Playing Catch Up

It has been a long time since I have posted but it's just because we have been so busy. This may be long but it will be the "major happenings" from the last couple months and hopefully I can start keeping up again!

October 31
Fall festival at church...so fun! Horse and hay rides outside and other games and snacks inside!

Caden and his best friend Caleb riding Batman! They were so excited!

Noah rode the farmer

Bob and Larry

November 7
Caden turned 4! After just finishing his first soccer season, he of course wanted a soccer birthday party. It was so much fun! I found some cheap blow up soccer balls (which were perfect especially since there were some little ones at the party) and borrowed a friends pop up nets and we had a blast playing in the gym at church! We also had a soccer ball pinata which the kids kicked around until it broke open. It was the first time we had done one and those things are stronger than I thought! Lol

Caught him sneaking some pineapple!

My big 4 year old!

Thanksgiving Week
Jimmy and I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip. The boys stayed with my parents for the week while we went with some people from our church to Mexico. I didn't quite know what to expect on the trip and didn't really know exactly what we were going to be doing but glad God provided the way and opened all the doors for us to go. It had been awhile since I was on a mission trip but I am so glad that we went. The purpose of our trip was to minister to and encourage the full time missionaries that are there. These missionaries live throughout Mexico and don't get to see eachother but maybe once a year. They work with indigenous people groups and some live in small villages. They get together once a year to fellowship, plan, and pray with eachother. While we were there, Jimmy was the "camp pastor". He led worship and did the devotional with everyone for four days. Also, when they broke up into groups to plan, etc. he was in charge of the youth with another college aged guy from our church and did lessons with them as well. (They also did a lot of playing football, soccer, goofing off and pranks) ;) The rest of us took care of the other MK's. They were very sweet children and easy to love on. When the missionaries were done planning each evening we would get to fellowship with them. We met some really great people and just listening to some of their stories was amazing. You could see how God has worked in their lives and in the lives of the people in their villages.  We gave the camp staff the day off on Thanksgiving and all the women cooked in the kitchen that day. We had a great American Thanksgiving meal and got to spend Thanksgiving with some very special people. Most of the missionaries left the next day (the day before we were leaving) so we got to go out and visit the market and tour around a little bit. We also got to eat in the mexican town we were in when we first got there and before we left. That food was really good. (much better than the camp food) One of the other things that we were able to do for the missionaries is bring each family a suitcase full of American goodies that they can not find in Mexico. A lot of it was snack foods like little debbies, jellybeans, and beef jerky. But we also brought new clothes for the kids and bath and body works for the women. They were SO excited and appreciative of everything! One of teenagers said it was like Christmas! It was a great trip!



December
Caden had his first preschool choir performance! He was SO excited to get to go on the big stage at church and sing! He did a great job!

 Late December
 We drove down to Orlando for Christmas this year to visit Jimmy's family. It was the first time we had driven that far with the boys. I was a little worried about how they would do but we broke the drive up in half and spent the night in a hotel. They did better than I thought so I was thankful for that. We enjoyed the time we got to spend with the family and the boys loved playing with their cousins (even though they are teenagers) While we were there we also got to visit with some friends!

best friends and our boys

We got to see Jeff, Sheena and Lexi too!

at the zoo

Playing lego airplanes at Abuela's

This is how Noah played legos!

Christmas day footabll game

Christmas night bowling fun

 When we got home, my parents came over and we did Christmas again (this time complete with gifts from Santa).

Thank you Nana and Papa!

He loved his new blanket from Gigi!

January
Had some nicer days and actually was able to get outside some! Of course the boys wanted to take their new gator out! I'm probably very biased but they are so cute and I just LOVE when they are playing and having fun together!

having fun

 

He was just as happy holding on walking behind

Even when he tripped and his brother kept going!

Loved waving at me everytime they went around

Pure joy

A week later, we had 5 inches of snow!

February
Valentine's Day at school is always fun with parties, sweet treats and high schoolers coming to visit! Each year they make boxes for the kids. Sometimes they are very elaborate! These were Caden and Noah's this year.

This year my Valentine made this shirt without me knowing or seeing it that morning. He shows up walking down the hallway at church wearing it and gives me a kiss. Love him!