Boy, do we know how to P-A-R-T-Y!!!

September is a big month for birthdays around our house. My Dad, Melissa, Hanna, and Ash all occupy the month of September.

Good excuse for a get together.

This year we combined the girls' birthday party. They got to pick 2 friends a piece to spend the night with them.

Mom, of course, made their birthday cakes.

Hanna's face cracks me up. She must be surprised that Ash can blow out so many candles!

Both girls wanted soccer cakes. . . so Mom made them a cake a piece. She's the BEST!

Next, time for presents.

Y'all know what else happens on Saturdays? College football!

Kara Jane gave Hanna a necklace that said "Best Friends". She has one part of it, Hanna has the other. . . so sweet!

Maddie gave the same thing to Ash!

Later, we headed outside to tie dye aprons. MaeMae got to tie dye an old shirt of Jon's. She was so excited she got to hang out with the big kids.

How does a very unorganized person keep things from going chaotic with permanent tie dye ink? We'd all just take turns and say "pass the bottle". It actually went pretty smoothly considering I had 7 girls around the table.

Next, it was time for "make your own pizza"

The cool thing about this slumber party. . . Hanna's 2 friends and Ash's 2 friends were sisters. It's really neat! These girls are all so.very.sweet.

By the end of the night Skyler became a snaggle tooth. I pulled a loose tooth for her.. . . too funny!

I learned that polyester does not dye as well as cotton. Our aprons didn't turn out quite as bright as I had hoped. . .but the girls loved it, and that's what counts!

It was so much fun. I ended up not going to bed until 12:30 that night, and then got up extra early because I knew I would have 7 heads (including my own) of hair to fix! I also had to teach Sunday School that morning. I ran purely on adrenaline (which just gives me such a rush). It was so fun! I can't wait until we do another slumber party. . . .the sound of little girls giggling is one of my favorite sounds in the world.

Speaking of sweet girls. . . my niece, Noelle, had been calling my Mom wanting Mama to help her plan a surprise party for my sister.

Although Melissa knew about the surprise, she was a great faker. . . maybe cause she has a Ph.D in "fake" (her words folks, not mine:))

Alec looked out for Melissa and Scott

This year I wished Melissa a happy 31st birthday. She's not 31, she's 32. I think I was hoping if I made her 31 this year, then come Jan. on my birthday I could just turn 33 again and not 34. . . wishful thinking, huh?

Mama had GREAT party games planned. . . like pin the tail on the donkey. There is a good joke here folks for this picture, but I'm just going to keep it to myself.

And, what party isn't complete without a pinata?

All the kids went head first for the candy!

What a fun day! I'm so blessed to be apart of such an amazing family! Sometimes we're all mad as spit at one another. Sometimes we all laugh so hard our bellies hurt! Sometimes we all cry for one another. . . but one thing is ALWAYS for sure. . . we love each other like crazy . . . and. . . there is NEVER, EVER a dull moment!

Double Digits Have Arrived

For Ash's birthday we decided to take the school day off and head to the movies. On the agenda? Ramona and Beezus. One of the cutest movies EVER!

Alec is growing by leaps and bounds and really needed some clothes. . . so we had to go pick up a few things for him.

Ash's request for her birthday dinner was barbeque and a cookie cake. I usually cook their birthday meals. However, since I don't know how to make barbeque I had to go pick up it (honestly, ALL the kids chose barbeque for the brithday dinners this year. . . I think it was so they'd get something other than Mama's cooking)

Where has ALL the time gone? Time. . . please, please, please slow down!

She still isn't too big for her Daddy to hold her!

GiGi and Granddaddy came over to open presents. Cookie and Grandaddy are BIG buddies!

Ash got a Life of Faith doll for her birthday. These dolls have books that come with them. They are sort of like American Girl dolls except better. . . because with all and all problems they encounter in life. . . they turn to Christ.

Before buying these dolls and researching them I came across something that really surprised me. American Girl supports BOTH abortion and homosexuality. Sadly, I'm normally not a big boycotter. . . but as I grow in my relationship with Christ I am becoming that way. If my money is all His anyway. . . and I spent it on something that directly contradicts His Word. . .isn't that wrong? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not being judgemental at all. . . just something I've been pondering.

Sorry, I digress. . . back to my girl in her double digits.

I'm so thankful that at 10 years old Ash still loves to play with dolls. I'm thankful she's not some boy crazy little girl trying to be like a teenager. I'm thankful she wants to dress modestly. I'm thankful when I tell her about American Girl and what they support she's flabergasted. I'm thankful for her heart for the LORD. She told me just the other night, "Mom, I'm going to do my Bible study every night before I go to bed. I know I will be tired the next morning, but it's worth it to spend time with God." I pray this seed in her heart will grow and bloom and not be choked out by this world.

She's 7, but tomorrow she needs to be 5

For Hanna Boo's birthday this year her request for her birthday dinner was barbecue (surprise, surprise) and this strawberry cake that my friend, Jenn. B. makes for me every year for my birthday.

Of course, I was delighted to make it for Hanna.

She wanted to light her own candles.

