So...things here have been crazy lately. We have been really busy lately...the pictures above can prove it! Halloween came and went. We went to Knoxville for Homecoming and then visited the Dixie Caverns on the way home. This past weekend we visited Henricus, VA. They had replicas of the Powhatan Indian homes and tribes and also the American settlement there.

Also, our sweet little Benjamin has been sick on and off for three weeks. It's always concerning when your kids are sick and the drs don't really seem to have an answer. We are on some new medicine now in hopes it will kick whatever this is we have. He's still been trying to do some work at home. Today he told me he was going to do some writing. He wrote a lot and then read me what he wrote. He told me a lot of words from "ho ho" to "earrings" and every one's name. Cute thing was when he turned the paper over it was his name written about 25 times. Truth is, he really is learning a lot at school. He had three E's this past report card and one was in Math. All the others were S's. That's enough to make you cry! Here's the secret...I always knew he could do it!

My big boy Samuel is really doing well in school. You would not believe how much he LOVES school. He talks about it constantly. He is learning to read and really wants to read EVERYTHING. I was proud to get the chance to volunteer in his class the other day. He beamed the entire time I was there. It made me feel good that he was proud of me. He's really been helping Brian a lot. Such a little man. He helped rake and bag leaves the other day. He was out there working hard for a really long time. His other interest lately has been football. Much to his father's delight...he chooses to watch football. This Sunday he chose to watch part of the Cowboys/Redskins game by himself. Thankfully he was pulling for Dallas! :) He says he would be really good at football..."he can zig and zag and go really fast!" Maybe he will be heading to Orange Country one day!

Oh my little Gracie. She's basically potty trained now. Can you believe that? I have never been one to love potty training and wasn't really ready to start that all now. But...she really wanted to do it! She has had only a handful of accidents and really seems proud of herself. She still has no desire to wear "big girl pants" but is comfortable in her "diaper panties" (pull ups!) She now seems to love to watch "mooes." Problem is she loves to watch the same ones over and over. Right now it's Dora (the big sister one with the babies) and this Bible Songs DVD we have. I think Santa might have to bring some new "mooes" this Christmas. She's also learned to drink from a straw finally! I knew she could do it but she was scared of spilling water on herself. The first time she did it was quite a production. Every sip she took she would twirl in a circle and say "hooray Gracie!" That was cute but lasted for almost the entire first cup of water!

We cannot wait for the holidays and hope we get a chance to see everyone soon!