We had a fabulous family, fun-filled fall Saturday with the kids! I have been begging Mike for YEARS to go to a pumpkin patch with us, come home and carve some pumpkins with the kids. Every year he moans and groans, and I usually let him talk me out of it. But not this year!
After he got up Saturday we headed to Pine Grove United Methodist Church, where they host a pumpkin patch every year to benefit their after-school program. Chase and Paige had fun picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve. Kayleigh even picked a baby pumpkin. Devin was with us as well, but he was just along for the fun.
When we got home we set them up on the back porch to carve away! Yep... Mike cut the tops off and we watched them have a blast doing the rest! Paige needed a little bit of Daddy help now and again... but did a pretty good job!
In the end, we had 3 of the cutest pumpkins on the block!
What fall Saturday isn't complete with a grilled out meal? Mike prepped up some drum sticks and potato salad for a family dinner. We were looking forward to all of us at the table again... something that doesn't happen too very often anymore.
But....
In true Lyons fashion lately... we couldn't have a fun family filled day without ending up at the Urgent Care Center! Somehow, Paige got some sort of a HUGE abscessy thing on her gums that popped up out of the blue!
Mike stayed home and ate chicken with Chase, while Kayleigh and I took Paige to be seen. By the time we got home, Daddy was at work and the chicken was cold... boo to that!!
All in all we did have a good day despite our little detour! Even though I'm sure he won't admit it... Mike had a good time and we plan to do it again next year!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Fun Filled Fall Saturday!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
2010 Dixie Classic Fair
Mike and I took Chase, Paige, and Kayleigh to the Dixie Classic Fair Saturday afternoon (Devin was working and went earlier in the week).
First ... let me say.... why on EARTH we EVER felt that Saturday afternoon with weather in the mid 70's was a great idea I will NEVER know! It took us 30 minutes to find a place to park and then we were jam packed at the fair with lots of rude, obnoxious, and smelly people! Soooooooo not kidding! Next year, we definitely go back to the middle of the week fair day!
Second... we had to refinance a few things to pay for the ride tickets for the kids this year! OK... so maybe that's exaggerating... but it was expensive! Whatever happened to the simple wristbands that got the kids on rides all day long for one flat price? This $40 for a pass card of 30 tickets is for the birds, especially when the rides are at LEAST 4 tickets each!
But on a brighter note... Chase & Paige had a blast. Kayleigh had fun, but wasn't feeling the greatest (still recovering from laryngitis!). This year Chase was super stoked that he was tall enough to ride the Topspin! Ain't no way you'd get me on that thing... but he sure enjoyed it sitting front row center!
Paige was also tall enough to ride all the "big kid" rides and was thrilled to death! Big brother Chase even rode with her on a few things... but I'm sure she'd have been fine on her own!
(look for the red arrows towards the left)
(Look for the red circle towards the top left)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Walking Down a New Path
I am following my heart for the first time in a long time. I have decided to take part in our youth ministry at church. My kids are VERY involved in the ROCYouth program and it has made such a huge impact on their lives! Many of their friends were not Christian, but through my kids they have turned to the Lord and are now also part of the youth ministry. It's so exciting to see this new love in them all!
New things are often scary and uncomfortable, and this is too, but I'm excited to see how God uses me in the lives of our youth!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Buddy Walk 2010!!!
Last year, Kayleigh did a Reflections Photoshoot with 3 little ones from our church who have Down Syndrome. It went so well, that Ava's parents (friends of ours) called and asked her to do a photoshoot for the Buddy Walk 2010 Billboard! She was THRILLED for the opportunity and this billboard above was the finished project!
The Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network will be hosting this year's Buddy Walk 2010 on Saturday October 9th at Tanglewood Park just outside of Winston-Salem. We will be there walking along side of Ava, Ryan, Ethan, and others! Please join us!!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Back to school time that is!
This year was a year of big changes...
Kayleigh started her junior year and is taking 1/2 day at the Career Center in Photography classes. She's super excited about it... we are too.... other than the expense that comes with it! LOL!
Chase is in a new middle school this year. We toured it the night of open houses... my that child is gonna get some good walkin' in! He's spread all over campus!
Devin is a SENIOR this year! Really??? I swear he was JUST born yesterday! His senior year certainly won't be a cake walk though... with 6 AP classes that are for college credit!
And Paige started the 2nd grade at a new elementary school. She walked into open house very shy and hid behind my leg. But it didn't take long for her to show her true colors!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Happy Birthday, Chase!
Chase turns 12 years old today, at 12:25pm to be precise! What a day that was for all of us. Grandma and Grandpa Casto made the drive to Bloomington for your birth - we were so glad they were there!
Chase was determined to be born that day regardless of the planned c-section! I woke up that morning and went into labor before we even left for the hospital. Created quite the stir when we got to the hospital considering I HAD to have a c-section! Little did we know that was just the beginning of the day's chaos.
After all 9 pounds 6 ounces of Chase was delivered via c-section things got pretty ugly for a while. I remember being in the recovery room and Mike being with me. Then all the nurses scurrying around, Mike being pushed out of the room, and then rushing me back into surgery. At one point, after losing several pints of blood, the nurse went out to tell Mike and my parents I was bleeding bad and they weren't able to stop it - the outcome was looking very grim. Fortunately, by the power of God, they were wrong.
I don't remember anything after recovery until the next day when I was told what happened. Mike looked at me with tears in his eyes saying I scared them all and I was never to do that again. He was terrified of losing me and being a single father of 3.
