Ending with TSUN

For our last game of the season we hosted Ole Miss and we were back in our happy place.  Unfortunately, we did not win, but had a great day with our friends.  My favorite thing about football season is being with Kathryn and her beautiful family.  I was sad to see our scheduled weekends come to an end!

 A lap full of love

 Parker, Morgan and Spencer- just missing Macie!

 Kathryn and I took the kiddos to play

 We found Bully!

A sister picture! Sarah Anne, Kathryn, Me and Carrie

Thankful for Rest

This year at Thanksgiving I took not one picture- not one!  I'm seriously failing here!  This year's Thanksgiving was a little different.  Mom and Dad stayed down on the coast with Grandma and Carrie was with Bobby's family.  So it was just us Leddy's!  When we knew it would be a smaller group than normal, I told Jeff we should scale back the food this year.  He quickly said no!  And reminded me that he had Whataburger last year in the hospital with his Dad.  Well then big Thanksgiving we shall have for all three of them!  The day started off as usual with breakfast, mimosas and the parade at my house.  Then Sissy hosted Thanksgiving dinner at her house and took care of most of the cooking.  I actually sat down and relaxed during the day!  How marvelous!  Dinner was so yummy and Tom even joined us.  It was the perfect day that I was so thankful to have.

Big Fat Turkeys

Morgan's school always puts on the sweetest Thanksgiving Program every year and it has become one thing I always look forward to.  This year with Morgan being in Kindergarten we knew her class would be the turkeys.  But Morgan was surprised when her teachers asked her to play the most special part in the program- the chef!  She was kinda disappointed not to wear the colorful turkey costume, but she was sold when Mrs. Kathy Ferris told her she would be in everyone's picture book at the end of the year.  Last year Morgan didn't sing one word and played with her costume the whole time she was on stage.  Needless to say I was nervous of our little chef clamming up.  But she did great!  Mrs. Lauren had practiced with her and she was amazing.  Morgan had a very proud cheering section!

Our little chef

 Morgan and some of her dinner

 With the girls...

 ... and the boys.

 The whole school

 "When the cook came around..."

 Singing proud

 The little chef with her proud family

 GaGa came too!

 Morgan and Mrs. Lauren, who is Morgan's music teacher and puts on the precious programs each year

Love her so big!

Riding Away With My Heart

We started the summer practicing with Morgan riding without training wheels.  Jeff practiced with her for a long time.  And then it got put down and forgotten.  Until one random day she just decided to do it by herself!  We weren't even out there with her!  She came running in squealing and we jumped up to see it.  I am just so proud of her!  She has now taken off and hasn't looked back.  She's too big!

 "Look Mom!  I'm doing it!"

 So fearless

 And she's off...

...and she's out!  Poor princess was worn out from all the excitement!

Dawg Days of Fall

Another day in the fall, another day spent in Starkville with my favorites.  Next up was Alabama and I made a choice to agree to help someone throw a baby shower in Tupelo.  Thankfully the shower wasn't until the evening so Carrie convinced me to spend the morning in Starkville before heading home.  And I'm so glad she did!  It was one of my favorites.  Carrie and Bobby hosted many of their new Alabama folks and got to show off campus too.  Morgan came along because there was no way she was staying home.  So game time was a Daddy and Morgan date!  It was tough to leave campus when everyone was getting so excited for the game.  But once I saw the final score (yikes), I didn't feel so bad for not being there.  Haha!

 Me, Carrie and Morgan

 Carrie, Me and Kathryn

 Aunt Carrie and her mini-me

Morgan and Spencer... aren't they precious?

A Little Fall Day

Do you ever have one of those moments that make your heart smile so big you think it might burst?  They always seem to sneak up on you too.  So often we are moving so fast that we don't even notice them until they are gone, and we are left feeling sad that we weren't enjoying it in the moment.  I had one of those days.  But I was there, present in the moment, and enjoying watching every second.  It was a nothing kind of day.  A Friday, when Macie and I picked up Morgan from school and decided to stop by Sam and Sissy's house.  It was a perfect fall day, cool but not cold, with the sun shining gloriously down on us.  Off hand Macie wanted to swing so we sauntered outside.  I sat down in the leaves and watched my girls enjoy God's world, enjoying being a kid in a swing and enjoy each other.  They took turns easily, waited patiently and laughed-really good, come from your belly laughs.  I never want to forget that day and the simple ease of it all.  I grabbed my camera and became an observer of their fun.  They would swing, take turns and run to give me hugs.  GaGa taught them how to swing together as sisters.  They laughed even more.  We played in the leaves and I never wanted the afternoon to end.  Of course it did when someone inevitably cried or whined.  But in that moment time stood still and I pray I never forget.  And I am thankful that I was not only there, but present to notice what was really happening- life at it's best.