September 30

 The girls sang with the worship choir in church yesterday.

 This is Elliott's twin at church. Every time Micah walks toward me at church I do a double take. 

Tea party time! It was the perfect rainy day activity. The girls are having alot of fun having their friends here.

Here's a video of us playing a game last night. Quelf, Jr is alot of fun - although it wasn't the best choice before bedtime. The kids were so wound up! 

September 29

 Julia and Kat went to Valerie's birthday party yesterday and got makeovers.

 

 

 When the girls got home from the party, Elliott was inspired to give himself a makeover - a mohawk.

 Lucy found a new spot to hang out.

 We have two little girlfriends spending the week with us - Bethany and Leanna. Jonathan also hung out with us last night.

 

 We played outside alot and enjoyed the pretty weather. Our neighbors came over and played for a little while.

September 28

 

 Yesterday we met up with some homeschooling friends at church and made fleece blankets. We got the idea from reading the Molly American Girl books. She and her friends do a "Lend-a-Hand" project with their school, so we organized a blanket project and donated the blankets to Project Linus. Elliott received a quilt from Project Linus when he was in the hospital as a baby (see photo below). 

 I was trying to take a picture without these two realizing it (thus the poor quality). They were playing quietly in Elliott's room. I am surprised by how well they play together.

 We just finished the book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" about a little girl who dies from the atomic bomb disease 10 years after Hiroshima.  Julia and I made this paper crane. I have a whole new appreciation for origami - it's hard! Good book... although a tear jerker. The girls teased me because I couldn't get through the end of this book. I was bawling like a baby.

We also watched "The Diary of Anne Frank". Good movie. I was trying to show them several different sides of World War 2 - age appropriate (which is really hard). I would like to watch the "The Sound of Music" again and see if they notice things they never picked up on before.

 

 We finished out our Friday with a bonfire with friends. Mamaw kept Lucy for us (large fire and busy toddler don't go together). The other kids had a fabulous time playing - or in Kat and Molly's case, reading together.

September 27

 Cruisin' the playroom 

Yesterday I babysat for Brady and Caleb at their house. I took my four with me because they love to play with Brady and Caleb. Their house is like Disney World for the Wee Dude - airplanes and boy toys galore!

September 26

 Lucy was out of sight and quiet - usually a sign that she is pulling all the tp off the roll, playing in the toilet, or pulling off all the tp and playing with it IN the toilet. Yesterday I found her in her room looking at books quietly by herself. Too cute. And to make her even cuter, she put on a headband with cat ears. Silly girl.

 The girls have just learned about the state of Maine. Their Road Trip USA curriculum calls for making either lobster tails or blueberry muffins. Since I don't like seafood, nor do I wish to pay big bucks for lobster, we opted for the muffins. The girls made these with minimal help from me.

And since we didn't get enough carbs from the muffins, Julia made french toast for dinner.

September 25

 We took Kat to Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate her birthday with friends. 

 

 

 Father-Son bonding

 I told them to put their arms around each other. They've been friends since they were born. They thought that was gross/weird. We have entered that stage...

 

 

September 24

Happy 2nd Birthday Abbie!  

 Uncle Clay and I got to watch you get your first bath. Look at all that hair!

Yesterday we had co-op on Kat's birthday. Last year we tried to take the kids' birthdays off school, but we couldn't avoid that this year. So we grabbed McDonald's for lunch and ice cream as a treat after co-op. Julia had a softball game last night, so Clay took her and Elliott to the game. Kat, Lucy,  and I went to Barnes and Noble and Kat spent every penny of a gift card she received. That girl loves books! 

Julia got her first hit last night and scored a run! Way to go Jules! She was very proud of herself.  

It was a little early for Elliott.
 

 The birthday girls getting sung to at co-op. Every syllable in the Happy Birthday song is replaced with the first initital of your name. Kappy Kirkay kou kou... 

Kat's idea of Heaven on Earth. I didn't even show her the cafe in the store or I might never have gotten her to leave!

September 23

Happy 7th Birthday Kat! 

You came out after 1 push. When the doctor told me to stop pushing, I told him that I wasn't pushing, you were coming into this world all on your own! You are still one determined booger who isn't going to let anyone tell you what to do. We hope you use your determination, intelligence, and sweetness to be bold for God!

 

 She finally grew into those Uncle Fester eyes! 

 One of my favorite pictures - ever!

First Birthday

 

 Two years old

 Big sister

 

 

This little lady can move mountains!

September 22

Update:

 

After church, Julia had a softball game. She is somewhere in that huddle - go Bulldogs!

I babysat Jonathan, Matthew, and Elijah this afternoon. When Julia found out I was going to be with Elijah, she wanted to come along. I didn't hardly get a chance to hold the little guy. She's a baby hog!

 Original Post:

Just in case you thought our family is all smiles and wonderful all the time, this video is a "keeping it real moment". This little dynamo has picked up a few tantrum-throwing tricks from her big sisters and brother. I thought Kat was a pistol, but Lucy is a whole shotgun! We've started putting her in her bed when she is throwing one of her whoppers.

On a happier note, I got Kat's Halloween costume finished last night. She wanted to be a box of Nerds (purple, of course). It's not perfect ("Nerds" is off center), but she likes it and that is all that matters. My favorite little touch is "Naturally Sweet" instead of "Artificially Sweetened" on the bottom right.

September 21

We celebrated Kat's 7th birthday and Abbie's 2nd birthday today with family. 

 

 

 Kat's not a fan of cake, so we decided to make a cake out of fruit instead.

Rainbows!

 

 Food is the way to Kat's heart, in case you were wondering.