Random bits and pieces of October

I begin each month with such high hopes of blogging along the way. Documenting those funny phrases and cute faces at regular intervals. Alas, the reality of 3 little girls, working a few days and life in general...that is just not the way that this blog continues to live. So here it is, November 16th and I'm posting pictures from the beginning of October. Better late than never ;-) *** Correction, now its December 14th as I finish up! 

  I W.I.L.L N.O.T G.I.V.E U.P!!!!

Aubrey was beyond THRILLED when she received her very own fish from Sunday school. She fed her fish and watched the fish multiple times a day.

This wiggly 17 month old peanut gives me a run for my money every time I want to take a picture of her. I was only able to get this one by holding her down and tickling her belly ;-)

On the other hand, this little peach gives me a million dollar smile each and every time. It may be crazy, but always there!!

Ainsley loves sliding!

Ainsley found the perfect "pu-kin"

Aubrey was so excited for her very first field trip.

Superman style sliding...maybe it was a little scary based on the closed eyes ;-)

Aubrey's perfectly round and surprisingly clean pumpkin.

When the sun is shining so beautifully in October, how can you resist spending the afternoon in the pumpkin patch?!?! Logan, Quin, Amah and G-Daddy joined us for the fun... it was a blast!

Daddy found his pumpkin. Ainsley quickly found her perfect pumpkin.

Ready, set....everyone quickly grab a pumpkin before they are all gone!

"I was this big" at Lakeview Farms 2013

Neal loves being a daddy to 3 little girls who are ALL GIRL. He is quickly learning, however, that little girls are quite different that the 2 brothers he grew up with. Ella is weekly coming home with a new chant/cheer/clapping game/etc. Here they are playing "bubble gum bubble gum." The girly fun is only really just beginning....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy happy 7th birthday Ella!

The beautiful birthday girl!!

Thinking seriously about the birthday wish she is about to make!

A table full of friends helping celebrate Ella's special day

RUN!!! It was an hour full of noodle and freeze tag, and a little soccer in between.

Showing my not Martha Stewart side ;-) Free-hand painting pumpkins to look like soccer balls is actually a much harder task that it seems!

Taking time to thank everyone for their gifts.

7 years ago today this princess was born. Opening presents from the family.

At our house, you get to set the menu (within reason) on your birthday. Ella's dessert request= pumpkin pie with whipped cream!!

DISCLAIMER: Yes I know the pictures seem a little blurry/off color :-( The soccerplex where we had her birthday is probably the worst possible place to get a decent picture in. I probably took over 100 pictures and these were the best of the worst. Also, I think our camera is trying to die a slow death so it just thinks really hard before taking pictures and in the end, we again have less than desirable pictures.

It is so much fun to celebrate you turning another year older Ella. This year you have grown up so much! I'm constantly amazed by your knowledge, your vocabulary, your imagination and your heart. Everyone you meet is instantly your friend and you go out of your way to make sure they are included and loved. You often cause me to stop and think with your questions. Your sisters adore you. Your mommy and daddy think you are the best Ella ever =)

We celebrated by inviting friends to join Ella at the soccerplex nearby for soccer/tag fun. Mommy loved that they provided a coach to wrangle all 24 friends/siblings of friends for an entire hour! When we were discussing locations for the birthday party, I suggested a pumpkin patch like we have done in the past because we aren't as limited with the number of friends who can come. Ella, sharp as a tack, replies "Don't you think that 6 years at the pumpkin patch might be a little much?!?" I did manage to convince her of the pumpkin soccer balls ;-) Its seems a shame not to utilize such a plentiful and inexpensive item for party favors!

***It is now December 14th as I am finishing this blog post about Ella's birthday. With all the ideas floating around on Pinterest, I had high expectations to have Ella complete a little questionnaire about herself at age 7. The caveat that I forgot was that I usually blog while Ella is at school thus making it very difficult to ask her questions....oops! Better late than never though, right?

