Memorables

-Millie "crushed the creche" today.  The big kids were NOT happy.

-"Mom, we're best friends liking each other."  -Hannah Reece

-Building pinewood derby cars for the big kids to race at the Oedy Christmas celebration (a new tradition on Grandpa's fancy race track...built it himself!)

-The delicious smell of sweaty baby hair during my nap with Millie today.  Might be the sweetest smell ever!

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!  :)

resonate.

“God appoints people who do 

disappoint – to point to a God 

who never disappoints.”  


-Ann Voskamp

cotton candy sunset
{taken from the back porch of mom and dad's beach house on Thanksgiving}

today

Today I want to remember:
-telling Millie "don't eat the baby Jesus!"...she thinks our nativity set tastes good.  :)
-that Millie pooped on the potty yesterday!
-how happy the kids were to wake up to a decorated house
-that I shouldn't ever stay up till 3:30 am decorating again.  Period.
-not to drink caffeinated coffee ever again.  Period.
-that my baby's cheeks are so delicious I could bury my face in her cheeks and neck all.day.long.
-all of the new big words Graham is trying out, thanks to Calvin and Hobbes.
-seeing Reecie go over and offer daddy a big wet kiss because she wanted to kiss him the way he kisses momma.  So cute.
-that Rev. Hubs can work magic with a few measly leftovers
-the way our baby looks in the glow of the Christmas tree. At first glimpse in the morning, she puts her little hands on her hips (sides of belly) and says "WOW!"

precious prayers

I never want to forget this:

"Lord thank you eighty SO's for heaven."  -Graham, age 7

Water Works

tiny tears!

Millie is almost 20 months old.  She want to do everything Bubba and Sissy are doing...which sometimes leads to bumps and bruises...and tears.   I have learned that one of the easiest ways to settle down a fretful, otherwise inconsolable baby is WATER!  :)  I turn on the faucet and she just watches it run over her fingers, wiggles it around and even sometimes tosses a little on momma which she thinks is hyterical!  It has worked with all three of our little people.  I know when I hear "Wa.  Wa!" baby girl is asking for a little water therapy.  :)

Trunkin' and Treatin' 2011

In our household, October 31 means three things:

1.  Put on your favorite dress-up costume

2.  Trick your trunk in style ;) 

{and last but certainly not least)

3.  Eat lots of yummy treats in the church parking lot with friends and family!

 Reece was a competitive double dutch-er (inspired by this movie on Netfl*x)

 Our "monster" truck...and Dan sportin' his best monster truck driver get-up...ha! A little background on Camille's costume:  for several months now, she calls every dog, well everything on for legs for that matter, a "good girl".  I guess because we're often calling Charly a "good girl".  :)  She even has a favorite sleeping buddy she's named the same.  We went to the outlet mall with Nana and spotted this costume on clearance...she LOVED it!  She wore it around the house and endured it's fuzziness in the muggy weather last night.  I wish I had taken a pic when I came back from the bathroom to find her "mmmmm-ing" with a big tootsie pop in her mouth.  That little puppy was sticky head to toe.  Her first "treat"... see what happens when Daddy's in charge??  ;)

Our "good girl" :)

 I wasn't able to get a good pic of Graham in his Clone Trooper costume because he was busy running around with his buddies.  He enjoyed every minute of the bounce house, obstacle course, ice cream, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, oh and he didn't miss a trunk either!  :)  For the last few years, the kids chose 10 pieces of candy each and traded the rest for a little something special.  Today, we went through this little ritual and Graham says "Mom, you better make this a good trade, because I worked hard for 2 hours to collect this candy!"  Well, alrighty then!  I might have to come up with a new angle next year "sweeten" the deal.

  Reecie was happy to treat the trunk-lookers...she has been looking forward to this job all week!

 Dan's design won the judges choice award....a free {much-needed} carwash!  He drew out a plan and   used a hot knife tool + foam insulation covered in spray paint to create this silly monster. 

 Mater meets Sesame Street monster??

Daddy and his girls

The annual trunk or treat cousin picture.

 This was the best out of about 10 snaps! ha ha! I love how big cousin Colton is snapping at Camille to get her to look at the camera :)  

We're already thinking about how we want to trick our trunk for next year!

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT