Catch up!!!

Ok---feeling decent at the moment and wanted to try and catch up a bit. Back to the beginning of October.
In honor of Caroline's birthday, we surprised the two of you with tickets to Disney on Ice. "Miss Christy" helped mommy and daddy get tickets. I loved your expressions......

And MY favorite part of the night was watching you in awe of the characters.

Such fun family time!!!

We attended a baby shower for Camille and baby Price at Fourth Avenue Church. She got so many sweet things. Seeing BLUE things still seems strange to me!!!

You loved helping her open the gifts.

Sweet Aunt Bela and Lucas wanted to treat you to a birthday dinner, Caroline. So, the five of us went to a Mexican Restaurant for supper one night. Aunt Bela had asked you what you wanted for your birthday a few weeks earlier. Your answer..."A doll whose hair I can fix".

Aunt Bela always gives the PERFECT gift

Your free dessert after being serenaded in Spanish.............with a dip of whip cream to the nose!

Where I've been..........

I know...I've never gone this long between posts before. BUT...there is a reason. I have felt overwhelmed and quite under the weather for several weeks now. We finally spilled the beans this weekend................ We're having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

Caroline, you weren't sure about the news at first..........

But, you came around!!!! We've got a long time to wait, but are super excited and thankful beyond words.

It may be awhile before I am caught back up on "life", especially here on my blog, but we'll get there. Stay tuned.........

September shots

These are all very random, but fill in some of the gaps that words just cannot. Here are some of our fun moments of September. Caroline, this was you one Tuesday running errands with momma. You were enjoying the massage chair at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Oh, how we have loved on the new babies in our life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kamry

Josue'

Stretching at Let It Shine

Learning how to jump from side to side and walk on the balance beam.

The funnest part of class is jumping in the foam pit!!!

We loved America's Got Talent this summer. We have been into "singing" ever since. Mimi got you these great microphones....money WELL spent, I'd say!!!

Your created microphone stand!

Caitlyn had spirit week last week. Caroline, you decided (even though Otter wasn't having spirit week...) to have your own! One day was miss-match day. Caitlyn, you wouldn't pose for a picture, but Caroline sure loved going along with it!!!

The last day was crazy hat day. We didn't have crazy hats, but we had these sweet "Princess" ones, given to us by Aunt Amy. And... of course, like monkey see, monkey do!!

Our new routine

Well, the more relaxed days of summer are gone and we are living the more scheduled life of school and work. It's definitely taken some getting used to. I know in many ways, more gets done when we live with a "routine", but I must admit I often fight against it...and so do the two of you. So...in hopes of helping us get out the door, be on time, and have some more harmony and flow when we are home, I put some new things in place. We've only been doing it now for a few weeks, but I do think it is helping us stay focused.

I wanted to record this, so one day, we all could look back and smile on these days.........

Morning

Get dressed
Make beds
Eat breakfast
Pack bag
Brush teeth
Be ready by 8:00

After School

Empty out school bag (and lunchbox) and put away
Homework
Pick up
Recyle or trash when needed
Kitchen help (set or wipe table)

Before Bed

Bath
Clothes picked out for next day
Brush Teeth
Read/Bible Study
Bed by 8:30

At each time of the day, when you have completed your "jobs" you are allowed to watch TV or get on the computer (something that had gotten out of hand). Also, if you accomplish these (I think very reasonable tasks) with good attitudes , you earn a "Diamond Dollar" the following morning. If in a two week period (minus weekends--we have to have a break sometime!) , you can earn eight Diamond Dollars, you are allowed to invite a friend over (a huge treat!).

Our weekly schedule:
Mondays- Momma works and Daddy takes you to school in the morning. Mimi picks you both up from school and brings you back home until Momma or Daddy arrives. Most Monday afternoons, we go to Mammi and Big Daddy's for a family dinner. You love this time, especially playing with Mariana and Josue'.
Tuesdays-Caroline, you and I take Caitlyn to school and then go to gymnastics. I allowed each of you to pick one activity to do this year, and you chose a class at Let it Shine Gymnastics. Its so fun to watch you learn. We usually run errands, have appointments, or just stay home together. What a sweet memory this will be for you and I!
Wednesdays-I take both of you to school and either have some time alone (Which I love and value!) or spend the day with Aunt Amy and Josue'. Us mommy's need some rejuvenating time often! I pick both of you up from school these days. Wednesday nights we go to church. We had gotten out of the habit of doing this last year with dance, and it has been nice to be doing this together again.
Thursdays-I work these days, so I meet Mimi in the school parking lot with both of you early, so she can take Caitlyn into school and then she spends the day with you, Caroline. We are so thankful to have family to help us out sooooo much!!! Mimi and Caroline pick you up, Caitlyn, then bring you home. Daddy and I usually get home around 5:30.
Fridays- I work this day, too, but don't have to be there until 9:30, so get to take you both to school. Sometimes, I can't leave work until 2:30, so you get to go to extended care, Caroline, which you LOVE!! We hang out at the Purple Cow and get an icee and then it's off to get sister. I love Fridays, b/c it means the weekend is coming!!! Weekends are so anticipated!!! Weekends are never the same, but one thing we are trying to fit in every other weekend is a horse riding lesson for you, Caitlyn (your chosen activity). I love that you wanted to try this. I have struggled a bit with my fear of you getting hurt, but I know this is not the first time I will have to "trust and let you go!" We try to let Sundays be family days...church, out to eat, and just hanging out together in some way before the week starts up again.
Daddy has been training for a 1/2 marathon amidst all of this and I am just trying to finish a book and keep our underwear clean!!!

