Auburn Homecoming November 9, 2009

We were able to go to Auburn this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day. We took Olivia, Emma and Cord with us and met lots of friends at a tailgate before the game.  Cord got a new Auburn football and played all over the library lawn before the game.

What an incredible day to see so many friends with their families.  I wish we had had more time to let the kids play together.  I could see the next generation of friendships begin to develop!

We ate with everyone and were able to take a group shot.

Look at all those Auburn Tigers!  I think so highly of these families- I know they are doing such a great job raising their children, working, serving in their churches.  Many of these friendships started in RUF (reformed university fellowship).  How amazing to know that we all sat side by side hearing God’s word preached- we thought about where we would work, what marriage should look like, how to parent, what the role of church is in a Christian’s life, how to glorify God in all that we do.  It was amazing to see it being lived out so many years later by these dear friends.  I wish I had more time to hear what God has been doing in these families’ lives. 

 

If you went to Auburn, you love its creed and after Saturday’s trip, I wanted to share it:

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count
only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.
 
I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work
wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.
 
I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot
win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.
 
I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is
not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.
 
I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.
I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my
fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.
 
I believe in my country, because it is a land of freedom and
because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that
country by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly
with my God.”
 
And because Auburn men and women believe in these things,
I believe in Auburn and love it.
 
by George Petrie, Auburn professor and first coach of Auburn’s Football team

 

 

how ’bout them apples November 4, 2009

My sweet grandaddy turned 90 last week.  We celebrated with a 90th birthday party in Birmingham and had a great time seeing old photos and reading memories that everyone shared about him.  One of his favorite sayings is,”How ’bout them apples?”  He uses it like,”How about that!”  Like when you say,”Guess what. I’m getting married!”  He might say,”How ’bout them apples!”  Or I might say,”Guess what.  I’m having a baby!” He would say,”How ’bout them apples!”

So when we entered the party, sweet Popo was sitting in a chair looking so handsome, and Olivia walked over and handed him an apple.

He was so sweet-He said,”Oh, I love apples. Thank you.”  Then Emma walked over…

Oh, another apple~ thanks Emma.  Then Cord…

I think he is starting to catch on.  So I give him a bag that says “How ’bout them apples!” that he can put all his “presents” in.  Then Lucy showed up with her apple.

She didn’t catch on to the plan and she TOOK HERS BACK and walked off eating it!  

It was a great day celebrating a man that loves his family, his work, his fun, and his church.  90! How ’bout them apples!

one fairy November 4, 2009

Olivia was Tinkerbell:

This was the last picture of the night on Halloween- Our friends stopped by to say hi while they were out trick or treating.  Thank goodness her mom took a picture since my camera won’t let me download them to my computer.

 

C Dub’s birthday November 2, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY C-DUB!  We wish we were with you today!

My kids love to listen to C-dub’s stories.  They crawl up in his lap and beg him to tell the stories again and again.  He tells some good ones from when he was a little boy and caused trouble here and there. My girls laugh and laugh.  They can’t believe their grandaddy did some of the funny things that he did.  He has a heart for God’s Word- it’s tender and precious.  He loves his family- and it shows!  He is funny- I can tell just where my husband came from.  I am so glad he is out and about, enjoying his birthday.  We can’t wait until we get to be with him in person!

October 31st November 1, 2009

We had a great time at the Reformation Day Festival at our church and trick or treating in our neighborhood.  The weather ended up co-operating with us and all the activities went on as scheduled!  The youth group did such an amazing job setting up, manning their stations, and cleaning up too.  I will post more pictures of that later (when my camera decides to let me download

Olivia and Emma helped us all day:

One of the big events at the festival was face painting:

 Cord ran over to me after this growling like a puppy~

The kids in costume:

 Emma is Cinderella.  We never found ruby red shoes to be Dorothy.  But she already had this amazing costume that my sister gave her for her birthday.  She loved it!

 I was Cat in the Hat and my friend Renee went as Pippi Longstockings.  Her hair was straight out! So cute!

 But my favorite little costume was Lucy.  She and Cord were Thing one and Thing two.  Look at that baby!

