Here, there and everywhere

Sometimes I have great pictures of our day-to-day life - no set activity, no agenda - just shots of what our life looks like on a daily basis.  I try and capture the little moments as life seems to speed by WAY too fast these days.  So here is a glimpse of what mid-October to mid-November has looked like for the Cains!

Caroline and Cain have quality reading time a lot.  She loves to read him stories and he obliges very well. The first words out of her mouth every morning are "Where Cain and Emma, Mommy?"  Sweet, sweet times with these wonderful pups.

Y'all know we love some Mexican food - cheese dip especially.  We joined Carter at Rojo one night to raise a little bit of money for United Way and their campaign - a good time was had by all!  That's the cheese monster up there and sweet Carter and Catherine Ellis below.

Rushton had their annual pancake supper a few weeks ago and the pumpkin auction is something we always look forward to!  Catherine Ellis's class had the best pumpkin!  They painted their pumpkin based on the book "A Bad Case of the Stripes" - it's precious isn't it?  The pumpkin had the book to read along as well as pictures of the class painting the pumpkin and autographs from all the sweet artists - I just had to have it:)  So naturally we were the highest bidders!

Y'all know Catherine Ellis was sick Halloween - such a bummer for her, but after two days, she really started feeling better and got ready to "run errands."  Sweet little girl!  She had her backpack, Halloween purse, sunglasses and baby doll - all the essentials for running errands!

Catherine Ellis and Holly went to Disney on Ice a couple of weeks ago - she had a blast.  I can't wait to share the blog post! More pictures coming soon!

Daddy shaved his beard for the first time in almost four years at the beginning of November.  He's participating in Movember with the men from our church and man is he a sight to see!! Check out that stache!  Catherine Ellis and her friends got in on the fun last Sunday and appeared after the sermon with staches of their own.... so cute!  She's so proud of her Daddy for raising money for those with cancer (specifically testicular and prostate).

Below is our great friend Father Geoff and some of the wee folks and their staches!  Hilarious!

Ruble Run

This past Saturday we hit the road bright and early to Jasper to celebrate the life of one of David's good friend's father.  Richie and David grew up together and he's always been one of my favorites - his sense of humor is the best thing about him and his heart of gold.  

Caroline, David, Richie and Catherine Ellis

Richie lost his father died suddenly at the beginning of the year and one of the ways they have decided to honor his father's legacy of giving (Mr. Ruble was instrumental in the recovery efforts of the tornado that hit Cordova almost two years ago) by holding a 5K race in his honor to raise money for the community organizations that he loved the most.  What a great way to honor his legacy!  

Miss Priss always fashionable...

The Ruble Run was held in Gamble Park in Jasper - Mr. Ruble would have been 53 the day before - so it was a great celebration of his life.  The weather was gorgeous, the trees are almost at their peak and the turn-out was fantastic.  Lots of people gathered to continue Mr. Ruble's legacy.  We really enjoyed our time with the Rubles and friends.

Mr. Ruble's floragram that will be featured in the Rose Parade

The float that the floragram will be placed on - the float is sponsored by 

Organ Donation Centers around the country

Caroline and I ran the 5K while David and Catherine Ellis ran the Family Fun Run (1 mile).  Steph joined Caroline and I and boy was I glad for the company.  While I run a few times a week by myself, it had been a good while since I'd run with the stroller - needless to say pushing an extra 55 lbs was tough!  But we ran and ran and ran and finally made it to the finish line.  Caroline enjoyed the run as usual - we only had to slow down a couple of times to pick up her Minnie Mouse ring and change her sun-shade position.  She's a great jogging buddy too!

Getting ready to start the race

Coming to the finish line

Smiling at our cheering section - CE and Daddy

After the race - Caroline is hiding from the camera and CE is now a puppy dog

Catherine Ellis and David ran the fun-run after the 5K was finished.  They did great!  Catherine Ellis came in 4th place!  She was SO excited as were we.  Her Daddy was a real trooper and when she got tired he picked her up and ran with her!  Catherine Ellis you are mighty lucky to have a Daddy that is as competitive as you are:)  She was out of school for two days prior to the race with a virus, so she's wasn't 100%, but with a little help from Daddy she made it!  So proud of our little runner!

