Out. Of. Control.

This is my life.

Every single day.

Except him actually smiling at the camera typically isn't this pleasant.

He usually gives me some crappy grin.

This is pretty genuine and mostly heartfelt.

Well, it is better than the ridiculous grin.

They love her, really!

I love watching them play together.  I am sometimes fearful of the damage that they might inflict on her... but mostly they are gentle and careful with her.  I cannot wait to see how the sibling love unfolds as they get older.  I anticipate the fights and the squabbles and the silly fights.  I anticipate the dinner time giggles and the laughter and the singing.  I don't think for a minute I knew the love would be like this.  I didn't count on the desire for inclusion or the urgent need to make sure they are all accounted for at all times.  I never expected that they would want to be aware of each other at all waking hours and making sure that everyone  is in the middle of their room... 

I had no idea they would love each other this much at their ages.  Who knew?

Bebe turns 37, again.

Mom turned 37 again this year.  Not sure how that works, since I'm 32... but whatever.  We had all these grand plans for her birthday weekend.  We were planning to take her to lunch and then go get our toes done together.  The 4 girls.  We made plans and forgot to tell mom.  

Oops.  

Thankfully it all worked out and she didn't have major plans anyway.  We managed a fancy lunch and some yummy dessert along with fancy toes.  I'm pretty sure we all had a blast.

I would complain about the fact that I'm the only one without glasses on my face.  But you wouldn't be able to see their eyes anyway, because I think they're all sorta Asian....

My girls.

I pray for their relationship every day.  

I pray that they will grow up and be best friends.  

I know that there will be lots of fights.  

Lots of shared clothing and stolen clothing. 

 Lots of attention that isn't shared on purpose, but attention that someone robs from someone else.  

I worry that maybe I won't believe the child who's telling the actual truth.  

I worry that the girls will do more damage to each other than I can prevent or...

I worry.  Clearly, I worry a lot.

The girls seem just fine.

The lipstick queen and the happy go lucky baby.

I pray they will be friends.

I pray each and every day that they will be like us.

My sisters.

My best friends.

The people I call or text or chat with more than anyone else.

I don't really have friends.

I have sisters.

They can't quit me.

And I can't quit them.

Precious Percy

We celebrated this precious man in October.  He's just a few days over 50... and spry as ever.  He doesn't listen really well and tells us often that we are supposed to let him talk because he's almost 90.  I hope he lives to be much older than 90.  I cannot imagine my days without his stories.  I cannot imagine my children without his laughs.  And I know that my boy has been forever changed by this Godly man.  Lord knows he's taught me more in my 32 years than I'll ever be able to put into words.  Sometimes Hayes will hear me talking about him and I occasionally call him Percy.  Hayes corrects me with a quickness and tells me to call him Pop.

Any guesses on how many times we had to blow out those candles?!

Little helper

I can remember when I found out I was pregnant with Elizabeth and I began to wonder what kind of big brother Hayes would be.  I can remember thinking that he wasn't a cuddly lovey child, so it was hard to imagine how he would love a sibling.  Now, he's 4, almost 5 and he probably doesn't ever remember being by himself as a child.  He was 8-9 months old when we got pregnant with Libby and 19 months old when she was born.  He was still a chubby baby boy!

And here we are now.

Hayes has two baby sisters and he loves them both.  Not once has he ever been anything but loving... except when he's trying to physically assault Libby.  

He's the best helper in the whole wide world.

Casual Sunday

It isn't a good day unless we get a chance to play dress up between waking up and leaving for church.  You know... that 2 hour window of time that normal people get ready...

We don't.  Ever.

Sisters

Here.

Let me show you how to play with your toy.

Yep!

That's exactly what you are supposed to do.

Sometimes I worry that these girls are going to be the death of me.  Spencer has officially reached the 'clingy baby I only want my mommy' stage and Libby hasn't really ever left that stage....  I feel like I'm in the middle of the tug of war rope between those two and their fake cries of attention.  It makes me feel super special and super stressed.  I don't really like people touching me, including my children... especially if they are messy and gross.  And, well, Libby is always messy and gross.  

School begins

Football season came and went.

We spent the first part of the season in shorts...

