Finally!!

We had a nice sunny fall day...finally! Amazing. So hurry up...quick...get outside and do something Fall like before it ends. And so we did. Jumping in the leaves is always a fun fall activity and the kids had a blast.

 
 
 
 

Rub-A-Dub-Dub...

Three Monkeys in the Tub. Just couldn't resist...

Pumpkins!

Pumpkin time again! I really do like fall, except for this fall. It has been a pretty disappointing fall. Although the colors are beautiful, it would be nice to be able to get outside to enjoy them. We have had so much rain and its been quite chilly, except for this week. And I could use a little sunshine too. It's not fair that I'm ghostly white already! We had a great time carving pumpkins though nonetheless. Although my kids are a couple of wimps and refuse to touch the pumpkin insides. Funny thing is, our pumpkins this year had the strangest insides. It was like string cheese...or spaghetti...it came out in strings. So weird, and kind of annoying, but less slimy. :) Here's our yearly family pumpkin shot. Feel free to take a look back at how our family has changed... Click here!


Working hard to make the perfect pumpkin




Charley wishing she could help!


Crazy pumpkin spaghetti

Robinette's 2009

Every year we get so excited for Fall, because that means Robinette's! And Robinette's means donuts and cider! We were trying to hold out for a nice Fall day, but settled for a cold and cloudy one instead. We also threw around the idea of trying a different orchard, Klackles, but decided it was a lot further away and not a nice enough day to make the trip. So we spent our time as usual at Robinette's...waiting in line. The line for donuts and cider on Saturday is simply absurd...but so worth it. I won't even tell you how many pumpkin spice donuts we had (Matt had FIVE!!) Instead of waiting in another long line for the hayride this year, we decided to try out the new corn maze, which I thought was going to be simple. Well, I was WAY wrong. I was almost scared that we'd never get out! My kids were pooped. Poor Molly said about halfway through..."Molly can't walk by myself no more..." So sweet. We finally tag teamed with some other people and found our way out. We were all exhausted, especially with Molly on Matt's shoulders and Charley in the Bjorn. Whew! Had to walk off the donuts anyways. Always a fun tradition though. Hoping for a nicer day next year.

Molly's First Haircut

This is how she stayed pretty much the whole time


Not so sure about this...


Pretty curls

I finally took Molly to get her haircut! After more than two years, it was time. The curls were getting a bit nappy, especially in the morning. It's amazing to me that her hair goes down to the middle of her back when it's wet, because you'd never be able to tell when its dry. Her curls mostly always go right up to the back of her neck. She did awesome sitting in the chair and barely moved an inch the whole time. Of course, they only took off like an inch, but I think it helped. And the curls stayed intact, in fact I think they got tighter.

Home Sweet Home

We have officially been the owners of our new house for one month now! It's crazy how time flies. All of the furniture is in a place, except Grant's bedroom furniture which was supposed to arrive 3 weeks ago...all of the boxes are unpacked, the grass is growing, and we've already got fingerprints on the walls. We are finally starting to feel settled, although it still doesn't quite feel like home yet. I'm hoping that once the holidays come and we start making new memories, it will feel more like home. We are so very blessed to be able to live here, and we give all the glory to God who has provided more than we could ever imagine. Hope you can all come visit us soon!!

Just for fun!

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Charley ~ 6 Months!

Charley is almost seven months now, so I thought I'd try to do an update from her six month appointment. Of course, I can't find the stats sheet from the doctor so I'm gonna wing it. Here's what's up with Miss Charlotte lately:

