Wordless Wednesday...AKs loves JoJo edition.

Happy Halloween and a quick update...

Peter Pan and Tink are ready to Trick or Treat!

I'm glad we got to do some trick or treating while at Disney because the weather was perfect. Tonight the weather will not be perfect and the kids will be bundled up. (Our low is projected to be 30 this evening the last time I checked.) The latest plan is to do a few houses on our street and then make our way to GrandMary's house like we do every Halloween to see her and Jack.

And I'm sorry for my lack of updating since last week. It's been nutty this last week...here's a quick recap:

~Thursday night Girls Night with my college girls...dessert and tv time.
~Friday AG had a Trike-Athon at school. (Post and pictures coming up), AG had his last soccer practice of the fall, and we hosted our annual pumpkin carving Family Dinner with all of our college students. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed a low key evening with lots of faces around the dinning room.
~Saturday was dedicated to regrouping from Family Dinner and work around the house. We also spent the afternoon watching the Dawgs knock off the Gators. It was an intense game and Andy was pacing all over the house.
~Sunday was church and I had to do hospitality set up. We also both did long runs that afternoon for half marathon training.
~Monday and Tuesday were filled with school, errands, and normal weekly chores. In addition, last night we had family movie night and watched 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!' together before the kids went to bed.

I have lots to do today around the house. Originally, I was planning to meet a friend downtown to do Trick or Treat on Broad Street but AG has a cough that kept him up most of the night so we are laying low today. I kept him home from school today so that he can rest in hopes he can trick or treat this evening for a bit. I'm hoping to blog some today and tomorrow but we'll see if it happens. We are headed to the farm for the weekend to see Andy's mom and extended family. Saturday will be spent in Athens cheering on the Dawgs against Ole Miss. (If they win this weekend and next weekend at Auburn they'll be headed to the SEC championship in ATL in a month!) Lots going on these next few days but I promise to get things up to speed and soon. I have lots to post. I made a fabulous fall wreath and have pictures to share with a How-To. Plus, tomorrow we start our annual thankful tree activity with the kids and I need to share the holiday plans we have already lined up. (And a sneak peek of my holiday planner if I can get it finished ...at the moment it's a jumble of paper, magazines, post-its, and bits all thrown in a binder.) I feel like I say it every month but I can't believe this month has come and gone. We are heading in to my favorite time of the year. Happy Wednesday and I hope everyone has a good Halloween. I'll be back soon. I hope. :)

Welcome October! I'm so happy to see you...

October is always a fun month because we have so many things to look forward to and then we slip right in to the holiday season which is my favorite time of the year. AG is now at the age where he really understands holidays and gets excited about what is to come. Andy and I are both really excited to see him this Christmas season...we are really looking forward to it.

So, what do we have to look forward to this month?

Braves in the post-season! Hopefully, they'll be playing long in to October. 

Mountain Day Weekend! Lots of quality time spend with friends and family celebrating Martha Berry.

Fall pictures with pumpkins. Look how much Avi-Kate has grown in a year and look at how much AG has grown in three years! It amazes me how quickly time flies.

Fall break at Disney! We are so excited and so ready. The packing has started and there are lots of things to get done between now and next week when we leave. We'll be there before we know it.

 Fleecy pjs and fun holiday prints. We've already had a few cool nights and have had to use them. By the end of the month it will be the only pjs the kids wear till the spring.  

 Family Dinner fun...carving pumpkins together and eating chili. This is one of my favorite meals every year. 

 Birthday celebrations! Clint is my cousin and he's a sophomore this year at Berry. Our birthdays are right next to each other...I'm the 21st and he's the 23rd. We'll celebrate together at Family Dinner I'm sure.

 Halloween! This year is going to be way different from last year because this year Avi-Kate can walk and trick-or-treat. Last year, we strolled her around the neighborhood but I have no doubt she will want to participate this year. She has to be doing whatever AG is doing, all. the. time.

 To end the month and a night of trick-or-treating we'll wind up at GrandMary's to visit with her and Jack. She loves to ooh and aah over the kids.

There you have it...a quick preview of what is to come. What are you looking forward to this month?

Fall Planning/To Do

Years ago I stumbled upon a blog by a mom in Massachusetts and I was instantly taken with her writing style. Here I am several years later still reading and enjoying her daily musings. Weeks ago I made a mental note to go flip back in Dawn's archives to find a 'Fall Checklist' that she had posted a few years back. Yesterday, I started flipping back and had to stop to attend to the kids. I made a note to come back to it when I had a few minutes uninterrupted. ;) Ha, uninterrupted time...what is that?!?! Anyways, today I happened to check her blog only to find out that she decided to repost that list from a few years back. Perfect timing! If you want to see Dawn's list click here. Below is my list that I've tweaked to fit my needs. A few things have been changed and several things added...projects I've already started will have notes in red. In no particular order here we go:

* Launder down comforter, autumn duvet and shams. Pulled out the fall/winter bedding for the master bedroom today and started washing it. Putting it on the bed tomorrow since I always change our sheets on Fridays. I love having a clean bed heading in to the weekend. 

