So what has Josh been doing since returning??

Well, he got his job back at Wadley. Yay!

He took Krissy to lunch last Saturday since he couldn't be home for her birthday dinner/cake.
They ate at Herbs in Ashdown.

And he has been seeing Amanda...

a lot!

So much, that something may happen soon, which I can't say...

but that the Dallas LDS Temple may be involved in April.
What? I haven't said any official facts yet!

Fair Game?

Or is it Game Fair? But the night of Ashdown Homecoming Lauren & Kayley wanted to go because 1) Homecoming and 2) Hanna, who is in our ward, was nominated to be in the Homecoming court. She was 1st runner up, or Maid of Honor (?), so everyone was happy.

Here they are with Madison (Hanna's cousin and newest Beehive in our ward), and Sara (yellow bow) who is Hanna's sister. Not sure who the girl in front is, but she was having a great time too!

Lauren joined FFA. I know, right?? She has already talked to her Papaw, who is going to allow her to raise a calf for show next year. I know, right? This week is the Four States Fair, and all FFA kids were able to go and help with the daily stuff when local school kids came to visit. Unfortunately, Ashdown school kids were not able to go, so that was a bummer. I am sure it's all about the money and with football being the #1 priority right now,
well.... I won't get on that soapbox!

Some of the FFA girls.

And 4 of them with their boots. Yes, Lauren is wearing Justin's.
I know, right?
She is the upper right in the picture.

August & September dances

Stake dances are what my kids look forward too. They love going to the Gilmer & Longview Stake dances as there are WAY more kids, but they also go to our stake's because we will always support our stake things. Kayley just started going to them in April, and already has found herself a cute little guy friend. His name is Grant. And they have the same birthday!! Grant is a few hours older... how wild is that? But Grant is moving to the Monroe, LA Stake pretty soon. I think he is moving to Pine Bluff, which from what I had heard... is only like an hour from here. Like I've said before, I don't care if my 14 yr olds or 15 yr olds like someone... as long as they live far far away!! But I told Kayley once they are 16 and can date, then we can work things out. I hope by then Kayley will think I am
pretty cool because of it.
This was at the August dance. Aren't they so cute?

September "cowboy" dance.
Kinda blurry, and lighting was way bad.

Awwwwww, it's Grant & Kayley again!!
(It was also the same night that BYU was killed by Utah)

Lauren and a kid named Tyler.
Not sure what the face was about...

Youth Temple Trip

Lauren, Kayley & Jacob had a Dallas Temple trip on September 10th. They had to leave early that morning to be able to make it to the temple by the 11am session. They go in an RV that the Platts in our ward own, which makes it nice because they don't have to wear their church clothes there. They change just before getting to the temple. Here they are after doing a session, or maybe it's just before since all their hair is still nice??

Most of the Texarkana Ward Youth. I think maybe 3-4 are missing from that day. The New Boston Ward also goes with them so they can have a full session.

Lauren

Kayley

Jacob, with his long tie...

and no belt. Typical stinkin' Deacon!! LOL!!

They all had a great time. This was also Jacob's first time going.

Happy 10th Birthday!

Krissy is 10!! Her birthday was the 14th, but we celebrated it on the 15th when Shawn was able to be home from work (worked extra on the 14th). She wanted chicken alfredo (of course),
which I made for her.

And a mint chocolate cake
(aka grasshopper cake, on my other blog).

Happy Birthday to you!! She scored with lots of money, and has plans to buy some Justin boots. I am slowly training them in to be real country folk aka rednecks according to my sister. Haha!!

We love you Krissy!!

School fun!

Krissy and Lindsey have learned to make friendship bracelets. My Mom gave me tons of DMC thread years ago when I was really into cross-stitching. When Krissy was 4 months old I had surgery for carpel tunnel on my right hand (need it done on my left now), and I have never cross-stitched again. Lauren & Kayley have been doing the bracelets for a while now, and now these two have learned how, and love doing it.

Working on some before school one morning. Yes, I allow them to keep them taped on my coffee table for days as they are in the process of making them.

