Christmas Parties & Programs!

The children have had Chrismas parties and programs filling the last 2 weeks. Ann Elizabeth has had Breakfast with Santa/Christmas Program (on the day that it snowed), Walter has had his program (which fell on the same day as Ann Elizabeth's b-day party-so he missed it), and his Christmas party. We have been busy.

The breakfast with Santa was a hit....even in the snow. The children sang and then the school served breakfast and the children were able to sit and chat with Santa.

Walter did get to practice with his class for the program, even though he didn't attend. He was the cutest ever. He wore an Elf hat and all through the practice, he pulled it over his head and yelled "Don't look at me." Can I tell you that I was rolling! It was too cute! Here are some pics of the events.

I have been tagged!

My friend Rachel tagged me to do this fun "blog game". You are supposed to go into your photo album and pick the 4th album and the 4th pic in the album and post it. This is my picture. It is little Walter at one of AE soccer games jumping in the water/mud puddle. He fell right after this picture. Very Cute!!

So now I am tagging Melody & Laura (they are the only ones that read my blog)! Love you both!

Back up...Turkey Trot Pics of Walter!

I was just remind, as I posted snow pictures, that I never posted the pictures from Walter, yes Walter, running the Turkey Trot 8K in Charlotte on Thanksgiving. He did sooo good. We ran with our friends Chris & Tiffany Davis, our new "running buddies". I am very proud of my hubby, even though he says he has "no desire to do it ever again", and No he "never got the "runner high". I love that Man!!!

Snow in TN!

What a beautiful sight we had tonight here in TN. We were blessed with one last snow before we go! Timing couldn't have been more perfect, the kids loved it!. Here are some pics of the kids enjoying the snow!

Our visit to see Santa!

This year the kids are really into Christmas. We talk about the real meaning of Christmas, and Jesus birthday and baby Jesus in the manger. I think that they really get it this year. They also get Santa and the presents. We have the "Elf on the Shelf" so it is my bribery for them to be good. We did a craft where they can count down everyday until Christmas on the decorated yard stick....and they both made a list for Santa.

We went to the mall here and they both took there list to Santa and told him exactly what was on it. I wish that I had a video b/c it was priceless. Walter was very into Santa and fully checked him out from head to toe to make sure he was real......until big sister let on that he wasn't the real one, he was just a man dressed up in a red suit! Oh my! She is way to smart. Here are pics of them with the list and then with the reindeer antlers they got after the Santa visit.

Thanksgiving and Ann Elizabeth turns 5!

I have wanted to post before now, but just haven't had the time. Life in our house has been super crazy. We went to Charlotte for 10 days over Thanksgiving to look for schools and a house, have Thanksgiving with my parents and celebrate AE 5th birthday! WOW! What a trip. We had a great time, it was just CRAZY!! But, I don't think that I could function in anything but craziness. Here are some pics from Thanksgiving and AE's birthday!

My little Indians at school for the Thanksgiving parties.

Ann Elizabeth is 5 today!


Her sweet friends from school at her fantastic birthday party in TN. We had it at Sweet Dreams Cookie Company in Franklin. All 14 girls made there own cookies and decorated there own chef hats and aprons. They had so much fun!

New News on the family front!

So I started this blog back in March so that all my friends and family could keep up with everything that is going on in our lives. Well, here is one more. We are moving, again.
We are beng transfered back to Charlotte, NC. Very bitter sweet for us. We love it here in TN. Did I say love it, I ment LOVE IT!!!
Walter and I have been very conflicted about this, but we really feel like it is the Lord's will for us and our family. We are really trying to be obedient to Christ and follow what is best for our family while being realistic also. Walter has accepted a position with the same company, just back in Charlotte. Like everyone knows, the homebuilding business isn't doing well and so we are very greatful and blessed to have a jopb!
Tonight has been very say for me. It has suddenly become very final. A friend fom our LIfe Group broght over a generous amount of boxes and we had dinner with a few "Charleston" boys that moved here with us. It was super sad for me to say goodbye and close the door behind them. Our house here has always been very open and you never knew which builder from the neighborhood would stop by to play with the kids or to just say HI! The people here are super nice and very friendly! Who would have known......TN has a way of sucking you in!

Please pray for our family as we make this transtion once again. Pray for the children and for us. Ann Elizabeth is a lot more aware this time of what is going on! We will move after Christmas, so please pray for a Christmas full of memories with our life-long friends that we have made here.
Pray that we settle quickly into NC and that we will be able to quickly make it home!

WE LOVE YOU TN!! Here we come NC!!!!!

No, it is not chocolate!

No, it is not chocolate. Walter decided to eat a brown marker. Yes, eat it!! Great huh?? Boys!!!

