Four Jingle Bells

 It is the year of birthday parties!!  Spencer wanted a pirate party. Easy enough!  We made this icky looking pin the eyepatch on the pirate and I was pretty excited with how it turned out.    Then we did a treasure hunt and the clues were written to do exercises at each spot.  Nothing like exercising to get a bunch of kids a little more tired!  It was a cold day for September but the kids were champs!  Spencer doing sit ups.  Finding the treasure chest full of goody bags.  Popping cannon ball balloons.  This was the biggest hit of the party!  A bunch of five year olds don't require much.  They were even happy just to play around.  Treasure hunt cake  Spencer's super awesome smile. Opening presents and then my camera died.  He loved opening them and was so polite to his friends.  He felt so special on his big day. Here's to year five, Spencer! xo

 Spencer is a joy. I love him. He is smart, thoughtful, strong, happy and sensitive.  His smile is the best.  He loves Jesus and learning.  He will help people willingly. He is my best listener!  He is always up to read books or color or run around outside.  His favorite color is green!  He loves music and plays air guitar and air trumpet all the time. I am so happy he is part of our family.  He is a great blessing.  He helped make his pirate cupcakes for preschool.  His teachers gave him this super awesome birthday crown.  I love celebrating my kid's birthdays!  They are so happy (most of the time!)  He was so happy to hand out the cupcakes to his friends.  Brooke excited to be part of it all.  He chose green pancakes for breakfast.  He wanted to watch Kung Fu Panda with popcorn, okay!  We played at our friend's house and had cheetos, his choice for birthday lunch!  M...

 We had a bonfire/smores hang out at our house in Sept.  This was the only picture I got that wasn't blurry. Kids are so busy!  Was a really fun time.  The fire pit is in a neat grove of trees and the kids overdosed on marshmallows. Can't beat that!  This tree out front was such a joy to watch during the Fall. It slowly changed to bright pink.  Amazing!  me and baby boy  still happy after 4 kids! Was driving somewhere and this sunset was just too gorgeous!  

 We were driving around one day and the kids were in a pretty decent mood and so was I, so I bravely took them down to the dock by the river.  It lasted about ten minutes until I started getting stressed out!  But it was worth it.  They were good listeners and stayed by me, so I didn't have to jump into the river after them.  The river is so soothing.  It just makes you want to sit and look.  William was good and asleep, so that really helped with the handful!  I think the rocking of the dock kept him asleep!  We saw a pretty big barge that day.  The kids were thrilled. This is my favorite little spot.  Just makes me think of floating down the river.

 William was about 6 moths in these pictures.  Such a cutie! He has a little Harrison Ford half smile. I love it! Brooke has always called him "Bwilliam", so it has stuck.    Loves his hugs and kisses!  He and dad are good pals.  The kids are really loving life with him.  Babies are the best!  I can't imagine life without a baby, until I don't have a baby and realize all I can do! But I would never trade the sloppy kisses, spit up, poo/pee for anything!  A smile from William is totally worth it.

 We went to an amazing apple orchard.  As in 38 varieties of apples.  The kids liked the chickens and reminded them of Papa's chickens.  We got conned into buying popcorn balls at $2 each.  Worth the pain, they ate every bite!  We were pulled on a John Deere tractor (Spencer was in heaven!) to the apple section we chose. When I see something gorgeous as this, I just can't not believe that Jesus created this for us!  The kids were all happy to share the popcorn balls.  Spencer rocks.  William on a ride in the tractor.  Can't you just feel his excitement!  Saw this pretty area while on the tractor ride.  I just laid back with the kids on the tractor bed and looked up at the sky.  Probably the most relaxed I had been in a long time! I was sad when it was over.  Apples galore! The greatest part is you can eat as many apples as you want, for free! And we did.  I had never tasted such amaz...