All Saints Day

Here we are again at Halloween. We all know my true stance on Halloween, however Halloween is not so bad when you dont have to drop a butt load of money on yak. :)

We basically did Halloween costumes for free which is good since we only have one activity to go to this year.

My first string team

The only thing I had to buy was my shirt (which I am going to return, not wearing it out in public, just wanted a picture) and Bennett's onesie.  

The original plan was to have the older 3 dress as football players and have Bennett be the football.  Today, I had the idea to make myself the ref and have Hunter be "Coach Smith" and Molly be the cheerleader.

The mock "game." 

White team and blue team face off.

Fumble and Tackle

Group shot... Ashton was supposed to stop tackling

2nd attempt at group shot

Would have been a cute picture had the son had saturated Ashton's blond head.  :)

 Individual Shots

Coach Smith

Notice his belly here...

hahaha... gave him a belly just like daddy.

White team- Ashton... he wanted to be serious like a football player.  Funny how they notice those things

Blue team- Shepherd... even he put on a serious face which is RARE

The adorable football

The ref. 

I guess I will ask ...  Is it ethical to return a shirt that I only wore outside to take a picture in?  Bought it for $20, not wearing out or ever again, just wanted a group picture.

6!!!

Holy Cow!  You are 6.

Typical Ashton... taking a selfie.

Kiddo, you are growing up into an amazing little man.  Everyone you meet just loves you.  You are smart, athletic, and funny.  You love to play games and thrive off being the center of attention.

My big 6 year old!!

You are still emotional and competitive which leads to melt downs.  You were the highest scorer on your U8 team.  You get compliments all the time on how good you are and i would be a liar if I said that you were humble about it.  Last year people said, "he is good for to be so small or he is good to be so young" but this year people just say, "wow, he is good" or "he is great with the ball."  Needless to say, I am proud of you (until you cop an attitude with your teammates)

You are officially reading.   Your speech is getting so much better and you are becoming aware of the sounds that need correcting.

You love Bennett dearly.  You are Shepherd are the best of friends.  And you and Hunter play soccer or some sports thing everyday (sometimes with Shep in involved in this too).  You love to play football by yourself on the driveway and constantly run inside to tell me the score of the game... sometimes it is Clover playing and sometimes one of your made up teams.. the planes.  I must ALWAYS pick which team I want to win and often defend my answer.

"taking care" of Bennett for me while I clean up the kitchen. This was so precious.

You still love to sing.  And you say the sweetest prayers.

I took a little trip down memory lane and watched a bunch of videos I had taken from when you were younger.  Here is one that makes me melt and actually makes me tear up.  Such a fleeting moment. 

Ashton, you are fiesty and sweet.  I am beyond proud of you!

Love ya Smash
Mom

totally worn out. 

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This b-day we kept low key and it is just proof that it doesnt take a whole to make a great birthday.
I took him lunch on Thursday and took cookies to his class.

Eating McD's

Ashton passing out the cookies

Mantis and Queenie came up Friday night and did their annual "go out to dinner and the toy store".  Ashton LOVES this.  Though it was nearly freezing Friday night, we met up after dinner for putt putt.  Ashton picked out a toy and got a little something for his brothers too... thanks mom and dad for taking him out on the town.

blowing out his candles

Mantis and Queenie stayed the night and then PapaHub and Grandma and Uncle Nolan met up with us Saturday morning for Hunter and Ashton's double header soccer game.  It was so fitting that Smash got to play 2 games on his birthday.  In his world, that is better than any birthday party I could have thrown for him.  This also complete the season (another post on that later).

his big gift from us... he is way more excited than he looks

In between games, we came back to the house and did presents and a quick cake moment.

Singing Happy Birthday and eating cupcakes after their soccer game today

PapaHub and Grandma took us out to lunch and then we headed over to GrandmaDeans for a quicky visit.

The Ninjago game

Got home around 5 and played played played played with all his new stuff.  I must say, he racked up.
- Wii
- Bike/ helmet
- soccer ball
- Ninjago lego game
- Twister game
- Chutes and Ladders super hero squad
- Clemon Nike dry fit shirt
- Clemson hoodie
- Jeans
- Football long sleeve tshirt
-Lego house kit
- Spiderman toy
- $125

The replacement soccer ball from Riggs... see here

Not bad for a 6 year old bday.  Thanks to the grandparents, great grandparents, and Uncle Nolan for making him feel so special on his day!

9 Months

Bennett, this past month has been a month of milestones... one where I see you really growing up.  It was the same for your brothers.  There is something about 8-9 months where things really start to click.

9 Month Man

As a mentioned last week, you pull up to a stand with ease.  You are starting to get the crawling concept.  As in, you can get in the crawling position and take a couple moves before your butt sinks back down. 
You really want to walk though.  You can get behind the wagon and push it while you walk behind it.  You can transfer from the table to the couch and back again and can slowly cruise down the furniture.

I could melt.  so happy in his plaid flannel pants. :)

Eating is pretty much the same.  You are skinny.  We go to your 9 month doc appt on Monday and I have to say I am dreading it because I dont think you will even be 18 lb (which crazy me has already checked % on that weight and it is like 10th%).  I had to admit I worry about it.  But, you are healthy, happy, and growing (though slowly), so I know I shouldnt stress.

Sucking on an apple... still toothless but he eats most of what we eat

You still sleep like a champ.  You sleep on your side a lot now and sometimes on your belly.  You have even sat up (and then of course pulled up to stand) in your bed. Reminder, I need to lower your mattress.

