halloween 2011

Oh man, I sure like my kids!

Are they not the cutest pirate, lady bug, and batman?

I know I'm biased, but seriously. So cute.

All admiring the lady bug

Don't you just want to squeeze her?!

She makes me smile

Lady bug and Cow. Baby Cousins.

Lily, Isaiah, Elias, and Eden

And yes, they ALL have pink pumpkins.

His mask was like this all night!

Trick or Treat!

The littles chilling in the stroller

Isaiah and Lily holding hands. Too precious.

on our way

Idaho! 

Ready or not, here we come!

6 months

My baby is half a year old! Time is seriously flying by. Such an overused statement, but really, how did she turn 6 months old already?!

My little 18 pounder!

I CANNOT get enough of her cute, chubby legs!

Little Rae Rae, here's your latest:
~ You've mastered rolling from your tummy to back and you are so proud of yourself (your brothers are so proud too - every time you roll over they clap and give you hugs!)
~ You've still only eaten pears. I haven't had time to make anything else, so pears is your daily cuisine
~ You love peek-a-boo. The boys play with you all the time and you think they are the funniest little boys in the world.
~ You are turning into quite the mama's girl. If I'm in the room, you whimper just a bit until I smile and talk to you. Then you are all smiles. You just like to make sure I know you're there.
~ You are still so content, so easy going, and such a good sleeper. You make my world so much brighter with your adorable smile and dimples.

We've had such a busy month, and I did not get my camera out very much. I wish I'd had the time to take more pictures, but life is just a wee pit crazy lately. Here are a few shots from the past month.

Grandma made her a hat! Rae is quite the hat model.

Still obsessed with her little toes

Loving the pears

Sometimes she is so good that we forget about her...

then she falls asleep like this

She's loving the jumparoo!

This just cracked me up - Rae got her hands on one of the boys' firemen.

I think it looks so funny!

And finally, her 6 month photo shoot.

How many months, Mom? Trying to get this figured out....

Not the best background, but hey, gotta get creative with natural light in October!

preschool and pumpkins

Bryan took the day off so we could get ourselves together with this whole move thing. We started the day at Fir Point Farms in Aurora with Isaiah's school for some pumpkin patch fun. I've been dealing with this silly head cold, but thought I was feeling better....until...I hung out...with a billion...preschoolers.

I AM EXHAUSTED.

How do preschool teachers do it? All of the parents were there. The kids were just everywhere. Bouncing from here to there and trying to keep track of my two boys was so hard! They behaved so well, but they were just all over the place. I have a new appreciation for preschool teachers. They must go home at lunch time and take a nap with their kids. I have no idea how they have the energy for more than 2!

Anyway, amidst the chaos, I got a few good shots. I'm thinking we need to head back to our favorite pumpkin patch next week to get some more photos. It will be a little easier with less children at my ankles! Plus, I didn't even get a picture of Rae sitting on a pumpkin! What was I thinking? Definitely going back.

Stafford Academy Preschool

Such goofs

Precious Rae

King of the hay

Exhausted after a fun time at the pumpkin patch

a good bye

I started teaching 2nd & 3rd grade kiddos at church last year. I loved it. Not kidding, these kids made me smile all week. Their sweet faces, their crazy stories, their faith. Loved it all. Last Sunday was my last Sunday, and they made me these great posters.

From the boys

From the girls

Not going to lie. I will truly miss our church. We have only been there 2 years, but I've never felt so at home in a church since being a "grownup". We were going to lead a life group with dear friends of ours. Our pastor always had something relevant for me to chew on all week long. The children's program was fantastic. The church was more focused on being involved in the community and bringing other's to Christ than how comfortable the regular attendees were.

I will miss Grace Chapel. My prayer is that Bryan and I can find another church that is also community minded and children minded. Idaho is still such a surreal thought. We will be there soon, and soon we will be on the church hunt. I pray for strength to find the right place for us. I really do not like church hoping - this brings a song back to me. Church Hop by Ray Boltz. Anyone? I know you know it, Jeni. After all, we did wear coordinating outfits and make up dances to this song.

Oh, Idaho. I'm afraid and excited all at once!!!

she eats

Raelynn had her first bites on Monday. I fed her pears, and she did pretty good for her first time eating. She's still not sure what she thinks of eating, but she kept opening her mouth. She just kind of stared me down as I fed her. Cute little girl. I really cannot get enough of her. And really, is that bib not the cutest thing ever?

yikes

Woke up late. Had 30 minutes to get all three kids fed, dressed, and out the door. 

Traffic was AWFUL, so opted to not take Isaiah to preschool due to the fact if we stayed sitting on the freeway, he'd be over 40 minutes late at the rate we were moving (or not moving - sitting on the freeway). 

Got Elias to tumbling class one minute before it started.

Elias didn't want to tumble. GRRR was what I wanted to do. Instead I knelt down beside him and calmly tried to coax him into class. The boy wouldn't budge. 

So Teacher Wendy kindly said that "big brother" could come into class too. 

Thank goodness for Teacher Wendy because I might have screamed if she hadn't rescued me. Not at Elias, but I was losing my calm, cool collectedness very fast after our morning. 

It's funny because it's now 11am. I still haven't had a shower, my house is a disaster, but all is quiet and calm. The boys are playing quietly in separate rooms. Raelynn in napping. No one is fighting, no one is crying. This morning seemed so difficult, but it's already over and all is well. 

I just need to breathe more and stop sweating the small stuff. It's preschool for goodness sakes. Isaiah loves it, but it was by no means the end of the world because he didn't make it. I get too worried about what other people think of me. 

I want to look put together and in complete control, but that is such a joke. I'm a zoo. A happy, chaotic zoo, and I just need to learn to laugh at our ridiculous mornings. 

Really, I have a 4 year old, a 3 year old, and a 5 month old. My husband is working on a job site an hour and a half away from home. I have less than 3 weeks to wrap up our life here in Oregon. My life is chaotic and I need to just laugh and go along for the ride. 

Thank you, Jesus, for this crazy life you've blessed me with! 

first day

It's my first official day as a real stay at home mom. No more working.

My morning was met with smiling faces and about 10 loads of laundry.

Welcome to life at home! 

I can do my laundry without slacking on work. I can play on my blog while the boys sleep without feeling guilty. I can even sit and stare at a wall without thinking of my zillion things to do for work.

Oh happy day. 

     It's not that simple of course. God is funny that way.

My hubs informed me this week that we'll be packing our lives and moving to Idaho. 

IN. THREE. WEEKS.

I have chosen today to do my massive mounds of laundry, email/call/text everyone in Oregon to let them know they need to hang out with me soon, and worry about packing up and moving details later.

Today is my first day home from work. 

My last October 7th in Oregon. 

It's crazy times. Crazy times indeed. 

they bring me joy

These pictures aren't going to win a photography award, but I love them. I came home from work to find the boys dressed in their costumes and playing outside. I was so happy to get home from work and grab my camera to capture this. They make me smile.

tumbling

Elias started tumbling class this week.

He thinks he is excited here.

 a little concerned....

you want me to do what?

Okay, I'll give it a try...

 Now we're talking! I can climb a wall!

 I get to pretend to be a donkey and kick?!

 And play with a hula hoop? I'm in.