Bates Nut Farm

We celebrated my brother's 36th birthday this weekend.  Happy birthday Craig!  We had a great weekend with the Arings and our boys love to hang out with their cousin Wesley.  We made our annual trip to Bates Nut Farm's Pumpkin Patch in Valley Center.  My brother and his family and my mom met us there.  I was disappointed because they didn't have the jolly jumps, petting zoo, the rock climbing wall or the giant tower of straw bales to climb on.  Instead this weekend they had a hot rod show and the "Hooter Girls".  The boys loved the cool old cars but I was really looking forward to climbing that walk wall this year ;-)  Some how I lost my ankles at Bates Nut Farm and my feet swelled up like pumpkins.  Have you ever seen anyone get stretch marks on their feet?  Is that even possible?  I think I can feel my skin ripping.  Enough of my complaining!  We ended up with some very reasonable sized pumpkins this year and skipped the 92 pound ones this time.  The boys had a blast and want to know when we are going back.

Miles really liked the white pumpkins!





I am not sure what all the boys are yelling at.

Lucy

Craig with Miles and Wesley

Best friends

Kung Fu Mason

Mason had his first karate class  last night.  He was so excited!  I am very excited too.  It is going to teach him some wonderful skills like confidence, self-control, respect, perseverance, self-discipline, coordination, strength and many more that I probably have not realized yet.  The class was great!  There were four instructors last night.  They all had great teaching ability, worked well with kids and had an enormous amount of energy!  Mason can't wait till he can go back.  He said he wants to do it every day!

Joshua Tree

Erick went with Kaleo (our church's college ministry) to go camping at Joshua Tree.  Erick said it was one of their best retreats.  I think about 45 people went.  I wimped out and stayed home, but Lauren who is expecting to have her baby in about 3 weeks went and even rock climbed with everyone else!  Here are some pictures.  To see the rest go to Kaleo's Flickr site.

Look our friend Don is back from Korea!

This one cracks me up.  This is Josh P. leading the group in morning exercises.

Student of the Month

This morning Mason was recognized as "Student of the Month" at his school.  He received this award due to his good citizenship and hard work at school.  He did excellent giving his speech and told me he was not even nervous!  He received an award pin and has the privilege of having lunch with the principle!  Way to go Mason!!!  (Grandma Evie took a video.  I'll try to post it later.)

Student of the Month

Mason was recognized at his school this morning as the student of the month!  He was chosen for this award because of his good citizenship and hard work at school.  He did excellent giving his speech.  He got a nice award pin and gets the privilege of having lunch with the principle!  Way to go Mason!!!

Stuff Cobbs Like #24: Carolyn Mahaney

I really like Carolyn Mahaney.  She is married to pastor/author CJ Mahaney.  Carolyn has three married daughters and one teenage son.  Carolyn writes and occasionally speaks to women on being a wife and mother.  I have been greatly blessed by her.  I have been encouraged and inspired often by her to pursue being a more godly wife and mother (I need all the help and encouragement I can find!).  She reminds us of the importance and the joys that are in found in being a mom and wife.

Carolyn and her daughters have the most amazing blog for women called Girl Talk.  Carolyn is also the author of one of my favorite books, Feminine Appeal.  She also wrote Girl Talk and Shopping for Time.   My thanks goes to Nickie P. and JT for reminding me of Carolyn's messages on To Teach What Is Good: Wisdom for Women from Titus 2.  I listened to most of these messages by Carolyn years ago and they are so great!  Her talks are now available to download for free online.  So this afternoon while I was elevating my edematous feet I relistened to "Loving My Husband" and "Loving My Children".  I am going to listen to all of them over again they are fantastic!

1. A Fresh Look at Titus 2


2. Loving My Husband


3. Loving My Children


4. Being Self-Controlled


5. Being Pure


6. Being Busy At Home


7. Being Kind/Doing Good


8. Being Subject to My Husband

Marshmallow Feet

This is what my feet look and feel like. Just 9 weeks to go (that seems like forever).  Or if this pregnancy is like my others (which it has not been) then maybe only 7 weeks!

I'm A Big Kid Now!

Miles started preschool today.  It is just two half days a week.  I was totally expecting him to be clinging on to me for dear life and lots of crying when I dropped him off this morning.  But there was none of that!  He walked in his classroom with a big smile and ran up to his teacher and gave her a giant hug.  Miles actually did better than me :-)  When I picked him up he cried because he didn't want to leave!

Miles has been very concerned or curious about what I am going to be doing all by myself!  He has asked me many times.  So what did I do today?  Well, I went and got the longest foot massage/pedicure of my life!  I spent all last night worrying about the drama that I expected to unfold today, and there wasn't any!  Just like Tom Petty sings "Most things I worry about never happen anyway".

A Knock-Down Argument Against Dancing in Church

Via JT

Carlsbad Beach

This was such a great treat!  We walked down to the beach and looked out and there were about 6 dolphins swimming with the surfers.  The dolphins were SO CLOSE!  The lady on the kayak and the lady surfing said the the dolphins just kept poking their heads up and looking at them!  The dolphins were hanging out there for at least an hour.  They seemed to like watching the people.

Baby Ellie

Sometimes we like to wear stretchy pants

So Erick decided not to take the boys to Dr. Marc's to watch "ultimate fighting" tonight.  Instead we watched one of our favorite movies, Nacho Libre.  The boys had never seen it before.  Mason had a ton of questions throughout the whole movie.  Miles thought the wrestling was hilarious.  Miles was laughing and squealing with excitement so loud.  I have never heard him laugh like this before.  It was hysterical to listen to him laugh.  During Nacho's wrestling match, Miles turns to me and says "Mommy, I wouldn't do that to you".  Well I sure hope not!

The Twins Are Home!

Erick's brother (James) and his wife (Britni) had twins back in June.  They finally are now home from the hospital after being born prematurely.  They are so adorable!  What a blessing to be able to hold these precious babies!

Britni and James with Madison and Macie (or is it Macie and Madison?  I can't tell).

Their son Tyler.  Isn't he the cutest?

Wesley's First Day of Kindergarten

My nephew, Wesely (and his mom) at his first day of kindergarten.