All Aboard the Polar Express

Last weekend we went to Bryson City to ride the Polar Express.....the grandparents, cousins, and all! We had a blast.

A picture of the kiddos before the "hot chocolate dance."

Gracie finding a seat w/ a hot chocolate dancer! Go figure!

A rare family photo!

Probably this year's Christmas card!

While shopping Gracie found a Birthday crown that she felt led for me to purchase....I didn't. Notice the 3 teeth gone. She pulled all 3 in one day. Only Gracie!

And the shopping queen herself finding a perfect winter hat. This kid gets better everyday w/ her mature and sweet self. I know it's her age and that she's maturing...she says the funniest most adult things.

So thankful for a relaxing fun weekend w/ no laundry, housework, school work, yard work, etc. to deal with. Just lots of laughs and giggles, and a few times STOP, but for the most part, everyone was great. This is always a special time of year with lots of fun memories to be made! Childhood---they truly live, love, and laugh each day!

Soccer 2010

Look out!

2.....3.....4

Love a group photo!

Soccer is well underway and the Wilson's love it....even mom and dad! Usually we can be seen running from one field to the next because typically 2 of the games overlap. Fortunately, the fields are usually close together. Cade is a real scoring machine.....I can't get over how hard he plays, how fast he is, and how determined his facial expressions are. It's really amazing to watch, and I'm not just saying that as his mom, really, I'm not! Gracie isn't as fast as Cade but she is so agile, graceful, and good w/ her feet. Her league is more competitive so she has to work a little harder to get the ball in the goal. And then there's sweet Halle. She is such a coachable kid! She says every game "well, it's much harder in my age group to score, it's more competitive." Smart, she is! Halle is less aggressive, and not quite sure of the sport. She doesn't really 'hunt' the ball down like the other two, but one beauty of a girl she is! She enjoys soccer, and that's all that matters to me!

At night, when it's finally quiet, I love thinking about how unique they each are in their own special way. Cade: high on life, always making somebody laugh, and spends hours with a ball in his hand, either throwing it up in the air and diving into the couch OR making plays in the yard. Gracie......SO intuitive and worried about every little detail, yet physically strong, athletic, eager to please, and compassionate about what others think and loves to be praised! Her eyes can light up a room and boy does she look up to her big sister. And then there's Halle.....the leader, the oldest, could probably take care of them all while I went to work. Maturing so much and such a pleasure to always be around....Happy, caring, hard working, helpful. All different, but in good ways, independent--yet usually together. What a blessing it is to watch them grow up!

The poor bike accident that could've been so much worse. Halle was flying down a hill and crashed into a trashcan and obviously met the pavement at some point during the fall. What a trooper. The poor girl had to walk home w/ her bike and blood oozing from her face and arm. It broke my heart. Her cheek was huge along w/ her lip and I took her to the doctor just to be sure she didn't break anything or have anything damaged internally. Thankfully she was fine! I know what you're thinking: WHERE WERE YOU MOM? Well.....she has gone around the small loop in our neighborhood a handful of times and this was one of them. It's not something she does often, b/c it terrifies me, and this is why. She begs saying "I'm almost 9," and she is right. When I was 9 I was across the neighborhood on my bike, playing in the woods, jumping in creeks, climbing rocks, etc. and I lived to tell about it. SO, I was letting go a little I guess. So much for that......But, she has managed to ride her bike, play soccer, do Girls on the Run, and gymnastics. Nothing brings this girl down! She amazes me with how much she has grown up just over the summer. It's like talking to a little lady sometimes! I'm sure that may change on a dime, so I'll count my blessings now!

GO COCKS!

I'm not sure why we cheer for them sometimes, but we do! Cade is all about some Gamecock football, or any football for that matter. He will watch the game, keep up w/ the score, listen to the commentators and repeat, "YES, 1st down." It's so cute!

Cade going long!

T-Paw and Cade planning the next route!
The girls in the mix!

Gamecock tattoes to really show off our spirit!

Cade is actually trying to catch this. I'm not sure if Halle is playing defense or what, but it looks girly to me too!

Soccer is in full force and I do have some pictures. Never mind I'm WAY late. I've been busier than every this year with school and the fact that I'm even blogging is amazing. BUT, they are only young once! Soccer pictures coming soon!

Back To School

Well.........it has taken me this long to find time to sit down and blog about this 1st day of school..a whole week and 1/2 later. Oh well, better late than never! What a great summer to say good-bye to. We had a blast and it has been hard to get back in the swing of things, but probably harder for me than the kids. Once they met their teachers at the Open House they were SO excited. Me....not so much! It is so nice having them all at the same school this year. I was determined to walk Cade in on that first day. How cute was he w/ that big ole' bookbag on his back. Talk about a weepy mom. A few tears after the good-bye hug, but overall, we ALL did great. Gracie and Halle were excited to see some friends they had missed, and poor Gracie was worried about having homework on the first day of school. That's definitely Gracie for ya! And poor Cade wanted to know why he had to wear church clothes to school. I thought that was pretty funny. I was like "Cade, you have to look nice at school." He wasn't convinced. So now we are getting into the routine of homework, and lots more of it for Ms. Halle in the third grade. WOW! Trying to juggle homework, gymnastics, play time outside, etc. is not an easy thing to do. And next week we throw soccer practice into the mix. Oh well....that's life w/ 3 kids I guess. Wouldn't trade it for the world!

Halle.....my 3rd grader!

Gracie.....my 1st grader!

And Cade.....my new kindergartener!

Take Me Home to Tennessee

Although I have spent most of my life in Rock Hill, I was born in Murfreesboro, TN and my dad and grandparents still live there! It always feels good to go back and see how it has grown and changed.



The kids and I loaded up Friday after Bible School and took the 7 hour drive to Tennessee to visit Papa Jon, Lin, the grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins! They did such a great job on the drive. It is a long trip but now that they are finally old enough to really get in the car and travel and find other things to do in the car, it's really not that bad. We did all sorts of fun things and we can't wait to go back....hopefully sometime this school year when the weather is a little cooler so we can do different things.

Cousin Jackson taking the kids on a hay ride.

The creek.....next year we will be prepared and bring our own tubes. The creek is very slippery but the rapids are fun. It's very cheap entertainment!

The MTSU football field!

The dorm rooms named after my grandad.

Daddy Mel....who will be 90 this December. He's in a rehab facility after falling a few weeks ago, but will hopefully get to come home soon.
Papa Jon and Gran...my dad and grandmother

Halle in the awesome climbing tree in Gran's front yard!

Cousin Taylor and Cade playing in the pool!

Cousin Taylor pushing 'the boat.'

The 'slide.'

Our trip home was not as fun as the kids were already missing everyone and of course "Spookie," dad and Lin's dog. Poor Spookie was probably exhausted from 4 days of nonstop talking, ball throwing, and chasing, but I think he enjoyed the attention. So now we wind down summer and get ready for school to start back.....BOO!

Beach Part II

Our beach trip was filled with lots of fun memories that mostly consisted of the beach and pool! My kids LOVE the beach and sun as much as I do! We went to the Dixie Stampede one night as we do every year and the kids had so much fun. They got all of the autographs of the horse riders and were very excited.

Cade eating a snack!

Daddy and the beach bums!

Cade, Gracie, and Halle

Love this picture of Halle and Gracie riding a wave in!

Jules, Gracie, Gunnar, and Cade being buried in the sand! Jules and Gunnar are their cousins.



She has the sweetest face...
Momma and her babies.......
Gracie, Cade, Halle, Gunnar, and Jules...friends forever!