ASU Homecoming... What is there to complain about when you have the Mountains in the Fall, Great friends and family, Tailgating, Delicious food, and ASU Football on the most beautiful campus in the world! Emma Jane and Lela loved the ASU parade that took place the morning of the game. The especially loved having Memaw and Pappy there to participate in all the festivities! Emma Jane looked adorable in her cheerleading outfit, even though it was a BATTLE to get her to wear it. She preferred her diaper and cowboy boots... she gets this from her daddy! Haha! The girls made it throughout the whole day... even Lela! Lela took a nap in her pack-n-play in the back of the Tahoe and then she was ready for game time! Although our views from the grassy hill weren't anything to brag about...it was great to see Emma Jane get sooooo excited about football. She clapped and cheered with her pom-pom the whole time. She even participated in the "Go Appalachian" chants!

Here are also a few Fall photos...

October 14th , 2006... 4 years ago today I married the love of my life... cliche right? But I can honestly say that this so often used phrase is absolutely, positively true and one of the most important decisions I have ever made in my life. Wade brings out the very best in me and always has. We met at one of the best schools in the country, Appalachian State, in 2001. We had the same friends, the same interest, but that was about it. We watched each other grow into our own person and lived our college lives without ever knowing that just 3 years later we would soon be a couple and begin the journey of our lives. In 2004, we went to a Hickory Motor Speedway Race (yes...a Hickory Motor Speedway Race) and from that moment on our lives changed. We havent spent so much as a single weekend apart since. We spent my last year of college traveling the long road from Boone to Charlotte and Charlotte to Boone more times than I could count. Wade would sometimes leave at 4am, just to make it home to go to work at 7am... Talk about "smitten..." Our dedication to one another became even more profound once I graduated and moved to Cornelius to start my 1st teaching job. Wade was such a needed support during that transition in my life and he has continued to be the everlasting support throughout. In May 2006, on a warm sunny day in Boone, Wade dropped the question on one of my favorite hillsides at Moses Cone. Although it didnt really go as planned (does it really ever?) it was the best moment in my life. This moment immediantly taught me that life isn't always planned, but it is always perfect:) This was also the case when we found out about our 1st little girl in 2007...not even a year after our wedding! Wade is a loving father of 2 beautiful little girls, a man of God that directs us in the way we should go and an enduring husband that encourages and motivates me every day. He never lets me give up... He lifts me up as a wife, mother, and inspires me to live for the Lord each day. For all of these reasons and more...I can say once again, that today 4 years ago, I married my TRUE LOVE!

This post should have been written a few weeks ago, but it was a little more difficult to write as opposed to the typical post about the girls...

On September 11th, my In-Laws were in town staying at our house to help take care of the girls during an event that Wade and I were in charge of at church. During the event, Kaye, my mother-in-law called and said that Rockie had a nose bleed. Wade and I didn't really think much of it and figured we would look at it when we got home. Over the course of the weekend, his nose maybe bled a handful of times and it wasn't a large amount. We still made the decision to call the vet, even though in our minds it wasn't a big deal and there wasn't a need to worry.

On Tuesday, we took him to the vet. One x-ray and ultrasound later, we found out that he was covered with cancer. The nose bleeds had been the 1st and only sign. The cancer had taken over his whole body and was surrounding his lungs and pancreas so tightly that it was causing him to suffocate. The only option was to put him to sleep. After several hours and the opinions of 2 vets... we decided to bring him home. After all... how can you put down a dog that just the day before welcomed you with a wagging tail and a nice sniff!

We brought Rockie home and decided to pray over him, spoil him rotten with steaks and hamburgers and enjoy every second! He over indulged in every meal and enjoyed all the extra pampering and time on the front porch during those 1st few Fall mornings. On Friday, I noticed that he was a little slow moving and that he didn't have much of an appetite. Later that afternoon, I noticed that he had been in our bedroom for quite some time, so I decided to let him out to potty. He couldn't get up. I tried every way I knew to motivate him, even a little push, but nothing... It was then that I knew this was the end of the road for him. I stayed in the room with him as much as possible. When I would leave the room, he would begin to whine, so I knew he didn't want to be alone. Emma Jane came in and sang a few songs to try and make Rockie and I both feel a little better. She also pushed aside my tears and told me that Rockie was going to be with Jesus...

