Arrrrggg!!!!

Thanks Nana for making the costume! Jack told me the other day that

Nana is the best nurse and the best sewer. I think he's right!

Happy Fall and Happy Spinning

Today was the Tyner's Day of Fun. Dollywood and Halloween in the same day? It's a four-year-old's dream. Dollywood was decorated for fall, the weather was absolutely perfect, and the leaves were beautiful! Even the fake ones. And by the way, if you are in need of some fake fall foliage, there's none to be found in any store in East Tennessee. It's all at the front gate of Dollywood. Anyway, here's a little clip from the Teacups, or "Lemon Drops" is Dollywood name. (Jon was spinning us...just look at the background to tell how fast we were going. I thought our little teacup was about to fly off the saucer.)

And the winner is...

The GIRLS!!!

With a total of 28 votes.

The boys were close behind with 25 votes. However, I'm awarding everyone a title...

Pumpkin #1 - Jon - Most Improved (you should have seen his in the beginning)

Pumpkin #2 - Jenny - Most Popular

Pumpkin #3 - Tim - Best Beginner Pumpkin Carver

Pumpkin #4 - Angie - Best Flowery Pumpkin

Hmmm... I wonder what our prize will be? Suggestions?

Time's Running Out

Thank you to all you early voters. I would like to announce that the polls will close today at 5:00. We will be declaring a winner tonight by 7:00. Will it be the girls or the boys? Too close to call right now. Just too close to call.

We Need Your Vote!!

We had a pumpkin carving night with our friends Tim, Jenny, and Elin. There was a lot of hype leading up to the big event and boy did it deliver. We had a little contest to see who could carve the best pumpkin, and then realized we had no one to judge. So, here's your chance. Even if you are not a regular "commenter", please take just 2 seconds and tell us which pumpkin you think is best. I know, Jack's and Elin's are the best, but other than theirs. Tim said a big prize is in store. So let's get out the vote!

Pumpkin #1

Pumpkin #2

Pumpkin #3

Pumpkin #4

My Favorite Things

Here's a list of my top 10 favorite things:

1. The first cup of coffee in the mornings (brought by Jon, of course)

2. Grocery shopping with Jack

3. Date Night

4. All 3 of us cooking together

5. Monday nights & Thursday nights (Jon & I get Jack to bed by 8 so we can watch Chuck on Mondays and The Office on Thursdays)

6. Chocolate

All I want for Christmas...

I just read my sister's blog with her Christmas list on it, and it reminded me of Jack's Christmas list. He has decided to ask Santa for a tree. That's right! A tree for our yard. Sad.

Bilingual

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to speak another language. I just went to my brother's facebook page, and half his comments written on his wall were in a different language. German, I'm guessing, since he is fluent in German. I know just a few choice words in Spanish. Please. Thank you. You're welcome. Bathroom. And those words taught by Dora the Explorer. Jack knows probably as much Spanish as I know, and he knows a few words in Chinese. Amazingly enough, Jack has this "gift" that Jon has... if you don't know the answer to something, you make up an answer and then say it confidently. :) Jack told me the other day that the Spanish word for flashlight was "suction cup" - with a rolled R stuck in there...because all Spanish words have one of those. I told him that I thought he made it up. He got mad.

It's Cold

Is it always this cold in October? Brrrr...

