{OCTOBER}

We are loving fall and soaking up all the beautiful days we can before cold weather hits. Halloween was crazy but fun. Parker is a marathon trick-or-treater but always slowed down enough to make sure little Lilly wasn't passed by as treats were handed out. What a sweet big sister.

Lilly is in full throws of the terrible two's... or maybe just feeling like a middle child. My sweet, easy-going child has been much more difficult of late. This is my favorite quote from the past month (maybe even year).... Parker and Lilly are sitting on the patio steps coloring with sidewalk chalk. I have the screen door open so I can hear them. Lilly is in one of her grumpy moods and wants nothing to do with Parker. This is what I hear Parker saying. "Dear God, I bless that Lilly will stop being grumpy and be happier." Lilly quickly interrupts by screaming, "No say that Parker!" But Parker calmly replies," Lilly, do NOT interrupt me when I am talking to God." I chuckled to myself and know this is just the beginning of the love/hate relationship of growing up with a sister. Oh boy!!

Savannah, Lilly, Caroline and Parker

Visit to Mimi's house with cousins Grace and Connor

Parker on the new swing set

Lilly loves to swing "high as the sky"

Typical: Lilly pouting, Parker being silly & Scarlett along for the ride

Big 6 month old!

All the kids ready for trick-or-treating

Our little pumpkin

The fairy princesses and pumpkin

{WHO'S WHO?}

Scarlett still looks so much like Parker. In person, it's even more true because they have similar expressions. What do you think!?

{FAMILY REUNION & FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL}

Labor Day weekend we packed up the girls and headed to Soddy Daisy, TN for the Stophel (my mom's side) family reunion. It's always good to visit with relatives that we don't see very often. There are many scattered about since my mom is one of eight kids!! My mom's younger sister, Aunt Judy, and her husband, Uncle Woods were kind enough to host the gathering at their beautiful place on the Tennessee River. They even let us stay there too! We decided to take the girls to the Chattanooga aquarium on our way back home(along with a million of our closest friends). It was crowded but really cool. The weekend was a great getaway and wonderful way to end our summer.

Four of the siblings: Glenn, Charlotte, Betty & Larry (front to back)

Uncle Woods & Aunt Judy

John Sapp & Cleve leading worship

Aunt Betty with her granddaughter, Holly

Some of the group singing by the water

Cousins: Elizabeth, Lilly & Parker

Holly holding Lilly

Cleve, Kevin, Uncle Larry, Chris & John

Mikayla with Scarlett

Beautiful Girl (4 months)

I think these two were "reunioned out"!!

Lilly loving the butterflies at the Aquarium

What a beautiful creation!!

Parker, Vasher and Lilly found a butterfly

Vasher and Parker (with a penguin swimming between them)

Kendra, Parker, Chris, Annie, Lilly & Cleve at the Aquarium

my Lilly girl

Uncle Chris & Lily on the lake

Parker and Lilly in the boat with Cate

Scarlett enjoying Aunt Jackie...

and loving Uncle Chris

 This week started a new school year in the Haralson household. Parker is in her last year of Preschool. (and I'm trying not to think about Kindergarten next year).  Lilly misses Parker when she's not around but I can also tell she likes being the big sister and mommy's helper too. It's really hard for me to believe that Lilly will be in preschool next year. Time flies and babies grow up too fast!!

Ready for the first day of school

Singing in "El Pueblo" with her class

{FUN ON 30A}







A couple of weeks ago we took a family vacation to Seacrest Beach, Florida. This area happens to be one of my favorite places in the world. The beautiful beaches along Gulf Coast Highway 30A have numerous communities dotted along between Greyton Beach and Rosemary Beach, each beautiful and unique. Great shopping and delicious food are easy to find and the area is close to our hearts since Cleve got to live in Seagrove Beach the summer we got engaged. We spent almost every weekend bumming around 30A, enjoying the beach, eating great food and having no responsibility (my how things have changed). It brings back great memories even though the landscape has changed quite a bit in those 10 years. It was fun bringing the girls along to experience our love for 30A and all the great attractions. But most of all just being together as a family and making great memories made for a fabulous week!!