One more month down on pumping and so far we are holding strong.  I think we are going to make it to one on breastmilk.  However, I am counting down the days when I can close up this shop!

I love you  more and more every day.  I love your serious disposition.  I love how much you still love the bath time and love watching your brothers take a bath.  I love cutting grass on the lawn mower with you on my lap because you think it is the greatest thing EVER.

You make me smile and laugh everyday and I cant imagine our family without you.

LOVE ya mean it,
Mommy

EDIT-
 Stats... so tiny.  :)
Weight- 17.2 (10%)
Height- 28" (35%)
Head- 18.25" (94%)

Seeing Peace

Said good bye to another one of our grandparents.  Chad's moms mom went to be with the Lord Friday evening.

Shepherd gets his middle name from this side of the family

I will be honest in saying that I didnt know her as much as I would have liked.  Have you ever wished you would have met someone a generation early?  That you would have either been a generation older or them one younger?

Six of the eight grandkids served as pallbearers

That is how I feel about Betty.  She always intrigued me.  I think that if I had not been so busy with my family and if she would have been in a talkative mood, then I really could have gotten some  stories/ advice from her.

You see,she would have understood the place I am in now.  She had 5 kids, but the youngest one came much later.  Her first four kids were 7 years apart... just like mine.  She stayed at home and cooked, cleaned, and cared for those children.  I can only imagine that they were her world as my kids are my world.

She would have reminded me that my time to mold them is such a small window.
To not wish away the moments.
To pound Jesus into them even when they might resist.
To pray over them fervently/ relentlessly.
To squeeze them and hug them and kiss them all the time.
To smile at them
To tell them that you are proud of them
To tell them you love them
To have Jesus be so much apart of my life that they only know the way of Jesus.

I am sure she could give me so much more advice on how to make it through the exhausting days.  I wish I had known her better.

She suffered in her last bit of time on earth. Strokes kept knocking her down.  As the pastor said, "there are no more strokes, no more trials, only perfect sight."  She is back with her husband and I can only imagine that she has joy.

Her service was small... just like she would have wanted.

At the end of the graveside service.

Betty, you were absolutely beautiful today.  In fact, I have never seen you look  more radiant and pretty.  I think the emotion that I often saw on your face was worry/ sadness and that is over. I only saw Peace today.  Honestly, I wanted to whip out my camera and take a picture, but thought that would be inappropriate and a tad morbid so I refrained. :)  But I will have your peaceful face etched in my mind.

Oh and just so you know, Ashton was concerned as to where your legs were during the viewing.  I assured him that they were in the box, but that you didnt need those legs anymore.  :)

Below is a snippet of the song that my brother in law sang during the graveside service.

"Give Me Jesus"

Until we meet again.  We love you.

My Weekend with Aunt Hannah

Many of you dont have the privelege of knowing me.

In case you dont, I'm Riggs or Riggsy or Riggslet or No Riggs or Get Down Riggs.

My Pa went to the Clemson game. I dont quite understand the whole paying to watch boys play with balls when I will play with a ball anytime for free.  I digress, anyway, I am staying the weekend with my Aunt Hannah and my people cousins and my dog cousin.

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See what I have been up to.

At first I was confused... watching my Pa leave me

 but then Aunt Hannah got my weekend bag... my Pa even drew her a picture.

 I immediately decided this was going to be a fun weekend

I found my tennis balls that they bought me!
So I chewed on those
 
and chewed some more

and chewed some more until the drool was even grossing me out... and that is hard to do.

See, I told you, I love to play ball.  Thankfully, my people cousins love to throw a ball and kick a ball.  It is really a perfect set up.

 My cousin Ashton got mad at me for putting a hole in his soccer ball.  I had to act like I was really upset.

 I hear his birthday is coming up, I will buy him a new one... promise.  I also discovered that crayons are really quite yummy, I see why that baby likes to chew on them...  I have eaten a blue, pink, brown, white, and green one so far... and I still have most of tomorrow too!

Chasing a ball... I am quite talented.

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I got to lick the dishes in the dishwasher... which is a no no at my house.  But, Aunt Hannah said that anything that will occupy me for that amount of time is fine with her.

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These people cousins love to wrestle.  They think I am funny... or the oldest one thinks I am funny.  The middle two have moments of doubt, and that baby one- I just dont know what his problem is.  I try to sniff him and he flips out. 

Just an example of that baby.

But look, just a few hours later and we are being cordial... i will wear him down, I have that effect on people. :)

Lovin on my cousins.  I was getting tired by this point.

Wrestling with Hunter

Hunter pointing out my anatomy and the lack of fur around it... who is he to critique me?!?!

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 Sometimes, I dont know if my dog cousin really likes me or not. 

Who am I kidding?  Everyone likes me.

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 Aunt Hannah tried to get a group shot.  I really tried to be good, but did she really think it was possible to get a good picture of 2 dogs and 4 kids?

The best of the batch

Shepherd is there.. I promise

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And, now I am quite tired.  I think I shall take a nap.  I cant wait to see my Pa, but I had a great time at Aunt Hannahs!

Oh and here is my beautiful dog cousin, Molly.  Aunt Hannah, she needs to be brushed.

Until next time, I love you all!

~ Riggs

PS- Pa, Look what I made for you!  It is actually my paw print (very very smeared)