October Update

I was so ahead of the game for September update, it feels like forever since I've posted! October is such a fun month. It's the cross between end of Summer (in Texas at least) and the beginning of Fall. Seasonal parties start, the leaves start changing colors and your meal planning is so much easier now because it's crockpot season. Here's how our October went:

The last time I posted I mentioned it was almost our first WyldLife club of the year. Since then, we had our October club too! It's been awesome and fun and exhausting and hot and exciting all at the same time. Late night clubs (10:30 - 11:59pm) brings out everyone's second wind so it's A LOT of energy!! My constant prayer for this ministry is for middle school students to know and understand God's grace and love for them.

WyldLife fun :)

I went to my first party of the season! This was my third time at the annual scarf exchange party with some girlfriends and it gets more fun every time (that, and the host made apple cider moscow mules *insert heart eyes emoji*).

Love these sweet friends.

Can't wait to spend more time with these girls at IF: Gathering!

We also had not one, but TWO date nights this month! Heath and I do so much together through community group, the church, Young Life / WyldLife and double dates that, at times, we miss just some sweet date nights together! Just the two of us :)

We went to the State Fair of Texas DUH

Fried Oreo

Dinner with this cutie & then a movie - The Girl on the Train (highly recommend)

We went to the Grapevine-Colleyville football game and witnessed a Grapevine win! It's been their first time to beat Colleyville in several years. The benefit of living so close to the high school and the stadium is that we walked over to the game. The disadvantage of living so close to the high school and the stadium is that we walked over to the game (for me, at least).

Something that can't be pictured: Me catching my breath from walking to the game and then having to walk up this hill to get to the bleachers.

October also brought pumpkin patches, pumpkin carving, Fall Carnival and Halloween! I'm always one for making traditions and I love the ones we've made with Jay and Neveah. This was our fourth year in a row to visit the pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins and go to our church's Fall Carnival. I've told this story numerous times to friends, but the Compass Fall Carnival is always a special reminder for me. When Heath and I first got back from Kazakhstan, we both agreed we needed to find a home church together. Before that though, we did some searching on Halloween activities within the area we could take Jay and Nevaeh to. It led us to the carnival at Compass in October 2013, which is the same church we placed membership in February 2014. So thankful God led us to Compass three years ago from what the church calls their "largest outreach event of the year" because it reached us!

First time at the Dallas Arboretum with my favorites

It's amazing the love I have for kids that aren't mine :)

Short sleeve at the pumpkin patch in October. I was still sweating.

Hence why Jay is wearing shorts this year for pumpkin patch pictures...

Carving and painting pumpkins with the babes!

They just love each other. I love it.

Some of the community group at the pumpkin patch.

Love these girls!

Mary-Cameron :)

And her momma!

Lola, Bugs & a Rufferee

The last time we visited family in Oklahoma was June for Father's Day, so we had an open weekend to go this month. Lucky us that it also fell on an OSU home game weekend so we got to spend time with family cheering on our favorite team. I'm an OSU fan by marriage, just like I am a Thunder fan :)

LOL - Heath woke up later than I did to get ready aka late for church so he comes down in a similar outfit with no time to change!

This was about 1 min after I saw him walk out

And just some other pictures from October fun... like more double dates & Chief's first groomers appointment AND play date!

#andersonmckaymonthlydatenight - Beyond thankful for the special friendship we have with the Andersons! Their trust in the Lord in ALL things at all times is so encouraging.

I can't even handle all the cuteness. Best friends at first sight.

Me and my sister/best friend/college roomie/everything in life - We got married in the same year, bought our first homes in the same year and welcomed new puppies in the same year. At this rate, we are going to have babies in the same year!

If I couldn't see his eyes, surely he couldn't see out of them?!

The groomer highly suggested we wait for his puppy hair to grow out before giving him an actual body cut (aside from leg and face trim) SO BASICALLY Chief got a blow out (that cost more than mine!)

My mother-in-law is the sweetest and funniest and most thoughtful. Y'all, Chief got his first mail! It was addressed to him and everything (c/o Heath and Natalie) and I could not stop laughing when I checked the mail. Pizza toy because his mom sure loves pizza!

I'm not sure why I never thought of having lunch with Heath at school.... so we tried it out and it was fun :) I love how cool the kids think he is. His thoughtfulness and heart to just be present for his students is inspiring. I can talk to you all day about it, but he doesn't like it when I brag on him too much :)

Thanks for reading and Happy November!!! Bring on the turkey (maybe for you), but I'm all about the sides! Diet, what?

Until next time,