Happy 7th!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  When Levi was just a couple of years old Stephan gave him a copy of The Encyclopedia of Animals. He has been poring over that book ever since. I cannot tell you how many hours I've spent stumbling through the latin names of all those animals. "Hey, mama, what's this one?" "Hey, mama, will you read me just one page?....Will you read one more?....and, one more?" After years of being dragged around and loved on by a growing boy, that old copy finally could not be duct taped together anymore. It officially bit the dust. Levi cried. I promised him a new one, and so for his birthday he got his wish.

   My sweet itty bitty baby is not so itty bitty anymore. Still sweet, though. Goodness, how has it been 7 whole years since I became a mama? We celebrated his birthday exactly how he wanted it....family, a cake topped with Toothless and Skull Crusher (thank you, Nanno and Aunt Annie, for decorating it), a few gifts, and a drive around the pasture. It was too cold for the originally planned hayride. Thank goodness driving the truck through the pasture makes a good alternative!

  Seven years of parenting down. It's been a wild and beautiful ride. I'm so grateful that it all started with this incredible soul.



Goodbye October.

 

Four babies in, and I am still surprised at how time flies that first year. Suddenly October was upon us and with it the fair and pumpkins and costumes and parties. And, now just as suddenly it is coming to an end. September was pretty much the same way, and the few months before it really just seem to have all blurred together. This is my favorite season, so I wish it would slow down. The weather is pretty much wonderful. The leaves are starting to turn and fall, and well, there are pumpkins. I love pumpkins.

 

 

There are also the costumes. It's so fun to put them together and/or make them for my little ones. They get such joy out of dressing up, and they will use and reuse their costumes all year round until they are literally falling apart. Then they'll come to me crying and ask me to fix them.
 

 

The only costume I made this year was Levi's. He has been asking for a Toothless (from How To Train Your Dragon) costume for months. As usual he was very particular about how he wanted it, so I let him stay up late one night to help me make it.
 

 

 

 

My mom bought the girls "pumpkin princess" outfits. When we went to our church's Fall Festival Lillian decided to go as a kitty pumpkin princess, and Sophia went as a butterfly pumpkin princess.
 

 

 

 

After a week of fun Fall events, we had our own little family "Pumpkin Party" tonight with my parents. The kids and I carved a pumpkin to bring to the party.
 

 

Joshua dressed like a bee for the party, but that lasted all of a nanosecond before he insisted his costume be taken off.

While Stephan kept the kids outside this afternoon I made a caramel apple pie for our dessert. You can tell I was all by myself in the kitchen because I actually had a chance to play with my food and then take a quick picture.

Since we don't live in a neighborhood anymore trick-or-treating is a hassle. Last year we started doing candy hunts at home instead. It was such a hit, and it's looking like it might become a bonafide tradition around here.
 

 

 

 This year we added in a hayride too.

 

 

It was a first for Joshua. He wasn't so sure what to think of it.
 

 

 

 

 

  It's been a fun month. I'm a little sad to see it coming to an end. But, hey, November is up next, and that's a fun month too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Four!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia turned four last week! Goodness. I really can't believe it's been four whole years since this little lady made her grand entrance into this world. Our lives were forever changed and infinitely blessed that day. Her feisty, kind, and loving spirit is a perfect fit in our family puzzle. These days she is smitten with ballerinas and all things "fancy", so to celebrate her day we had a "fancy" cookout complete with shish kabobs and a pink strawberry cake. Our hayride plans were rained out, but just before the rain hit Stephan took Levi and Sophia out and let them 'drive' his truck around in the pasture. Then we ate, played outside in between showers, opened presents, read her new books (Angelina and Olivia...of course), watched a movie, and tossed around flashing party light balloons (a present from Levi). Everyday for months Sophia faithfully asked if today was her birthday. It made my heart happy for her to go to bed pleased as punch over this much anticipated day. Now she's on to asking if it's time for Levi's birthday yet. I do believe the girl likes a good party. 
 

Happy Birthday!

July is our month of birthdays. First mine. Then Lillian's. Then my mom's. And, last but not least Stephan's.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This morning I said to the kids, "Hey, guys! It's daddy's birthday!" To which Lillian responded, "No! MINE!!" Haha! She is not into sharing her birth month with anyone else. Hello, two! On the other hand, Levi and Sophia got to work on presents for him. I think this is the first time they've really initiated present making for someone. I'm pretty excited about that. Levi brought in two magnolia leaves, and requested a hole punch and string, so he could craft a necklace. Sophia wanted string and "sparkly things" (beads) to make a bracelet, and of course, Lillian insisted that I make a bracelet just for her.

 I spent a little time in the kitchen whipping up some birthday desserts. Brownies are Stephan's favorites, but the kids think it's not a birthday without cake. On top of that I had promised Sophia some truffles, so a lot of baking happened. Now there are loads of leftovers. There was no way we could eat all of that even with the help of my parents and sister!

 It was a busy day spent mostly chasing little ones and cleaning up after them too, but in the midst of the chaos we made a pretty decent little celebration. Happy birthday, Stephan! You are an incredible husband and father. Thank you for everything you do! We love you so much, and we are so blessed to have you!