Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for him


This year for Thanksgiving we headed up to Nana's house to celebrate with our family. We got there late Wednesday night but Payton made sure she got some playtime in with Uncle Cameron. I think Cameron got quite the workout throwing Payton around all weekend. She loved being with him and Aunt Gill(Jill), Kiki and Matt, the other Aunt Gill, and she also took a special liking to Ryan and Austin. It was a special time being with family and something I know we all needed this year, lots of smiles and giggles. Payton enjoyed watching the parade on Thanksgiving morning, giving out Indian hats to everyone, helping Nana make the cornbread dressing, reading books with Matt, and decorating Nana's christmas tree. Thank you Nana for all your hard work and the love that was behind it all. You made this a special Thanksgiving for us all. We are so thankful for you!


Two little indians


Nana teaching Payton how to make dressing


Payton showing Jill how to make the dressing




Kiki and Payton decorating

Halloween

We have a big Halloween party every year at our house with friends and family. It is always fun and chaotic with lots of little people running around. This year there were several princess, fairies, one beautiful flower, three lions, one cute zebra, and the sweetest little bee you have ever seen. We started the night with lots of ghoulish treats that gave us lots of energy to go out trick or treating. The older kids really got into trick or treating this year. Payton was on the hunt for suckers. Claire was quite perplexed why people were putting candy in her purse. After they filled up their buckets they headed back to the house for a dance party to help get rid of some of the sugar high. The night slowly came to an end and all that was left were one tired precious flower and one happy purple princess.

Apple Pickin

Our Girls

We have spent a lot of time outside lately enjoying the leaves. Here a few pictures.

Apple Pickin

Isn't fall the most beautiful time of year? Our family definitely thinks so. One weekend this fall we spent several days with Nana at her house. It was a perfect weekend together. We spent a day in NC at Skytop Apple Orchard. The weather was beautiful and for me it was one of those days that I become overwhelmed with how blessed I am to have such a great family. The girls both enjoyed picking apples and eating them. I think Claire probably ate a few. Every time we turned around she had a new apple she was eating on. After picking apples we ate apple cider donuts and drank apple cider while the girls played in the little play houses. It was a great day.
The next day Nana and daddy took Payton to the driving range at the club. I stayed back at the house with Claire, but knew how much fun they had by the smile on Jonathan's face when they got back to the house. Nana said he was a very proud daddy.

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival

The pumpkin festival is always something we look forward to every year. It is always a great day. This year we went twice once with the Goforths and then again the next day with Daddy to enjoy more fun. The girls loved the backyard circus, the train ride, the corn maze, painting pumpkins, running around with friends, and seeing all the pumpkins. Payton loved to run around and try and find all the princess pumpkins. I love to watch Payton, Caroline and Abby play together. It is very entertaining and reminds me of how blessed we are to have such great friends. We love you guys so much!

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday after the camping trip we went to a pumpkin patch near our house with my family for the day. It was such a good day. We got to see animals, see a pig race, go on a hay ride, play on the playground, have a picnic and ride the cow train. The girls enjoyed themselves and all the activites. The fall is our favorite time of year. I love to be outside when it cooler and that makes my girls so happy.

Camping with Daddy

Jonathan took Payton camping Friday night with some of our friends and their kids. They had a great time and Payton is still talking about sleeping with Alex and Luke in the tent. Jonathan said Payton did great and enjoyed being with her friends. They are both looking forward to the next camping trip already.

Another Clemson weekend

After the beach we drove to Nana's house for the Clemson game. Daddy met us there Friday night, and we were glad to see him. It was a perfect Clemson day, except the outcome of the game of coarse, but the girls enjoyed the game. My parents met us at the game and then we all went back to Nana's for a fun weekend. On Sunday Payton wanted to show Mimi and Pawpaw Nana's horse Sugar. No, Nana does not have a horse, but her neighborhood has an equastrian center where Sugar the pony lives. Payton got to sit on Sugar a few months ago and ever since she talks about Nana's horse Sugar. We took my parents over to the equestrian center to see all the horses. Payton was in heaven as she got see them and give them treats. She chickened out on riding Sugar this time though. After lunch and a nap we were headed home after a long, but good week. It always feel so good to be home.