* Buy new flannel sheets, Christmas sheets for the kids beds. Waiting on a good sale...hopefully, in the next few weeks. We had worn out all our other sheets and so it's time for some new ones. Plus, I'd love to get some Christmas themed sheets for the kids.

* Review housekeeping routines; adjust as necessary.

* Check on snow gear: boots, jackets, pants, hats, gloves, etc. If anybody needs new things, purchase or order them now. (Not a huge priority but it doesn’t hurt to have stuff on hand in case we get snow.)

* Same goes for winter pajamas and slippers.

* Tweak the menu plan to reflect the season - heartier meals, fall fruits and veggies.

* Schedule a work-in-the-yard Saturday to rake, clean up garden debris, store outdoor furniture, etc. Might have to be little by little due to the craziness that is football season...should be done by Mtn. Day Weekend.

* Plant spring bulbs (snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, tulips) before the ground freezes.

* Plan a fall foliage jaunt for one Sunday afternoon to Berry.

* Prepare homemade cocoa mix, mulling spice bundles and replenish tea drawer as necessary.

* Visit the farmers market for autumn keepers: apples, onions, potatoes, squash. Berry usually has one in the fall.

* Plan Fall Break Trip. Planned...Disney for at least 4 nights possibly 5.

* Schedule cars for regular maintenance. Acadia is due for a tune-up...will be done before we head to Disney in a few weeks.

* Plan out football game weekend plans for UGA homegames. Finalized for the most part.

* Plan a night to visit the county fair. Coosa Valley Fair runs October 2-6 this year.

* Stop by Starbucks for a fall treat. :)

* Head to Starbucks the week before Thanksgiving to buy 2012 Holiday ornaments.

* Put away summer outside activities. (Pool, water table, etc. Winterize sandbox)

* Inventory craft supplies and note what needs replenishing. (Keep in mind holiday projects with the kids and long dark winter days ahead.)

* Stock up on cold and flu season necessaries: vitamins/supplements, herbal teas, honey drops, medicines.

* Make birdfeeders with the kids to hang in the tree out back so they can watch the birds from the big window in the den.

* Arrange fall mums, asters and pumpkins around front steps. Needs to be done before Mtn. Day Weekend.

* Begin a holiday planner - assemble Thanksgiving and Christmas lists, etc.

* Fall family picture session. Planned and booked with Carrie Jo.

* Fresh pinestraw for the outside beds.

* Launder cozy throw blankets; store in large basket handy to gathering areas.

* Set out fall book baskets. Pulled these out today and began brainstorming where I want them to go this year.

* Set out autumn decor including table linens, candles, garlands and candles with seasonal filler. Started working on this last week...pictures to come.

* Decide on Halloween costumes early, allow for any orders/delivery time. AG has requested Peter Pan and Tinker Bell for this year...I'm just waiting to find a good sale but in reality I need to order them and soon. We leave for Disney in a month and they get to trick or treat while we are there.

* Set up a gratitude tree ahead of Thanksgiving. Been mulling how I want to do it this year...still thinking this one out. 

* Make and freeze pie crusts and sugar cookie dough for the holidays.

* Buy Christmas stamps at the end of October.

* Fall toys rotated out of the attic.

* Find a skinny, pre-lit alpine tree for our Jesse Tree ornaments. Must have by Thanksgiving so that we can start when return from Disney on time.

* Start decorating for Christmas before we head to the farm for Thanksgiving since we will be gone to Disney on vacation. Crazy but necessary this year. It won't be all done but there is a huge chunk that I can start on before we leave. That way when we return we can get our tree and do the outside that first weekend back. 

* Visit Bath and Body Works to get hand soaps for all the sinks and a fall candle. Hand soaps purchased already and put out. Candles I've been waiting till September because I have a coupon. :)

* Inventory food and organize the freezer. Done. 

* Map out fall semester Family Dinners with the college family. Done and I've already got tentative dates for a few of them. 

* Prepare for Mtn. Day Weekend (Berry’s Homecoming of sorts.) Mtn. Day plans are in full swing since it is a month away! We are hosting a party here on that Saturday night...I'm really excited about all the people coming up/back this year. Should be a great weekend.

* Make pumpkin seeds after carving pumpkins in late October.

Welcome Back and Family Dinner.

The start of a new school year means the return of Family Dinner. This year we had a request for southern comfort food for our welcome back dinner. Thankfully, the deli at Kroger helped me out and fried up a large batch of chicken so I didn't have to. We also surprised Emily by singing happy birthday to her a few days early. She started laughing when she realized that the only candles I had were Toy Story themed. Oh, life with small kids. ;) It was so nice to be all back together and catch up. We are really looking forward to the year ahead and all that we have planned. Girls Night resumes tonight, the guys are doing a fantasy football league this fall, and we already have plans for a big Mtn. Day party in a few weeks with current students and returning alumni. Here's to a great year and here are a few pictures from the other night. 