• She only grew 11 ounces from her previous appointment so I think that makes her about 14 1/2 pounds. This was a bit of a concern to the doctor, as I had mentioned that she is also super spitty and that I didn't have a huge milk supply. So a couple of things have changed. Now after her third and fourth feeding, I give her an extra 4 ounces of formula. She is much happier and I do feel like she has filled out some. Also, we just had her in for an Upper GI test this morning to make sure that nothing was twisted in her anatomy and that is was allowing all food to get to the right place and digest. They said it all looked normal. The doctor had also prescribed her Zantac but I have yet to fill that prescription. She is still mostly in 3-6 month clothing, which is actually working out okay with the clothing I have from Molly.
• She was still above average for height, but definitely slowing down.
• She eats baby cereal and baby food for three meals a day. And now her spit up is destroying any outfit I put her in, so unless we are going somewhere, she is usually dressed in the ugliest or oldest or grossest outfit I have. She is just a big mess by the end of the day (and so am I usually).
• She is army crawling everywhere! So obviously things are getting a little bit busier around here. She will get up on all fours and lunge forward also, but usually can get to where she wants to go by pulling herself along with her arms.
• She can sit very well, although won't for long, as she likes check everything out.
• She is LOUD. I swear she yells all day long. Our new house has wood floors, and I think that she just likes to hear her own voice echo throughout the house. I am constantly asking her to quiet down...which just makes her laugh.
• She laughs and smiles with her eyes. I know I have said it before, but she is so happy. She always brightens my day. She squints her eyes tight up and give the gummiest smiles. It's the best!
• No teeth yet.
• Sleeps two to three naps a day and usually goes to bed at 8ish and up at 7ish. I am pretty sure she wakes up every night between 3 and 5, and just talks to herself in her crib for a half hour or so. I just let her be.
• Her hair is starting to come in and it looks pretty straight to me, so we'll see how that goes.
• She gives high fives...kind of.
• She loves her exersaucer.

She has been such a blessing to this family, and we are so thankful that she is healthy and happy. I have to admit that I am kind of sad that each time we pass through a phase, I realize that it will probably be the last time I'll deal with 'that', whatever 'that' may be. I almost feel like I am slowly being let go from a job. That my duties are not needed as much anymore. I don't know how I feel about that. I love being a mom to Charley, as well as to Grant and Molly. It's the best job in the world!

Just one of those days...

Today was just one of those days...you know the day when you feel like a horrible mother, the day that you wonder how you are going to make it through another day keeping all three of your children alive...well today was a close one...

Charley almost choked to death on graham cracker...good one mom, she is obviously not old enough for that

Molly got a soccer ball in the face...nice shot mom, next time try not to aim at your daughter's beautiful face

Grant got a thumb in the eye...keep your hands to yourself mom, no thumbs up for you

Just one of those days....

Such a cute story though. After I kicked the soccer ball that landed between Molly's eyes and knocked her over on the cement, and after I rushed her inside to calm her and get her "boo boo buddy", and after she had finally settled down...Matt looked at her and said,

"Oh Mols, I hope you don't get a black eye"

and she quickly turned to him and said,

"No Daddy, my eyes blue!"

Aw, love you Mols! Sorry for the bad aim.

Goodbye Mountain Ash!

It's really done! We really sold our house! It actually happened. I wasn't sure we would actually ever get through this, but we did. This whole process actually started last year. We first put the house up for sale in March of 2008. We had it on the market until August...until we found out we were expecting our third child and Matt got a new job. Too much going on there...until February of 2009...you know, not too much going on one month before the baby is due...yeah right. It was a busy time but we survived. Showing the house while pregnant with little children is no easy task. We actually had a showing on the house the morning of Charley's birth. My water broke and the first thing I said was...We have a Showing Today! But it is officially done now. We handed over the keys last night to the new owners. I was of course a little bit sad. This was the house that I brought all three of my babies home to from the hospital. This was the house where we started our family. So many "firsts" happened there. I am sad to leave Mountain Ash but also very excited to start our new adventures in our new home. We are so very blessed and thankful for all God has provided us. We give Him all the glory!

It was a good house.

It's official! Looking like miniature people next to our new home's sold sign. (I know we're small people, but come on...that's a big sign...)

Off to School

Grant started his journey through school today. Off to Kindergarten he went at St. Mark Lutheran School. I'm so excited for him because I think he has a great teacher and a nice class. He is thrilled to be doing something, anything, for a full day. He goes every day all day. As excited as we all were, it was a bit of a fiasco getting there this morning.

Woke up...get dressed and think about a shower another time...get Grant's clothes out...feed Grant...nurse Charley...wake Molly...feed Molly...oops don't have time to change the girls as they fell asleep on the way home from Detroit the night before and slept in there clothes...at least they are in clothes and not pjs...get your backpack...where's your shoes...did you brush your teeth...clean up Charley's spit up...realized I didn't eat anything...take picture, click...let's go...OH SHOOT...forgot you need a lunch...quick make lunch...realize how not easy it is to get three kids up and out the door by 7:45...Charley will have to eat her cereal when we get back...let's go...remember about construction...take a detour...pull in to parking lot...PHEW, made it!!

