From August to December

So much has happened since my last post!  Back in August, Miles lost his first tooth, then the next day, he lost the second one!  Then in September, Miles started Cub Scouts and Hannah started ballet class.  Also in September, the four of us went down to Glen Rose to Dinosaur Valley State Park and to see the Creation Evidence Museum.  I had been wanting to go for years, so this was my birthday request this year.  Then the next week, after 2 years and 3 months of wearing braces, I got them off!  I'm loving my new smile, and the fact that eating is not so much of a hassle anymore!

The day before I got my braces off.

 The day I got them off.

And for those who never saw me before I got my braces, here's what I looked like.

 The mold of my teeth.

At the beginning of October we went with Thomas, Mindy, Jason, Mama and Daddy up to the Wichita Mountains to celebrate Daddy and Thomas's birthdays.  It was nice to see mountains again, and the view off of Mount Scott was amazing.  Miles continued to go to Sonlight every Friday, while Hannah and I had our time together then.  We did story time at Barnes and Noble, ate lunch, shopped, and sometimes just came home and watched The Little Mermaid together.  At the end of the month, we left for a trip to North Alabama, and stayed for two weeks.  I used to live there as a child and have missed it ever since we moved back to Texas.  The trip was part vacation and part checking the place out to see if we'd like to move there.  Chip had never been out there, so it was really about convincing him.  And in case anyone's wondering, he was convinced! 

Mount Scott, Oklahoma

Monte Sano, Alabama
 

 Near New Market, Al

 Guntersville Lake from Sand Mountain, AL

 Above De Soto Falls, AL

While in North Alabama, we got to see my best childhood friend, and beloved friends from Church, and my girlfriends from junior high.  The mountains were absolutely beautiful, and the people were just as friendly and down to earth as I had remembered.  I really love that area.

When we got back from out trip, we went to a ceremony where Miles was awarded his very first Cub Scout badge, the Tiger Cub badge!  I was so proud of him!

Today, Hannah started her first day of Mother's Day Out, or "school," as she calls it.  We walked into her classroom and she immediately took off her backpack and coat and said, "Bye Mommy."  I had a feeling she would have no problems with me leaving her.  She just started playing with the toys and was fine.  I've really needed a break from the kid's lately, so now every Friday will be all mine.  Hannah's school is at the same church as Miles's Sonlight class, so it's really convenient.  I'm so thankful for programs like those!

Outside the house before school

On the way to school

Hannah diving right into the toys!

Now that we're in December, we're getting ready for Christmas of course, so tomorrow we're going to Lowe's to pick out a tree as we do every year.  This will be our first time to do all the Christmasy things with Hannah.  I wonder what she'll think of it all.  I look forward to experiencing it all with her.

By the end of the month, we hope to have our house sold.  On Monday I have rentals to look at, and Lord willing, we'll be moving around the middle of January.  I'm so ready to move!  The house I really hope we can rent is much bigger than what we have now, with lots of trees in the nicely fenced-in backyard.  It's also close to a good friend of mine and an awesome park, which makes it even better!  Please keep us in your prayers. 

Well, that about wraps it up for the last few months. We're going to take the kids to see Santa soon, and I'll post those photos as soon as I can.

My favorite of the ones I took this morning.