Challenge for Today

It's not very often that I write some deep thought on this blog. It's mostly lighthearted, silly events that take place at the Tyner household. However, I was having my quiet time this morning and felt the need to share. I have been concerned about this Presidential election more than any past election. Is it because I'm 4 years older than I was the last election and maybe I care just a little more? Is it because these decisions made in the White House will affect my child's future? Is it because my dad is fighting for our freedom over in Afghanistan? I think the answer is yes. To all of the above. I've been watching the news more (which I usually hate to do) and actually listening to the debates on TV and having an opinion about them! I can't even believe that about myself. I have actually worried a little over this election!!! Have I prayed about this election? A little, I guess. I think I've prayed selfishly, especially when it's about the war. So, this morning, I opened my Bible to October 17, and I realize today is the 18th, but I'm a day behind, and the first thing I read is out of 1 Timothy 2:1-15 and it says,
"I (Paul) urge you (Timothy), first of all, to pray for ALL people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and ALL who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."
Have I really taken the time lately to pray for ALL who are in authority? To ask God to help them? Intercede on their behalf? And then thank God for them? Maybe I have for the people in authority that I like. But definitely not ALL. So, the challenge for today, pray 1 Timothy 2:1-15 for ALL in authority so we can live peaceful lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Happy Cousins

My sister kept our dog Lucy over in Pensacola while we were at the beach house. So, when we left Sunday morning, she met us at a McDonalds about 45 minutes down the road with Lucy, just to save us a little time. And so Jack and her kids could see each other one last time. They LOVE each other. Jack and Hannah, the oldest, are exactly the same size. However, they are 2 days shy of being 3 years apart...Jack 4, Hannah 7. They play SO well together. And then there's Kate. Kate just turned 3 in August. What a ham! She is Miss Personality! And hilarious! Then, there's Baby George. Sweet, sweet, sweet baby George. I thought about sticking him in my suitcase and taking him home with me. I asked Kate if she would miss him and she said, "He's the best baby brother in the whole wide world!" I guess that's a no.

It's really quiet back there

While we were driving, Jack watched a movie or two, and then put his blanket over his head and started playing under the blanket like a tent. After a few minutes, it got really quiet, so I lifted up his blanket, and...Sound asleep.

Can you feel the love?

A Day's Work

Fishing...

Racing...

Bossing...

Crabbing? Not sure that's how you do it.
Sandcastle building...
Hole Digging?

Ummm...???

Don't get in the water...you still have your clothes on

A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day at home

That was our motto for the first few days. We did have just a bit of sunshine each day to play outside for a few minutes.

Surprise Visit...in Destin

We spent just a couple days visiting family in Pensacola before we actually went out to the beach. I checked my email Tuesday evening and it just so happened that some of our REALLY GREAT friends from Memphis were in Destin too!!! So, we headed out early Wednesday morning met them for just a few hours at The Donut Hole for brunch. What a great time! We love you Jimmy, Rachel & Haddie!

The Drive Down

So, we drove down to the beach last Monday. Great weather AND gas stations with gas. Good times. And, no drive to Pensacola would be complete without a stop at...

That's Peach Park for all you who can't read slanted, barely legible words. Jon REALLY wanted homemade peach ice cream. And a peach fried pie. And his picture taken by the giant peach.

So...the beach trip...

I know, I know. We've been back now for 5 days, and nothing posted on the blog yet. Sorry. More to come.

No Internet

This is the last of our internet access.  None at our actual beach house.  More to come in a few days.

Today is the Day

We're packed and off to Florida! It will take us about 8 minutes, as Jack says. See you in one week!!!

72 Hours

One of my FAVORITE beach pics!

5 Days...and counting

As you readers know, all 10 of you, we are leaving Monday morning for our annual beach trip. It's definitely a highlight each year. If you Southern ladies got your September issue of Southern Living, there's an article on page 36 about our favorite beach in the world. I really want to tell you about it, but then again, I don't want to. Not many people know about it. That's the best thing about it. But here it goes. Grayton Beach, Florida. White sand. Few visitors. Mostly locals. The seafood market just down the road is a daily stop for us. Five minutes from Seaside. Just a short bike ride to the best Gelato place. (Jon's favorite) The Southern Living article says, "Grayton Beach is Old Florida, where locals run the place, artists are enamored, rules are tossed in the ocean, and fun is the top priority. Call it funky, eccentric, laid-back, even somewhat slow...That's why we love it!"

The annual raw oyster festival on the porch.