A Tribute to Fall

Before we completely move onto Christmas I wanted to pay tribute to this past Fall with some of the fun things that happened in our family... 

We were excited to find out there was a little bean inside. It was fun keeping it a secret

for at least a couple of weeks!

We welcomed fall to our house with a chocolate cake and candles, why not??

The kids had fun dressing up for the annual Down Town Bay Street Trick or Treat. 

 

 Elijah growing up so fast!

 One of the highlights was welcoming home the "hikers", my brother Hunter and his wife Amy. They finished the PCT after 5 months of hiking.

I love seeing my boys and girl dirty! It means they've been having fun outside!

 We were thankful to make a trip to D.C. to visit some dear friends. While there we went to the 'BIG' Air and Space Museum. We found the plane that was on Levi's jacket!

And this plane was on Deke's shirt! And can you believe it, 

both of those were unplanned!!

I think Olivia's favorite thing was going to the Antique Store and trying on all the hats.

She's quite the model!

The kids always have fun in the kitchen creating new desserts.

It was fun seeing our baby for the first time!

Olivia sang her first solo in church last week

This is the baby at 14 weeks. Olivia is demonstrating

how big the baby is right now.

We had fun with our visiting friends from Knoxville, TN. We have missed them

since they moved this past summer.

Leave it up to Deacon and Olivia to find a stray or injured animal. This time it was a

cardinal they tried to nurse back to health... unfortunately the cat

found it the next morning! =(

The Qualls family has the wonderful tradition of letting the smallest members of the family mix up the famous cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving each year. Yes, we make them wash their hands before, but we have no control over the sneezes!

Dustin's been doing this ever since he can remember!

He was the turkey man at our house this year too! We hosted my family for Thanksgiving for the first time. It was a lot of work, but worth it. It was so much fun having everyone over.

The finished bird! And did I mention this was our first turkey too!

We had 20 people to help us celebrate, hence the second table in the living room. Thanks to my amazingly talented husband, he just happened to have an extra (beautiful) heart-pine table lying around his shop that we were able to use!

Some of the crowd in the kitchen and some of the food - that we are still eating!

The kids table!

My favorite nephew - look at that edible chub!

Yeah, he's got this chillin' thing down to a science!

I thought it would be fun to end with the E man giving us a dance!

A lot has happened this Fall. Many ups and downs for sure. But family, especially children help keep things constant and fun and definitely interesting.

I am so grateful for that and the amazing work God continues to do in our lives and hearts.

A New Name

There have been some new names floating around here lately. Lately, as in, since last Saturday...

The first new name is Elijah Xavier Garcia-Serrano. He was born on Saturday, July 2nd and weighed in at 5lbs. 15oz. and was 19in's long. Quite the handsome boy, if you ask me.

The next new name? Well that would be...

Mommy... one of the most precious in the whole world, especially when it's your first time being called that sweet name. This is my sister, Cally. And she was amazing!

Daddy or Poppy. Depending on who you ask. Another of those 'sweetest names'. This is Cally's husband Javier and a very proud papa!

 

Baba and Dadada. Although these names have been around for 7 years, they now have someone new to call them by these names.

Aunt and Uncle. These two theoretically are used to these names, but maybe now they might actually be referred to as 'Aunt and Uncle' since my kids have never been able to get the names out very well...

 

Cousins. They have been the lone rangers for a while now and are glad to have a cousin to love and play with - well at least hold for now.

Uncle. Never before has he been called this name. But I think he's going to like it.

Tia. I have to say, I was completely caught off guard by this name. I have aunts, my children have aunts, but I have never been one myself. And there is just something about experiencing something for yourself. I was not prepared for the feeling of awe and wonder. So close to your own, but different. As he was slowly coming into this world, the tears coursed down my cheeks. I had watched my own be born, but never another. And although I was not the one bearing down and pushing, I was participating in the miracle. This was my sister, this was her baby and this was my nephew I was watching join us in this life. I heard his first cries, through my own. I gazed at his wet skin, red lips and black hair and I felt reborn. My heart grew to yet another size and I felt a love drive deep into my soul. I am now an aunt.