The Christmas tree!

Decorating the tree!

Where does this one go?

Oh my, do you see what I see?

Josh hanging his favorites right in front and above where Abby can reach.

Jack hanging his as far OUT of reach as possible too!

Jacob is 2 1/2 weeks old

Assimilating Jacob into the family.

Abby showing Jacob how it's done here!

Candice came for a week to help out with school, food, and childcare.

Gabriel Spence, our campus pastor, holding Jake.

A good friend gave me these flowers to celebrate Jake's arrival. I think they are called Kangaroo toes?

A lovely gift from another friend, an embroidered blanket for Jake.

Jacob Kent has arrived!

Jacob Kent Reed was born on November 10 at 10:30 p.m. after a very short labor. He is the 7th child and most adorable so far of the whole clan. The night he was born, Jack was the only one still awake to come see him.

Still wrapped in a towel.

Angela weighed him in his birthday suit. Yes, he was that pink. ;-)

Tyler loves his little brother.

Tiny feet!

October endings

We had our septic tank pumped out on Saturday. This truck is the septic truck, and please notice the three word statement written under the tank. It is very funny.

THEN!!! Two pictures of Clay, Jack, and me at the first game of the American League Play-off Series against the Yankees. The atmosphere was electric, and the weather was perfect. We went to several subsequent games, and we have to admit to being hooked forever on the "post-season" high they talk about.

Pumpkins!

Mrs. Cindy took the kids to the pumpkin patch while she watched them during our date. They came home with some BIG pumpkins and some very tiny ones.

Jack had to get aggressive with his.

Tyler trying to place where he wants to carve his eyes, nose, and lips.

Josh's masterpiece.

Abby made sure it was all done right.

Everyone's finished product.

Texas pets

Some sort of lizard/critter the boys found around the house.

They didn't want to release it, but they put him/her back in the plants.

A cool hat ornament!

Matthew, Tyler, Abby, Josh, Jack, and Eric.

Random sweetness of my children

A massive poster the boys made up (with Bethany's help) for Dad and I while we were out on a date. The details are hilarious!

Abby and Maverick

He has a very LONG, WET nose!

She'd smack his rump and jerk her hand back really fast.

Learning to cut.

Home-grown watermelon and chickens

One of our first watermelon. After seeing that the watermelons were the only thing that truly produced this summer (not tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumbers, or squash), next year will be ALL melons. It must be the extreme heat, but while everything else was a bust, the watermelons were wonderful!

Check out the juicy chin and packed cheeks!

Here are the chickens fully grown and eating inchworms that are our yearly (one month) pests. They hatch and drop like rain for a couple days, covering the grass and providing fantastic food for the birds.

This is probably the prettiest bird.

And this one is a lovely shade of red.

Baptism in Lake Grapevine

The first was Landon Sleeper.

Third was Hanna Ballenger

Fourth was Jessica Ballenger

Second was Allison Ballenger.

This was a wonderful group of family and friends that came out for the picnic and baptism. There were about 150 folks there.

First Responders Sunday!

-honoring those men and women in our community who run into danger as we run out-

The fire station and police station brought gorgeous trucks, ambulance's and cars.

Half the crowd

Chief Finn, Mayor Terrall, and Chief Starr

After the service, several firemen gave us a tour of their trucks.