It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Wow... these last few days have been absolutely gorgeous! The sun has been shining with fluffy white clouds floating around in the sky... the air has been warm, but with a touch of coolness in the breeze... the leaves are starting to change colors... beautiful stuff, let me tell ya!

Because it's been so nice, we've spent quite a bit of time enjoying it. The kids love to play outside, so that's just what we do after homework has been completed. The boys like to play football or baseball, and the girls like to be the cheerleaders. :) They have lots of fun!

Today, JoAnn and I decided to go for a walk. We went downtown to Percival's Island, where there is a really nice paved trail for walkers, bikers, roller bladers, etc. The trail itself crosses the river and then goes on for miles. Well, today I found out that walking with a four year old is NOT about walking for fitness, but for pleasure. We would walk a ways, then stop to see a bug... or a lizard, or a pretty flower, or the river... and to collect leaves. I was impressed with JoAnn though, because we walked for half a mile before she said that she was tired and wanted to turn around. So, all in all, walking a mile with a 4 year old ended up being nice. It wasn't too hot, the pace wasn't too fast (or too slow) and we had a really nice time. I'm sure we'll do this again soon!

I have some pictures that I've taken over the past few weeks, and I hope to have more as the trees really change colors. In the meantime, enjoy!

Carrie

Carrie and Jeremy (don't worry... these are unused tracks that they're on!)

the boys playing football in the front yard. Andrew thinks he's as big as Jeremy and Tyler!

Tyler

Jeremy calls it a Touchdown!

Andrew on the slide

JoAnn on the bike and Andrew playing with the bat and ball

Shelby

taking a break... reading books on the front porch swing

Just stuff

Ok, I'd like to clarify something here. I am generally not a complainer. Or at least I try not to be. However, after reading my last post, someone called me on it, and said something about my "bad luck post." Honest, y'all... I did NOT intend for it to be a "bad luck post", but rather one that shows that while we all have times when we are walking through storms, God is always there to see us through. He has done that for me and my family, and is continuing to do so. So, please forgive me for unintentionally making my life out to be all "Doom and Gloom" because it really isn't! I am truly blessed, and it's all because of my Faithful Friend, Jesus!

Now, on to something else. The weekend ahead... what are your plans? My kids have a 4-day weekend from school, so they'll be home tomorrow. That means that I will be able to sleep an hour longer in the morning. Yay! I don't know what we'll do with our day yet, though. Heather is off tomorrow too, so we'll find something fun to do, I'm sure. I am going to a scrapbooking crop tomorrow night (thanks for the invite, Cathy... I'm glad I can finally make it!) I have a lot of catching up to do on my scrapbooks, and this is a great time for me to go.
I promised JoAnn's Mommy that she could stay with us overnight Saturday night, so she will come around lunchtime, and Carrie has a softball game at 3:00 in Forest. Other than that, I don't think we have any other plans for Saturday. We have fun when JoAnn is here overnight. The whole "nite nite routine" is so different with a 4 year old in the house!
Ricky has to work Sunday (very unusual, but it's overtime!) so we'll do the whole Sunday/Church thing without him. Sometimes, if Ricky's not going to church, I don't go either, but this week I am going. I want to make sure that the kids get to Sunday School, and I really like the song that we're singing in the choir this week. It's called "The Cross Said It All" and it was the title of the Living Cross several years ago. It is a very pretty,very powerful song.
Maybe after lunch Sunday we'll go walking again (it's becoming a Sunday tradition, I think!) and then Carrie will go to her CORE group at church in the evening. So, not too much planned for the weekend... just enough to keep me from going stir-crazy, but not enough to wear me out! I'll bet we'll go "trainin' at some point over the weekend, for sure!

I hope that you all have a great weekend!
C:

Long time, no see

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted. Sorry 'bout that, y'all. Things have been kind of out of the ordinary around here lately, and I just haven't had much to say, or the inclination to blog. I think things are swinging back around now, though!
We ran into a few weeks of bad luck, it seems. First, one of the kids I take care of isn't going to be here for a while. Andrew is everyone's buddy, and we miss his sweet smile. His not being here means a loss of income, too, which hurts our bank account. (Pray that his daddy finds a job soon!)
Our Expedition decided that it needed a break, so it broke. Well, not completely, but enough that we only felt comfortable driving it VERY short distances... like to Ricky's job and back home. That's it. The problem is fixable, but it costs money to fix it, and well... we just didn't have it. Hopefully we'll be able to fix it this weekend. We'll see. In the meantime, we're driving the van, which is almost in as bad of shape as the truck. At least it runs! I'm glad that gas prices are starting to go back down some... that helps!
Not only did the truck break down, my power supply for my laptop died. That's fixable too, but again... no money. I miss my laptop though... I have all sorts of stuff saved on there that are not on the dinosaur family computer. Hopefully I can replace the power supply for that soon!
We've had our normal bills and financial obligations, and broken down stuff doesn't help any! Not to mention some discouraging news from my doctor... it's been one thing right after another!
BUT... things can change, and they are!
Some of the financial burdens are starting to work out, thanks to answered prayers. Hopefully things will continue to look up for us!
I have decided that I will not let bad health get in the way of my life, so I've changed my diet and have started exercising. Now those of you who know me well know that I am bad about starting a diet/exercise program and within a couple of weeks, I quit. Well, I am determined to keep it up this time. I want to get off of the 4 prescriptions that I have to take! I want to feel better, and it would be great to look better, too, and the key to doing this is to lose some weight. So... for the past 9-out-of-10 days, I have been walking (either outside or on a treadmill at the YMCA) or swimming. Does anyone have a Wii Fit that they bought and don't like? If so, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands! :)
I have been eating my Cheerios for breakfast (trying to test out the commercial) and being very careful about the rest of the stuff that goes in my mouth, and I have actually lost some weight. I have a "target weight" that I'd like to reach before I go back to the doctor at the end of October... we'll see what happens! Please keep me in your prayers!
Otherwise, we're still running out almost every night for church activities and baseball and softball games for Jeremy and Carrie, but the games will be over by the end of the month... just in time for bastketball to start for Carrie. Oh well... I don't mind! (and basketball is my favorite!)
Lots of people are asking about Morgan, and I'm happy to say that she seems to be doing great! :) She's excited about her SIL's new baby on the way (due in December) She's settled in for the long haul now, and is happy.
I am running out of things to say, so I think I will go outside and sit on the porch with my book, and enjoy the crisp Fall air for a while. I'll post again soon, I promise!
Still smilin', even through the storms...
Christy C: