It was an absolutely glorious fall day! 

My Mom is here for the week and we were planning on heading to the zoo--but I was feeling 90% agoraphobic today and so we just went to the park--which was really, just as lovely. It was empty and the kids had a great time playing. Then we headed to the store to pick up some crafting supplies. I brought my camera along but failed to take any pictures--so here are some more from our Pumpkin Extravaganza. 

You're welcome. =)

This morning I made some de-li-cious homemade applesauce with the apples we picked on Saturday! Amelie asked me to make pumpkin pie with the pumpkins we picked but I think that's beyond the realm of my ability. I like my pumpkin-pie-filling to come in a can. HA! =)

Here are some pictures of the kiddos picking their pumpkins! The only rule? You can only pick a pumpkin that you are strong enough to carry!

When Ezra first saw the pumpkins on the ground he kept repeating---OOooooooo! Ooooooo! =)

I meant to post about the fantastic day we had yesterday but I was soooo tired I ended up going to bed before 9! =) 

We went on our annual pumpkin/apple picking, hay-riding, petting-zooing, playground-playing, ice-cream-eating day with Granny, Pop, Aunt Micayla and the cousins! 

It was a PERFECT fall-y day and we had a wonderful time! Thank you so much Granny and Pop! 

What an awesome day!

 Cider-Donuts!!

 *Us* =)

 Pop and Xander!

 Getting ready for the corn maze!

 Pretty Sunflower lined Pumpkin Field!

I feel like I spent so much of the last few years in *survival* mode--always pregnant or breastfeeding or toting an infant or 2 young children or more....you get the picture.

I feel like I'm just starting to come out of it--my house is usually clean, I'm usually showered, I'm actually exercising (ran 2 miles today thankyouverymuch!) and I almost never feel crazy. =) HA!

So....I've decided to structure our days a little more--we've always had a regular schedule but it's time to mix it up! Maeve has started working on preschool-y things! I wasn't sure at first--but she's so eager to learn and it's very fun to work with her! 

Today we started a number book--counting, gluing shapes, and learning to write her numbers. We also worked on spelling her name and some cutting! It was a little scary at first but she quickly developed more confidence with the scissors and with writing--I have underestimated the little blond one! =)

Here she is:

 Ezra worked on emptying & filling a box of crayons/markers (which is why he is shirtless in the picture below =). And then they moved onto color sorting with Connect 4!

I couldn't believe how quickly Ezra picked up on just getting the yellow checker-things (technical term =) and sorting them into his box before placing them in the game!

And then we took a nice long walk in the stroller and they serenade me with *Firework*....I have GOT to teach those kids a new song!!! 

Also, I pinned about 12,000 things on Pintrest because I can't stop myself. Love, love, LOVE!!! 

Check it out!

Happy Thursday!

In three weeks she will be 4.

How can this be?!

I asked her, "Maeve, won't you be my baby girl forever?"

And she replied, "No I'd rather be a big girl who does fun stuff every day but I will always love you."

I can't imagine life without my Maeve!

She is so delightful!

The years I waited for her were painful and full of loss--but the Lord certainly knew what He was doing when He placed her in our lives.

It's so amazing to think about the children He's given us--all for a reason, all part of His plan, unique in purpose, personality and in the joy they add to our family.

So. Thankful.

Window(s) Shopping: Christmas !!! Dresses

Today my Maeve had a grand-girl day so Ezra and I were on our own! While Maeve was busy playing with Granny and shopping for a new book--Ezra got to go on errands! Ha! 
What he doesn't know won't hurt him! =)

He was up SUPER early again today and was SUPER grumpy so he went down for a SUPER early nap.

SU.PER. 

Oh well--even if he's cranky he's still handsome! 

In other news, there is no other news. It's raining and I got a huge stack of books out from the library (I went for one and came out with ten--how does that happen?!) so my plan is to sit and read them until it stops raining. 

I saw online that fall-y weather is coming and I can't wait! We're going pumpkin picking this weekend! =)

Happy Wednesday!

today i spent a lot of time being thankful

for my friends, family & church

today i spent a lot of time praying
for my friends, family & church


a passage that came to mind:

Psalm 103

 ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;

         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 
         
 ⁶ The LORD executes righteousness
         And justice for all who are oppressed.
 ⁷ He made known His ways to Moses,
         His acts to the children of Israel.
 ⁸ The LORD is merciful and gracious,
         Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
 ⁹ He will not always strive with us,
         Nor will He keep His anger forever.
 ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
         Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 
         
 ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
         So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
 ¹² As far as the east is from the west,
         So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
 ¹³ As a father pities his children,
         So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
 ¹⁴ For He knows our frame;
         He remembers that we are dust. 
         
 ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
         As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
 ¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
         And its place remembers it no more.^[a]
 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
         On those who fear Him, 
         And His righteousness to children’s children,
 ¹⁸ To such as keep His covenant,
         And to those who remember His commandments to do them. 
         
 ¹⁹ The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
         And His kingdom rules over all. 
         
 ²⁰ Bless the LORD, you His angels,
         Who excel in strength, who do His word, 
         Heeding the voice of His word.
 ²¹ Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
         You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
 ²² Bless the LORD, all His works,
         In all places of His dominion. 
         
         Bless the LORD, O my soul!

We were planning on heading to the shore today as a family for one last day of rides & games but the threat of rain kept us from going (and the worry that if it did rain the rides would close and we'd have very sad children, very far from home =). 

So, Granny and Pop treated us and the cousins to the next best thing--Chuck E Cheese!

The kids had a blast--and I went across the street to shop at Old Navy--which was fun for me! =)

Ezra loved playing driving games with Daddy!

(Matching *Awesome* shirt with Daddy!)

Granny, Pop, Aunt Micayla and the littles.

A serious pose from Ryleigh-girl!

My beautiful nephew!

Two handed skee-ball!

Amelie concentrating!

Thanks for a great day Granny and Pop!

Maeve had a little friend over today and she was so happy!

They were so happy and giggly all day--they played together perfectly and were so sweet!

Some pictures of the little princesses:

Seriously, aren't they the cutest!?

And the little prince who just had to dress up to fit in! =)

Tuesday Pictures

It was a dreary day-it rained lightly on and off all day and we laid low. I decided to tackle the toys in the playroom because we have a house-full of fall/winter birthdays and I wanted to weed out before we bring in new toys. =) 

It was a HUGE job but I got rid of 2 garbage bags full (1 to donate, 1 to trash) and everything is neatly organized--for a few minutes anyways!

The kiddos were very good while I worked--they both played house--

Maeve played girl style--with princesses:

Ezra played boy style--with trains:

Maevey has been playing in her room during naptime instead of sleeping--which is fine because she's my low-maintenance child. =) Sometimes, she really is tired though! Today she was watching and playing with Gumby and fell asleep on the couch. So cute!

Ezra took a normal nap and was only marginally grumpy today--yay!

That's it! Off to list a few odds and ends on ebay and pack some stuff up to ship! Happy Tuesday!

It was a long and weird and wonderful and hard and fun day.
Ezra has been off.
off schedule
off sleep patterns
off temper
off off off
ick.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's two year old molars coming through and not a case of the super early tiresome twos (I'd say terrible but everybody knows 2s are annoying-ish but 3s are the real horror story).
He was up at 5.
Gah.
And woke up the girls.
Double Gah.
And was pretty grumpy so I tried for a morning nap and it didn't take.
So we went on a long walk to the park and played and then to the lake to feed the fishes and the ducks--and that went well. Then a bit of fun playing/interspersed with screaming until THE WORLD's SHOREST NAP for Ezra and a non-existent nap for Maeve.
Yes. These details are mundane but WOW. 
They felt important and MAJOR today.
So now...it's bedtime and everyone is pretty melty. =) Hopefully tomorrow brings a later wake-up call and a happier Ezra-boy! Honestly though, even on a difficult day there isn't anywhere I'd rather be than with my babies. I'm so thankful for our days together--it's really pretty wonderful, even when it's kind of terrible. =)