Cousin love

There are two sayings about cousins that I love.  I'm not exactly sure of the correct wording, but it is something like "Your first best friends are your cousins,"  and the other that I love goes something like "a cousin sees the first tear, catches the second, and stops the third."  In the case of my nephews and my girls, they are glue.  They love each other so much.  I often witness really sweet, tender moments.  Some I catch on film; some I don't.  Most of all, I love knowing that they will grow up as best friends, and I love knowing that they are sincerely and truly best friends.  They love to be together.  They are patient with one another.  They help one another learn.  They play well together.  They fight well too.  But most of all, they really love each other a lot.

We know that the girls will also have the same love and friendship with Lilliann, and that is something I am so excited to watch.  I feel so blessed that my kids will grow up with two sweet boys to call their best friends, and one really sweet girl too.

Cousin fun at the Austin High School football game

I peeked in the backseat to find Claire and Charlie holding hands.

Cousin slumber party at Grandma and Pops' house.

Loving Lilliann - even Daisy feels the love!

Fall is here!

I love the fall!  I love the energy, the weather, the activities.  I love Halloween!  I love Thanksgiving.  I love UT football (despite a not so great season this year).  I love soccer.  I love school starting up again.  It makes me happy.  Here are some fall moments that I love...

The boys came over at the beginning of October to help me make my house decorations scarier.  They said they were not scary enough!  So after much help and direction, my zombie nephews turned my house a wee bit scarier. 

We went to the Hill Halloween carnival.  Pops and Claire got their hair dyed.

Claire enjoying the bouncy slide at the carnival.

In line for the petting zoo

Harper fell in love with this sweet bunny.  I was not too sure we were going to be able to peel the bunny out of her hands.

Claire with one of her new Hill besties, Katherine, at the Hill carnival

Claire in her Dorothy costume on the day it FINALLY arrived in the mail.

Claire and Harper in the pumpkins.  Claire wore her Halloween costume.  Harper wore a very old Strawberry Shortcake costume, because she insisted that "Annie is only for Halloween."  Now we are really confused, because she is now insisting that Tinkerbell is for Halloween.  Uh oh...

My sweet pumpkin and my silly scarecrow

Pops turned 65!

Pops turned 65!  We had a big family celebration at the house.  The kids made him a special plate, a photo collage, they drew him pictures, and more.  His favorite were the questionnaires that Christi wrote for each kid to complete.  We asked them questions "all about Pops" and the answers were priceless.  I wish I had taken a picture of them to post here.  I will have to do that the next time I am at my parents' house.  He laughed and cried reading them.  It was priceless.  Pops is a gift to all of us.  Although Pops faces enormous amounts of pain and suffering daily, he never lets his grandkids or his family suffer because of it.  He continues to exercise, to play with the kids, to show up at every event we all have, to be present in all of our lives.  He is a source of strength and a constant inspiration.  As we turn the chapter of Pops' 65th year of life, we all praise God for him.  Thank you, God, for Pops' resilience, unconditional love for his family, and for his zest for life.  We are all forever grateful.

One of several hundred attempts...this is the best one!  Not bad, huh?!  The kids were such good sports, and yes, I bribed them with Star Wars light sabers and candy.

Pops and the Claire Bear

D, Pops and I

Blowing out the candles

Best pic of Pops with the grandkids.  After the family shots, they weren't too excited about more pictures.