TACKLE DUMMY HOW TO'S:

TURKS & CAICOS!

THUMBS UP!! This vacation is just what we needed!

There is only rough play with this one ;)

Most nights, there was a GREAT Sesame Street show with all the characters :) It was one of our favorite parts of the day.

LIttle family kiss ;)

LJ got to go and play with some of the characters, so mom and dad even got some alone time!

Don't forget the marshmallows and chocolate fondue. We are NEVER too full for that! We actually were born with an extra stomach JUST for that :)

Proof that you don't even need to speak the same language to make buddies. LJ & his Italian friend.

We loved the beach ...so blue and clear!

NOW THAT's a vacation!

Nana and Pops' visit!

A few weeks ago, Nana and Pops came to visit for the weekend. We had an awesome visit that was all about family time and Alabama football. I was in the midst of taking pictures for our church of the campus, so we just made it an Alabama weekend. It was WONDERFUL because we hadn't seen them in so long! There aren't many pictures, but don't worry - we will take lots over Christmas!

With their buddy at the foot of Denny chimes :)

LJ LOVES these statues :)

Bryant Denny

The only picture of our little family in a while. It's hard to get in the picture without a tripod ;)

Precious family Portraits

Here are my precious nieces and sister. There are so many more to share, but the Blogger uploader is horrible!!! I have to upload them almost one at a time, and it's taking forever. :) I wanted to share some of the sweetest ones, though - they are growing so much! LJ makes an appearance in one or two, but mostly, this was all about the GIRLS! :)

hop scotch!

Can you believe those yes?

and that sweet face?!

sisters!

Oh, the complexities of a 4-year old. He can go through all of these emotions in the minute before you head out for school :)

Oops! I forgot!!!

I'm so sorry! I can't believe I didn't post the Halloween Pics! Well, here they are. First, they started with some dinner to fill the little trick-or-treater's belly :)

White beans and rice with little "googly eye" oreo balls!

Our little IRONMAN out trick or treating. He has no idea who Ironman is - He just likes his costume :) He said repeatedly that he wanted to be Ironman and never wavered. I was shocked!

Gotta check and make sure all of the candy is "safe"...(AKA check and see what Mom and Dad really want :) GREAT Day! It's so fun because he is really enjoying it. We're not walking around having to convince him, "LJ, Isn't this fun!?!" He keeps telling us that it is, and we can see from his face that he is loving it!

Happy Birthday, LJ!

Our little boy is 4!!!! Above, Lance is praying with him, a long prayer about how thankful we are for him, that God would continue to bless him and our family...LJ, however, has one eye on his breakfast. Why?...

Because you get icing on your plate for your Birthday!!! Even his breakfast was happy to see him :) He dug right in to the icing before everything else :)

We didn't have it in us to plan a party this year. We just got back in town, had to unpack and wouldn't know one of LJ's classmate's parents' if they showed up at our door. Because of this, we just invited his friends - the ones we KNEW the parents well enough to call them, (without them saying, "Who is this again?"...) We were surrounded by friends we love and who love LJ. LJ is opening his football pads from Nana and Pops, wearing his jersey from Me-Maw...are you sensing a theme? These really are the things he asked for this year. In a little bag behind him is his mouthpiece. You can't make this up!

LJ is usually TERRIFIED of any mascot. He even took a wide berth around Chuck E on his way to the bathroom. When he saw Cole run up and hug him, though, he decided it was o.k. He said, "I'm 4 now. I can't be scared". Those two also convinced Chuck E to get in the photo booth with them for a picture...all by themselves. I'll post that later. I also got to do the Heinze's portraits while they were in town. Click HERE to see a few of those!

Happy 4th Birthday, LJ!!! We couldn't be more blessed to call you ours!