Trip to Myrtle

Last week Nana and I drove the girls to Myrtle Beach to spend some time with my friends from college that I had not seen in 3 years. Nana so kindly volunteered to venture with me on the drive to the beach. She stayed with Aunt Jean while I spent a few days with my friends. The drive was needless to say long and interesting, we like to say adventure. There was lots of potty breaks, pit stops at McDonald's for lunch or just to stretch and play, and even a quick stop on the side of I20 to go potty. Yes, it was fun. The few days at the beach was not as I had planned since there was a tropical storm that forced us to stay inside with five adults and five kids under the age of three. Payton asked me as we drove to meet Nana the last day "Mommy you said you were taking me to the beach but we never saw the beach." Claire did not sleep well and since the three of us slept in one room Payton was up quite a bit, she was a trooper but tired and irritable the next day. At times I felt like I was in a nightmare. Overall I am glad that I went just because I got to spend good time with some of my sweetest friends. I wish I had pictures from the trip, but I was more concentrated on survival. Nana won the grandparent award for being so willing to chauffeur us to and from. We love you.

Fair

County Fair

In September of every year we go to the fair with the whole Lord clan. It is always a big event for us and one we look forward to. The girls love to see the animals, the lights, the rides and to hear the wonderful fair music. Claire was adorable, she danced the whole night even when no one was watching. Payton had a great time this year and got to ride by herself with Sarah Grace on some of the kiddie rides. She felt so big and is still talking about it. Enjoy the pictures and the look on Payton's face as she enjoyed the night.

McDaniel Farm

Day at the Farm

One of our friends discovered the best little farm near our house. It is an old turn of the century farm where the kids can learn about candle making, old crafts, and how families lived years ago. It reminded me of Little House on the Praire. We went one afternoon with our friends and the kids had a great time making candles, soap, cornhusk dolls, going on a hayride, visiting the petting zoo and even a picnic lunch all for five dollars. What a great deal? The weather was perfect and just a taste of fall.

First Friday Parade

First Friday Parade

Every year it is our tradition to go up to Clemson for the first friday parade with the Goforths. It always seems to be one of those perfect days that reminds you of how much you love Clemson. We have been doing this the past three years since the girls were born. It is fun to see how much they have grown. We watch the parade, play on Bowan field, eat dinner, and head back to Nana's house for a great football weekend. It is fun to watch their little faces during the parade, even Claire got quite excited at the sights. She was thrilled to just be barefoot on Bowman. The girls love being together and have turned into quite the little Clemson fans. They had the best time cheering with one another at the game. Payton has gotten all the cheers memorized. Should I find it sad that she can spell Clemson, but not her name yet? Daddy is proud.

Puggle

Payton started Puggles last week at church. It is the 2 year old version of Awana's. She loved it and told me she learned a memory verse, "God made everything.", Genesis 1:1. It is cute to hear her try and say Genesis. Her favorite thing lately has been reciting nursery rhymes and Bible stories. It has been sweet and amazes me what their little minds can soak up. She loves the story of David and Goliath. She likes to act it out and says "David won because he loved God and obeyed God." How profound I know. She also talks about how Jonah was in time out in the belly of the whale because he didn't do what God said. She often puts on quite a show while she is in time out. She will sit in her chair and recite nursery rhymes over and over. We stand on the other side of the wall and laugh. Fun times.

Summer Nights

Fun Summer Nights

We love summer, but I am not a fan of really hot days unless I am on a boat at the lake. Payton will go to the window and ask to go play on her playground and I respond "Baby we will melt." So at night we like to spend most of our time outside. I have tried to think of some fun activites besides just the park or sandbox. One night we made a house out of a box. We painted the house, made windows, and daddy made a brick walkway and chiminey. I think daddy had more fun than Payton, but he was quite possesive over his project. Claire and I had fun watching. Another night we finger painted with chocolate pudding, something I have always wanted to do. Payton and Claire loved it. They also loved rinsing off in the water hose afterwards. It is really fun to sit back and watch Claire enjoy herself. We have also gone to the Laser Show at Stone Mountain, Brusters (too many times), the park, and lots of walks around the neighborhood. Summer nights have been fun this year.

Imangine It Children's Museum

We went to the children's museum downtown with some of our sweet friends Alex and Sydney. The girls had so much fun. The theme this summer is Under the Big Top so everything has to do with the circus. They played at the water table, the sand table, painted, played dress up, played in the market and watched a circus show. It was interesting to watch the girls as they watched the show. All three of them looked terrified, yet afterwards said they liked it (even sweet Claire looked scared). Claire had a great time playing too. Now that she is walking she can participate more. I enjoyed watching her explore. It was a full day and Payton is still talking about Bee-Bo the clown.