Backyard

 Minnie Mouse in the Back Yard..."collecting sticks"

Love the green that the rain brings!

 

Josiah helping his sister back down the hill, he takes such good care of her!

Quote of the Day

Things you hear from the mouths of your children that you will probably never hear from an adult...

   "Mommy, I'm going to put on my fairy wings before I put on my pants."  

Ok Kaila. Sounds like a plan. Glad pants were involved.

Things you hear from the mouths of your children that you will probably never stop hearing, even as adults...

The pre-school teacher calls Josiah over, and he reluctantly stops running around with his buddies to come over. She explains that Kaila is sad, crying and wants to hold his hand. Josiah looks sadly at Kaila, very concerned and hurting for his sister...but he also wants to play. In a torn voice he says..

Josiah: "I want to hold her hand, but I want to run, and be free..."

So true son, so true.

thanksgiving "I'm on a Boat"

Ryan and I got a small taste of what it's like to live the "high life" for about 5 hours, but really, it was just really funny playing out the following conversation over and over with people; 

Them: "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

Us: "oh, you know, we're just having Thanksgiving on a Yacht. You? Porterville..hmmm, Sounds nice. Have fun..."

My Granny and her husband Bob usually host around 25 to 30 people at their home. Granny cooks for everyone (think, four turkeys...). This year, being "too old to do that" they decided to take everyone out on a yacht for Thanksgiving with a dinner catered by a professional chef.  Ryan and I debated ....for about zero seconds, and decided to go. Actually, I think a few extra people even jumped in on the affair. 

Granny and Bob are some of the most generous people I know.

 I have to say.  I thought I would miss the "homey" Thanksgiving feeling.

I didn't.

It was awesome.

Josiah and Tata sideling up to the bar for a martenellis ; )

75 degrees, sunset over the ocean, good food, LOTS of family and great wine...

We are one spoiled family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kaila's Birthday Morning

October Colds

Kaila's Birthday morning, pink birthday whipped cream on her pancakes,  morning-after Halloween candy...

Why won't our colds go away? I just don't get it.

Hugs for my love

  

 It was an awesome morning. I surfed in the rain, then went and got coffee...that pretty much sums up one of my most-favorite ways to spend a morning in the whole wide world. Just thinking about it makes me giddy and talk like a kid...It was a beautiful gift my friend Julie gave me today.

 Two things made this day possible, Julie and preschool. So, thank you Grandma Lois and Granny Carolyn who helped pay for the kids' pre-school, and thank you to Julie for being genuinely happy to watch my kiddos while I surf. Julie has given me this gift so many times since I have had kids. It means so much to me. (She surfs too, so it is extra-amazing that she is happy to just sit and watch and never makes me feel bad or rushed!) It is so easy to leave the kids with people who really want to help. It assures me that I am not burdening them, but that we are both enjoying our time.

I want to remember to offer to help to younger moms when I'm out of this season.  Just an hour or two goes such a long way! I also want to be "that" person for other people, right now, in whatever capacity I can. I want to be the person that drops everything to serve someone as soon as the need arises, the person that "shows up," the person that sets a specific date and time to help and makes it happen.  I want to give the love, and be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around me.

Thank you so much to all of those people in my life who have been His hands and feet, coming around to support our family through meals, babysitting, financial help, visiting, cleaning, listening, praying...

If you are reading this blog, thank you so, so, much.

I remember what you have done, and it means so much to me. 

Selfie Skills

 I'd like you to take a moment to appreciate these mad selfie skills. These are selfies taken of me and Donovan, D facing backwards, me facing backwards/forwards, and my arm twisted around backwards to get us both in there.

 

...and here's my super amazing long distance backwards foot-hold selfie...

ok fine. Ryan took over ; )

"the rebellious years"

 

Goth, punk rock, emo...Our little girl's goin' all rebel on us. I came out the other day to Kaila shaving the front of her hair with toddler sizzors.  It's probably all the bad influences at that public, "non-christian" pre-school she's been to twice now. Lots of trouble makers there.

Daddy Date!

Ry took Kaila on a train ride for her birthday...all day and then for the next week she kept talking about her special time with daddy ; )

Happy Halloween!

Spiderman and Butterfly Princess had to earn their sugar this year. We stepped out into a drizzle and sprinted back in a minor down pour. We trick or treated until we were all (minus cozy Donovan who stayed dry, warm and asleep the whole time) respectably dripping wet.

