sisters

Sisters are the perfect
BEST
friend!

Reflections

I am not quite sure what it is about my children and their want and desire to participate in extra curricular activities.  I was never like that.  I did what I had to do and did it well, but never really had the desire to do the extra things.  But they do!  Both Sophie and Collin entered the Reflections contest at their school this year.  The theme was "Diversity means ..."  Sophie entered in the visual arts category and Collin entered in photography.  Both did a great job.  Collin was the lucky winner this year!

He took first place in his division with this photo ...

Pretty good, right?!?!
He titled it Cars In a Row
His artist statement talked about how some cars are yellow and some are red.  Some drive in the dirt and some drive in the street.  Some cars go really fast and some not so fast.  Some have 4 doors and some have only 2.

And of course, he was thrilled to add another trophy to his collection!

Congrats on the big win buddy!!

embrace the camera: nov. 17th

This photo shoot was so. much. fun!  It was the perfect way to bring out Sophie's personality.  I love how each one of them turned out!  Sophie has been such a helper to me lately.  I can't believe just how grown up she is getting.  She is becoming quite the responsible little lady. {setting the table without being asked, helping out the little ones whenever i can't, and always lightening up the mood in our house with a little humor}  I can always count on her.  We are so blessed to have her in our family and I can't get enough of this girl!

Love you sis!

linking up here

today

Ruby was here ...

and here ...

All the kids were here ...

Collin was here ...

Sophie was here ...

and Lyla was here ...

Most nights, after the kids are snuggled in bed, I sit down on the couch and let out a sigh of exhaustion.  I look around my messy disastrous house and think about the day.  I am so busy.  Busy cleaning, feeding the baby, doing the dishes, running kids here and there, doing the laundry, cooking dinner, changing diapers, doing homework, giving baths ... the list could go on and on.  Yet through it all I look around me and think just how lucky I am.  Lucky that I can sit here in my messy disastrous house.  Lucky that I have 4 of the cutest, craziest, busiest kids ever.  Being a mom is hard work.  Four kids have been particularly challenging to me.  I have needed a lot of help, but I wouldn't change any of it.  I love these 4 little ones so so SO much!

And I love days like today.  Days were the house looks like a tornado came through.  Days where the TV is off and my kids are off playing away together.  So although I wish my house were cleaner.  I love the mess.  I love the kids that make it and I love the happiness and the chatter that come with it!

the simple things

{this weeks simple thing}

Lyla sitting in her bumbo!  It is so fun seeing her sitting up so big with her little legs and feet poking out!  Makes me smile every. single. time.

linking up here

Stats At Two Months

Here is Lyla at her 2 month doctor visit.  And uummm .... does she not look SO big in that picture.  Where did my little newborn go?  She is just as delicious though, so I'll take her!

Lyla's Two Month Stats:

Weight: 12 pounds 1 ounce

{75th Percentile}

Height: 24.8 inches

{95th Percentile}

Head: 15 1/2 inches

{50th Percentile}

Her doctor said she is doing great, although she does have torticolis which is a condition in which her head is tilted to one side and turned toward the opposite side. {You can see it in the above picture} It is caused by having tight muscles on one side of the neck and weak muscles on the other side of the neck.  Ruby had this too. So we are starting physical therapy and doing stretches at home along with some additional dreaded tummy time.  She has a mild flat spot on her head, but hopefully with the therapy her head will correct itself and she won't have to wear a helmet.

And just for fun, here are some cute pictures of Lyla from my phone.  Love this girl!    

Lyla, Month II

To My Lyla:

Wow!  You are two months already.  It seems like I was just writing your one month letter to you!  Time is passing by so quickly.  Too quickly at times.  Already I look back at pictures of you and you seem so big compared to the size you once were.  You are no longer my tiny newborn!

You are growing and changing everyday.  You started smiling this month {at 6 weeks} and I can't get enough of it.  My heart leaps each and every time I can get one out of you ... which can be a challenge at times!  You have also let out the beginnings of a laugh and I can't wait for you to give me a full belly laugh one day soon.  It seems that you are discovering your voice more each day.  I will often hear you let out a little sigh or quiet baby coos.

Also this month you have become quite the drooler.  I often place you up over my shoulder and in a matter of minutes I have a giant wet spot.  Your doctor said you are an early drooler and I suspect that you may be a wet baby in the near future from all that drool that rolls down your chin!

You are a hot item around this house.  We all can't seem to get enough of you.  Your sisters and brother ask constantly to hold you and your sister, Ruby, is always bringing you toys, giving you hugs and generally smothering you with affection.

My favorite time of the day with you is your late night feeding.  You eat so well and calmly {which is not always the case ... eating is not your strong suite these days} and I love to cuddle you and listen to your gulping noises as you chug down your milk.  Afterwards I love to hold you on my shoulder, listen to you breathe, and smell your sweet formula breath.  I find myself kissing your chubby little cheeks over and over again until I force myself to lay you back down in your crib for the night.  Oh, how I never want to forget those precious moments we get to share together right now.

We love you baby girl!  Happy two months!
Love,
Your Momma

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween this year!  

Some of our highlights include:

neighborhood halloween parade

being dressed in our costumes ALL day long

trick or treating at grandma's and grandpa's house

yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

dinner with friends

trick or treating the night away

watching our kids sit and rest on random door steps

eating candy

and

experiencing the joy of the holiday with the cutest Barbie, Wolverine, Minnie Mouse, and frog one has ever seen!

Carving Pumpkins

Pumpkin

pumpkin

round and fat

turn into a

Jack-O-Lantern

just like that!

The kids were really into carving their pumpkins this year.  They loved choosing their template online, cleaning out the pumpkin guts, and helping us carve them ... but most of all they loved seeing them all lit up on our front porch!

Ruby decided that she wanted to paint her pumpkin instead of carve it ... so she painted hers for about 2 minutes and then she decided she was tired and marched herself up to her bed to take a long winters nap!

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we plant pumpkins in our garden ... but we still have to take a trip to the pumpkin patch! The kids love it. I think it is their favorite Halloween tradition ... one we all enjoy! This year our visit to the patch was cold but we managed to stay warm and have a lot of fun!

Because it was cold ... and we went pretty early, there was hardly anyone there. It was so nice. No waiting in lines and it was just us and a few other people on the tractor ride out to the patch.


The kids each picked their own pumpkin ...

Ruby wanted this green one!






Isn't he handsome?

After getting our pumpkins, the kids ran around ... they went down slides, played in the corn box, rode the farm animal train, swung on tire swings, and visited the animals.





Ruby kept talking to this cow like he understood every word she said.

"Say cheese cow! My mommy taking your picture!"

"Cow, why you eating that pumpkin?"

"Cow when you finish that pumpkin, you eat that acorn {corn cob}. Okay cow!"

The other kids enjoyed feeding the goats and llamas their popcorn!

What a fun evening!