Weekend Update

Time just keeps moving, doesn't it? Last week was long with Ted out of town on business. We stayed busy with a girl scout meeting, small group and the beginning of basketball season for Madi.
Friday after I picked Madi up from school we decided to go see a movie. The girls and I hit the cheap theatre, $4 for a movie popcorn and soda; only 12 bucks for all three of us. We saw Journey to the Center of the Earth with Brendan Fraser. It was good family fun for the afternoon. A text from Ted let me know he was running two hours late due to flight delays in Atlanta so I decided to join the Farquaads and Dukes for Shrimp Pasta and adult interaction. I was desperate for some conversation with people over 9 yrs of age. It was wonderful company. We played Scattegories and Guesstures. I love board games, brings out my competitive spirit. Before I knew it, I had gotten another text from Ted saying he should be in around 1am. Yeah......

Okay, this is where I official win a bad wife of the week award. I assumed Ted meant that he would be landing in Knox around 1am....so, I called him around then and he says, "I am walking in the door, where are you and the girls?!!" Oh, yeah, I suck. Poor guy has been away from home for an entire week and I was off playing board games with friends when he finally gets home. I immediately pack myself and the girls up and head home in the pouring down rain where no one on the interstate can move faster than 40 because of the rain and fog. No worries, Ted isn't mad at me and most definitely didn't make me sleep on the couch. I just feel a little like a looser....

Saturday was great. We slept in until 10am. Wow, haven't done that in a while. Because of the nasty weather, we did our run on the dreadmill in the gym and did some good muscle exhausting on the weight circuit. We went grocery shopping and I made some amazing homemade chicken noodle soup with perfect biscuits. It was great, the perfect food for a comfy day.

Sunday was another good day. We spent the first part of the day at our church. We then went over to hang with the Wiedemeiers and watch the Green Bay/Chicago game. Ted worked up some great Braughtburgers on the grill, Brandy made her killer dip and chili. Yummy!! Packers kicked some serious tushy and that always makes for a good day. Then we watched the NASCAR championship. Took Madi to basketball practice. She picked her jersey, number 23. The coach says to her "that is an awesome number, that is Michael Jordans number." She stares at him with that, okay whatever, I don't know who that is look on her face. Oh my gosh, she doesn't know who Jordan is. I am a bad mother....

Gridiron Gumbo

Tailgating Stolpe Style at the 2nd Annual Canvas Fall Fest. We entered our Gridiron Gumbo in the Chili Contest.

The Pastoral Staff at Canvas: Pastor Nick and Farah made a show of Republican pride for their American Chili. The Farquaads (I think Xac says this is his underwear model pose) won for most unique chili. It was good, full of pineappley goodness.

Much to my proud honor Robin and I entered the pie eating contest. Downing an entire apple pie.


Are they even making an effort? Curtis looks ill. Are they using utensils?

We Rock!!

In case you aren't sure: this is what defeat looks like.

We are such a great example that we even got the kids gorging themselves on pie. All the dads giving a helping hand with the hair. Nice. Looking good Rachael and Hannah.


It was a fall festival after all. So, after the kids finished spitting in this bucket trying to get apples, the adults joined in. Here is Ted and Curtis going for it. Ted won. Robin and Ted were the quickest draw. Ted claims a head butt in the competition between them but I think Robin had him on the hair flip....

Here we are in all our glory. Winning Best Overall Presentation. You know you all want to tailgate with us.....

Weekend Update

We had an amazing weekend. But, I can't get it all in one post yet. So, I am working on it. Pics and everything. I will say that it was seriously awesome to have Brian here with me when I went to my first Packers game....more info coming soon....

Weekend Update

This is actually an update that includes part of Madi's fall break. For some insane reason they start school at the beginning of Aug. Because they start so early, they take a week off in October?!! I know...strange...

So, we had a great week. Tuesday, Madi had her friends Savannah and Carson over to play. Wednesday, I met her new friend Hannah that just moved here from Texas. Hannah went to small group with us and stayed the night. Thursday morning we decided to pack up a picnic and headed to the mountains. We finally had a cold snap, so the leaves started to change. We had a great day. Jackie, Edwardo and Grayson joined us for the picnic.





Friday we met up with Jill and Rachael. We went to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. It was a lot of fun. Mellow for a Friday morning and the girls had the gym to play around in to themselves. Jill and I even got in on the fun and attempted a few back passes and free throws...amazingly no pictures of our attempts. We headed to Olive Garden for lunch then back to their place to "play" for a while.



Friday night me and the girls helped Ted set up the RV for tailgating at the Vols game on Saturday. I once again got lost in downtown. Even with TomTom I can't find my way around here. It is kinda sad. Madi and Ellie think it is part of our downtown adventures.....

Bill, Daren, Mark, Scott and Ted started the tailgating about 6 hours before the game on Saturday. I wasn't there so you would have to ask Ted what exactly they did. I do know that they didn't stay at the game through half-time.

Ted made it home Sunday morning in time to go to church with the girls and I. We had a mellow day. Ted cleaned out the RV (I didn't even go in it). Then took a nap :)

I took the girls up to the park to play on the swings for a bit. Our girls are not really a good mix with nap time.....

Weekend Update

We started off Friday with Birthday Celebrations for Madi...She got a new bike and cupcakes. I didn't take pictures of either (seriously!)
Friday and Saturday was the Canvas Camp trip. We had a great time. Good food, Good Friends and Good Conversation. (above: Mrs. Sue with Ellie, The Farquaads and Ted with baby Farquaad)

(below: Madi's best friend Grayson came camping with us, Madi on the tree swing, and a little proof that Engineering Brains; Zack, Ted and Daniel can implement their own strategies to accomplish getting ladderball golfballs out of a tree)



Sunday the kids performed their Fruit of the Spirit song. They are so adorable. I am a proud mama, both girls knew them all. Pictured with our girls are the other wonderful kids from Canvas. After six weeks of hard work all of the kiddos knew their fruit....


We spent Sunday afternoon napping and watching Green Bay kick some Colt bootty.....I love football!! I especially love Packer football!!

Weekend Update

We hope everyone had a great weekend. Ours was good as usual. Busy and worth every minute.

Friday we enjoyed burgers at the best place it town. Yes, we splurged and it was worth every scrumptious bite of the bacon cheeseburger. Then we headed home for a little family fun on the Wii and played our new game, Active Life Outdoor Challenge. Good times.

Saturday morning we had basketball sign ups then headed to the pumpkin patch/corn maze with Madi's Girl Scout troop. It was a beautiful day. I don't know that I have ever been pumpkin picking when it was 80 degrees before.....


We buried their heads in the corn. It was a good time for about two seconds.

I don't know who's idea it was but the corn maze was shaped like Pat Summits head. Go Lady Vols!! This too was fun for the first few minutes then we broke the rules, went off the path and snuck out the entrance.....

We hit the farmers market on the way home and picked up some beautiful mums and of coarse a few good veggies to add to dinners this week. A few gourds of varying shapes and sizes that at some point will make a nice fall decor for the front walk, hopefully before the week is over. Bill and Jill invited us over so we grilled out and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Ladder ball tournament in full swing. We played a few rounds and enjoyed the great company. It was beautiful to watch the moon rise up over the neighborhood. Too bad the mosquitoes are still buzzin' around.

Sunday after church we headed out to the Foothills Parkway. Another beautiful day. The view was amazing. Every time our feet hit a new trail I am in awe of God's amazing creativity. The colors of life and fall changing right before our eyes. Mountains on the left, valleys on our right. I wonder if it is all just a glimpse of His true majesty.