Wee Ones Minature Donkey Farm

Walter trying to get in with the donkey!

All the kids on the cart!

Ann Elizabeth loving on the donkey!

Walter and his Love...McHaney! She is so over him...can't you tell by her look! Precious!!!




A few weeks ago, our Life Group from church, and our families went out to a donkey farm. It was so much fun and the children loved it. They were able to cook their won hotdogs over the fire, have a hay ride, and make smores. Darren's Mom even brought out a donkey for the kids to pet. Our little cowboy & cowgirl were right at home!

Fall Parties & Halloween!

The kids and my humorous husband!

The "Chip Monk", the Pink Pirate and Superman!

Halloween was a great time. The week was packed with parties at both of the kids schools, a party at our house and then of course trick-or-treat! Walter's school had a trunk or treat along with a parade. Super cute....especially with the little ones.

Ann Elizabeth had a fall party at her school too. They decorated cookies and played musical chairs, a great game for 4 & 5 yr olds.

Then, on to our house for a party and then trick-or-treating. We really love all of our new friends here and the fun times we have!

The kids painting pumpkins.

Ann Elizabeth and The Gurrero girls.

The whole gang trick-or-treating!

Georgia Aquarium!

A few weeks ago we tagged along with Walter and went to the aquarium. The kids had a blast and WOW was it a great aquarium! Here are a few pics of our good time!

Fun Fall Weekend!

This weekend we have had so much fun as a fanily. We started our Sat. with Ann Elizabeth's soccer, which she scored 3 goals in....YEA!!!

Here she is leaving the others in the dust heading to the goal!

Next we headed to downtown Franklin to the Farmer's Market. The kids were able to enjoy a garden just for them, and we purchased some nice green tomatoes for a little fried green tomato compliment to dinner. Yummy!!!

Then, we headed to Gentry's Farm for a little pumpkin searching. WOW! I thought that Boone Hall in Charleston had a great set up. This was the real deal. Gentry's Farm growes their own pumpkins and lets you pick them. The farm pre-picks the larger ones and then you can go into the fields and pick your own "smaller" pumpkin, along with sunflowers. The kids thought this was great. They also have hayrides, petting zoo area and a corn maze (that was all saved for another day). The pictures are so good that I had to post a lot. I just couldn't choose!

The patch itself....trying to find the perfect pumpkin!

Walter thinks that he can ride this pumpkin!

And here are the gigantic sunflowers that they picked.

I hope that you all are experiencing some great fall weather and enjoying the season as much as we are! Much love from Tennessee!

Just a little prayer request!

Not really a big deal, but for those that read my blog, send a prayer to the big man upstairs for me. As some of you know I interviewed last week for a job that would be PERFECT for me and me for it. I have left a message and an email for the manager letting her know how interested I am. I just haven't heard back. I know that I am being impatient, but I am EXCITED. Pray that if it is meant to be it will be and if not, the door will be closed-completely!

Love you all prayer warriors!

Music City 1/2 Marathon

This weekend, I accomplished one of my goals. My girlfriends and a few guy friends of mine all ran a 1/2 marathon here in Nashville. We have been training since mid summer and it finally paid off this weekend. It was really a good time and may even have given me a little taste of what the "running life" is really like. Chris Davis and his wife Tiffany flew in from Charlotte for the race. Chris and I have encouraged each other along the way, and I am so thankful for him being here and sharing this experience with me!



Here are pics of some of the runners at the beginning:

Chad & Jennifer Wasserman, Me, Chris Davis & Heather Livingston-the trainer!





This is Chris and I at about 9 miles-still feeling good..but right before the pain set in!!






And here I am crossing the finish line. Very exciting & emotional time! Struggling, but I made it! My time wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it is a starting point! I did finish 13.1 miles in less than 2 1/2 hrs..but it will be better the next race!!

Here we are after we regrouped at the finish! You would never know that we just ran 13.1 miles in less than 2 1/2 hrs! (You should see us today, we are walking like an 80 yr old.)

I forgot to get pictures of the supporters: Walter, Tiffany Davis and Heather Livingston & Rachel Phillips. They were at the start, got in the car and raced to the 1/2 way point, and then raced back to the finish. There is really more involved with them and everything they did for us that day, and I can't thank them enough. It was great to be half way through and see my husband, the paparazzi with the zoom camera lens , running down the hill to take our picture and to cheer us on! He is awesome!!!



Chris and I have decided that we have the fever! We are going to run a 10K in Charlotte on Thanksgiving, and then continue to train for the Country Music 1/2 Marathon here in April. We are entertaining the idea of the Marathon, but we will see....no commitments for that until Jan. We still need time to recover from this weekend!