Oh, time is ticking so fast and that seems to be so much of my focus these days. . . how quickly it is passing us by. . . pretty soon 7 candles will be 16, then 18, then 21. . . I'm getting weepy already.

I told her though that since Mom is having a hard time with everyone getting older, that when she wakes up in the morning she has to be back 5 years old again!

She didn't buy it! She was so excited about turning 7.

She, like Ash, got a Life of Faith doll along with some CDs to tell about her doll's life. She was thrilled!

That girl LOVES her Daddy!

5 girls + 2 friends + 5 fingers = One FUN Girls Day Out!

What a fun girls day my girls and I got to have.

Faith has been wanting some 5 fingers for some time now. She just had her birthday, so we decided to go shopping.

I was so excited!!! I knew my girls would be thrilled, so I kept it as a surprise about our girls' day out.

Faith and her girls came to Ash's soccer game, then we all headed to Macon.

First, we stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch. We had good food, good conversation, good laughs, and good fun!

We then headed over to Run Fit Sports.

Poor sales guy. . . although he was wearing a really cool pair of 5 fingers. . . he didn't have a clue as to how to fit someone in them.

The "Rayna" in me kicked in and I just had to take over and say, "can we try this size, can we try that size?" Faith and I both knew WAYYYY more than dude about the shoes.

It was funny and we had some really good laughs.

We then headed back to G-town and everyone knows that a good girls' day out HAD to end with dessert.

So. . . back to Chick-fil-A we went. . . for milk shakes!!!!!!!!!

Then we headed to my house and showed Jon Faith's next shoes! She's so rocking them! The kind she got is actually my favorite. . . it keeps all the stuff out that can get into your shoes.

MaeMae wanted to show off her shoes too . . check out the silvery glitter! Maybe 5 Fingers will start making some glitter shoes too:)

Afterwards we traded off kids and the kids got to spend the night with one another.

We're so blessed by our friends that share our same last name!!! It's such a rarity when the Dads, Moms, and kiddos ALL enjoy one another! The LORD has blessed us with many people to share our lives with. . . we are grateful!

I can't wait until our next girls' day out!

Pumpkin Carving

Oh Fall, how I love thee.. .

I remember when I was little and we'd go to Faye and Pruett's (my grandparents) and we'd carve Jack-O-Lanterns.

And roast pumpkin seeds. . .

And now, that tradition has been passed down to my children. . .

Except, we use kitchen knives rather than hunting knives.

And, some of use patterns rather than our imaginations.

And, no scary faces. . .

While we were a carvin', Jon was a grillin'

Some really good burgers and hot dogs.

What a GREAT night of family fun!

Run Girl Run retires!

She's been with me for over 2 years now.

She's my trademark.

She makes me feel all dressed up when I have no make-up on.

She makes me feel like I smell halfway decent when I've just run my fanny off.

She makes me feel as if I run like the wind.

But. . . it was time. . . .

Know how I know?

She'd gotten to the point where she started to get twisted on me.

I can't take twisting.

Just aggravates me.

Makes me feel all out of whack.

I think. . . it may just slow.me.down.

Thankfully I'm NOT talking about a person here.

I'm talking about my running hat. I passed her down to my mini-me!

I opted for a black hat with pink. . . shows less dirt. . . definitely what I need.

Don't worry, she's being taken care of very well by mini-me. . .

Mini-me has introduced her to the sport of soccer.

I think she's happier. . . because now she lies on the head of a real athlete.

My First Experience Ordering a Cream-Filled Donut

Having a dear, sweet friend like Faith, I knew at some point in my life I was bound to order a cream-filled donut.

Don't get me wrong. I love a donut. I crave a donut. If one is within my sight, I will eat a donut. However, I've actually never really ordered a cream-filled one.

Probably just cause I really like the plain ones . . . that's all.

Well, it was time for a girls' night out to celebrate one of my favorite people - Faith. Funny thing is we share the same last name, yet we have no relation.

Oh yeah, we DO have a relation. . . we are sisters in Christ!

So, Lisa, Jenn B. and I opted to get Faith cream-filled donuts for her birthday cake.

The kiddos and I pull up to Dunkin' Donuts, and I say, I want 3 cream-filled donuts (yes, there were 4 of us; however, I wasn't going to eat one. . . I knew if it was in front of me, I'd dive in head first).

The lady asked me, "Bavarian cream, vanilla cream, Boston cream?" She probably said a few more, but by this time I was in panic.

I looked at Alec with a shear look of panic, "Oh no!!! Which one do I order? Which one is her favorite?"

Alec opted for Boston cream.

Boston cream, it was.

Thankfully Faith is not picky when it comes to her cream-filled donuts. She likes them ALL!!! Good deal. . . because boy was I sweatin' it!

Oh what a dear friend I have! Words can't even express how much this sweet, funny, sincere lady who loves the LORD means to me! She and her family are absolutely PRECIOUS to me! I'm so thankful I get to share life with her.

Happy Birthday, Faith! It was a blast!!! Now, we all just have to find a night when we can celebrate Lisa!