Two Tutu's

Too Cute...

Too Funny...

Too Charming...

Too Sweet...

Two Tutu's.

Do We Trick? Do We Treat?

Oh my, I was so thankful for your views and thoughts on Trick or Treating - I love hearing others think about these type of topics.

So - For the record, we do let the girls Trick or Treat, and plan on doing it this year as well. I do avoid really scary things when we are out, and I do explain how we might take part in the festivities a little differently than a lot of other people.

I totally respect every ones personal decision for their family, I think everyone needs to follow their convictions - and I understand why people don't take part, and ignore it completely.

But for us, I personally feel like it is a great way to get out in our community, and really meet our neighbors. They see that we don't go to the extreme, that we have different boundaries for our kids, and I think that's important. I am really passionate about our family being Light in the dark...not just Light in the light. I want them to be able to tell non-believers about our faith - at school, at the park, at church, and yes, possibly on Halloween.

For now, since our girls are young, they think of this time as just "Fall Fun." (However this year has brought more explaining and talking with Ella, which I expected.) And as they grow, we will continue to explain and talk through the acceptable and unacceptable events that this "holiday" brings. Oh, and since we trick or treat...

...expect some pics of tutu's :).

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In other news, our 4th born is a little under the weather...

Sweet Kinley has come down with a case of the Croup :(. I hate hearing that "barky" little cough - it makes me want to just rock her for the rest of the night.

Hopefully everyone is better in time for the weekend. Oh, and for Thursday as well, we will be doing family pictures...

You think we can get a good shot of the 7 of us!?

Do You Trick? Do You Treat?

Oh Fall - You have fulfilled your many promises this season.
We have ate a lot of Pumpkin...or maybe it was just me that ate a lot of Pumpkin.
And we have made some fun memories...
Like last night when Daddy was able to break away from work for a hayride with his lovelies :).

Along with a huge group from the girls school...

Have I mentioned how much we love this Academy? The people, the teachers, and oh the academics - absolutely phenomenal. I can't imagine us anywhere else. This was a fun, fun group.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

I had an interesting conversation with another mom the other day about Trick or Treating. There are so many different views - especially amongst Christians.

Now I'm really curious...

Where do you stand on the whole Trick or Treating situation? Do you let your kids go? Or do you just stick to Fall Harvest Parties? I do struggle with the scary factor for the girls (even though I have explained Halloween to them like 100 times)...but when I was a kid (it was the 80's), we had so much fun going from house to house...

Anyone want to offer an opinion, or share what your family does for Halloween?

She Has Seen Better Days

You know what happens when two 3yr olds dangle their favorite Princess Dolls over the backyard fence??

C'mon, take a guess...

Yep, the neighbors stinkin' dog bites Sleeping Beauty's head off...

It wasn't pretty.

So Ella and I came up with a plan...
And she ended up saving the day...and saving Sleeping Beauty...

I lifted her over the fence, and she retrieved the head...

She was so proud.

Charlotte was relieved, to say the very least. Have I ever mentioned that Charlotte refers to Sleeping Beauty as "MY Sleeping Beauty"?? Well she does, and she means it. She takes very good care of her little Princess Dolls...

You know, when she's not letting a dog bite their heads off.

We had an amazingly beautiful, sunny, breezy afternoon outside...

Sleeping Beauty on the other hand, has seen better days.

Bow's All Around

I think it's time to get all my little bows out - don't you think??? Alright, alright, they don't have much hair - but it's enough, right!?

Customer Needs Assitance in Aisle Crazy

I'm in the middle of the store...OK, Target...I was in Target again, alright!!
Ahem...sorry...

I'm waiting on a prescription, the babies still have a colds, I'm laughing at some hilarious texts from one of my favorite girlfriends, and when we left the house this morning, it looked like I had shoved every single piece of clothing we have into the washer - and then it exploded...all over the front room...and I really mean that, the news should be called.

Anyway, I'm prying boxes of medicine out of my 3yr olds hands when my phone rings - it's the realtor.

Realtor: Hi! The Appraiser is in your neighborhood, and wants to know if he can just stop by real quick and do the appraisal.

