Halloween 2013

This makes two years in a row where our family starts the day thinking we aren't going to trick or treat and then the munchkins change their mind after 5:00.  We were going to have family movie night and Kyle was going to hide in our trees to scare other kids (!?!?) but that didn't happen.  

Sequence:

I wore my jersey to the school party.  Grant decided he should wear his to go have hot dogs at our neighbors.  Kyle saw Grant and decided HE really needed to wear his jersey. So, I couldn't let Reid be left out and took the tag off of his new 3T one I bought (which fit perfectly!).  Jason didn't want to wear the jersey autographed by Kendall Hunter so he became our coach.  

ta-da!

Kristina saw us in the driveway and gave us her stash she bought for the boys.  She adores them and is such a great neighbor.

Off to the Joyce and Aichele yards we went!  We had hot dogs and chili, complete with a firepit and friends!

Joyce and Walker boys - Isabel didn't want to join in.

I know, right?!?!   LOVE THEM!

I know AGAIN, right?!?!  Love the tree as our background!  Everyone is looking at the camera and we only had one take!

Henry may be my favorite outfit - Clark Kent.  How perfect is this?!?!

The Aichele mummies!

William and Alex showed up and joined the fun!

It's a lot of kids in the 'hood!

Well, really, the other 'hood!  Ours is retirees so it's a good thing we know our back-door neighbors and everyone on the street and thankful we're considered neighbors!

Oh, Mark, just cracks us up.  Johnny from Karate Kid.  He didn't have his blond wig on here, though.  He looks like he's getting ready to break some bones rather than fix them like he usually does!

Clint and Jason

(who have lost a combined 50 pounds this year!)

After a quick stop at G and Bs, we went to our neighborhood "to go home" and found our neighbors so we joined them for some trick or treating!

Looks like a pretty busy night for not wanting to do anything but watch a movie!

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 This kid decided to get buck naked and run around the house.  I discovered soon after that he had pottied on the bathroom floor right next to his potty chair.  Not sure what I think - I am NOT a parent who rushes potty training as it's so much easier to wear diapers.

And then later in the day, Reid came in to the house wearing a helmet and trying to ride the big boy scooter.  He thinks he is six years old!!!

Trunk or Treat! Class Party!

This marked our first year to attend our church's Trunk or Treat - it was so perfect!!!  Great turnout and the games were great.  Our praise band played for the 2 hours, adding to the atmosphere.

Here is Tallie and Atticus - you may remember reading about them in Grant's testimony.  They are a newly married couple teaching his Sunday school class.  He adores them!

Clone Trooper, Anakin Skywalker, Dinosaur

Some of the games!  The bottom right picture is their PE teacher and his darling wife!

First grade class party!

The teachers had a Where the Wild Things Are theme for the day so kids were in their PJs or in wild things costumes.  It is easier than costumes all day long!

Yes, I am homeroom mom this year and organized our fall party.

3 teachers and 19 kids in his class!

His main teacher is on the left dressed as a wild thing!

As we were sitting at his desk, I took a peek in his journal - love this!  Not sure you can tell, but Kyle drew a picture of Jason's new truck, complete with street markings, 4x4, and the rainclouds on the day we bought it.  :)

Mummy and Son Dance

The city had its first Mummy and Son dance this weekend.  We joined a few other families and had a great evening.  We ate at Mazzios and danced for a few hours!  The overall recap of the evening is that the boys had way more fun than they expected, and I had less fun than I expected - perhaps thought they'd want to dance with me a tad more than they did!  :)

Morgans, Wolfes and Brice!

Football 2013 - Go, Sharks!

Go, Giants!

 Teaching them young!  :)

The Volleygirls earned 2nd place again in our league.  

B.a.r.e.l.y. this season... but, we did!

Third grade - learning cursive - and then he "decodes" it for you in case you can't figure it out on your own!

Baptism video

Grant's testimony

Hi!  My name is Grant Walker.  I am 8 ½ years old and in the 3^rd grade at Westwood elementary.  When I met with Pastor John, he wanted me to write down my story, or testimony, about how I learned to love Jesus.  My parents and I sat down and they asked me questions so here are those answers and information about me. 

Why do you want to be baptized?

I already asked God to live in my heart forever a few months ago. It happened one night when my parents were tucking me in to bed, and I was ready to say that I loved Jesus.  We had a special prayer together.   I believe what I have learned from the Bible and want to follow God’s word.  I want to go to Heaven and see the people I love who have died, and also see God and Jesus.  One day, I just woke up and realized I wasn’t yet baptized and felt this was important for me to do since I always say I am a Christian.  I know it isn’t necessary to go to Heaven, but I think it’s important for many reasons but one special one is that my two younger brothers should know I am a baptized Christian as I want to be a good example for them.  Mostly, I know that Jesus died on the cross and then he rose again from the cave.  He died for my sins so I can be forgiven, and I think that God and Jesus have the power to heal people.

Who helped teach you about God?

I started learning about God, Jesus, forgiveness and heaven from my mom and dad, and my grandparents.  They have always prayed with me, at meals and bedtime, and my parents like to ask me if I need prayers for anything in my life.  It has made me pray for thankfulness and also to ask Him if I ever need help.  Teachers at my church like Pastor John, Miss Carrie, and now Tallie and Atticus, have also taught me important stories.

Do you want to share any memories of learning about God?

I love listening to k-love radio station in my Mom’s car.  We like it loud and we have dance parties!!  I have always really liked the song that goes “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing with the Son.”  I have always enjoyed going to church, VBS, and Konnect, and I think these things have also helped me learn how to be a better Christian.

Grant is MY BROTHER!

My brother in CHRIST!

Grant was baptized this morning at church.

BEFORE!

With Pastor John before our prayer and baptism

Our church has someone read the testimony of the person being baptized.  Jason was able to share Grant's story with the congregation.

(the water is not nearly this lime green in person - weird!)

AFTER!!!

 At the end of the service, the worship band changed their planned song to be the one Grant mentioned in his testimony, I Can Only Imagine.  Pretty cool to do that.

Also, the two girls near Grant in this picture decided today after seeing him be baptized that they, too, should do this.  Yea!

Jason and I bought him his very own grown-up Bible!

We had pizza afterwards with all four grandparents and friends!

This cute 'lil pumpkin is doing a great job for about 3 quarters of every football game!  

 Homecoming brought several of my cousins to Stillwater this year!

Love them all!

Lib and Gerardo!

Uncle Jay!

Mister got all of his blonde locks cut off... it's taking some time getting used to it!

I saw a chevron pumpkin in a magazine and decided I needed one.

Don't look too close... but it's pretty good for my skills!