Halloween and Big Trip

Well, a lot has happened since I last updated. We had Halloween and a big trip! Here is Pumpkin #2 that we carved:  

A couple days after that we picked Mr. J up from the airport. The kids missed him so much that they just wanted to be with him constantly. Little J just wouldn't leave his side! I don't think he minded too much!

The next day we left on our big adventure to MS for the wedding. Here are a few (okay, maybe more than a few) of the 150 pictures that J took on our long drive to the good ole' South. I guess this is the world through J's eyes:

The first day we were there was Halloween. We got to go to the library and hear a Halloween story and color and play, aka: precious time with Grandmoma:

Unfortunately we had storms that night so Batman and a Bride trick-or-treated inside the house. By far the best way to trick-or-treat! We went from room to room and met some really nice "neighbors" that filled the kids' bags with candy. The "neighbors" looked astonishingly similar to Grandaddy, Grandmoma, daddy, and Auntie S! ;)

The next day was The Big Day! We are so happy for Uncle S and his new bride. We drove to Memphis so they could be sealed in the Memphis, TN temple for time and eternity. We waited in the waiting room  for a few minutes until it was time to go in.

 A big shout- out to Auntie S for keeping the kids for us. I hear she got a pretty good work out playing freeze tag. What a champ!

 I even had a surprise show up: my mommy! I couldn't figure out why my dad would drive all the way to Arkansas to see an old friend! Those tricksters! 

It was a beautiful ceremony and lovely to be there with parents- both mine and Mr. J's. The sealer said a few things which I have thought about a lot since then. He spoke to us about how life is hard. It is meant to be that way. We are supposed to have trials and hardships and challenges. What we have to learn is that through the Gospel and through Jesus Christ we can find joy in life and triumph through each challenge. He talked about being so close with your spouse to make it through the challenges together. In other words  "cleaving" to your spouse. I think those are really wise words to live by in a marriage. Doing so is not easy, but so very worth it! I enjoyed being in the bride's room helping my new sister-in-law. I'm really inspired by her and so proud of the newly weds!

After the ceremony we went to Bone Fish Grill for a nice meal before everyone headed home.

 to be continued....

Busy Bees

We Wild Things have been very busy bees! Here we are getting ready to bake something:

J's choice of attire to go pick up M:

J had a field trip to the fire station. It was really neat. I enjoyed it as well. We got to ride the bus-which was really super exciting for J. He said, "Oh wow!"

 Here he is "driving" a big fire truck:

 By this time he was ready to go and I was trying to get a pic of him in front of the shiny red truck-but he wasn't having it!

 The only reason he took this one is because his teacher asked him to.

Later that day he was being a real free fireman...

Then later he was a fireman at Miss P's birthday party. Isn't she the cutest peacock?

 Blurry pic of M playing "Stick the nose on Elmo." She won this game!

 The next day we went to Jollay Orchards. It was a lot of fun. 

 Fun hay ride:

 Picked some yummy apples:

 Can't tell here, but J really enjoyed the apple picking. 

 Tractor bikes:

 We also got to pet some farm animals. M enjoyed it but was a little timid about it. J had no interest in them at all. This cutie let me touch his nose and ears and everything. 

Had my first ever panic attack on this contraption. J didn't much like it either. He was real quiet and then told me real softly, "mom, I don't like this thing." Needless to say we didn't stay on too long. M was embarrassed by me I think. An issue she will quickly have to get over. Heights and I just don't get along. 

 My little farm animals:

 There was even live musical entertainment:

  After we played on the playground there and were thoroughly frozen we got some hot apple cider and then left to go run our errands. It was a lot of fun for us. A day I will hold dear in my pile of memories.

And here is a sight I like to see: M reading to her brother!