Hay-ving a good time

This year was a tough year to plan a hayride but I'm so glad we did. Most of our family and tons of our friends joined us for a good time.

We started the evening off with weenie cookin' and marshmallow roasting. The weather was perfect. Just warm enough you didn't need to bundle up but cool enough for no bugs and a fire was welcome.

The kids were super excited that Uncle Scott and Mrs. Hannah were going to make it. I think getting to be part of Clara Beth's first hayride might have had something to do with that. ;-)

We planned to have potato sack races but the tater sacks didn't make it. Griffin had a mini break down over the idea of no games. Thankfully, Daddy came to the rescue and suggested garbage bags. I don't think this will be a permanent change.

Garbage bags aren't made for the roughness of jumping people even though they are made to hold a falling piano. ;-)

Egg toss is another game we tend to play.

I think Uncle Scott and Uncle Kirk are training for the extreme egg toss games. ;-)

Since I was very pregnant and barely walking, I opted out of the hayride portion of the activities.

I have to say, it's a little more comfortable to stay behind. ;-)

But I do believe I missed out on a great time!

Last year, the picture I shared of Scott and Hannah was a newlywed shot. Now they are 3! What a difference a year makes. {Clara Beth is all bundled up under there.}

Ty's Baptism

This past Sunday, Ty was baptized. Kent went to the church early to start filling the baptistry. He figured out a way to run the water through his steam cleaner. I think it was the first non-freezing baptism we've had in 15+ years!

The boys were fascinated with watching it fill up.

Henry is getting so big and pulling up to everything. He crawls just enough to get to something and pull up.

We could tell the water was warm as Kent was a little windier than he was when Madisyn was baptized. However, when it's your kid being baptized, you tend to get a little excited.

I love the expression on Kent's face! You'd think Ty was a 500 pound man who can't bend. :)

Ty isn't as touchy, feely as Madisyn but he didn't seem to mind the seemingly never ending stream of hugs that came his way. Kent told him that when Nana started playing and people starting coming to the front he'd realize just how loved he was.

Ty is extremely found of Mr. Mark and Mrs. Janet {or Mrs. Mark as Ben calls her ;) }. He went home with them one Sunday afternoon and the way he keeps talking about it you would think he had been there at least 1,000 times.

Madisyn was awful proud of her "little" brother.

I think this is one of the few hugs from Uncle that didn't end with one or the other trying to see who could squeeze the hardest. One of these days, Kirk won't win. :)

I think I have cried as much as Madisyn and Ty's baptisms as I did at their births. I can't express how precious it is to see one of my children accept the Lord as their Saviour and follow him in scriptural baptism and church membership.

I have no greater joy than to hear that

my children walk in truth.

III John 1:4

A Christmas Duet

Madisyn recently had her first Christmas recital. She played Go Tell It On the Mountain as a duet with Nana. Here are the stars of the show before the performance began.

I think Madisyn and Nana had more fans that anyone else. I really appreciate how Mr. Mark and Mrs. Janet always encourage and support our children. In fact, this morning in Sunday School Ben was begging to go sit with Merta Mawk.

I think they perform well together and I think Madisyn has plans for many more duets in the future.

Mrs. Sue and her friend, Mrs. Thelma, also played a duet. They played a very spirited (and loud) Carol of The Bells. As you can tell, noise doesn't bother Henry one bit.

Hay Ride pt 2

After the games, we moved on the the second part of the hayride - Riding in the Hay! LOL

Mr. Mark has been so wonderful to bring his guitar since our first hayride. We sing most any song, but seem to settle on more hymns than anything. We travel down the roads singing songs to the Lord, what could be better.

Our kiddos felt really grown-up this year. They didn't have to sit right next to an adult. Yep, I've been trying to keep them little but it's not working. Anyone have any suggestions? ;)

I loved this shot. Griffin is really belting it out. (and if you sit anywhere near him in church you know he does the same there. ) He doesn't care that he doesn't know all the words. He has the "make a joyful noise" part down.

Uncle Scott and Miss Hannah - I think this was their first hayride as Mr and Mrs. It wasn't exactly romantic but I think they had a good time.

I think grand total we had over 40 people join us at the house and over half went on the hayride. Papaw pulled the trailer and the weather was perfect. Just cool enough to need a jacket and blanket but not so warm you sweat. Hay and sweat do not go well together. :)

The sky was beautiful. All the stars were so clear. Some of the parents were pointing out constellations to the kids and we cruised along.

My little wild man. I don't think he stopped moving the whole time. Next year he sits with Daddy. ;)

Ben probably wouldn't sit still so he wouldn't end up like Griff. Yes, that little boy that was belting out songs fell fast asleep before we got back to the house. When he woke up he was raring to go again.

I think the only complaint this year was not enough chairs. I don't know if we had more people bring their own in years past, we've lost some or what. Nobody but me worried about it yet I think it's something we'll try to improve upon.

Last year I made a big pot of chili, purchased 80 hot dogs and 2 bags of marshmallows. We had tons leftover. I know I put 50 hot dogs up in the freezer and we ate them over the course of the year. This year I fixed a slightly smaller pot (maybe 1/4 smaller), purchased 40 hot dogs (and found 10 more in the freezer) and had 4 bags of marshmallows and the only thing left over was 1 bag of marshmallows. I don't think anyone went hungry and I prefer the no leftover plan.

We had a great time with all our friends and family and I can't wait for next year. (Now someone remind me of that when I'm stressing about getting stuff ready. ;) )

Going to the Chapel

Here comes the bride . . .

Mark opened the ceremony with a thank you and prayer. Hannah's grandfather performed the ceremony.

Our boys kept the squirming to a minimum at this moment. ;)

Uncle Kirk was supposed to keep his suit on so I could get a picture of him with the kids but he forgot. I know it's probably the last time he'll put one on so I hate that I missed out.

Hannah's mom made both the cakes and I thought the groom's cake was adorable!

This was before the two hours of pictures after the wedding - they were still smiling. LOL

The Mother and Father of the Groom.

I started out taking a few pictures of the wedding party with the rest of the photographers. I soon realized that none of the picture were done beforehand so I jumped ship. I didn't want to drag it out anymore because I was in the way.

Sister Newsom travelled down from Missouri where her daughter lives. She is waiting for a house in Bentonville to become available. It was the first time we had seen her since she moved.

There were two little boys (who shall remain nameless) who were looking forward to the rice throwing just a little too much.

Henry was a perfect angel the whole time. I tied him up in my wrap and I think he slept throught the entire ceremony. He was a great wedding guest and traveller.

There was a slight incident during the rice throwing. Griffin was standing near Mr. Mark when Scott and Hannah came out. Mark had a handful of rice and went to throw it underhand in front of him. About that time Griffin moved over and Mark's had caught him on the back of the head. Griffin went tumbling down. I think it took him awhile to believe that it was really an accident. :)