Santa's Reindeer?

Look what came trampling through our backyard yesterday!!  Luke was very insistent that I "lock the door, Mommy" but they keep asking about the "reindeer"  This is probably the 4th time I've seen deer in our yard (which I think is pretty crazy since we definitely don't live in "the woods") but I've never seen this many ... I counted 9 ... I guess it really was Santa's 8 reindeer plus Rudolph :)

Thanksgiving in Memphis

We spent Thanksgiving in Memphis with my parents and brothers' families this year.  We were blessed with gorgeous weather and practically lived outside.  All of the kiddos had a blast together, as did the adults!!  Here are some of the highlights of our trip:

 The whole crew

 Big kids table

 What is Thanksgiving without a little football game?

 Of course we ended the night in the hot tub :)

 My mom and her sister live next door, so they hosted their 3 brothers families for a Wilson family picnic on Friday ... here is some of the 3rd generation ... only about half of the crew that could make it

 SOOOO thankful for my amazing sisters-in-law

 We got my parents a peddle boat for Christmas and gave it to them early

Always a highlight ... watching Tom and Jerry with Snacks (Luke is passed out)

Thankful

These four guys are at the top of my thanksgiving list this year (ok, EVERY year!!)   

 Here are a few more pics of my little cuties!!

Other Fall Activities

We have had an insanely gorgeous Fall here and have had lots of fun!!  Here are some pics of what we've been up to around here:

 A little pumpkin bowling

 A little boys' dream ... they played here for 45 min. and were FILTHY

 Graham and Jake up in a tree

At the Warner Nature Center

A triple twin playdate

 Checking out the scarecrows at Cheekwood

 Finishing a fun baseball season

 Graham's Fall party at school

 At the pumpkin patch for a field trip

 Luke and Carter's Fun Fall Day at school

 They loved the hayride

 Carving jack-o-lanterns

 Pumpkin Heads

Having a sleepover with Jake, Evie, and Walt ... now, that's A LOT of kids crowded around a breakfast table :)

Happy Halloween

The day that Luke has been waiting for finally arrived ... I'm telling you, this kid has been asking me, "Now, go Halloween?" daily all month long.  And it did not disappoint.  Buzz Lightyear had lightening speed and definitely collected the most candy of the three ... he was a delight (and pretty hilarious) to watch.  I think Woody's hat and boots slowed him down a bit ... he went up to every other house :)  He kept asking Luke, "Why you running so fast?"  And our Dragon Warrior Ninja loved it of course ... he was excited to find our neighbor, Coleman, and ran around with him for a while.  I really feel like we nailed it this year ... our dear friends, the Madisons, had a party, so we stopped by their house to fellowship and eat and then headed to the neighborhood where we wanted to trick-or-treat.  We arrived just as the parade ended and got ahead of the crowd, so we were able to trick-or-treat while it was still daylight and in a very light crowd.  We even got everyone home and in bed by 7:45!!  Such a fun night ... until next year - I hope Luke can wait!!

 Carter (Woody), Luke (Buzz), and Graham (Ninja)

 At the Madisons ... also with the McFarlands, Paxtons, Jennings, and Owens

 They both stopped and sat right on a pothole for a candy break :)

On the way home ... a truly great night!!

Vandy Homecoming

It was my 10 year Vandy reunion, and we had a blast getting together with lots of college friends.  We had a class party on campus Friday night, then had a bunch of folks over to our house for lunch on Saturday, off to the game, and then capped off the night at Urban Grub.  It was great being back together and laughing at old memories.  Although I'm coming off of this weekend fairly exhausted, I'm actually quite refreshed knowing that my friends are are in solid marriages, doing their best to raise Godly children, and following Christ ... that's all I can really ask for and knowing this does my soul very well!!

(P.S. We REALLY missed you, Jodie ... can't wait to meet baby Claire soon)

 The crew

 The next gen ... really only half of them, though

 Cartoon time with Anna

Me and Robin ... always such a treat to be together!!

Gifts

I am a HUGE fan of Ann Voskamp.  I loved her book, 1000 Gifts, and read her blog daily ... that woman has a way with words.  She came and spoke at our church this past summer and through her encouragement, we "adpoted" a Compassion child ... Enoc is from Mexico and is 11 days younger than Graham ... we write to him, send pictures, and really talk about and pray for him often.  Anyway, she has this "Monthly Joy Dare" on her blog at the beginning of each month, and I've been printing them out to put on our fridge.  Each day, you are supposed to find 3 gifts ... she gives some prompting (which has also been a great vocabulary lesson).  It has been really fun to do after we say our blessing ... I love what comes out of their mouths!!  A few days ago, it said to find 3 gifts undervalued, and after explaining what undervalued means, Carter shouts out "Mommy."  I looked at him and said, "Amen, son." :)    I also loved it when it said unexpected, and Graham said, "having twin brothers."  Thanks to Ann, I love this idea of pointing my boys into continually choosing joy and gratitude.  A few of my favorite quotes of hers:

"Patience in the moment only comes from gratefulness for the moment"

"Only self can kill joy.  Why am I doing this to me?"

"One of life's biggest kill joy is expectations"

"If you don't fight for joy, it's your children who lose"

"Joy, it comes not in the gaining but in the giving, not in being someone but in being a sacrifice, not in laying up treasures, but in laying down self."

There is SO much joy and SO many gifts in my life, I just really need and want to rewire my brain to think this way instead of turning first to frustration throughout the craziness of my daily life.  I also really want to teach my boys to first choose gratitude instead of complaining.

Here is the link, since my pic is blurry:  http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/OctoberJoyDare.pdf