Lunch time came and I knew I had to leave the room to go and feed Lela. I heard him crying in the other room, so I was trying to hurry. Lela ate the fastest she has ever eaten. The dishes were then staring at me and as I was about to go and clean them, something told me that the dishes could wait...

I walked in the bedroom and sat on the floor with Rockie. I looked him right in the eyes with my hand petting his head, told him he was a "good boy." It was at that very moment that he took one last breath and then he was gone... he went to be with Jesus just like Emma Jane had said. Wade tried desperately hard to make it home from work to say goodbye, but he missed him by 15 minutes (he worked in Greensboro that day).

It was very weird seeing him lying there... it was surreal. We buried him in the backyard beside his sister Tatum. Rockie was 5 years old. He was a loving, spastic, good natured dog that cannot be forgotten... He loved us even more than I think we loved him...especially the girls. He was very protective of them both.

Emma stills reminds me every now and then that "Rockie went to be with Jesus" which always makes me smile!

ASU Football has begun and we are going to start the girl's season off right with the Homecoming Game this Saturday. We plan to stay the weekend and enjoy some good "Boone Time" while we are there. We are hoping that after all of these trips to Mountaineer country that in about 18 years they will choose App as their #1 school of choice:)

Wade and I will have our 4th Wedding Anniversary next week, October 14th. Four years have definitely went fast...I am so thankful to have been blessed with such a loving husband and father! We plan to spend the days with the girls and possibly manage a "dinner date" for just the 2 of us!

Halloween will be here soon! Looking forward to seeing the girls dressed up (Mary had a Little Lamb) and seeing how excited Emma Jane is this year to get stocked up on all sorts of delicious CANDY! I am sure Lela will just enjoy hanging out...

I can't wait to see what all God has in store for our family this Fall!

Our very first family vacation...Wilmington NC! The girls had a great time dodging waves, eating sand, fishing, watching boats and enjoying "life at the beach"...

Emma Jane loved the water and the waves. She was fearless when it came to riding daddy's back and jumping over waves... even when they sent her tumbling, she came back for more!

Lela decided that since she couldn't really partake in the waves, she would make do with sand...yummy!

She is full of smiles and giggles and loves to blow bubbles! She loves it when daddy blows on her tummy!

We spent the day with Dora the Explorer and Diego at Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC! Emma Jane was so excited to see Dor-O and Choo Choo that I think she may have exhausted some of her energy on the ride to Boone. When we got there, she had lost some of the excitement, but soon regained it when she saw the Dora sign at the entrance. We hit the "choo choo" first, which both Emma Jane and Lela loved. Emma kept her hand over her mouth during all the cowboy shooting! After the train ride, it was off to see Dora. She enjoyed watching the show, but was mostly interested in her peanut butter sandwich, which was long overdue! It was a fun-filled Dor-O day!

In this economy, everyone is trying to save a buck or two... that is why it is sooooo amazing the generosity and giving spirit of our FAVORITE restaurant, Chic Fil A! They truly exemplify a Christian attitude...

In honor of "Cow Appreciation Day" they gave away free MEALS just for dressing like a cow! So of course the Nagy family could not let this opportunity pass us by...

We proudly brought out the black spots and wagging tails and ventured out for a free, delicious meal! Emma Jane made sure to greet everyone with a cheerful "moo" and was very anxious to order her "chic chic." Even Lela participated...but of course daddy cow had to enjoy it for her!

Needless to say... we all left with a full belly and a waggin' tail!

The Nagy Family celebrated their freedom in Wilmington visiting grandparents, eating good food and watching a fireworks display off of the Battleship! Emma loved the fireworks, which was accompanied by her saying, "boom, boom!" and "more color"... really cute! Uncle Jay was there and we even got to sit on our very own historical boat while watching the show. Later that evening Emma was singing, "my boat... my boat... my boat..." and asking for more "color!" Lela just enjoyed sitting on mommy's lap and loved being near family! oh... and they ofcourse loved visiting the beach! Lela was able to sit up in the pool with Emma Jane... which made for really cute pics and lots of splashes!