Happy Birthday, Titus!!

Titus wasn't a fan of having a Birthday that fell on a Sunday. However, it happens. Ha ha 

We first started celebrating on Friday night. We had been working at the church for our Hillbilly Harvest and took a break for supper. We took him to Shilohs and he got a free desert. 

He dug into it before I could get a picture. I never make my kids share their birthday treats. If they want to eat it all then, I let them. Titus isn't my stingy kid though. He will rarely not share so he insisted everyone have some. 

Saturday morning we were in a frenzy preparing for the Hillbilly Harvest. I hadn't even bought Titus his birthday gifts yet. So I sent Maynard out to do the shopping. 

We spent the rest of the day at church and I will probably do a separate blog about the Hillbilly Harvest. It deserves its own post. Ha ha

Sunday morning Titus was raring to open his presents. 

We suprised him with a school T-shirt. 

He asked for a skateboard and cool shirts. 

Beef jerky is always a favorite gift of his. 

After church we of course went to eat Mexican. 

The only thing he wanted to do for his Birthday, was to go skating with friends from school. We decided to wait until Thursday because they play Christian music that night.  

He had several friends show up and they had a blast. Even if they stayed at the arcade games more than they skated. He received a few gifts and money. Titus is also my child that can stretch a dollar or choose not to spend his money. He holds on to it forever. He has bought a few things, but he doesn't know what he wants yet. 

So Titus is 9 years old now. He is the sweetest yet most mischievous child I have. The good always outweighs the bad in him and ya can't stay mad at him too long. I am proud of the boy he has become. 

Titus is one of my babies that never changed. He still looks the same to me. 

Fall Break 2016

My crew was so ready for Fall Break this year. We spent the first few days catching up on housework. I say "we", but I mean me. 

Rueban and Tara came in for a few days. We went hiking at the park one day and then Tara invited the kids over to swim at their motel.

We hang out and let the kids swim for awhile then we headed home. 

Tara and Rueban stopped by the next morning and picked up the kids so they could swim again. It was nice to have a couple hours to myself. 

Our last evening together we had pizza and then went skating. It was my kids first time to go skating. They had a really hard time at first. Amelia and Titus finally caught on pretty good, but Josiah had an awful time. 

She didn't need the walker for too long. 

Poor guy!

Uncle Rueban helping Titus. 

Josiah gave up on skating and tried his hand at playing pool with Maynard. 

I posted the most funniest video ever on YouTube. See Josiah's skating blooper. 

 https://youtu.be/4LwvvQvP9_Y

By the end of the evening they were all sore and bruised and ready to go. 

We stopped for ice cream and they all wanted a hot bath and go to bed. Lol. 

That pretty much summed up our Fall Break. We were so glad to have Tara and Rueban here that week. 

Parker's Family Fall Pictures

Had our family pictures made this fall by Sarah Adams Photography 3. Just wanted to put them on my blog for safe keeping and to share. 

I believe this one ended up being everyone's favorite of all of us. 

(This one had most people thinking it was a pregnancy announcement) 

I liked how this one turned out. 

And because I love doing comparison pictures.....

I was happy with how they turned out. We need to quit taking so long to get our pictures taken. We chose casual this round and it was stress-free. I loved it!!

Maynard took this picture of me before we got started. 

I posted this on IG announcing my 25lbs weight loss. I am gradually losing my will power and I need to get back on track. I have eaten too much Halloween candy and bread here lately. 

Josiah and Titus compete at JR Convention 2016

Our school hosted JR Convention this year for the first time. It just so happened that Josiah and Titus were old enough to compete. Titus really wasn't too interested in doing much. He just wanted to do anything in athletics basically. Josiah signed up for about too much and we had to work with him because he couldn't handle all of it or get it completed in time. 

His biggest project he worked on was in wood construction. He made a cabin out of wood scraps. 

It turned out great and he was really proud of it. 

He made this to show the judges his steps in creating the cabin. He ended up placing 4th in this division. 

I didn't get hardly any pictures at the convention because I was working the concession stand and keeping the bathroom stocked all day. I didn't see any of the kids get to compete. It was that busy!!  Everyone was run ragged by the time it was over, but it was oh so fun.  

Finally, it was awards service. It's what the kids had worked so hard for. I did get a few pictures of that, but not many good ones. 

Josiah getting a medal. 

Titus getting his medal. 

Titus was pumped. He wasn't getting many medals at first and was a little sad looking. He finally started getting called and all was well in the world again. You can guarantee that next year he will be ready to compete. He wasn't sure what to expect this year, but he'll be ready next year. Wait and see!!

Here's what all Titus won the medals for. 

Participation in Athletics

1st Bible bowl

4th Basketball

2nd Punt Kick Throw relay

1st large ensemble

3rd small ensemble

Josiah placed in:

1st Large Ensemble

3rd Small Ensemble

5th Duet

5th Solo

2nd Spelling

1st Bible Bowl

2nd Pace Bowl

4th Woodworking 

Participation in Athletics

These awards don't count what their school won as a whole either. 

LCA done amazing. I was so proud of every student that competed and done so well. 

It was great, friendly, Christian competition. 

I'm also proud of the students who were too old to compete and spent their whole day working hard and assisting wherever they were needed. I had the best concession workers ever!!! 

Now that we know more about convention, we will be better prepared next year. Looking forward to it. 

Suprise Housewarming Shower

I am a very suspicious person. (That's a better word for nosey). 

Anyhow.......I just about got the suprise of my life a few weeks ago. It would have been a complete suprise, but someone happened to make a comment that made me wonder if something was going on. 

Then at school, the secretary passed out notes to staff members that invited them to a staff lunch the next day, which was on a Saturday. I immediately, was suspicious. So, I'll admit that I read another teacher's note to see if it said the same thing as mine. Ha ha 

I still wasn't sure. I began texting my sister Melissa that I had a feeling my church was having me a shower the next day. We laughed and talked about how silly I would feel the next day when I showed up and it was in fact a staff dinner. The whole time I talked to her though I kept telling her I was suspicious of her and that she was probably in on it too. She just laughed and told me I was dumb. 

I didn't tell Maynard about the staff dinner to see if he would get antsy about asking me what we were going to do the next day. Just to see if he knew about it. He never said anything, so I figured he was clueless too. His text messages on his phone checked out ok too. Ha ha ha

So Saturday, we pulled up in the church parking lot and my kids began recognizing my family's vehicles. Then, I knew my hunch was right. 

The very sister I couldn't trust was inside grinning from ear to ear at me. 

Everything was beautiful!!

All the decorations on the table were my gifts as well!  Talk about loving the decorations!!!

We had tons of food and presents. 

I think what suprised me most was I had no idea that my mom had planned the shower. She had my friend Heather helping her on this end with the decorations and such. Then I felt jealous that my Mom and sister had been texting and chit chatting back and forth with her. I told them I don't share my friend. Lol

But I was worried why I was getting a shower and yet 2 other families had just moved the weekend before in the church. So when I found out my Mom was the one who planned it, it all made more sense to me. 

I had a blast opening gifts. I got lots of nice things. We've been married 17 1/2 years and most what I use still is stuff from our wedding shower. 

The boys got western decor for their room and Amelia got pink chevron decor for her room. They were as excited as Maynard and I was. 

I got all kinds of kitchen stuff. I had mentioned to someone about wanting Pioneer Woman pots, pans, and dishes. 

We were beyond blessed and so thankful for our family and friends to come together and bless us like they did. 

We will be moving soon. We only lack a few piddly things to finish. 

I am loving the wall colors and the floors make the house look so much more spacious. 

I will update once we get moved or at least get started.