Me: What?! I'm not even home, and seriously, the house is not fit for company. And the laundry...oh my word, there is an insane amount of clothes on the couch. Can't he do it tomorrow - not that I'll have it cleaned by tomorrow. But seriously, I have 5 small children - people can't just stop by...these things need to be scheduled!

Realtor: Oh don't worry, he won't be looking at that kind of stuff...just the structure, etc.

Me: Well I promise you he will indeed be looking at that kind of stuff, wondering how one family could acquire that much laundry. Let me call my husband.

While explaining to Eric, my other line rings - it's the realtor again.

Realtor: Ummm, the Appraiser is in your home, and your house alarm is going off.

Me: He's there? I don't know what to tell you, I am in the middle of a store with 4 of my girls and I can't come home. This should have been scheduled & I could've been prepared! Then he wouldn't be in the middle of our little house wondering what he should do about the alarm. Our code is *****.

My other line rings again...

Me: Hello?

Lady: Ma'am this is Security System, we are calling to let you know your alarm is going off, and emergency crews have been dispatched - help is on the way.

Me: Emergency crews?? Hmmm, well, let me know what you find!

(Girls, put the medicine down!! Do not touch! On second thought, give me the pain killers, mommy feels a headache coming on...)

Maybe next time they will schedule the appointment - they don't expect to come into this house and have a relaxing, uneventful time, do they??!

So not only did the Appraiser get a look at the laundry madness, so did some of our local emergency crews I guess. Sigh...

I felt like pushing one of those Customer Service buttons and asking them to help me find my sanity.

Oh well, it's a crazy life. And with these little sweeties, there is never a dull moment :)!

Which is good - I actually prefer crazy over dull :).

Hope you all are having a great week! We have a lot sickness going around where we live - Are you all staying healthy??

Oh Happy Fall Day

Alright, alright...I have been slacking a little on blogging - I need to get my behind back in gear!!

Today we took our 5 little loves to the local Pumpkin Patch/Farm. Seriously...plop me down in the middle of a Farmers Market with tons of Fall colors and yummy homemade treats, and I am one happy girl. But maybe I shouldn't be "plopped" down right next to the bakery display case...you know, because of the whole "lack of self control" issue. Anyway...

We had a great time!

The homemade honey, jams, candy, salsa, oh my!

Oh - and the eager, curious, sweet, little savvies that also want to get a look at all the goodies.

The babes did great too - even if Raya just wants Mom to hold her all the time...I don't mind :). She is truly a Mama's girl.

And speaking of my amazingly adorable, 11 month old, belly laughing, sweet, blue eyed loves...

They are almost 1! I am having such a hard time believing that!

I guess it's time for more babies!?

Nooo, c'mon. I kid, I kid.

Ahem.

I feel as they grow, they look even more alike. Can you tell who is who?? (and no, they are not identical...as far as we know.)

Oh, and for the record - the striped pants did come from Baby Gap. I just couldn't pass them up. Can you blame me???

I Should Be...

I should be crazy with all our moving plans and deadlines...
But actually, I am pre-occupied with these crazy stripe pants for the babies.
I love them...and want to buy 20 pairs...you know, if money grew on trees.

I should be cleaning out closets and boxing up decorations...
But at the moment, I am just enjoying every moment we have left in our little house...and am actually going to get all our Fall decorations out - why not??

I should be stressed out about finding a new home...
But instead I am loving the fact that our closing has been pushed back to Nov. 19th instead of Oct. 30th. So we won't move till Dec 3rd-ish.

I should be taking a break from my photography...
But I am having to much fun playing with my new lens, and for me, photography is the perfect therapy.

I should be folding the 5 loads of laundry that are sitting in the living room...
But it's so much easier to just let it sit there and play peek-a-boo with my babes.

I should be laughing about Ella telling me that "lash blast" would make my eyelashes bigger...
But instead I want to throw our TV through the front window.

I should be packing these items away...
But I just want to relax, take some fun pics, and pretend that we don't have a chaotic move ahead.


Ok, I guess I should start boxing some things up...
But where do I even begin!?!?

It Happens

I mean, are there even words to describe this level of sweetness??
Oh Kinley, you are one precious little love.