I spent the next week in the hospital and have enjoyed every minute of watching Chase grow up! He's struggled with more medical problems than any child should have to endure, yet is always smiling from ear-to-ear!
Chase - you bring so much joy to our lives! We're so very proud of how far you've come and we know that you will continue to reach for the stars!
We love you Buddy!
Mom and Dad
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tennessee!!!
We took a short 4 day vacation to Tennessee with the Lyons side of the family this year. We sure crammed a lot in... but here's some highlights that we thought were fun!
First... we got a little behind and didn't leave North Carolina until late Saturday morning. We knew that meant we'd hit traffic... but we didn't realize we'd hit a PARKING LOT! I guess the sign that says "Check Fuel Level" should have been a clue!! The rock slide on I-40 West that happened last year still had things quite a mess. Once we got to the actual rock slide, it was quite fascinating to look at... a HUGE chunk of the mountain just wiped away! 
Finally, after a spending almost 2 hours to travel about 10 miles... we were on our way again!
We finally made it to our cabin! Saturday evening we spent just hanging out, visiting, and letting the big kids and little kids all play. The cabin had pinball, a pool table, and a few arcade games that kept everyone quite entertained!
Sunday we hiked a bit at the Ogle Farm with all the kids, then spent some time at the pool. Later in the evening we headed downtown Gatlinburg to play some Hillbilly Golf!
Monday, we hiked up to Laurel Falls and spent some time up at the top... it was gorgeous, and the falls made it very cool! Afterwards we picnicked at Chimney Top and let the kids swim and play in the rapids. I think it's fair to say that Grandma Lyons was a nervous wreck... but all was well!
Monday evening we headed to the "Best Italian" restaurant in downtown Gatlinburg. It POURED down rain! While we were waiting outside under cover, our entertainment was my 2 nephews doing the Macarena dance! Hilarious and cute as ever!! 
Tuesday morning, before the rest of the family left, we all headed down to the Log Cabin Pancake House... Lyons family tradition every year, I'm told. It certainly didn't let us down! Yummo!! The kids spent a bit of time on the rockers out front while the adults all said their goodbyes...
The rest of Tuesday was just us. We enjoyed exploring the mountains on our own. Took a nice drive up to Cade's Cove, then picnicked at another rapids area where the kids could play a bit, and got some good group pics of them... much to Kayleigh's dismay (she HATES pictures!)!!
All in all... it was a fabulous trip to the Smokey Mountains where we made LOTS of fun memories to share for years to come!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Happy Belated Birthday, Kayleigh!
Well... maybe not belated, but belated to the blog! Before we left for Tennessee, Kayleigh celebrated her Sweet 16th Birthday a little early, with many friends! The original plan had to be altered a bit because of rain, but they had a blast! We started with Michael grilling hotdogs, hamburgers, and more for a group of about 20+ kids and some of the youth leaders from church. After that, they chatted about the house for a while before watching "Up" on a DVD projector that lit up the far wall light a theater screen! They loved it!
While in Gatlinburg, Grandma Lyons made sure Kayleigh's birthday didn't go unnoticed! We had cake and ice cream with the family one evening!
It's so hard to believe that our baby girl is SIXTEEN! We are so proud of the young woman she is becoming and look forward to seeing what God has in plan for her!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Happy Birthday, Grandma McMahon!
July 14 would have been Grandma McMahon's 82nd birthday. We miss her very much and I would love to hear her voice again! I think of her often... especially as my kids grow up! She loved all her grandkids SO much! When I would call her, or she would call me... it was always them she asked about first! I tell my kids stories of our trips to Wheeling, eating Kielbasa and Colby Jack cheese late at night, getting up early and having hot tea with oatmeal for breakfast, and going shopping for our special time at Hills! What I wouldn't give for one more day with her!
But, I know that she's with my Mom though, and look forward to the day I see them both again!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
61 Years Ago Today...
My Mother was born, a beautiful baby girl who grew up to be a beautiful woman both inside and out. I miss her so very much, but still remember every detail of her face, how she smiled as she baked in the kitchen, and yes, I even remember the growl on her face when I made her unhappy!
While she's not here with us, we know she is celebrating her special day with the angels in Heaven.
Much love to you, Mom!
Happy Birthday!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Lives are Changing in Jamaica!
Last Friday morning, we put Devin on a plane with 41 others from our church. Their destination... Newport Jamaica to build a church, work in an infirmary, and to minister to those in hard times. About 2 weeks prior to the trip, Devin said he changed his mind, said he wasn't feeling led to go. But - because of the commitment he made to the church, and to the people he was going to serve, we pushed him a bit and told him we felt he needed to go. 
During these 2 weeks, Devin challenged us in many ways. Definitely reminded us that he is a teenager and is still "growing up" so to speak. The day after Devin left, we were informed of some bad decisions that Devin had recently made. From that point, I prayed and prayed and prayed that this trip would heal his heart, change his life, and that he would rededicate himself to the Lord.
Well... He did just that! On the 3rd day of the trip, parents got an update that 2 of the kids not only rededicated themselves to the Lord, but they asked to be baptized. Devin was one of those kids!
While we are very, very happy for him; we know that when he returns he has some VERY difficult decisions to make and has to face some things that have been done. He will also need to face a friendship with someone that has led Devin down some wrong paths
Please, pray with us, that Devin will continue to keep his focus on a Jesus who loves him, and that our God would give Devin the strength to handle what is ahead of him.