My birthday

Audrey
Olivia

Ellie, grrrr!

Grace

The girls and all my presents

Ellie and Addie acting silly in the double stroller.

I had a birthday last week. I turned 34 and spent the weeks leading up to my birthday in and out of the chiropractor and vein doctor offices. 34 felt significant because my body is proving it's not as strong as it once was. Oh well, we all get old, I'm feeling better and have vowed to try my best to take care of myself not just because I hate going to the doctor but because I have 5 small people who really need me (and one big person). I had a good birthday, Josh and Addie cooked me a fabulous dinner (filet and shrimp) and we had a quiet (not really) evening at home. The girls bought me new gym clothes, Josh framed some new family photos for me. It was a good day!

Halloween and Grace's b-day

As we got ready for Halloween this year, my sister, Lesley came to visit and eagerly volunteered to do the pumpkin craving with my kids. Geeezzzz she's awesome! She helped each girl carve the perfect pumpkin, the only problem was there was still a week til Halloween. The jack-o-lanterns took center stage on the front porch but unfortunately had to be tossed before Halloween because they were ozzing weird liquids :) Grace's birthday was October 25th, so after pumpkin carving we celebrated with Famous Dave's take out and an ice cream cake. Our friends, the Clarksons, also happened to be in town for the festivities, so Ian, Joanna, and their 3 children helped us celebrate. This weekend was so much fun... Grace is so happy to be 2!

Her yummy ice cream cake.

The Wilkinsons and The Clarksons (visiting all the way from England)

All the kids and their jack-o-lantern creations.

Sam and Joel

My sis, Joel, and me

Grace digging into her lil pumpkin, she wasn't afraid of the goo.

Lesley and Olivia

Audrey cleaning out the seeds, we roasted them afterwards, yum!

Ellie is happy as she finds more and more seeds.

Fall decorating

I'm not all that good at decorating, but here are a couple projects I did this last month to get ready for fall... a berry wreath hanging from a mirror

not a fall decoration but a crafty little way to dress up a kid's present, we rarely buy cards anymore

Grace's b-day sign I made for her on a friend's cricut machine. I will use this for all my girls b-days, I hang it over the fireplace and when they wake up and see it they get so excited!


I did this using scrapbook paper and huge letters made on the cricut and 3 old frames that were just lying around my house. I loved the way it turned out.

BOO

Ellie's field trip to Scout Island

Ellie's first grade class went to Scout Island last week on a field trip. The weather was beautiful and the kids had lots of fun activities. Ellie's favorite had to be the leaf rubbings. She loves first grade!

Family Pictures

Anjie, Josh's sis, took some family pictures for us in September, here's a few, I didn't want to include them all since that would spoil our Christmas card.

September Happenings

September finally brought us some cooler weather. The cool temps waited til the very end of the month to arrive, but they have arrived and that's all that matters.

We spent September getting back into the school + one more baby routine. It has gone pretty good.

This month 2 friends had babies and holding their babies I realized how big Joel is getting. He is cooing, smiling, and giggling. He has settled into his own routine and started sleeping thru the night months ago. He is an easy baby for the most part, it's just juggling one more plus keeping up with all the girls that leaves me frazzeled some days.

The laundry overload is a constant, I even included a picture.

I've enjoyed getting back to the gym, and I've found exercising really seems to help with my stress, productivity, and my patience.

The big girls ran their jog-a-thon this month. Ellie was so excited to call our family and get pledges, she is really good at asking for money. In the end, Ellie ran 7 laps, and Addie ran 9. Ellie earned $129, Ad earned $132 for the school. Audrey's class was the top class (in donations) in the school so they won a Bounce U party for the class in Oct. Exciting stuff! Here are a few pics I took this month:

Joel at 16 weeks. Today he rolled over for the first time (back to tummy).

Laundry, laundry, laundry all over my bed

Grace taking a quick bath in the sink.

Audrey

Haley and Audrey

Ellie getting ready to run with her class

Ellie

Sidetracked

Well it seems like forever since I last updated. I have to admit I have been a little sidetracked. I finally gave into the peer pressure and got on facebook so now I spend all my blogging time on there. I'm having a lot of fun, but for somebody like me who has a difficult time setting limits it can be very addicting. I'm enjoying getting reacquainted with all sorts of "friends" but I'm afraid my blog has been left behind. I'm hear to let you all know I will be posting pictures and an update very soon. Here goes the update, the pictures will have to wait for now... Joel is already 15 weeks old, he is smiling and giggling and pure joy. Grace is starting to say more and more words, her fav this week is "STOP IT!" She is so much fun. Olivia started pre-school and is getting used to "school." She writes her name beautifully and adores her teachers but would probably love to just stay home with me. Ellie and Addie are in school and loving it. They are both growing up so fast, I can almost see the time drifting away. I'm loving being a stay-at-home mom although I can never seem to get a handle on the laundry or messes around here. I better run, til next time....and by the way, if you're on FB look me up.