Trick-or-Treat

Josh and Gracie, our princess

Our jack-o-lantern pizza, yum yum.

Olivia and Addie checking out the cake, can you see the HUGE spider on it?

The cowgirl, princess, chef, and mouse pose for a pic.

An attempt for a family photo in front of our huge blow up pumpkin in the front yard.

Well we did our Halloween thing here at home tonight. I bought the girls a pizza shaped like a jack-o-lantern, Nana brought a spooky spider cake from Eddie's Bakery, we warmed some apple cider on the stove, and went around our neighborhood trick-or-treating. We had fun and the girls were more interactive this year, actually excited about knocking on doors and talking to our neighbors. I always enjoy Halloween, and I think it's because it involves walking around our neighborhood and talking to the people who live around us. It was a fun day, the girls are fast asleep, and I'm tired. My candy eating is done, I've eaten all the DOTS I can find in their candy bags. Tomorrow I'm back at my feeble attempt at no sugar.

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Audrey's writing

Audrey wrote this after school yesterday. She loves to write. I found this on the kitchen table this morning and it made me laugh.

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

On our way to school this morning, Ellie asked, "Mom, when is Grace going to start acting like a one year-old?"

Grace turns 1!

One year ago...

Awaiting Grace's arrival.

Grace and Dr. Steinke...she weighed 9 lb 3 oz. 20.5 in. She entered the world at 3:31 p.m.

Newborn pic taken a week after she was born.

Mommy's hand on Grace.

And today...

Singing Happy Birthday.

Eating that yummy sugar cookie.

Grace and Nana

Grace and Ellie

Grace turned one yesterday. It was a busy day filled with lots of excitement, but nothing as exciting as our baby turning one! We had a lot of fun singing to her and telling her over and over it was her birthday. The older girls were so excited for this big day, they could hardly contain their own excitement. We spent the evening celebrating, eating cookies (instead of cake), and opening lots of colorful, noisy toys.

Grace is crawling, I don't think her first steps are too far away as she likes to stand up and "furniture surf." She loves her sisters and is easily entertained by anything they do (even fighting). She is just a happy, smiley little girl. I don't know what life would be like without her, she seems to fit into our family just right and we love having a baby to love, hold, baby talk to, and spoil rotten!

I love that we named her Grace and the name holds so much significance for both Josh and me. We are constantly reminded of God's unending and abounding grace for his children.

Happy Birthday Grace!

Kaweah Picnic

Olivia enjoying a picnic treat...her own can of Sierra Mist. It can't get much better than this.

Erin and Lucy


Elle climbing inside the bounce house.


Lucy just being cute.

Ellie's favorite thing on the playground....the monkey bars.

Greg and Lindsay. Lindsay coordinated the picnic and did such an awesome job!

Grace and Audrey bouncing.

Mike with a smile.

Kevin fell asleep on Sam after playing for hours.

Our family attended the annual Kaweah Picnic yesterday afternoon at a park in Clovis. It was a fun time of hanging out, eating good food, and watching the kids play. I enjoyed getting the chance to catch up with everybody and spend time together as families. Our girls had so much fun, they were beyond tired as we packed up and headed home.

Race for the Cure

Nicole ran in memory of her grandmother.

I ran in celebration of Nana.

A quick picture after we ran. We don't look too bad, do we?

Yesterday morning I participated in the Race for the Cure 5k run at Fresno State. I ran with my friend Nicole. I've been training and I'm happy to say I finished the race. I completed the 3.1 miles in about 31 minutes, so I definitely didn't break any records, but I don't really think I was trying to. I also got to run in celebration of Nana (my children's name for Josh's mom) who is a breast cancer survivor. Well I think my next goal will be a 10k, anyone else want to join me?

Audrey's last cake decorating class

Yesterday was Audrey's last cake decorating class...in class they made batter for cupcakes, baked them, and then decorated these.....isn't this lion cute? I guess it could pass as a sunshine or a porcupine too.

A conversation with a lady at Lowe's

This morning I headed to Lowe's to check out a washer and dryer. We still haven't bought a new one and the laundry is beginning to take over! It's kinda nice to not have to worry about doing laundry, but I can't help but think of what's to come......days and days and days of endless loads. That's a topic for another post... Anyway, as I walked into Lowe's I asked the associate in the garden area if she knew if they had any Morning Glories in stock. I've been wanting to plant some along our front fence for months now and Lowe's never seems to have them....so this older lady who was checking out, says, "Who would want morning glories?" I couldn't excuse her comment and was forced to say, "I've been wanting some for months to plant along my fence." She said, "We have them and can't get rid of the things, they're horrible." I was a little taken back by her negativity towards such a beautiful plant, but WHATEVER! Why do some people have such an annoying way of being negative? When Lowe's eventually gets Morning Glories I will plant them proudly and think of the grouchy lady who tried to talk me out of them.