I wish I could post some pictures with this post, but for some reason blogger won't let me. We'll try again tommorrow!

Day trip!

A few weekends ago Aunt Bela and I talked about going on a journey with you girls and Lucas. We have had plenty of playdates, but never been on a trip together. Aunt Bela had a great idea....a day trip to Chattanooga and the Aquarium. We left Daddy at home working and Uncle Virgil kept Cameron. We woke up EARLY and met at Cracker Barrel for a delicious pancake breakfast. You have to sit for awhile on the frontporch in the rockers at Cracker Barrel!!

It is SUCH a treat to watch a movie in the car...ready for Nemo!!!

Chattanooga has such a cute downtown. The three of you enjoyed playing outside the aqaurium almost as much as being inside. Here you are jumping the fountains outside and playing on some of the walls and green space.

I had not been to the aquarium in over 12 years...they have added a lot in that time. You all were captivated by all of it! I was in awe again of the power and imagination of God as He has created such an ellaborate world under the waters of the world with such interesting colors and life.

We ate lunch under a bridge while listening to live music by a one man band. It was even cool on this August day!!! What a gorgeous summer we have had!!!

Trying to touch the stingrays...........

WE all LOVED watching the penguins....they are so funny!!!!!

One of the highlights was getting to play in the water outside of the aquarium at the end of the day...it was difficult to get you to leave....

Bribing with ice cream always seems to work, though!!!

Schools in!!!

In some ways, this is how we all felt getting up early last week to start another year. The laid back days of summer are soooo nice!!! It's never easy starting something new and this year was no different. We had not thought too much about school with the Millers being here and it really crept up on us. Caitlyn, you hadn't said a lot about it until we put you to bed the night before your first day. I'm sure some of it was nerves and some was just from being overtired, but you cried yourself to sleep. We talked in depth about how the school routine would soon seem so normal again and about all the new things you will learn this year (reading and math especially) and about all the new friends yet to be made. It took you all of one day to get your smile back about being at school and in the 1st grade!!!

Day two and all smiles with your teacher, Mrs. Upton.

Caroline, you on the otherhand, couldn't wait to start school. You get to be in the exact same room as last year, just with a new teacher. Here you are on Snoopy Day with "Miss" Amanda. We love her already!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this picture! You are such a big girl, now...my pre-kindergartener!!! The biggest change for you is that, instead of just going two days, you are now going three. It's so hard to believe I will be dropping you both off next year five days a week. Oh....mercy, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's just get started and enjoy this year!!!! Stay in the moment, momma!!!

End of summer treat!

We ended the summer with a WONDERFUL visit from our college friends, Matt and Andrea Miller, and their crew. We met Matt and Andrea in college and developed a very deep and close friendship. We spent many birthdays and holidays together before and after we were married and still living in Searcy. They became like family to us. Their hearts were stirred in college to prepare for foreign missions and have been living in Togo, West Africa for almost 10 years. In that time, they have had four beautiful children....the newest of whom we had not met yet. We have seen each other about every two years since they have been gone and it is always like a family reunion. You loved being with them, girls! It was non stop fun!!! Five of the six of our kiddos waking up in the morning....Abby, Asher, Caroline, Anna Marie and Caitlyn.

Anna Marie is the little princess who everyone wanted to "help". She is two and an absolute delight!

Anna had the water table all to herself!

Ready for our walk at Radnor Lake..........

Checking out the deer...........

Being silly!

Mr. Matt and Daddy are great transportation!

Andrea and I were able to sneak away for a "girls lunch" at the Puffy Muffin........such a treat! I continue to be amazed at Andrea's view of life and the way she handles things with such calm confidence.

Aidan and Asher creating a slide....true boys!!

Abby is now almost 11 and was such a wonderful example for you, girls. She was so sweet to let you hang out with her...and that you did...everywhere!!!!

Homemade pedicures with the girls!

The house seems so quiet after having 10 in it for the week!!!

We love you, Millers, and will be praying for you as you transition to your next venture in Rwanda. We respect and admire your dedication and courage more than you know! Two years will pass by before we know it!!!