...the last part of the season bundled up like eskimoes.

And I got to hang out with this handsome fella and perform CPR and basic first aid.

I can attempt to help save your life in the event that I'm not in a major panic about it...

Spencer's summer

She slept on the beach.

See the sand?

She played on her flower mat...

And she took a lot of naps.  

And only wore yellow, apparently.  

She's so cute.

Halloween 2k14

Ariel didn't like the wig we picked to match...

Could he be any happier?

Y'all.  I remember when Libby J was born and we were so worried about how Hayes would love her or like her or even tolerate her.  I remember the most precious picture of his chubby baby hands hanging over her in love.  He loved her.  A lot.  Maybe a little more than the average brother.  It was a miracle and he's been loving her ever since.  He is the most loving big brother I've ever seen.  He gets so excited when he realizes that Spencer is awake.  He cannot hardly WAIT to see her and talk to her and love on her.  He makes her laugh so hard by falling on the floor or jumping up and down in front of her.  He genuinely enjoys being a brother.  He chases Libby around and they often play silly games.  He is beginning to recognize simple words and he loves Spanish at the ELC!  He loves to dress up and be a super hero.  He spends a lot of time creating things.  Art work, projects, new costumes, and ideas about food.  He loves to sing silly songs and has a newly developed love for Veggie Tales.  He has a heart of gold and loves to hug.  He is a quirky little guy who doesn't like to get messy at all.  He would prefer to be completely clean all the time.  He is also learning to tell time and knows he cannot get up until his clock says 6:30.  Clearly, he is not my child.  I don't do early to rise...

Starting with Spencer

She's 10 days away from being 7 months old.  She has two teeth coming out of her bottom gum.  She loves to blow raspberries at anything.  She squeals and growls and laughs.  Her brother entertains her the best.  She wakes up happy from every nap and every nighttime.  She goes to sleep best on her belly and loves her paci while sleeping.  She goes with the flow of our hectic lives and she spends a lot of time eating on the run.  She is the happiest baby I've ever met, and I've seen a lot of little people.  She loves green peas, anything with bananas, and puffs.  She loves to play in her bouncer and loves to be pushed around in her walker at home.  She sits up really well and has started to spin and scoot at home.  She is well settled into a routine of waking, eating, playing, mealtime, and finally naptime;  only to repeat that cycle at least 3-4 times daily.  She wears 6-9 month clothing, though we are almost at the end of the 6 month stuff!  Her laugh is contagious and her smile is infectious.  Sometimes I find myself in tears just watching her because she's so precious.  I am so blessed that she's my baby!

Hayes Face

There are plenty of days in my parenting journey where I'm frustrated beyond belief.  I'm exhausted from parenting and feeding and cleaning and being a spouse and working.  I get overwhelmed some days and I feel like I'm not giving anything or anyone the BEST me.  Occasionally I find myself wanting to quit one or two of those duties so that I can give my BEST me to at least ONE of those things.  

Then we have cupcakes with dinner and this kid eats them like a silly goose.  He never makes a mess of himself because he hates being sticky.  He makes all my worries melt with his sweetness and his genuine kindness towards others.  How did I get to be his momma?  I am so blessed just to know this sweet soul.  He simply loves.  

Elsa in the house

Libby turned 3 in August and got this lovely lady.  She's quite the songstress and Libby loves her 'parkly dress.  I love that Libby loves her so.  

2014 Goals: October Update

My 2014 To Do List

1. I am going to grow plants this summer.
   I didn't grow one thing.  Unless you count that bean that sprouted on the front porch by accident.  
   
2. Run races.  As in, plural.
   I've got one in November.  Fail.
    
3. Buy the dang minivan.
   I love Melly the Minivan.
   
4. Build my business.
   I love my Mary Kay.  I am having so much success with sales this month.  I am so excited to see my MK career take off!  I cannot WAIT to quit teaching and help women change their life!
   
5. Paint and decorate the kid's rooms.
   Rooms are done.  Been done.  Still have things to hang....
   
6. Plant flowers in the yard this spring and summer.  I love seeing my neighbors lovely yards and I'd like to have my own this year.
   I am working on a bulb collection now.  I also have pansies on the back porch to plant!
   
