Happy Halloween

The Chandlers had the pleasure of experiencing Halloween three times in the past few weeks. We started out the festivities with a fair at Countryside Bible Church. Then a couple of nights later we went to Nate and Christe's annual kids Halloween party. We then capped it all of with a little "trunk or treat" in downtown Grapevine on Halloween. Now if only I would have had a trick or treating...we are going to be eating hot tamales and mike n ikes until December!

Browns Come to Town (part 2)

Our great friends Dan, Casi, and their little girl Abbi for the second year in a row ventured from San Diego to Dallas, in a car, to come spend a week with us. We always have such an amazing time when we get together. Here are a few highlights from their trip...

*Chicken Express (twice)
*2 Cowboys games
*Chuck E Cheese
*3 Halloween celebrations
*The best conversations at night once the kids were in bed
*Group nap time every afternoon
*Painting Lyla, I mean pumpkins
*Countless hours of Texas Rangers baseball
*Lyla and Abbi feeding fish
*Lyla and Abbi wrestling/hugging
*Watching the girls play in the front yard

We were so sad again to see the Browns leave. They are such amazing friends and have been so good to us these past few years. We are so excited to see you all again and to make many more fun memories together!

Tight End, Full Back, Tight End, Full Back

Now that Scott is on an active roster again, our weekends are consumed with Dallas Cowboys football. I have established a nice little routine that seems to be working well. Game days are nice because Scott stays close to the house so he is home and able to help out a little. Getting ready when its just Lyla and I seems to take twice as long so it is nice to have his help. We usually head to the game a few hours before kick off so I can sit down and let Lyla enjoy some of the pre-game festivities. Thank the Lord Almighty that some of the wives worked with the Jones family to get a day care put into the stadium for coaches/players kids. This has made going to the games so wonderful for me! The nannies that they hire out for each game are wonderful. Lyla has a blast playing with all of the other kids and usually wants nothing to do with me when I pop in for a visit. So by the time I drop her off and grab a frozen margarita, I am in my seat before the team comes out and get to enjoy the game without a 17 month old climbing all over me. This season has been so bittersweet for me. We aren't winning like we should be but Scott is playing...a lot! He has even started at fullback a few games. I think I will take him playing over wins any day. Yes I am that proud wife who takes a trillion pictures every time Scott runs on or off the field. It just hasn't gotten old for me yet. After the game we meet up with Scott in a room and get fed a nice little feast, win or lose! This stadium is amazing! Everything is still so new and fancy, I just wished the fans stuck around for the whole game. So there you have it...my game day routine. I would love any of my Iowa family members to come down and enjoy this experience with me...wink wink!

Philippains 4:6-7

These past few months have been a whirl wind to say the least. I'd like to say that Scott and I put all of our faith and trust in the Lord for his plan in our lives. Sometimes, especially in Scott's line of work, it can be a little hard and a little scary. What most people don't know about the NFL is that players can be cut at any time, regardless of a contract, and are just one injury away from not having a job anymore. At the end of August we were thinking that the NFL was over, we were making plans to settle down, job hunt, house hunt. However, God had other plans for us. Now that I look back at that night in New Jersey when I was in tears wondering what the future would bring, I marvel at the many AMAZING blessings that God has given us in our life. We thought the NFL was over. Yes we felt blessed to have had 3 great years in the NFL, but a little sad that Scott never truly got a shot on a team. It is so awesome to see God's plan unfold, and see how we are not the ones in control. We thought it was over, God knew it wasn't. He opened the door for us in Dallas, He put Scott on a team with amazing coaches and players, He gave Scott the opportunity and skills needed to start for the Dallas Cowboys, He is using Scott's skills on the field to glorify God off of the field. I will end this little post with scripture that I have comes to live by and holds true in our lives.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Hawkeyes

This past weekend was a weekend of firsts for Lyla. My wonderful Mom and sister April gave Scott and I their tickets to the Iowa game so we could see the Hawkeyes play at Kinnick. It had been a few years since I had been to a game and Scott had never been to a game as just a fan. Because it was a night game we tailgated with Lyla and my family the entire game. Like I said, a day of firsts for Lyla.
1) Lyla's first time playing bags
2) Lyla's first time playing washers
3) Lyla's first time seeing a college student take a beer bong
4) Lyla's first time walking Melrose on game day
5) Lyla's first time drinking a bottle of Orange pop (thanks Apey)
6) Lyla's first time peeing through two pairs of pants outside of Kinnick Stadium
7) Lyla's first time flirting with a college boy

Tailgating during the day was so much fun for Lyla because she spent the entire day outside. My family was great to watch her so I could enjoy the day. Actually Lyla wanted little to do with her Mommy and only wanted her Daddy or Apey. Around 5:00 my mom and sister took Lyla back to Brooke and James and I was able to hang out without little Lyla bean. I had an ABSOLUTE blast with my sister Brooke. We giggled a lot and it felt like we were in college all over again. Thanks Brooke for showing me such a great time! That day will be a memory I will cherish forever. Also thanks to Dad, and Lyn and James for being such fun fans to sit with, thanks Scott for spending your bye week in Iowa City, and special special thanks again to my mom for missing two Iowa games in a row to watch Lyla. You are an angel Mommy! I LOVE YOU! Oh yeah, Ape you are pretty cool too hehe!

30 minute cat nap

The make shift outfit I made after Lyla's accident

My amazing friend Adriana got married outside of Kinnick on Saturday...how awesome is she?