Signs of Fall at the Daugherty house...

AWANA is in full swing! This amazing program at church combines cool stuff like dress up nights (so far we've had pirate night and cowboy night!) and crazy games that get your kids super sweaty WITH scripture memory. What a great combo, huh?! It's a big commitment, but so far we've said the kids can play a sport if it doesn't land on a Wednesday night, and it's not felt like a sacrifice one bit. Each week consists of organizing four different books, memorizing four different sets of verses, four club shirts/vests, four Bibles, four bags, and four very excited children. We are so blessed to be a part of a church that commits to teaching God's Word in such a fabulous way! Fall means cookouts with good friends (and our husbands and thirteen kids!)! Words cannot describe what these girls mean to me. God has brought us through much joy and much heartache together, all while adding lots of kids along the way! So, so thankful that the Creator of all good things knew that we would need each other. Near or far, what an encouragement these girls are to my life and walk with God. This Fall was our first attempt at flag football. I have a feeling Trey will have us making the rounds with every sport before all is said and done! In an effort to not over-commit (uh, the ongoing story-of-our-lives effort!), we passed on Fall baseball this year and gave football a go. Practice and games all happened on just one night a week, which got big points in my book. It was a fun new adventure (besides the playing in the rain part!), but Trey ended the season saying that he thought baseball was more his passion. Suits me, since next year his only option is full-blown tackle. I like this narrowing-down thing... And... some boys are getting serious about Halloween around here! Potential costumes have been discussed for the past two weeks at least, and Chase and Trey combined efforts and entered the pumpkin decorating contest at school. Our friendly pirate now sits on display in the school hallway, with the boys anxiously awaiting the vote! I've been able to hang out with Chase's class at school twice in the past couple of weeks: once to help with the Kindergarten Apple Day, and next for their trip to the pumpkin patch. You learn a lot on days like these; things like: how a five year old all of the sudden gets clingy with his Momma around, how his little mind is soaking up so many new things with such excitement, and how this sweet bright blue-eyed girl in his class may or may not be his girlfriend...

"I'm not sayin' she is, Mom. Just maybe..."

School conferences are this week, and Jack and Trey have already had their reward "dates" for achieving their first quarter reading goals. Can't believe one-fourth of the school year is complete!