Before the race

Rounding the corner to the finish line

Running as fast as she can.. leaving Daddy in the dust

Getting her sticker and spelling her name for the top six wee runners

Daddy and CE at the finish line - so proud!

CE and the other top six finishers with the Ruble siblings - yay CE!

Caroline spent a lot of time in the bouncy making new friends and playing in the leaves - who could blame her?  There was also time for face-painting - one of Catherine Ellis's favorites!

Steph and Caroline

Bouncy house fun

Face painting - she's a puppy dog

Claire and CE 

This next series of pictures cracks me up - it highlights the wild side of our wild wee, Caroline:

Isn't she a mess y'all?  Never a dull moment with this one!  While it appears she's choking CE, CE is a-okay:)  Just a little sisterly hugging:)

All in all a wonderful time with wonderful friends for a wonderful man.  We are already looking forward to next year!

Halloween 2013

We have been excited about Halloween around here for weeks now!  The much anticipated day finally arrived and our sweet wees were SO pumped about costumes, pumpkins, candy and candy :)

Happy Halloween 2013

Caroline making sure her pumpkin is still intact ...

We started off the morning in costume - headed to school for a quick bite to eat and then went on our first trick-or-treating gig to Energen's corporate office.  Rushton takes a field trip there every Halloween and it's always such a good time for all the wees.  This year was much calmer than last - Caroline is beginning to understand trick-or-treating or at least that she gets candy and says "thank you!"  Catherine Ellis had a great time with her classmates - these little friends are so sweet and we love them so!

Catherine Ellis and Anne Carter - sweet double-name united friends! 

Waiting to trick-or-treat

We had quite the crowd of trick-or-treaters - cutest in town!

Catherine Ellis and Clark

CE and her besties

Little mama made sure she was first in line...

CE. Caroline and Will

She looks like she's starting to get the concept, right?!

Team Brown and Team Cain

Mommy and Minnie Mouse

Next up was the annual Fall Festival at the YW - it's been a tradition since the girls were born - we've not missed one yet .... until this year!  We've been talking for weeks about the festival and seeing all of our old classmates and favorite YW peeps - Carolyn, Suzy and Mei Mei.  But it wasn't in the stars this year.  Soon after I left the girls to return to work from our trick-or-treating I got a phone call that Catherine Ellis had a 103 fever.  Bless her heart.

A sad, sick little Minnie Mouse

Favorite Part of Fall Festival - so sad we missed it ...

She cried and cried because she had to miss her class party, the Fall Festival and trick-or-treating.  My heart hurts so bad for her.  She's about 12 hours in and still has a high fever and is now throwing up - not the Halloween we had eagerly awaited, but if there is anything I've learned (and I'm still learning!!) is that with children always expect the unexpected at the worst time - like being sick on Halloween when you're old enough to care.  She's requested a do-over and once she's better we fully intend to make that happen.  Say a prayer this virus is over soon and that no one else gets it!

Since Caroline didn't need to be around Catherine Ellis, Daddy and I switched places after he got home from work and I took Caroline out trick-or-treating with our sweet friends the Carmichaels.  We didn't tell Catherine Ellis as she would have been beside herself; just a small white lie that we were headed out to run errands and grab a bite so she could rest. Archer and Caroline had a blast!  They got in about 30 minutes of great trick-or-treating right before the rain started - which was perfect!  We had dinner and then headed back home to Daddy and Catherine Ellis.

Wee little fairy trying to fly - notice how independent she is these days!

Sweet Archer trying to catch her!

The Carmichaels and Caroline

Caroline and Archer (Curious George and the wee little fairy)

Eating dinner with Archer

Last year Caroline didn't get to attend Halloween with Archer because she'd worn herself out at the Fall Festival.  This year she and Catherine Ellis switched places.  So, we're hopeful that Halloween 2014 will include everyone!  Thank you Carmichaels for hosting us!

While it wasn't the Halloween we'd planned - it was still a super fun time with sweet memories!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!