31 Years!

Today is Matt's 31st birthday!  I really still have a hard time believing that we are now in our thirties, but it's here for sure now.  I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband a very happy birthday.  I have had so much fun being married to you these last 8 years.  You are an amazing husband and an awesome father.  I love watching you with kids, and I am so proud of all the things you've accomplished.  You are a hard worker and a great man.  God has truly blessed me and this family. You make me so happy.  Happy birthday babe!  You're old!

Pig Tails

Growing up, I wore a lot of pig tails in my hair.  I always thought it would be fun someday to put pig tails in a my little girls hair.  Well, its not so fun putting them in, and it may look a little silly yet, but I still think its adorable.  These are her first pig tails, besides the pony tail I sometimes put on the top of her head.  Not sure that Molly is too thrilled with it...hence the serious look.  But then again, Molly is pretty serious most of the time.

20 Weeks

Yesterday I hit the halfway point.  I am now 20 weeks pregnant!  Only 20 more to go...ugh.  For some reason, things seem to moving very slowly for me.  I feel like I have been pregnant forever.  Perhaps its because I was pregnant with Molly not too long ago...and then nursing for nine and a half months.  So, it is nice to hit some sort of milestone, but March 25th still seems like a long ways away.  Don't get me wrong, I can use the extra time to prepare for a third child, but 20 weeks is still a long time.  Hopefully the holidays will fly by as usual, and then I just have to get through the three worst months of the year...January, February and March.  Here's a pic of what the belly looks like.  Some days I feel very big, others, not so much.  Black always seems to help though.  

Shootin' Hoops

Grant started YMCA basketball last Saturday...just barely.  I missed the deadline and was on a waiting list, but got Grant on a team at the last minute.  Oops.  I still have to work my timing out for these things.  He's playing with some kids that he also played soccer with, so that is nice for him.  I wasn't sure how things would go for basketball, considering we haven't put much emphasis on it around here.  It's mostly soccer and golf, but thought we'd try it out.  I was impressed how quickly he learned to dribble better and he even made a couple of shots.  It's a stop and go game at this age.  Ever time possession of the ball changes, the teams are supposed to stop to let the other team set up on defense.  It's definitely a learning process.  Although, soccer was definitely a higher scoring game at this point. 

I believe this one went in...he's in the blue shorts

 

Fall Time

It has been a beautiful Autumn thus far, and we have had awesome weather.  I love the bright colors and the leaves falling.  I wouldn't mind a little cooler weather, but I'm not complaining. It's nice to be outside before the cruel winter comes, and I'm certainly enjoying the sunshine on my face.  The kids love to be outside!

Trick or Treat

Halloween has come and gone, and the kids had a great time this year.  It was probably the best weather I can remember for Halloween night, and we were so thankful for that.  Grant has been talking about being a cowboy for the last month or so, and little Molly made a precious butterfly (thanks for the costume Peter and Rach).  We brought home way too much candy and only had to deal with Grant falling in his cowboy boots (rain boots) twice as he dumped all his candy out of his bucket.  Molly seemed to get the hang of it quickly as she waddled up and held her bucket out. I think Grant told every person we visited that he couldn't eat that chocolate, but his mom sure would!  Darn chocolate!

Visiting with neighbors Theo and Cole

We stopped by to see our new friends and neighbors, the deKornes.  Say hello to Heidi and new baby Kaiya!

Ava and Molly...about 3 months apart and destined to be best friends (sorry I stole this pic from your blog Heidi...super cute!)

Attempt at a group pic...Stella bumble bee, Sofia Princess (Cinderella I think), Molly the butterfly, and Grant Cowboy

Grant and Fia...they stood there for like 2 minutes straight saying 'Trick or Treat' over and over again while we tried to get pictures of all of them.  

And it begins...

3 to 2

Today we had our ultrasound...and found out that we are going to be having another GIRL!!  That makes three girls to two boys in this family (as Grant explains it).  This was the first time that we have found out what we were having.  Since we have a boy and a girl already, we thought we would try it out this time.  We figured it might help Grant prepare too, considering he really wanted a brother.  When the ultrasound tech announced she thinks its a girl, Grant frowned and put on his pouty face.  He quickly came out of it though and seems to be excited to know what the baby is, even if it is another girl.  I still can't believe it's a girl, and won't be surprised if it really comes out a boy.  The tech said she was 85% sure, why 85% I don't know, but that's not a for sure thing to me.  So we'll see for sure when March comes around, but it's looking like Molly is going to have a sister.  The baby seems to be healthy and very active.  She is weighing it at 7 ounces as of now and has a lot of growing to do.  Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy!