Speaking of sweet - Sometimes you get so excited about showing off your new pearly whites, that you just drool down the front of your new sweater...

Like Raya...

Is that a smile or what!?

Just 4 weeks away from her 1st birthday, and not a single hair on that sweet little head...unless you count the peach fuzz :).

Drooling during your 11 month photo shoot? It happens.

Just When I Was Getting Comfortable

Little Raya...
I know your intentions are good...
You want to play with just your toys...

But you can't resist, can you?
You wedge yourself between your favorite toy and the crib...
And you knock over the humidifier...again!!

Oh sweetie, mommy knows your little plan - but with a chubby little face like yours, it's hard to be mad :)!

Let's just say I've had to soak up water from the carpet twice today :).

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We have full weekend ahead - photo shoots, friends, and the inspection for our house.

If any of you think about it, could you pray about the house situation? It is sold - we await the inspection and appraisal...and then it's a done deal I guess. I am so excited to move, but geez, it is going to be hectic! I love this little house - so leaving is bitter sweet.

You know whats funny? I am more anxious about moving than I was over having multiple multiples - crazy, huh? I like order, and I like having a plan. But guess what, there is no definite plan right now - and we are unsure where we will be moving for good. And unless we find a house in the next 20 days, after closing, we will be staying with family until we close on our new home. Moving 7 people into someone else's house is a big deal...they are brave people.

But you know what the great part about this is? I am not comfortable. I am unsure, nervous, and needing to totally rely on God's Plan. It's a growing season for my stubborn, comfort seeking self.

He designed this plan. He knows the perfect place, situation, location, and circumstance. This is the sovereign story for our life, that He has written Himself. God is always on Plan A, there is no Plan B - Or Plan K(ate) for that matter!

So I just need to relax and enjoy this new journey.

After all, it's not like I'm in control.

Now if I can just keep telling myself that - over and over and over again!!

In My Defense

These Christmas PJ's are a size 12-18mo, and the girls are clearly on the Fast Track to 18-24mo.

So I needed to pull these Holiday Jammies out so we could get some good use out of them, right!?

It is, of course, also possible that I absolutely adore Christmas - and I just couldn't let those little Christmas tree Pajama's sit in their closet any longer.

Alright, alright. Maybe I should get a small grip on the fact that it is only October. But around this house, the Christmas decor and music comes out on Nov.1st - and no later!

Anyone else bring out the Holiday Decor (and/or Jammies) early??

Lately...

I have gotten a little behind on blogging....

Really behind on laundry...

And I have been getting out our Fall/Winter clothes...


I have been going overboard with pumpkin recipes...

Shamefully buying Pumpkin Peeps...

Loving the cool air...

And continuing to wear my flip flops, even though its only 50 degrees.

I have been learning and listening - 2 things I need to do more often. I actually think God has moved my seat to the front of the classroom in case I couldn't hear from the back...where I tend to stand when I know He is always right, and I am always...stubborn.

I have been taking lots of pictures...

And trying to plan a 1st birthday party for these little loves...

I am still trying to believe that our house sold this last week, and we are now looking for a new home.

I am super excited, and a little nervous...

But I know it's time.

If all goes well, we will close on Oct. 30th...

And we are looking at moving to a place like this...which is the opposite of where we are now.

I have been getting my Fall decor out...

And burning my spice candle.

I have been so thankful for the "not-so Mother Of The Year" comments...and {laughing} at your stories...

And Reese? She's back on the Monkey Bars...apparently she laughs in the face of a Small Fracture.

So that's what is going on around here - I know, real exciting, right!?

I hope you all had a great weekend!!

The Good News Is, I Didn't Break All Her Fingers

Oh me, oh my.

In a chaotic moment in our chaotic life, Reese got her hand shut in the bathroom door...

Or should I say, I shut her small, chubby, cute little hand in the bathroom door - it's so hard to keep track of where all 10 sweet hands are at any given moment.

Sigh.

The good news is that the Dr.'s think there is only a tiny fracture in one of her fingers...AKA, not a huge deal.

Sigh...again...
I felt sooo bad.

Anyone else want to share some of your, not-so "Mother of the Year" moments??