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 : )