Halloween Fun

I love the fall because it is always full of fun activities. We have been unbelievably busy this fall, but still managed to squeeze in a couple great family outings. First of all, the elementary school I work for throws a fantastic fall carnival. It was the perfect size for Tylie, and all of us found something to entertain us.

First, they had multiple blow-up activity areas that Tylie probably could have spent all day on. The first one was a giant slide, and the people there weren't sure if she would be able to get herself up there. Of course, that's only because they don't know what a determined and independent pint-sized girl our Ty-Bug is...

They sold confetti eggs and Tylie thought they were fascinating! We got a couple and cracked them into our hair. Multiple students also graced me with their attention long enough to fly-by-egg me. Lovely. :)

Tylie got her face painted: a bug on one side, and an octopus on the other.

Another bouncy play area...Tylie found a new way to go down slides.

They had a pumpkin patch where you could pick out and decorate your own pumpkin to take home.

Overall, we all had a nice little time, saw and met many students and their parents, and enjoyed the time we had to spend as a family.

The next fun adventure we went on was the ward halloween trunk-or-treat activity. I look forward to this every year, and love getting my girls dressed up for the occasion. For the past two years, Tylie has won an award for the best costume and I enjoy the challenge of coming up with new fun ideas. I've also enjoyed it as a fun opportunity to visit with members of the ward and get to know them a little better. This year was a little different for us, with less she-bang, little socializing, and a very short night altogether. Nevertheless, the girls had a good time, we got to take some pictures, and Tylie came home with a small stash of delicious treats to share with us. Here is the night, documented.

Tylie made one adorable little volleyball player.

Kaelisse was a master chef....mom, don't you LOVE the fabric!

Such good friends already!

We got a few props together when we went inside, and took a few more sweet little pictures.

They were so distracted by everything going on around them that it was hard to get them to look at the camera for more than a second...and never at the same time...

Yep, that's right, our little chef is STANDING! In fact, earlier that afternoon she even pulled herself up into standing position multiple times, for the first time. Our baby's growing up so fast!

Hanging with dad.

Brent stayed by the car to hand out candy, and Tylie wanted to go see him a couple times in the middle of her candy search.

Being a brave little girl and sticking her hand into the mouth of a giant pumpkin! (Candy can get you to do all sorts of things you never thought you would...hehe).

It's been a lllloooonnnngggg night....will somebody take me home!?!

Our unbelievably crazy summer…in a coconut-sized shell:

After Brent graduated and I finished my last day of school, we raced off to Idaho for DJ (Brent’s brother) and Karenna’s wedding. The wedding was beautiful, and so special! I love being present when two people who love each other that much get to bind their love and their family for eternity…there’s nothing like it! (um...I didn't get ANY pictures of the bride and groom...what's wrong with me!?!) We spent a week there visiting with Brent’s family. We went on walks, played a little baseball, went shopping, and hung out at the house. Tylie also dragged every willing participant into the yard so she could run around with the dog. While we were there, my family also came up for a few days so we could do Kaelisse’s blessing.
Then, we piled in the car with my mom, dad, and brother and headed down to Idaho Falls to spend time with them. It was another week of fun family time—17 of us cozying up in my parent’s house…good times! We went to the zoo and the dairy farm, made tie-dye shirts, went for more walks and parks, and played a lot of card games….oh, and ate some of the best food in the world!
Then we headed back to South Carolina. We only had about two weeks there before our contract was up and we had to move. It was an insane two weeks of trying to see everyone we loved for last goodbyes, Brent still trying to get some hours in at work, packing up the entire house and trying to fit it into two moving cubes, and looking after two sweet-but-active little girls. We finally accomplished the seemingly impossible task, and hit the road.
We went straight to Louisiana to visit Brent’s sister and her husband. The plan was to spend a week there, get to Arlington, find a place to live, and begin our new life. However, sometimes plans don’t go exactly the way you want them to… after spending more than a week in hotel rooms searching for an apartment we would be happy with, we did (finally) find a place to live, but it wasn’t available for a couple weeks, so it was BACK to Louisiana to bum a bed.

Angie and Brennon were SO gracious to let us stay for so long (even with an infant waking them up at every possible hour of the night with her screaming). While we were there, we celebrated the 4th of July, went to the park a hundred times, hit every library story time we could find, went to the pool with Brennon’s family, frequented the mall for their indoor play area, and went to the lake.

We were there until the end of July, and then we were finally set to get moved into our apartment in Texas.

Brent started work on August 1st and knew from the beginning that he was going to enjoy it. He also started school, and knew from the beginning that he probably wouldn’t enjoy that. Hehe. I kept thinking something was coming my way so I could help pay the bills while Brent finished school, but the Lord had other plans. I continued looking for a job, and finally found something in the beginning of September. However, it was more of a drive than I wanted to make, we weren’t able to find child care in the area that we trusted, and I just kept having a strange, anxious feeling when I thought about starting work. Okay, HELLO AMELIA, it must not be right. So, after networking with some friends in the ward, I finally found work….started teaching 5th grade at a school not far from my house about 6 weeks after the start of the school year. The position is a new kind of challenge for me, but I think I’ll enjoy it and learn a lot from it. It also provides a way for me to take care of my family’s needs, and that is the miracle I had been praying for.
In the middle of August, we also celebrated Tylie’s birthday…TWO YEARS OLD! Holy cow…how time flies!

My dear sister Keshia came home from her mission to Croatia at the end of August. We didn’t get to see her, but it was so great talking to her on the phone!
Oh, and in September, I turned 30…wow… Look what my sweet hubby did for me!
So, now we’re here in Arlington. So far we love our ward, enjoy our jobs, have made some good friends, and get to spend some quality time together as a family on the weekends. I’m not sure I could ask for much more…
I’m grateful every day to my Heavenly Father who watches out for us and guides us to the places he needs us. I know I have some valuable learning to do while I’m here, and who knows what the future will hold for us!