The girl shot...apparently those three little dots by the arrow mean girl.  The right hand side of the picture is her tushy.

Face shot...kind of creepy

My fav...profile shot

Pumpkin Time

Every year, we tell ourselves that we're going to find a nice pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins on a warm fall day.  Well...that's not usually how it goes.  About a mile from our house, there is a house that sells pumpkins on their lawn.  And today, it was cold and rainy, but we figured we'd better get on top of this pumpkin carving thing, before it was too late. Grant was less than thrilled with the "slimy-ness" of the pumpkin guts, but enjoyed watching Daddy do the hard work.  

Fall Carnival

Fall Carnival time!  This year, I was involved with helping out with planning the Fall Festival and Carnival at Grant's school, so it was fun to see the kids have a great time.  Grant especially enjoyed the blow-up obstacle course, the pig race, and getting his face painted.

Obstacle Course

Scarecrow Building

Grant's Fav

Lovin' it

Molly Girl with Dada

Boo-ed!

We got Boo-ed this year...meaning someone left us a bag of Halloween treats on our doorstep, rang the doorbell, and ran.  We still don't know who was the culprit, but thanks if you're reading this!  We received a Thomas and Friends video, a cookie decoration kit, sweet treats, and more! As most of you know, I am not a cook or a baker, but when it comes to things in a box, I usually do okay.  Check out the yummy treats that Grant and I made one rainy afternoon!

So...not the prettiest sugar cookies

Proud Grant

 

Mmmm...enjoying the finished product

Just "Cuz"

We are very blessed to have a lot of family in town, and Grant loves to play with his cousins!  Ryan is my sister's youngest and is a year younger than him...you wouldn't know it though, considering he is taller than Grant.  Everyone once in a while, Grant will catch up to Ry Buddy, as Grant calls him, but then Ryan grows like a weed and shoots right past him again.  The other day they decided to dress up as superheros.  The funny party was, Grant was wearing a costume that is a size 2T and Ryan was wearing a size 7 I believe.  Height is not really our friend in this family!  I'm sure Ryan will be well over 6 feet tall, and Grant...well, not so much.

Sofia, or Fia as we call her, is my brother's oldest and is a year and a half younger than Grant.  They usually play pretty well together, but sometimes I have to remind Grant that Sofia is a girl and doesn't want to play rough and tackle, like he plays with Ry buddy.  But they always seem to have fun together.

Ryan and Grant

Grant and Fia

Haha!  Too bright mom!

Pumpkin Spice and Apple Cider

I really love this time of year.  There is just a slight chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and it's time for pumpkin spice donuts and apple cider at Robinette's!  We love this yearly tradition and we always thoroughly enjoy it...bite by bite.  Molly especially enjoyed her first tastes of pumpkin spice donuts.   Covered in cinnamon and sugar, we hopped on the hayride too.  Molly loves animals...although she quacks at every animal she sees, since she only knows what a duck says.  They both loved petting the horses.  Maybe we'll make it twice this year.  Oh how I love pumpkin spice donuts and apple cider!

Molly and the pumpkins

 

Yummy donuts and cider!

Waiting for the hayride

I'm so excited daddy!

Hope Homecoming

After a lot of planning and emailing, 9 of us made it back for Homecoming this year.  Way to go girls!  I'm proud of us.  We had a great dinner at the Curragh, made a stop at Sammy's for old time's sake, of course had to stop by the Delphi cottage, moved on to the Brewery (where I very much wished I could have had an Ichabod), and ended at the Dirty Bird...Parrots...of course.  It was so fun catching up with my college girls, and I miss you all.  I still cannot believe that it has been eight years since we graduated.  Next year...same time...same place!

Parrots!

Jen, Jamie, KJ, Lesley, and Carrie (one side of the table at dinner)

Rebekah, Heather, Tenille, and LP (the other side)

 Lesley, Carrie and Jen

Yes, we crammed 9 girls into the Mini!  

Those of us that made it to the brunch

Lesley and Carrie

Meijer Gardens Fall 08

We recently made a trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens, one of our favorite places to go.  It was a warm fall day and the pumpkins and mums were out in full bloom.  There were HUGE pumpkins everywhere.  It really was beautiful.  We had a great time playing in the pumpkin patch, splashing in the water, walking on the trails, and being just plain silly. Such a fun place to visit!