He was exhausted, to say the least, when he got home. So hopefully we'll adjust to our new schedule soon! He seemed to enjoy his day though, and I was surprised that I actually did get a little teary-eyed as I watched him line-up, wave and shoot me a huge smile! I love you Grantster!

So now I think that I will have a restful day at home having just the girls with me...or not. I didn't realize just how much Grant entertained Molly in the mornings. Even though they fight every five minutes, at least they were doing it together. :) And little miss Charley decided she didn't want to take a nap at the same time as big sis and proceeded to scream in her crib instead. Got her up only for her to spit up like five times all over the place. Lovely.

So onto this next stage of life. School times! I'm sure we will adjust soon. What a busy life!

Life Shots

Some random shots of my kids and their life. Our family of five is constantly moving and changing.

Molly looking innocent...

Charley being sweet

Molly loves sweet treats

Charley eating her toes

Big smiles from Charley...always

Friends Ava and Molly

Grant enjoying a freezer pop on one of the few hot days we've had...wearing his patch.

Grant in the ER for an infected leg that may have resulted from a spider bite. Good times.

Auntie Lindsay

Matt's sister Lindsay was in town for a few weeks in August and we were so happy to be able to spend some time with her, as she lives in California. The kids had a blast hanging out with Auntie Lindsay. We're so glad we could visit and catch up with her. She was even able to come to Molly's

birthday party. Mols was thrilled! Hope she can come back soon! (ps - Matt is on rollerblades. :-)

Brrr....

So as most of you know, our summer has been pretty chilly this year in Michigan. You never know what you are going to get when you walk out the door. So one warm, sunny Saturday morning we headed out the door to head to my parents place on Lake Michigan. Well by time we got to Muskegon, the weather was chilly, windy, cloudy and just plain blah! So we stopped off at a local putt golf/go cart place. The kids had a blast!

Molly's Party

Here are some pictures from Molly's birthday party. Shout out to Rachel for helping take pictures!! (ps...don't click on the ad, just wait for slideshow to load)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

You're TWO!

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Molly girl! I really can't believe that you are two already. These past two years have flown by. I really feel like it was yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital. Everyone in the hospital nursery said what a sweet baby you were, and they were right. You really have started to come out of your shell now and are quite a bit more outgoing than I thought you would be. You'll strike up a conversation with almost anyone you meet. You also have figured out that you have a will of your own too and have become a bit stubborn. I love your laughs and giggles and silliness along with your bouncy head of curls. You're my little parrot and will say the funniest things. I love this age as you realize there is a big world around you! You have even begun to become a bit adventurous. It has been so fun watching you grow and learn. You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. We love you so much and can't wait to see what's next! Happy Birthday Mols!

Mornin Charwee

My girls are 19 1/2 months apart. I'm watching and waiting on this one. Hopefully they'll be the best of friends! So far, they seem to like each other pretty well. Granted, Charley doesn't do much yet, but she smiles a lot at Molly. Molly always wants to hold her and talk to her. Every morning when we wake up and get Charley out of her bed Mols says "Mornin Charwee" in this oddly low but adorable voice. It's the cutest thing ever and I hope to remember it for the rest of my life. It's like she is trying to be an adult talking to a little baby, how we do that thing with our voice...you know...coochie coochie coo...in that strange voice. Anyways, we love it. "Mornin Charwee"...

Curls!!

So if you have ever seen my daughter Molly, you know she carries around a huge head of curls with her wherever she goes. Sometimes they are in knots, sometimes they are a perfect spiral, and sometimes I just don't know what to do with them so up in pigtails they go. Everywhere we go, and I mean everywhere, people comment on Molly's curls. "What beautiful curls, what gorgeous hair, isn't she cute" And yes, thank you, I think she is adorable. Somehow I think I pictured a little girl in curls before she was born. As I have mentioned in the past, Matt had curls and I have this kinky wave thing going on. I can't even imagine what she would look like if her hair were straight. I'm sure she'll think they are a pain as she grows up, as the grass is always greener on the other side, but for now, I love my little curly head Mols!