Howdy Partner! Joey had Cowboy day a week or so ago. He loved it. Loved being a cowboy! He looked the part with his scratched up face.

Homecoming week. Compared to last September (look under Sept 2010 archives for last years pictures), it was rather nice. Last year it was sooooo hot, and this year it was actually cool, and kids had their hoodies on. Lauren & Jacob were busy getting ready for the parade. Ashdown Homecoming week is a big thing here. Starts with 1/2 days school, big pep rally, parade and ends with the game.

Jacob with some of the 7th grade football players. He is the manager because of the pump, etc... But still part of the team. Go Panthers!!

Lauren helped with the 10th grade float, but I didn't get any good pictures. She was on the float too. It was cute. I think they got 3rd place.

Forgot about these...

Just a cute photo of Krissy and Joey. He must be very bored or something.

Lauren & Kayley with the blankets that our Stake YW did in July for CASA in Texarkana. It was a great service project, and they enjoyed doing them.

Krissy, Lindsey and Joey just relaxing outside having a good time with each other.

Jacob measuring Kayley for his project in Science...

and Lauren measuring Jacob. Silly kids!

Beavers Bend State Park, Oklahoma

Never ever been there before and I wanted to go! So on Labor Day the 6 kids and Shawn & I got into the Suburban and headed up to Beavers Bend, about 7 miles north of Broken Bow in SE Oklahoma. We were on the river part I later learned. I thought it was just the bottom area of the lake, but we didn't even get to the lake part, so next time we will go see it! It was a beautiful day, and the kids had fun. My little Lindsey Lou Who!

Paddle Boats were $10 for an hour, so we let the kids do it for a bit. Here is Lauren & Jacob doing the paddling while Kayley and Krissy sit in the back.

Shawn & I decided to take it out for about 15 minutes. It was rather fun, and it sure did work our legs!

My cute teenage girls.

Lindsey and Joey going for a ride!!

Headed out. They really did have a great time together.

Joey thought it was cool walking across this bridge. It was a fun day, and I hope we can go again soon. Well, maybe next spring.

Accident-prone kid!

The Thursday after Labor Day the kids were outside playing. Kids were playing on our jungle gym playground, and Joey was up on top playing with the "boat wheel." He was kneeling on his knees, looking below and just kinda fell over, doing a flip. He landed right on his face from what I was told. All I heard was "MOM, BLOOD, FELL, TEETH, DIRT" and screaming. So after cleaning him up and making sure there were no broken bones or teeth, we saw there were lots of scratches and a swollen lip and a bloody nose. The next morning he went to school, and he looked rough.
But a week later he was good as new.

And then we went to Sams. And he and Jacob decided to run around on the slippery concrete floor that had just been redone with the remodeling. And Joey fell. And there was blood everywhere. And it was after hours on Friday night. And so we went to Target to get some butterfly stitches/closures.
And then he was good as new.

Homecoming & YW Medallion weekend

My parents came up August 19th and my brother Scott and his family came up August 20th. Josh was going to be giving his homecoming talk in Sacrament Meeting, and Lauren earned her YW Medallion. It was going to be a great weekend. In Sacrament Meeting Jacob & Shawn both spoke before Josh. I know a lot of places don't allow it to be a "family" deal, but this was a big deal for us. Shawn was off, and since he hasn't been to church forever or spoken forever, they asked him to speak, and Jacob was the youth speaker, so it was great. And so because my parents were already there, and since Lauren is also their oldest granddaughter, and 1st one to get the medallion, we decided to do her little award ceremony after church. One of her leaders did a cute video of Lauren, and I have already hired her to do a video for all my kids later in their lives. Haha!!

Our cute kiddos!!

Me & Shawn with Lauren.

Kayley & Lauren with Lauren's best friend, Ashlyn, from New Boston Ward.

Lauren & Ashlyn, BFF

Lauren received her one medallion, but my Mom (her Mimi) also gave Lauren medallion that she got from MIA 50 years ago. I have one too, and I am thinking of letting my other 3 girls share that, with Kayley eventually getting it, or maybe my 1st granddaughter one day.