not very common, but our family has been blessed twice with Down syndrome...first with my niece, Kayla, and then with our daughter, Emmaline. I can't even imagine what life would be like without them. If you'd like to donate to help Emmaline, Kayla, and other with Ds, please click HERE to go to our secure team website. Thanks for your prayers and support during these first 2 1/2 years of Emmaline's life. We wouldn't have made it this far without you!

Emmaline and Daddy

Aunt Katie and Ellie

Emmaline's Walk of Achievement poster
Big Girl with her medal

2009 Beavercreek Popcorn Festival

Our family volunteered this evening at the Popcorn Festival. Our church is in charge of the children's area every year and this was our 2nd year to help out. I manned the little kid bouncy house and Nathan was in charge of the inflatable obstacle course. While we did that, Nathan's parents came and walked around with our kiddos. It was a fun evening!

Kettle corn is a must at the Popcorn Festival!
Ellie jumping in the bouncy house

Emmaline loved it too!

Jacob got a balloon animal

Labor Day/Nathan's Birthday

Our families came over today for a cook-out. We also celebrated Nathan's birthday. It's officially on the 19th, but we already have something planned that day, so we celebrated a little early. I'm looking forward to having the day off from school and other things tomorrow. Sometimes it's nice to have a day with nothing to do but relax.

Katie mans (or "wo-mans") the grill

Happy Birthday!

Jacob and Papaw on the porch swing

Ellie concentrates on finishing her cookie

Emmaline tries on Papaw Kevin's glasses