Happy 5th Birthday, Katie!!

I cannot believe we just finished celebrating Katie's 5th birthday!  It seems like only yesterday...well, you know that saying all too well, I'm sure! :-) 

This year, Katie decided she wanted to have a "Paint it FUN" birthday party at Ms. Michele's Art Studio with her close friends...and that's exactly what we did!  We had 9 little artists (Austin being the only boy), who all had a fantastic time celebrating with Katie.  She loved being with her friends, and is still talking about wanting to get together with them again soon to paint again :-)

Here are a few pictures of her birthday celebration!

All of the finished masterpieces...

Time for the candles & birthday song!!!

This is how the presents were opened :-)  Just a big huddle!

"Most"of the friends...some were too busy to stop for a picture ;-)

Happy 5th Birthday, Katie!!!  We love you!!

Katie at age FIVE!

As Silver Refined | Book Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review Kay Arthur's "As Silver Refined".  Two words -- MUST READ!  I have never read any of Kay's books that were not encouraging, challenging, and spiritually thought-provoking, and this was no different. 

In today's world, I feel that with the subject of life and the disappointments that are all too common, so many are searching for answers...wanting to know why things turned out as they did.  How could this happen to me?  Why would God allow that to happen like it did?  With a world of hurt and questions because of the hurt, what a wonderful challenge to consider that those disappointments are really God's appointments that He uses to make you more like Christ, and to bring others to Christ.  What a challenge for our human nature perspective!

I love Kay Arthur's style of writing.  It is down to earth, as if she's talking one on one with you.  Very easy to read, but works even better if you take your time as you go through it and use the included 13 week Bible study! 

I rate this book 5 stars!  I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all Christians and non-Christians alike!  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The above opinions are my own. I was not required to write a favorable review.

Tate's Farm | Pumpkin Patch

My sister, brother-in-law, and I recently took our kiddos for their annual visit to the local pumpkin patch at Tate's Farm.  I couldn't help but look back at last year's visit, only to laugh seeing that they were still enjoying the same things -- together at all times -- only "older" now.  Here are some pictures from our fun afternoon...

There wasn't anything that these three did 

apart from each other...so sweet!

Okay, well -- maybe one thing -- 

Sydney did not want to touch a pig with Katie & Austin!

The kids absolutely loved the petting farm area

(but that doesn't at all surprise me, does it you?)

Katie looked down to realize that the goat was

gnawing on her shirt!  She thought that was hilarious!

This is Katie's "Daddy, I really want a bunny" picture :-)

Austin was not as certain as his sister... {grins}

And here's the group "following the leader" again...

And, who would have guessed that Austin

would have loved climbing on those "big tire wheels"!?

Gotta love these faces!  

They must have been really concentrating on this one...

The cotton jump...

And their all-time favorite, the corn crib!

I think they would have stayed here all day long...

Although the sun was harsh and directly in their faces, 

we did attempt a few "group" pictures while at the farm...

They also loved the old red fire engine near the pumpkin patch!

It was opened for the kids to explore, and explore did they ever!

Following the leader, again, through the pumpkin patch...

Their goal...to find the largest pumpkin in the patch...

here's the one they found!

I didn't get a picture of the "big black slide," which Austin still asks to go back to.  But Sydney followed behind Katie and Austin all the way to the top of the slide, about to do it on her own.  (For those of you who know Sydney, she does not like slides).  SO, Aunt Marsha wiggled her way to Sydney and asked to go with her.  We went and she didn't make a whimper, until it was over {grins}.  Needless to say, that's one thing that she no longer followed Katie and Austin to...

We all had a great time, great fall weather, and great fun!  We were all excited to add another year to our memories at Tate's Farm.