  They loved their hats (my mom made out of a blue boa and hat.)

I’ll post livy’s costume later.  The day was so fun, so full of friends and families that we love so much, and so tiring! I’m thankful that we gained an hour that night.  But it was worth it~ Hope yours was too

Cotton Candy! October 29, 2009

Today, Eric and I rented the cotton candy machine for the festival our church is hosting this weekend.  We needed to pre-make all of it.  This afternoon, with Grammy here to help man the children, we started spinning cotton candy in our dining room

Someone told Eric to wear long sleeves and gloves and I am so glad that they did.  He was covered in pink and blue sugar by the end of the day.  We are so thankful that a friend came to help when we called.  Anna brought her baby over and helped us for 2 hours.

At 25 cents each, these are going to be going fast!

I think I will head to the shower!

oh yeah- costumes! October 28, 2009

In the midst of all the preparation for the Reformation Day Festival, I have put the kids’ costumes on the back burner.  Thankfully their Aunt Bethie has provided lots of wonderful, amazing costumes over the years and the girls are going to wear some from that pile.  Olivia is going to be Tinkerbell in one of the most authentic looking fairy costumes I have ever seen.  The shoes even light up!  Emma is going to be Dorothy, but I am still missing the ruby red slippers.  Cord and Lucy are going as thing one and thing two from Dr Suess’s Cat in the Hat.  I have the shirts (thanks to Aunt Bethie!), but I have been wondering what to do about that blue hair.  Yesterday I found two blue boas at Hancock Fabrics for $2 each.  I plan on wrapping them around a toboggan that we alreay have.  I hope it looks right.  If you have a better idea, let me know!

I am going as the Cat in the Hat.  I am still waiting on the hat and gloves to arrive.  I think when I look at that picture with the Cat juggling all that stuff and thing one and thing two making such a mess everywhere they go (even though it is a happy mess!), I can totally relate! Have a great weekend!

 

Reformation Day Festival October 23, 2009

Our youth group asked if they could put on a Reformation Day Festival this year.  So on October 31st from 2-5 pm at our church we will be hosting a festival.  Free Games~ Crafts~ Candy~ Hayrides~ Inflatables and an original musical entitled “My Fair Luther”.  The kids have been working since the summer.  Senior High youth group served as team leaders for areas such as Games, Food, Publicity, and Tshirts. I have been AMAZED at what our teens and their families have accomplished.  They have made a big Goliath to be knocked out by a baseball, fruits of the spirit that have to be found, crafts that remind us that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.  I can’t wait to post pictures from the big day!

Here are some of the kids working hard:

We had 40 people working on the games Wednesday night- parents, teens, and children all working together.  Our church members donated candy, drinks, and little debbies (for the Happy 500th Birthday Bash Calvin Cake Walk) What a blessing!  I’ll post a complete list of the games after the big event! Hope you can come next weekend!!

Western day at MMO October 21, 2009

Lucy and Cord had their first dress up day for school.  Their Mother’s Morning Out had Western Day.  We had plaid and jeans and horses for everyone!

 Lucy thought she was the biggest girl!

As the picture taking went on, Cord got more shy and Lucy got more excited!

I think Lucy was the only baby in the baby room to be dressed up and have a toy with her. She was kind of dangerous with that thing- so I think the horse had time out the rest of her morning there

Baby Gene Chizik, II October 21, 2009

Olivia got a new stuffed animal while we were at the beach.  Her Grammy had given her $5 to “buy a little something” while we were on Fall Break.  After MUCH discussion, she decided to buy a travel size Etch a Sketch and a small stuffed tiger.  I knew she would love the etch a sketch on the beach and in the car, but the surprise hit was the small tiger.  She decided to name it “Baby Gene Chizik, II” .  That’s right. Baby Gene Chizik the second.  She loved the name and said it over and over throughout the week.  When we got home, she wanted to write Coach Chizik and tell him what she had done and include a photo.

 So here is the photo and she has her hand written note to go with it.  She really is hoping Coach Chizik writes back! I so hope he does, for her sake.