Emory celebrates TWO at the FAIR!

On Monday, September 14 Emory woke up as a TWO year old!  Was it really TWO WHOLE YEARS AGO that I woke up in the middle of the night, high-tailed it to the hospital, and then didn't have time to get my epidural!  =)  WOW!

Big sis had fun telling her what day it was!

Since it was a Monday, Ryan was at work but we didn't have school so we got to do one of my favorite things of the whole year...walk around at the FAIR!  When I was little my dad always took me to walk around the fair before school and it is one of my favorite memories.  I'm so glad he is able to do this with my girls as well!  He loves to tell them stories about growing up on the farm, and what tractors he had, etc. 

We stopped by the Conservation Area...

Then we walked through the area that has pumpkins, pies, etc.  

Then it was time to see the animals!

One area was sponsored by Prairie Farms and they gave the girls special strawberry milk...it was a big hit!

The man said Emory could sit on the little horse because it was her birthday, but she was too scared so Brynn got to instead.  =)

Finished the morning with lunch...we had corn dogs, chili, and pork burgers...YUM!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMORY!

Soccer/Family Bonfire

The Sunday after Emory's birthday we had a soccer game right after church....we had to be there a little early because it was team picture day!  The girls always look so cute in their tiny shin-guards and soccer uniforms!  

Warming up before the game...it's amazing how all the girls got better every single game.

We came home and relaxed and took naps, and then that evening one of our closest family friends had several families over for a special "Grandparents Day" bonfire event.  These are the families we were closest to when I was little..and we are still all close today.  The crazy thing is how much we've grown.  Six families with 12 kids...now those 12 kids (myself being one of them) have grown up and there are 18 of the NEXT generation.  CRAZY!  

It was just a GORGEOUS fall day and the kids were all running around...watching them it  was just surreal...almost looked like Laura Ingalls Wilder...just huge wide open spaces with kids running on the hills...LOVE!

Laura Ingalls Wilder moment for sure...=)

Sloane, Brynn, and Shelby...they made crowns for their hair with leaves...=)

And then Mr. Bill took them for a HAYRIDE!

Wouldn't be a bonfire without smores!

Erin's dad, and our old neighbor, Mr. Dave!  He is so sweet with the girls!

LOVE YOU EVERYONE!  

SEMO Football Game

The night of Emory's birthday was the first SEMO home football game.  We are working with the college students at church now, and it's been AWESOME!  We were having a big tailgate/kick-off and so after naps we headed over to Houck Stadium to get ready for some FOOTBALL!

Grandpa stopped by our tailgate before heading in to the game to work the chains. 

Redhawks Walk...the players walk through a couple of hours before the game...

Tailgate Time!

The alumni group has a big bounce house for the kids...woohoo!

We didn't all smash under the tent the whole time...but it drizzled for like ten minutes...

Emory favorite boy "Mister Ca-wub" (Caleb) brought stickers to her for her birthday...she was decorated up before game time.  =)

Love sharing our love of football with our girls...so fun!

And then the moment Brynn had been waiting for...Grandpa had promised her that this season she could go with him on the field before the game.  She was SO EXCITED!

I remember going on the field with my dad when I was in maybe sixth or seventh grade before the games...the players seemed HUGE and the cheerleaders seemed SO cool!  I wonder what goes on in Brynn's little mind as she took it all in...

She got to listen in to the chain crew meeting...

and watch the players warming up.

During the first quarter my mom (who isn't really a big football fan) said she would pick Emory up so we could stay with the college kids and watch the game.  Brynn stayed with us and did really good!  But Emory got to have grandma time...she gets pretty antsy after a quarter...

HAPPY FOOTBALL SEASON!