Pumpkin Patch

Ellie and I went to the Pumpkin Patch with her kindergarten class yesterday. We had fun at the petting zoo, going for a hayride, and ultimately choosing a perfect pumpkin to take home. After the field trip, we met up with Josh for a quick lunch at Chick-fil-A. It was so nice spending this one on one time with Ellie. When you have 4 children the one on one time is hard to come by so it's great when it works out.

What Not to Wear

Audrey informed me last night as she was picking out her clothes for the next day that she learned on "What Not to Wear" that if you have a skinny neck you should wear v-neck tops to help you look nice. Now there is a piece of information I didn't know, but maybe it doesn't matter cuz I don't think my neck is really all that skinny. Why is my 7 year-old more in tune with fashion than me? She loves that show and really listens to Stacy London's recommendations for each person she works with. Maybe I have a future fashion expert on my hands.

Grace's afternoon snack

Grace decided to help herself to some shredded cheese this afternoon. I was a little irritated with another mess to clean up, but I couldn't stay that way long. She was enjoying her snack so much and so proud of what she had accomplished!

Grandparents Luncheon

Addie and Ellie shared a special lunch today with Nana. Starr holds a Grandparents Luncheon each year, and my girls were so excited to have Nana come to their school and eat in the cafeteria with them. We have a couple pictures to share. Thank you Nana for making each one of the girls feel so special, you are a wonderful Nana and we are all blessed to have you in our lives!

The Wonder of it All

Ellie and Olivia love to watch as the washing machine works. The curiousity of a child is wonderful. I wish they had more interest in folding and putting the laundry away. I would love to have a front loading washing machine, but I wonder if they would be as fascinated, who knows.

Harrison's 2nd birthday

Peggy & Harrison

me, Kevin (my bro), Lesley (my sis)

Olivia all partied out.

This weekend we went to southern California to visit my family and go to Harrison's birthday party. Harrison is my nephew, Kevin & Peggy's son. We had so much fun....the girls played so hard, the food was great, the weather couldn't have been better, and the company was entertaining. I meant to get a picture of Harrison and my girls for a cousin pic, but it just didn't work out, maybe next time. My brother and his wife are laid back and so hospitable, makes it fun and relaxing to be at their house. My nephew is a doll, talking more and more, and obsessed with Cars (the movie and anything associated to it). Kevin & Peggy just found out they are expecting baby #2, baby is due in May. Fun weekend, now I need to go rest!

Jog-a-thon

Addie and Ellie ran in their jog-a-thon this morning. I ran most of the laps with them and we had so much fun! Thank goodness the weather was cool and breezey, made it easier on all of us. I'm enjoying getting to do all these fun activities with them this year, if I was still teaching I would have been working and missed all the fun. I will cherish this time with the kids and enjoy being home and the opportunity to be around for the fun and the mundane.

Cake Decorating this week....

This cake is decorated with worms, spiders, dirt, and grass......it's a garden cake!

Life Group

Josh and I have been hosting a small group of people in our home every Tuesday evening for a number of months now. I knew I wanted to get to know more people from our church, and hosting a Life Group seemed like a good way to faciliatate that. Josh and I love having people over and hospitality has been a fun and comfortable way for both us to get to know other couples. So anyway....our small group, they are all married couples, and most have children. It is awesome, and I look forward to it every week. Once a month we do a Family Night where couples are encouraged to bring their children and we share a meal together. It has been the best time and such an encouragement for me. I feel more connected at church and I love the women God has brought into my life. Many of us are at similar places in life, but it is nice to see people in different "seasons" doing life together. I believe God would be happy to see us supporting and loving each other. Being real with others is not always easy, but I can see God's generous blessings when we allow people into our lives to live it with us.

The Big Fresno Fair

On stage with Lloyd Mabrey singing their ABCs.

Putting away the curly fries.

Grace and me just hanging out.

Olivia, Addie, and Ellie coming down the slide.

This is Josh's idea of a fair treat, a fruit cup. He is such a healthy eater, what was he thinking when he married me???

Last night we made our annual trip to the Big Fresno Fair. As always we had a great time! I think I must be seriously demented to give up sugar the same week I know I'm going to the fair, but I held strong and consumed enough salt to make up for the lack of sugar. Our favorite part of the fair is a folk singer named Lloyd Mabrey who comes every year to perform. We have seen him at least the last 5 years and Josh remembers seeing Lloyd in Paso Robles at the Mid-State fair when he (Josh) was a teenager. The last two years he has invited our girls up on stage to sing their ABCs, it's so stinking cute! Anyway, I'm afraid we have become just like our parents and believe the fair is not about the rides but about the experience (the animals, good deep fried food, cinnamon rolls to die for, cheesey exhibits of stuff you'd never really buy, etc). I guess we're getting old (our taste in music has probably given that away already). I'll spare you the details of Grace throwing up her squash dinner all over her blankie, that'll be for another post on a different day....if you're lucky.