Words for Wednesday...What is a family...

"The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you." ~Kendall Hailey

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Really, it is. I love August because it brings with it the promise of so many things in the coming months and it brings with it the return of our sweet students. I feel like that quote from Hailey sums up our group rather nicely. We are often asked how we ended up hosting college students in our house, are we associated with any organization, and why would we go out of our way to feed that many mouths on a frequent basis. Well, here we go...

When my youngest sister, Caroline, was at Berry she started bringing her friends over for dinner. It started with just a few people and from there they decided that they'd love to do it on a regular basis. They enjoyed getting a chance to eat a home cooked meal and some much needed time outside of the 'Berry Bubble' as we like to call it. We enjoyed being able to open our home to them. Family Dinner was born and has slowly grown in to quite the gathering. 

As for the question about who we are associated with we just say no one. To which we usually get a lot of questions about where we 'get all these kids'?!? To which we smile and share how tightly knit of a community Berry is. At Berry you know everyone even if you don't know them on a personal level. That's just how it is and it's one of the things I love about it. So, students come over and they bring friends who bring more friends. Or alumni who know Andy and I pass along our info to incoming students and tell them to come join us. It's really amazing to look at the way our stories have been woven together and the way it all works.

Why? Simply put: because we love college students. Big answer? There are many, many reasons why we do it. God has been gracious to provide us with a space in which to entertain large groups. When we bought this house 5.5 years ago I had no idea that I'd be serving up Thanksgiving for 25+ people and doing it comfortably with the way our living spaces are connected. God knew and I'm grateful that we can continue to grow and serve. Two, we are grateful for the people who took the time to invest in us when we were students because it helped shape and mold us in to the people we are today. Our hope is that we might be able to pass that on to every student that sets foot in our house. It's a joy and an honor to know them. To be part of their college experience. For them to know that they have a place to retreat to and call 'home' even when they are away at college. That they are valued and loved. Unconditionally. And that even once they graduate and move on that they still have a place to come back to. We love it when former students return 'home' for Mountain Day or just because. Three, we want our kids to grow up in a house where they see what it means to be a servant to others. Plus, it's amazing to see the bonds that our children have developed with their older 'siblings'. Four, it's a way for us to give back to Berry. Martha Berry's vision was that students would not only receive an education of the head but of the heart and hands while in school. Consider time spent over here as an education of the heart if you will. And sometimes an education of the mind depending on who is at the dinner table, Dave Thomas. And then there are times when it's an education of the hands and they join us to do stuff around the house or watch our kids. Again, we just love college students and love the chance to serve them.

Here's a look back over the last few years. For some reason blogger put them out of order and I'll be honest I don't have the time nor the patience to rearrange them/re-upload them. 

To our current students...we CAN NOT WAIT to see you seated around the dining room table in few weeks. We are excited to have you home in Rome and are looking forward to another year of shared experiences, funny moments, laugh out loud stories, and the chance to be a part of your lives.

To our former students...we CAN NOT WAIT to see what you do this year in the real world. We also hope that your path will somehow bring you back to Rome for a much needed visit. We'll leave the light on for you. And remember this...

What a crew...

We hosted this crowd for dinner on Wednesday night...and it was marvelous. It's crazy to think that when we started this back in 2009 we would have four to six students show up. It's amazing to see how the Lord has blessed this and used this group in big and small ways to minister to us and to each other. They are such a blessing to us. We are humbled that we get to love them daily.

Looking forward to lots of fun and many memories this semester. Andy and the boys, excuse me--I mean men, are starting a Man Night twice a month. The girls and I will keep up with our weekly Grey's Anatomy/dessert/gab fest that we love so much.

I always put quotes on the chalkboards in the kitchen that relate to Family Dinner. This month I stumbled upon the following:

"And thank you for a house full of people I love. Amen." ~ Terri Guillments

"The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduced yourself to, had life not done it for you." ~Kendall Hailey

I feel like those two pretty much sum things up rather nicely...

Thankful beyond measure for nights...

...like this one. This is what Thanksgiving looks like with our college family:

I know I say it often but I LOVE that we get to serve and love these kids. They are something else and it's wonderful to see how they each bring something unique to our family. Andy jokingly told the group this is the only family you get to pick. We all laughed but it's very true. We are grateful that they choose us. That they allow us to be a part of their college experience and life after college. (Dave...so glad you were able to make it home for dinner! It was a treat having you back at the table for the night.) Oh, dear readers I wish you could be a fly on the wall and experience family dinner. It's incredible really, to see all the beautiful friendships that have developed just because we all sit down and eat together. It is one of my favorite days of every month during the school year.

So, I'm thankful on this week of thanksgiving that I get to love and serve these amazingly talented and unique individuals.