  We never put much effort into Halloween, but it's fun to walk around and say hello to all the neighbors, not to mention that they LOVE getting trick-or-treaters and seeing our super cute kids all dressed up. The only negative was that the kids almost started crying at a 6 inch skeleton doll shaking it's hips, dancing, and singing "superfreak" on the doorstep of one of the houses.

 Post trick or treating warm pjs, sugar highs and veggie tales.

Our third little guy woke up to enjoy the cozy fireplace, the sound of rain on the roof and cozy family time. Such a sweet time in life : )

Family of 5

  We've officially been a family of 5 for two weeks now (not counting pregnancy)...

The little ones are adjusting well and the littlest one is so mellow, so far.  Here's a quick snap shot of a few things I've been doing during my "recovery" weeks.

Family Movie Nights outside.

 Donovan's firsts...first bath at home!

First experience getting man-handled by the siblings. Notice Ryan's concerned face.

Kaila= "I wanna hug you and squeeze you and kiss you.."

Kaila LOVES baby Donovan. She kisses him gently, "pets" him, strokes his head, holds his hand, rushes to him...

On the other hand, she finds out what is not ok, like pulling the bouncy chair all the way down and seeing him bounce up off the seat a few inches and squeezing his little nose. She is heartbroken when she realizes her action made him cry and I am always quick to hug her and help her understand what happened. I keep telling people that she is like Elmira, from Animiacs, the cartoon I used to love growing up.

 

Just trade that red hair for blond hair and put any small, defensless, relatively cute thing in her hands and BAM, you have our sweet, loving Kaila.

Happy Birthday...Happy Birthday... oh wait, Happy Birthday!

Thus it begins, Birthday season in our household.

October 6th- Happy 2 Week Birhday Donovan!

 

 October 9th- Happy 4th Birthday Josiah!

 

 Big thanks to Leslie for offering to host and plan this little get-together. I was in NO shape to be planning a birthday. Love this little 4 year old boy!

 November 1st- Happy 3rd Birthday Kaila!

 

 ...yet another big thank-you to our friend Amy who offered to plan and completely throw this AMAZING girls-only Princess Tea Party for three different birthday girls (all born within a few days of eachother). It was such a fun time with our sweet little girls.

Welcome Donovan Thomas Hayes

Welcome to the world Donovan Thomas Hayes! We love you so so much already!

More fun pictures to come for now,

Donovan was born Monday, 10/6/2014

10:39 am.

Weight: 8lb 6 oz

Length: 20 1/2 inches

I can honestly say that with every child, we just enjoy the process of welcoming them into the world more and more. The stress of worry becomes less and less and we enjoy our time together and the baby more and more in it's place. 

Donovan has been so fun to watch. Ryan and I call each other over to see him look at new things, see sweet little facial expressions, watch how he prefers to be held and snuggled at that moment, watch how he responds differently to mom, dad, and then to new people. 

Donovan is truly a blessing to our family.

Watching Ice Melt

Feels like watching ice melt is the only "action" that is happening around here these days.

I'm sitting around, trying to be busy but not really having the motivation to do much, waiting for Baby #3 to arrive.

The kids are...well, they actualy are watching ice melt.

They were really excited about this. We had a whole explanation of the water-ice-water process and they were asking all day when they could watch ice melt.

I'm such a giving mom, I was more than willing to throw some ice on the concrete for them.

So here we are. All sitting around.

Watching ice melt.

Lost Camera

 I know this may be hard to believe. But as you will recall, we lost our camera. I know what you're thinking, 

"really!? you guys!?...but you're so organized and always have it together." 

I know, I know. Must have been a fluke.

Anyways, here are a few photos to catch up on a the main events that got lost with our old camera.

Cousin Jacob's and Brittany's Wedding...the kids were flower girl and ring bearer.

 Ryan and I had an awesome 4 day get-away in a little airbnb cabin right on the fall river, coffee, breakfast on the river, exploring the mountain towns and rivers...it was awesome! Thank you mom and dad Hayes!

Ryan surprised me with an Ozomatli concert date...although I'm certain baby #3 enjoyed the music and dancing as well since there was quite a bit of both, loud and strong the whole night. Ryan even invited my sister along "so I could have someone to dance with." My husband is awesome.

Ryan went to Hawaii for Dave and Liannes Wedding.

 

Good Chico Times!