HEADED TO ILLINOIS

The beautiful scenery on our Christmas trip home. This was in southern Tennessee.

I had to get a photo of this....our view as we started to cross Singing River Bridge. I would have never thought we would have seen this in Alabama!

MCGEE PUMPKIN FARM

After living in the Shoals for 3 years we finally made a trip to McGee Pumpkin Farm for an afternoon of "fun on the farm". For a girl who grew-up participating in 4-H "visiting" a farm seems odd. I have always fed animals and seen the farm from a practical viewpoint. I gotta say, it was enjoyable watching the boys feed the goats and chase the chickens.

Max enjoyed watching the animals eat from our hands. He even got in on the action a couple of times.

"Hey Dad, what's on your head?" Two of my guys gazing at each other, precious.

A gorgeous autumn Alabama afternoon!

I can always count on Jackson to give me a great photo op!

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY BAY!

The day we returned from the 6th grade trip was Bay's 12th birthday. We had celebrated mine during the week in DC. The only request Bay had for his big day was an Illini birthday cake. Being a big Illinois fan myself, that was an order I was eager to fill. He did have a special request. Yummy, banana flavored icing on part of the cake. Making a special wish and blowing out the candles. I think he wished for a cell phone. Well, wish granted, after years of begging he is now the owner of a cell phone and all of the big boy responsibilites that come with it.

I think the cake turned out pretty cool, if I may say so myself.

SOCCER SEASON IN THE SHOALS

Jackson was on the teal soccer team through the Muscle Shoals Rec Program. He is such a good player and really gives it his "all". The last game was particularly exciting. It was against a team that had the same number of loses and we were battling for the top spot. It was coming down to the wire and the score was tied. Jackson got the ball and ran it down the field while being pursued by the opposing team. In a last second play, he kick the ball straight into the GOAL!!! We won! What a play! The whole crowd cheering, I jumped around and little Max clapped. It was AWESOME!!

TRICK OR TREAT...DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK!

We love autumn and Halloween! I don't know if it's because my birthday is in October or just the mysterious magic of the season, but there is just something special about October. Picking out the costumes and decorating our house has become a welcome tradition in our family.

This year Trick or Treat was a little different than usual. Joe had surgery for a kidney stone the day of Trick or Treat, so I took the kids to the hospital to see their Dad. Not only did he think they looked great, but so did everyone else at ECM. So I guess, "Trick or Treat" really does depend on who you ask.

It's our precious little monster!!!

Jackson the vampire, Max our little monster and Bay a Union Civil War soldier.

There is just something about a man in uniform!

Jackson wanted to be a vampire, but not a scary one. The results we great! I had a great time making his costume. He looked AWESOME!!!