7. Develop a budget/plan to save for future Disney trips and eventually yearly passes.
   My first luxury goal with my MK money!
   
8. I would love to be able to use my blog as a venue to make some extra income for my family as well.  I am going to investigate that and look for income via my blog while on maternity leave.
   I haven't looked into this, but I have been diligently increasing my traffic to the blog and plan to continue that through Facebook and Pinterest.  Hopefully I can be blog famous one day (or at least make mom-ney, so I can stay home)...  Ditto this for months...
   
9. Purge.  Clean out the closets, rooms, drawers, cabinets, and garage and rid this house of unnecessary objects, clutter, junk, and excess.  We need to learn to live with less and be happy with that.
   Diligently working on this one room at a time.  It helps to know we are done having children.  I can free up lots of clothes, toys, etc.
   
10.  Wake up earlier during the week and make time for myself.  Enjoy coffee, or a book, or the quiet.  I could make breakfast for myself or the littles, or just put on my makeup like a normal person.
    I am not a morning person.  I fail at this daily.  I am better about getting up in time to get all my stuff done, but I still have work to do in this area!

Disney Faves

This is the last post I have for Disney World.  I am so glad we took this trip.  I'm not sure if I thought all the kinks out or imagined all the crappy scenarios.... but it was a lovely trip.  It rained every single day.  It prevented us from traveling back to MK twice, but it gave us some rest time and some time to enjoy the pool.  We hauled a 3 seater stroller off and on the bus about 19 times.  We ran through MK in the POURING down rain at least once.  I nursed a baby in the parks, on the bus, and at the pool.  I had more fun watching my husband sing along to 'Let It Go' in the Frozen sing along than I imagined I would.  I found that we all have a ridiculous love for this place that  makes us act like kids.  

My favorite ride always... even if the song is crazy annoying.

The look on the faces of my children while floating in a boat through this ride is priceless.

Not sure if she's scared or impressed...

Still not strong enough to get that sword out...

My favorite castle in the whole world.

Prime dining area at our hotel.

Tables for coloring sheets AND a tv.

Sweet baby sleep at the hotel.

Girlfriend can sleep anywhere at anytime.

Festival of the Lion King

While we were watching the show... my kids played and sang and ate.  Spencer nursed for the majority of the show and when she wasn't eating she was grinning from ear to ear while watching the birds fly over our heads.  Libby loved the the girly people and the sparkly costumes they wore.  Hayes was mesmerized by the giant Simba who sang along with the songs.  

Daddy and  I were just grateful for the break from the heat and the cool air.

Animal Kingdom. Part 1.

Oh, I'll just throw a hissy fit right here on the bus at Disney World.  Don't you mind me.  I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary.  I do this often at home and they ignore me there too.  Princess Elizabeth wasn't happy that we didn't do anything to assist her in her time of need...

Andddddddddddddd this kid has about 90 chins.  She smiled the whole time we were there and I love her.  She was awesome for the entire trip.  She napped and didn't even fuss when she was beyond exhaustion.  

Our safari expedition was fabulous.  We did that first thing in the morning.

Did you know that there are different breeds of giraffes?  And that their patterns can vary?  Along with their size??  I had no idea.  Best part of this ride was that Hayes could point out every single animal by NAME and match them to the photo in the safari bus.

Ohh, hey Big Al.

The Festival of The Lion King.

Fabulous show.

Colorful with amazing performers and songs.

Be Our Guest Dining Disney World

Our first day at Magic Kingdom we were lucky enough to get reservations for the Be Our Guest lunch at Beast's Castle.  I selected our meals prior to our trip and they were ready for us shortly after we sat down.  Hayes refused to eat ANYTHING while we were there and finally fell asleep sitting in the booth.  I know he was tired because he hasn't fallen asleep while sitting up since he was a tiny tot.  Spencer was really pleased to get to eat some lunch while the rest of us waited for ours.  

That's my cupcake.  With 'The Grey Stuff' that they sing about in Beauty and the Beast.   And just for the record, it was delicious and my dishes didn't get any of it.  

After lunch we let the kids have ice cream.  Libby makes a giant mess while she eats hers.  Hayes barely touched his enough to eat it.