Happy Halloween!

This year we had a Lego Rock Monster,
A Beautiful Ballerina,
And a cute little punkin (she was this yesterday).
We went to the Fall Festival at Grandma & Grandpa's church.

Even Grandpa was festive!


Happy Halloween!

Preparing to Set Sail (though we'll actually be flying)

About a year before our 10th anniversary, we started planning this trip. We booked the accommodations and the airline tickets. Then the building of our house was delayed... and delayed... we moved in just a few short weeks before we were to go. I was not ready to leave. The trip was postponed. We were able to reschedule everything and now the time is drawing near! Excitement is building!!!

When we first booked, we were a family of 4. Then we were expecting. I would have been traveling pregnant. Instead, now I'll be leaving my 7.5 month old for the first time. For 5 days. To find her nourishment from a bottle rather than me. I have mixed emotions. I really, really need the break. I will miss her so, so much. And the others, too. But I really, really need the break.

I'm planning on taking a pump with me, pumping while gone & hopefully will be able to resume breastfeeding when I get back. She took her first bottle of formula tonight from her great aunt. Inside I was thankful and a little sad.

I have to remember that all 3 of them will be in the care of family members who love them very much. That I will be getting a much needed restful vacation. And that all of us will be in God's hands.

In less than a month, I'll be posting some pictures of my own!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

We just finished the birthday run: Mason, Jordann, Aunt Sissy, Grandpa, Aunt Erin... all one day after the other! I wished everyone happy birthday on Facebook, but here's your official blog wishes: Happy Birthday to all!

David to Elizabeth: Shhh!
Elizabeth: Don't tell me that!
David: I was just making the /sh/ sound.
Elizabeth: I don't like that sound.

Wow. I can't believe my kids are now having conversations with each other.

Happy Birthday, Mason!

We celebrated Mason's first birthday at the park this afternoon. I'll probably just post a link to the rest of the pictures on Flickr when I get them up. It was fun & the little guy made a haul! He got a ton of clothes and a good many toys also.

Rebekah is 6-months old!

Rebekah turned 6-months old on Wednesday, October 7! She is wonderful and different than her brother & sister, but she loves them very much!!!

Her 6-month check-up was on the 13th. She is up to 14 pounds, 10 oz. That is 25th-50th percentile. Her length is 27 inches. That is 75th percentile! I knew she was long....


As always, she measures well above the 100th percentile in cuteness and adorability. : )

Trying to sit up a little bit, but not quite there. Shouldn't be long...

Sisters!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

We've had a lot going on lately...

I made corn dogs one night. As David was trying to disassemble his, he said: I need the weenie out of the weenie protector.

We were in the car with Grandpa the other day. Gpa was listening to financial talk radio. On the way home from church Sunday, David said: You haven't lost any money unless you sell.
The guy wasn't advocating buy & hold, but did keep repeating that phrase! See, I was listening, too! Here's the last 2 verses I think I forgot to post:

On the way to a play date last week, Elizabeth said: We're gonna play with Colt. Colt is a boy. I love him.

Next, she tells me: I want to ride on the green tractor with Landon. We went to his 3rd birthday party, and he got a ride-on John Deere.

Elizabeth didn't want to miss out when I was taking the videos, so here's hers:


Rebekah turned 6-months old last week, too! Her check-up is today. She'll get her own special post, hopefully later today. Here she is hanging out with her peeps at our Sunday school party (she's on the far right):

Shoe Box Week: Day 5

Today we're going overseas:

Oops... my internet was down this morning. I did not intend to post the 2nd video that was on this post previously. It was a little TMI for my kids.

Shoe Box Week: Day 4

Today we're bringing it closer to home:

And we're visiting our closest neighbors:

Shoe Box Week: Day 3

Today we will talk about how to prepare our shoe boxes.

In case you're wondering... I found all the videos Sunday night and scheduled them to appear on the blog each day. This way, I can just come to the blog to show the kids the video each day. I'll try to add some more pictures of the kids soon... today is Rebekah's 6-month birthday!!!

Tiny Talk Tuesday and Shoe Box: Day 2

David: Mom, I think you are the goodest mom there ever was... (just then the phone rang) because you answer the phone.

At Thursday school, I called David to wait by the door of his classroom. A little girl, who was just a bit taller than David came up to me & said, "Is David your son?" I confirmed and then she said, "He's cute." Seriously, I almost passed out. I told her thank you.

I've been racking my brain trying to remember Elizabeth's song. She combined Pop Goes the Weasel with something else & it was really funny. She's a ham!


Today's shoe box video is a little more fun!

And since Larry is traveling, we're going to follow him:

Shoe Box Week: Day 1

This week we are taking a break from our wonderful Sonlight Curriculum to work on a couple of special projects. Today I will introduce David and Elizabeth to Operation Christmas Child. We're not in Canada, but I thought this was the best video to start with this week.

I've missed my coffee...

It's been over a month since I joined Company Girl Coffee and I've missed you girls! Not that I haven't attempted to post. I think there are at least 2 sitting in draft status. Last week, I actually had a good excuse - my BFF was visiting! The same one I submitted photos of for the Company Girl book! You may have seen this when I posted it last weekend, but if not, here's the whole group of us girls:

Maybe some future BFF's in there, too? David had wandered off before the photo.

We've also been busy with homeschool. This week completed week 7 of kindergarten. David and I are totally enjoying it! Someone asked me the other day if it was hard. So far, the hardest part is trying to find things to occupy Elizabeth while David does his worksheets (math & handwriting).

I've never had a fall garden before, so I wasn't sure what to do out there. I've cleaned out everything that was done and planted some more squash and am trying snow peas. More than half those, which I direct seeded, were eaten as soon as they sprouted. I assume it was rolly polly bugs. I think I may still have time to try lettuce again...

In my "spare time" (hahahahahah!!), I've been working on a Fall Recipes Cookbook to sell online. I had really hoped to have it completed by October 1, but... "spare time"... yeah.

This is the Amish Baked Oatmeal. It is really good! My sister blogged the Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake for me. And that reminds me... I'm off to make some Harvest Muffins for breakfast! They'll go good with coffee!!