Halloween 2008

Chase "Tony Stewart", Jess, and Nolan "Pooh/Race Car Driver"

Nolan making his way up to the door

The hard work pays off (notice the full size reeses & starburst)

Rene getting into the spirit

Chase sharing some of the candy with Aunt Amy

With the kids in bed, Amy and Jess dig in!




A nice family walk around the lake in Tennessee

Family walk around the lake



What a great Halloween and weekend with the family. We were all excited to have Grandpa and Grandma Scudder out to visit. We had so much fun with Uncle J and Aunt Amy at their house in Brentwood. The kids had a blast playing with Rene the dog and with all of Uncle J's cool toys. Tennessee is such a beautiful state and it was a perfect fall weekend with all the trees changing colors. It's so nice to have family that lives close enough to visit. The boys had such a blast going house to house trick or treating. They grow up so fast and it's so great to see how much fun they are.

Another trip to the Atlanta Children's Museum...

Anytime we have friends or family in town we try to go to the museum. The kids think it is great and, as you can see in the pictures below, they can be a bit on the goofy side!

This time we were able to meet my best friend Lynsey (who we only see once or maybe twice a year) and her husband, Mike, and their two boys Jack (4 1/2) and Owen (2). Chase has been waiting for weeks for their visit and has talked endlessly about which states they will have to fly through to make it all the way to Georgia from Minnesota. He told me the other night before going to bed that "Jack was his bestest friend in the whole wide world" (too cute).

Jack, Nolan, Chase, and Owen (Mike closely observing)

Chase and Roley the Steamroller

Jack and Nolan working hard in Bob's workshop

Nolan picked out the pretty lavender raincoat (Don't tell Hank)

Lynsey and I have always had a sweet tooth. Anytime we are together is reason to celebrate with a small treat. This time Lynsey spotted the gelato store right across the street from the parking garage. It turned out to be a great place...I am sure we will be going back.

All the Boys eager for their gelato treat

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Scoping out the waves...

Chase, Trent, and Nolan

Before moving to the south, I did not know that Alabama had a coast! Alabama does have a coast and it is beautiful. The boys all had the time of their lives.

This past weekend we went to Gulf Shores, Alabama with my sister and her family. In my early years, I remember spending summer vacation time in Idaho and being with cousins, there is not a greater memory that I have. I hope my boys will always remember having fun with their cousins!

Here are the pictures...

Nolan and Trent with their new beach hair style

Nolan loves the sand

Chase found his love for the boogie board

Hank and Chase take a ride on a wave

Pure fun in the water

How can you not love this face!!!!

Don't let this picture fool you!!!

Hillbilly Central

Thanks to everyone who made the "Hillbilly" supper-club such a success. The most popular event of the night was by far the karaoke. Denise rocked the house all night and we think she truly missed her calling in life. The food was outstanding and there's nothing like BBQ. We are definitely excited for karaoke night at Liz and Rob's.

Shawn and Wendy

Hank and Ric Battle it out

The gang watching Liz

Rob showing everyone how it's done "Rio Style"

Hank and Jess ready for Talledega

Ready for a trip to Walmart

Getting ready to eat

All the Hillbilly guys

Paul and Lyn

Brooks and Denise fitting the part almost TOO well

Labor Day Weekend

Too much fun for one family to have...so we invited a few more people to share with. This past weekend was filled with great family fun that included Hank's sister and brother in law, Amy and J. (and Rene) We also enjoyed spending time with Hank's mom Sherry. They arrived from Tennessee on Friday night and stayed through Sunday afternoon. We had a great time hanging out and reminiscing. Hank and Amy decided to celebrate their birthdays together like when they were kids. Sherry made Hank's favorite yellow cake and chocolate frosting, and Amy's favorite chocolate cake with white frosting. We wont bore you with all the other details but will let the pictures do the talking. Thanks everyone...WE HAD A GREAT WEEKEND!

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs

Since our move to Georgia (almost 1 year ago) the boys have been amazed by all the bugs we have in our yard. I think the real interest started this summer when all the fireflies came out (If you want to be Southern correct, they are called lightning bugs) Every night Hank, Chase and Nolan would go out on their nightly ritual and look for fireflies and frogs.

Recently they have started identifying everything in the backyard from the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Finches and Warblers, to the butterflies, stick-bugs, ladybugs, lizards, and squirrels. It's so much fun (especially for Hank) to lure the squirrels up to the door with bird food and then swing the door open and scare the squirrels half to death. Here are some fun pictures of the backyard!

A Trip to the Big City (Atlanta)

After living here for a nearly year, it was time to explore outside Lagrange and take a trip north to Atlanta. In our summer reading, we have been reading a lot about transportation so I thought it would be fun to take the MARTA (Atlanta's Rapid Rail System). Each night at bedtime, we would talk endlessly about our upcoming trip. You would have thought we were embarking on the greatest adventure of our life...to have the mind of a child would be great! As the day approached I thought the boys might be disappointed once they realized what this "big trip" entailed. I think the pictures tell a thousand words, they were ecstatic from start to finish!

We started off driving to the MARTA station at College Park, just north of the airport. The boys would not even turn their heads for a picture. They just wanted to look out the windows and watch all the things we were passing.

Our first stop was the Olympic Centennial Park. This was the site of the gathering during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. There are large Olympic Rings in the middle of the park that squirt water daily. Chase loved it!

We also decided to go to the Children's museum, which was the highlight of the trip! The boys had so much fun that we decided to buy the season pass. I had to drag both kids out of there after 3 hours of playtime.

Nolan was the "volunteer" during story and music time. When asked what his name was he said "Peter Man". He has a pair of PJ's that have Peter Pan on them and Hank has confused him by calling him Peter Pan on a regular basis. I guess he really thinks that is his name...funny kid!

Inside one of the exhibits they have a huge piece of plexi-glass for the kids to paint. Since I am a little OCD I do not let activities such as these take place at my house. I am so glad that I can now use my season pass to take my kids to the Museum to paint and the mess is left behind. Chase kept looking at me and I could tell he was wondering if this activity would be okay for him to participate in!

ALL in ALL a great day!