a character building experience

{sigh} The annual sibling Christmas photo was almost a fail.  After about 350 shots (REALLY!) we did have a "winner" but my people made me work for it!  :)   At 20 months...I'm pretty sure Millie is in photography no-man's land!   ha!

 Here are a few "highlights" from our little photo shoot for posterity's sake:

on the bright side, you can see clearly the qualities I love most in these precious people:

*independent                   *outspoken                      *dramatic

 look at those dimples  :)  nothing but sugar and spice right here....wait for it....

 oh no you didn't baby girl! one-one thousand...

 two-one thousand....{sweet reecie holding it together}

 OUCH!!!

dear daddy trying to get us all straightened out...baby girl's all done.  for now.

love this one! :)   

 Charly getting in on the action..."what's that on your face?"

 "oh yeah!  a little remnant of syrup from breakfast!"

furry girl found her happy place

and.......Round 2!

In a few days I'll post the winner shot!  :)

Busted!

Even Miss Charly has moments (like a couple of other little folks I know) when she wishes she could still be the baby!  :)

A tricky day...that started with a treat!

After a day like yesterday, I've just gotta VENT! Shoot- that blasted dog (cute as she may be) is about to be homeless if she poops on my floor AGAIN! AAAAggghhh!

I miss my hubby....did I say that already? He's working at church in Florida this weekend. Yesterday was a day that I would like to qualify as "a character building experience". Mom, aren't you proud of me for sayin' that and not something else? Graham talked about wanting to go to trunk or treat (which is a tradition at our church in FL) ALL DAY LONG.

If you've ever watched Seinfeld, you'll appreciate what I'm about to say. Living in Bonita Springs is a little like living in Del Boca Vista (the retirement community where Jerry's parents live) Gated community after gated community. So...my kids have never really had a "typical" trick or treat experience going from house to house begging for goodies. Instead, our wonderful church there hosts this carnival/trunk or treat where the kiddos walk up and down the ailes of parked cars, lavishly decorated trunks open wide with wonderful people that we know (I love that part) passing out candy to the kids. It is so much fun.

Now, back to my sob story. :) Coupled with the fact that we're all missing Daddy, it was POURING rain (so we had to go to the mall), Hannah Reece has diarrhea, and that when I picked up Reecie earlier in the day-I pulled a muscle in my belly....well, you get the picture! The day was shaping up to be a rough one. Oh! Not to mention the fact that we got to the mall, I whipped out my camera to get pics of my darling High Sch**l Music*l Cheerleader and Clone Tro*per and the screen said...[no memory card] my response..."perfect!" You know, it was just the poop-flavored cherry on top! Anyway, I hope you're laughing right now because I am!

Just so you don't feel TOO sorry for me-there was ONE redeeming part of our day...my treat. ;) Earlier that morning I hit The Nester's rockin' yard sale! Yup, I was one of the lucky ones, I told her I was even gonna brag about it right here on my blog ;) she was so gracious and kind-she even let me take my picture with her...I'm telling y'all-this lady is a blogging celebrity!

And my bargain-huntin' sidekicks (can you tell it was early?)

As someone with VERY little (or no) decorating budget, her clever, thrifty ideas on how to dress-up our little nest have been an encouragement to me. My all time favorite thing she does is show many ways to "mistreat" your windows.

Here are some of our fun finds for the day: (thanks for the awesome deals Nester!)

Hannah Reece picked out this flower arrangement for the girls' room-usually I don't go for "silks" but this one was very cute; A giant mirror (so many places I could put this!); and some cute throw pillows...Reecie is displaying a bristly, fish ball thingy that she found at the sale.
Some lovely Matelasse euro-shams for the living room; mirrored candlesticks for our bedroom; and a giant MESS of pinkie ribbons that I'm sure will come in handy!

Graham helped me with this pile ;) : A red fleece for me; two DVD's for the kiddos and my first baby girl item...a burp cloth hand made by the Nester with this cute black and white toile scene stitched in pink! (Not pictured a Nascar book and hat just for Graham :)

I'm hoping my kiddos will agree to dress up again today, maybe I'll have pics of them all decked out after all, or not. :)

One last thing, can you believe how GORGEOUS this tree is? I had to bust a u-turn to get a shot of this autumn glory. No matter how pretty I try to dress my nest, reminds me that God is concerned about me seeking him (and focusing on eternal things), and he will meet my needs abundantly. Thank you, Lord. Perfect timing.

Luke 12:
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Introducing...

a furry addition to our family

Charly

(short for Charlotte)

born on July 25, 2009...I'm realizing as I write this that is the day we found out baby #3 was on the way-and it is my Dad and our niece Kailey's birthdays!
Charly is a shih-a-poo (part Shih-tzu/part poodle) and weighs only 3 pounds-I have to ask right now that you'd pray for her safety, because she's much smaller than Dan's size 14's and is constantly under-foot! She's quite taken with him and follows his lead like a little shadow. ;)
We've had her for 2 days now, and we love her already. She's super mellow for a 3 month-old puppy and her favorite spot is any lap that'll have her. She's doing her thing outside about 90% of the time (thankfully, the other 10% is tiny and not too much of an event!), and sleeps well and often. Her little mouth is still so tiny, we have to crush her dry puppy food so that she can eat it without choking, teeny-tiny girl!

Graham had a scary time with a dog about a year ago...ever since then both kids have been afraid of any dog, big or small. It seems that little Charly has proven to be good medicine for their fears. Here's a progression of the kiddos interactions with her in the last few days, you can almost see their confidence growing:

Home for the first time (after a little bath because she peed on herself in the car!)
Graham reading the book on how to train a dog "Charly, I'm going to train you, now...sit!"
How's that?
Reecie's new buddy Her favorite spot on Dan-right on his neckRiding in the car to pick up Graham from school
Yes, even sweet Charly is a naughty girl sometimes...she has an affinity for Hannah Reece's dress up shoes! Getting to know each other
Her favorite non-living things to snuggle with, Ellie the Elephant and Reecie's baby doll...
Can you tell, Hannah Reece is warming up? I had to teach her how to carry her properly today, because she wants to take her everywhere that she goes. A big switch from yesterday when she'd squeal if Charly came too close.

Charly found her happy place :)