Favorite animal: a unicorn
Favorite food to eat: sweets
Things I don't like to eat: anything made with avocado
Favorite thing to do: dance
Favorite show/movie: Dora
What are you really good at? well, dancing. That's why its my favorite thing.
Favorite book: Magic Tree House
What do you want to be when you grow up? a veterinarian

Happy happy birthday sweet baby girl!! We love you so much.

Capturing the moment

Family pictures make me stop and really realize how blessed I am to have such a happy, health, beautiful family! 

Once again Chris Roe has captured the personality of our family so perfectly =)

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Cuteness and candy

Ah Halloween... I never really considered the irony of the event until reading some eCards that were floating around on Halloween. "Never talk to strangers or take candy from strangers... except on Halloween when its ok to go up to a strangers door and ask for candy!" Right, wrong or otherwise our Bloom, Merida and Ladybug thoroughly enjoyed their loot gathering process this year =)

 This year, the costume selections were made based on which costume came with a wig. Aubrey has only seen Brave once, so she definitely doesn't have a particular love for Merida (the main character) nor had Ella ever heard of Bloom the Winks fairy (think Barbie-type character) before seeing the beautiful red wig that the costume came with. Ainsley was a ladybug because, well, its just so D.E.R.N. cute!!!

Halloween 2013

Oh the joys of ring pops!

Aubrey's wig only lasted about 5 minutes at the church harvest party ;-) But even without that massive red wig, she is still as cute as can be!!

Sweet sweet cousins!

Ainsley jumped right into the fun activities. She thought that throwing the beanbags was a little difficult, but never fret...she just walked right over and put the bag in the hole ;-)

This game was supposed to be a trike race around the orange cones, but Ainsley decided she would rather ride diagonally across the race track. Good thing her cuteness allowed for a little rule bending.

Time for trick or treating!

I have candy!

G-daddy helping out the process. Ainsley was so focused on the last piece of candy she had just got that she was too distracted to keep on walking!

"Auntie, we are twins. We both have curly hair...except mine is red!"

Ainsley raiding the trick or treat bowl once we got home.

Hope you have enjoyed all our sweetness!!

Instalife October

My oh my....The month of October was B.U.S.Y!!!

In the mornings, I often stick my head in the shower to get my hair wet before I get ready. Since I'm not actually showering, I turn the water on to warm up and continue my routine for a minute or two until its nice and warm. On this particular morning, I took my eye off the water warming up....And when I turned around I found this munchkin fully dressed in the shower!! Our mornings don't have extra time built-in for changing the baby a second time before school, so I called in Neal to help out if he had a minute. He asked me "Are you done in here?" before turning off the shower, but without missing a beat Ainsley chimed in "Nope!"

Oreos and balloons during lunchtime to celebrate Ella's 7th birthday at school!!

Ella's birthday dessert request this year....Pumpkin pie!

Aubrey is my cooking helper. She never is far from me when I'm in the kitchen. Ainsley got her first taste of why Aubrey never strays far from the kitchen...there are usually utensils to lick!! You'll notice a dark blob next to Ainsley's eye, she REALLY enjoyed her chocolate mixer. And then she left her chocolaty handprint on the dishwasher as a little momento ;-)

Ainsley  wants to be a big girl SO MUCH!! After all the kids rode their scooters to school one morning, Ainsley jumped on the scooter when we got home and she was ready to go.

Some days I am reminded at how differently moms and dads can be. Here is an example: I'm inside painting and am afraid of Ainsley getting in the paint and making a mess; Neal takes Ainsley outside and wants to make sure she is safe while he mows the yard, so he straps her into a swing and mows around her?!?!

For Halloween this year we had: Ella as Bloom the Winks fairy (think Barbie-type characture), Aubrey as Merida from the movie Brave, Ainsley the ladybug!

Ella is growing up so fast! Her love for reading is apparent in the comments/phrases she comes up with. Today, her and I went for a little date after school. She chose a mini lemon pound cake for her treat; after a few bites she says "Now that is what I call the scent of lemon!"

Trick or treating with cousins is the best!!

This is definitely just a little snippet of fun we had in October. More to come....