Fall Baseball

Some cute pictures of the boy playing baseball...I've really grown to love this sport. It is a game of speed, competence, and trust -- on all parts...players, coaches, teammates. It's pretty incredible. :)

Walker enjoys chewing gum during the games. :) 

AND, his cute little team...their coach (the big hot dog there) had them dress up in their Halloween costumes for last week's practice! :) Such a great idea!

Seeing Baby Tom

OH this baby!

And the crying shot...just so funny. I know he doesn't think it's funny. But he's so cute. 

Walker is willing Tom to like cars. :) 

Tom, still focused on the car

He looks like a doll in this picture. 

Walker thought it was funny that one of his cars' tires got stuck around a thread in his shorts. ;) He asked me to take a picture of it.

We had so much fun celebrating Emmy's birthday AND seeing Baby Tom. He's precious and just beautiful and we love him so much. Thanks for a wonderful dinner, Whitney and Matt!

Homecoming 2017

Last weekend, Walker's football team had their Homecoming mum exchange on Friday followed by the football game on Saturday. :) Only in Texas, friends. Only in Texas. 

He was tearful and frustrated just before this picture was taken. His coach had released him from practice in order to go to our Fall Festival at school, and then I made him go back to give his mum to one of the cheerleaders. :) He was awfully upset because he wanted to leave. But how cute is this picture? You would never know that he was crying just minutes before it was taken. Faker. ;) 

Walker...tiny number 82, in the center(-ish) of the photo

I love when he walks next to Lucas...number 87. :)

He's a tiny dude...trying to block the biggest kid on the opposite team! :) After the game, he told me that he was nervous to catch the ball...and didn't "feel like getting tackled." I'm not totally sure Walker will stick with football long-term.

Again, up against the biggest boy. No wonder he didn't want to get tackled. :)

I'm proud of Walker for trying. He is definitely the smallest, lightest kid on his team, yet he still tries. That's all that matters to me! I'm proud of you, Walker!

Shiners and Hospital Fun

Sweet Reagan. She has had such a hard time adjusting to Ben being in the hospital. She spends a lot of time "on" me whenever possible and is having trouble sleeping at night (she wakes me up a lot...needing things). I am pretty sure that she thinks the kids and I need her to protect us. I am confident that her 9 pounds of fluff will be helpful in any and all situations involving the preservation of our safety.

Walker ran into a fence at recess and got himself a little shiner. Nothing too serious, but kind of a funny story. He said that he didn't even cry. :)

Lainey made this sign for Ben at the hospital. Her quotes are my favorite part. 

"When one door closes, another one opens."

"There's still a light in the dark." :) Sweet girl.

We have this hanging near his hospital bed so he can see it every day. :) 

AND, this headline appeared in the newspaper the other day. I cut out the headline to hang up in Ben's room, as well. :) He WILL bounce back from this!

School Pictures, 2017

Early morning photos = tired looking kids. :) 

4th Grade

2nd Grade

A Few Pictures

Lainey's drawings of unicorns look a bit like this... :) I love it. It kinda reminds me of a sock puppet. :) 

cute friends at a 4th grade field trip

Walker's little feet do this every so often. They say "hi" to me because he knows that I love his tiny feet. :) 

They are cute. :)

Latest Update

I know, I am not posting many photos lately. Since Ben has been in the hospital, we've been living day-to-day, focusing on basic needs (Reagan's, the kids', mine). I am incredibly thankful for our family and friends who have stepped in to support our family; trust me when I say this, this is not something where some people are "doing lots of things" and others are "not doing anything." We need every ounce of help we can get...whether it be carpooling, providing support for our kids, taking kids to get haircuts...or prayers. Prayers are huge. The prayers and the knowledge that "this" is in God's hands - not the doctors', not ours, not the nurses' - give us a renewed focus and purpose each day. And for that, we are thankful. I wouldn't be this calm and controlled if I didn't trust in a God who will see us through this...truly. :)  To be honest, I do freak out sometimes and I do get sad. I am human, and I do worry. But, I give myself a tiny pep talk and I refer back to a verse that my friend Kate referred to recently... "But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now"... from Joshua, 23: 8. I'll say this. God has NEVER let me down. He has definitely thrown me some curve balls...but ultimately, all for good. His plan may be revealed to me in 6 months or 11 years...and it will be for good. I trust this with my whole heart. :) In the meantime, here are some cute pictures of the kids. :)

Walker catching a ball :)

Walker and his friend Seth - eating at Whataburger after their football game

Lainey, at a slumber party, after receiving a beautiful makeover from someone who was blindfolded

Lainey, giving a beautiful makeover

Lainey and Kaitlyn, friends since they were THREE years old. Thank you, Kaitlyn, for an awesome slumber party. :)

Walker, having fun at Emmy's pool

Lainey :)

sick girl, with 103 fever :(

Walker and Kasen....they are like brothers. I'm thankful for this family! :)

Fall Football...

First scrimmage, in the books. Walker wrote about it at school. He said it was "fun" and that he "can't wait for the first game." :) We take all of Walker's positive comments and celebrate them. :) Ha!

such a great picture of Walker's cute team...