September Recap

While updating on all of the bigger events and holidays, I wanted to be sure to include the little moments too!  And rather than do that with one humongous post, I opted to do it by month.  I have no idea how much of life actually got blogged prior to the fall, but I thought starting in September was reasonable!  I look at these pictures and it is amazing how much the kids have changed in just a matter of months!

I enjoyed some Friday afternoon patio time with my girls before getting the kids off the bus!  Not to worry - Brad had come home early from work...I didn't leave the boys at home by themselves :)

Jack has decided that Hank is his best friend - it is always so entertaining when they play together!  Sweet boys!

Stella and Katie - such a sweet pic!  Slow down time!  They already look so different than they did here...

And college football was in full force! We got together with the neighbors to watch some football - and the kiddos sported some Auburn gear!

We also got some hikes in!  On this particular day we went further than planned, but the boys did a good job!

I snapped this of the crazies before heading down to the bus one morning! Love it!

Katie had her bridging ceremony from Daisies to Brownies!

My soccer season started!  This was when Jenn and I were headed home from our first game, I think.

I managed to get some good runs in!  Boy, do I miss getting outside and running.  I can't wait for some milder, rain-free days this winter to get out and run!

On Meme's birthday, I went to visit with her for a little while before she headed out to lunch with my mom!  I love this picture I snapped when she and Ryan were playing peek a boo through my keyring!

I started a Bible study at church!  It was a really great one!

A week of Katie's outfits for school :)  Clearly we still hold Matilda Jane near and dear to our hearts!

These boys love a stop at the park anytime!

These pictures were from Katie's Spirit Week at school!  Neon Day, Cowgirl Day, Wacky Day, Decades Day, and Spirit Day!

That Friday night was the Fun Fest at her school!  It is always so fun - the weather was perfect this year!  Jack had a blast doing some of the inflatables too (mainly the obstacle course one).  Next year I need to remember to have Katie wear a super bright color that is not green so I can find her more easily!

I got my hair done!  I think I am going to do this color again - looking at this picture makes me ready for a dark color!

I also got to go on Katie's field trip!  It was so fun to spend a day with her and her class!

Brad and I ended the month with a date night!  Dinner at Whiskey Kitchen and then a concert - Rob Thomas and Counting Crows!

I'd say September was a keeper! 

Growing Group

Each football season, when watching a game with friends, we make sure to get a picture of all the kids together.  The group keeps growing!!  This year, there are six crazies - and let me say.  It is impossible to get them all looking and smiling and sitting.  This was about as good as we could get.  Maybe we will try again in the next few weeks.  Oh my - such sweet friends!

 And as you can imagine, looking at the "good" picture, the outtakes were hilarious.  This is probably one of the better ones :)  Lots of eyes closed, looking other ways, and even a few smiles!

I love seeing all the kids together!  And so many girls!  Jack and Ryan are surrounded!  I love that all these sweet ones are growing up together :) Oh, and WAR EAGLE!!!!!

 

Here they are together the last couple years...

2013 and 2012

 

First Football Weekend

Boy, is football season fun!  I am sure our kids are a little confused with all of the Auburn AND Tennessee cheering!  Just today, Jack was jumping around with an Auburn shaker yelling, "GO TENNESSEE!!" - pretty entertaining to say the least!

 

The kids were pretty excited about football last weekend.  And it was perfect that Auburn played on Saturday and Tennessee played on Sunday! 

 

Here the kids are ready to cheer on Auburn!  Ryan looks a little unsure :)

 I was going to take a picture of Katie with the banner and Jack wanted in as well - precious!

I love that Katie was doing the "WAAARRRRRRRR EAGLE, HEY!!" at kickoff :)  And then she went back to watching a movie on the ipad!

 And Brad and I were able to get our first date out without any children!  We weren't sure what to do with ourselves - we weren't interrupted by kids or hauling anyone to the bathroom or doing whatever it takes to get a child to eat or making sure a cup of milk wasn't flung on the floor.  Instead, we went to a sports bar and watched the rest of the Auburn game and several other games.  It was great to get some drinks and food and talk! 

 Proof that it was just us!

And we had planned to go to Arrington Vineyards or something along those lines after the game, but it started POURING down rain, so we just watched more football and then went home a little earlier.  We are such party animals aren't we??   Here we are before heading home! 

 Sunday was gameday for the Vols and Katie was so excited!  I love that all the kids have such cute clothes to support our teams :)

 She has already said she wants to be a Tennessee cheerleader.  We are in trouble.

 And then Katie suggested doing a boys picture, so here it is!

 And then a girl picture (with a side of Jack) - of course Sadie had to be in the picture since she is a girl!

 Jack likes to wear Brad's hats...in this one he looks like he is asking Brad how it looks on him!  So funny.

 And I think Katie looks so cute wearing a hat - love this!

 And then she put it on Sadie.  And it was actually pretty darn cute.

 I love this one that I got of Sadie.  It is focused on her freckled nose and she just looks like the happiest dog ever!

 And at multiple times during the game, Brad and both kids were jumping up and down yelling, "GO TENNESSEE!!" - it was quite insane.  And then a child would be tossed in the air.  Like this.  And he wanted to do it over and over, of course!

 And Katie wanted in on the fun...and that is certainly more of a work out!

 And Ryan was just a calm, chill little dude the whole time.  It sure will be interesting when he is mobile and jumping and yelling!

Love all of these cutie pies - and so glad that they seem to enjoy some sports.  Not that they have a choice :)

Such fun watching all that football.  We didn't watch nearly as much this weekend but thankfully both our teams won again.  Hope that continues for everyone's sake!

 

Finally Football Time!

This post was supposed to happen on Saturday - oops :)  Here it is anyway, though!  Only a few days late...

 

Ready for Football Saturday!

 And their attire for a rare college football Sunday!

And we now have the banner hanging on the mantle to greet everyone (and I love looking at it on a daily basis...and it is nice for a change since I had the 4th of July one up until just last week)!

 Here is the Tennessee side...

 And here is the better side...I mean the Auburn side :)

I am so glad it is finally football season - at least for now!  I am sure I will be singing a different tune come, ohhhh, October or so :) 

 

SEC Tailgate

Bring on some football season!  That's right!  It is that time of year...time to break out the football team décor (I am sure a post will come on all of that) and cute outfits!  A couple weeks ago, I headed with friends to the SEC Tailgate!  Tanja and I have been to this together for four years now.  I have to say this year's was a little disappointing.  I still had a fun time, but it was at a new location right in the heart of downtown Nashville and I feel like that changed the dynamic.  It was really crowded and the lines for a drink were really long and there weren't as many BBQ restaurants (and the ones that were there closed up shop way earlier than in the past).  Of course it was fun ringing in yet another football season (and I got to get out without any of the kids - amazing!)! 

 

Here is a cute picture of Tanja and myself!

And a picture of me with Tanja and Clair!  Please excuse the fact that you can sort of see through my shirt - glad I stepped it up in the bra department that evening - nursing bras don't usually offer much support! HA!

And a group shot!

 And then a cute picture of Nick and Tanja!

After we finished at the event, we walked down the street and grabbed a late dinner at a rooftop restaurant (I, of course, can't remember the name of it) - it was so cool to look across the river at the Titans stadium and across the street at Hard Rock Cafe down below!  Thanks, Brad, for letting me have a few hours out of the house!

 

WAR EAGLE!!!!