October 2010

Hellleeeww!!!  How has your October been?  Ours was just fab!

Let me see if I can recap it.  Pictures must wait, though.  Chris and I are trying to figure out storage of all of our pictures.  How do yall do it?  Here is what we are thinking...

1. Put most of the pics we have on our computer onto our external hard drive, as well as Picasa online.

2. Then delete them off our our Mac to make room for all the other ones (i have about 600 fun memories on my camera as we speak,  type/read)!

3. Try to keep this up anytime I download pics onto our computer.  I just hate to think all of our pics would be lost.  Our "puter" is gettin' old (well, it's 5 years old) and the thought of it crashing has crossed my mind a lot! 


Onto the month of October...
The month started off with our birthday celebrations!  Chris turned 30 and I turned 29!  My b-day was pretty low-key.  My mom was in town and she took me shopping at Anthropologie and then we went to Whole Foods to get my mini- birthday carrot cake - yumm!!!  Chris turned 30, five days after me.  Our sweet friend, Arica kept the kids for us that night.  We went out to a yummy restaurant - The Post and Beam - a farmhouse built in the 1800's converted into a culinary delight.  Then we got a hotel room for the night.  It was so nice to not be woken up during the night AND to be able to sleep in and have a yummy breakfast (that I didn't cook or clean up!!)

The next weekend, Chris, Harper, and I flew to Raleigh, NC to see Dave Ramsey LIVE with my mom, Nancy, Will, Johnny, and Meghan!  Mom had gotten us these tickets as early Christmas presents.  If you read my sister's blog, you know that she and Will are HUGE Dave Ramsey fans!  They have rocked the baby steps' socks off over the last 3 years.  I honestly would applaud them on the side, but think there would be NO WAY we could do this due to our family's rapid growth.  I always thought it was a cool concept, but didn't know how we would do it!  Well, after this awesome day with family, we learned SOOOO much, and have now gotten on the baby steps train!  Which led to the craziness of the next few weeks.  Go HERE to read about the baby steps.

Harper, stayed with Dad & Leslie, Ryan and Reba while we were at the event.  She had a blast playing with them and her cousins, Kyler and Niko!!  Chris and I flew home on Sunday morning, and Harps stayed with mom and Nancy over the next week.  While she was away, I had 4 1/2 days with just the boys.  And since they were still taking 2 naps a day (they just dropped that precious morning nap), I had two, 4 hour periods of hard work getting ready for our garage sale.  When we went to the Dave Ramsey event, we went with a little debt- but it is still debt!   (side note: One couple that was there had paid off a RIDICULOUS amount of money ($600,000)!!Dave's baby steps work!!)  So, when we got home, we were very motivated  and got a crackin'!  We put stuff on craigslist, and then had a ginormous yard sale last weekend!  And guess what??!?!  Just with that intense 'gazelle' (Dave Ramsey peeps will get that term) focus,

WEEEE'RRRRREEEE  DEEEEEEBBBBBTTTTT  FFFFFRRRRREEEEEE!!!! 

Once we actually get the last debt paid (we have the money, just haven't handed it over yet), I think we are going to call the show!!  Listen in for us!  :-)  We are now working on baby step 3...saving to have 3-6 months of expenses saved in the bank to provide for our family should a rough patch of life be thrown at us, we wouldn't have to go into debt.  I do have to say, it is a balancing act to let this new way of life not become something you worship.  We have to remember that it is God who provides for our every need!  He is the one on the Throne!  We are just trying to be smart with our money, tell it where to go, how it will be spent, so that we honor God with it, and one day Give Give Give

After the yard sale last weekend, we have been in recuperation mode this week. Everyone has had runny noses, feeling yucky, low grade fevers, etc. I even had a complete tear-filled breakdown over the grocery list/budget because I was so tired!  This weekend, we are looking forward to hunkering down, watching movies, having family time, etc. 

Oh, the other BIG news.... all three boys are walking now!!  Maverick was first, followed by Crews about 2 weeks later, then Warner (who once made up his mind caught up to Maverick's skill level really fast!). Crews is still deciding what mode of transportation he likes best - walking or monkey crawling.  He still does a little of both.  All the boys finally got their 1 year molars in, so life is gooooood! 

Harper is loving her 2-day preschool.  She is learning so much, and dearly loves Miss Judy and Miss Cynthia.  She will 'pretend' call them all the time, and ask if they are at the grocery store or at home - lol!   I love seeing her imagination develop as she plays with her babies or ponies.  She is so fun, and tells me daily, 'Mommy, I love you so much, you are my best fwiend. ' Precious girl! 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading!  We are doing great!

Hopefully, pics will come soon :-)

10/10/10 = Chris' 30th Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to You

 (taken from The Knot website)

Happy Birthday to You

 

 Happy Birthday Dear Chris

(the most wonderful hubby and daddy in the world)

Happy Birthday to You

(four generations)

You are so very loved!!!

Love~

Your Five BIGGEST Fans

(Wifey, Harper, Warner, Crews, & Maverick)

Swallowed Up By Life

I have been swallowed up by life.  As I very well should be.  Just busyness with four babes under 2.  That statement still blows my mind.  Here are some things we've been up to:

 Harper...mothering the boys, as usual, with both of her hands on their heads.  Crews playing the "where's Crews?" game.  The other two watching Yo Gabba Gabba (no shame!) :-D 

Maverick - This little mister has been walking for a couple of weeks now, and he is getting really good at it!  I so love to see him toddle here and there...his pudgy little feet trying to hold up his toddle-y body.  I could just eat him up because he is so cute with his curly sandy brown hair and round, chubby little cheeks and big, blue-as-the-ocean eyes. 

 

look at those curls! yumm!! I will let you in on a little secret.  The sweetest kissy spot is found right there on that little neck roll.  It is disappearing daily as these sweet babies become little boys right before my eyes!

 This little cutie has also discovered that he can climb onto the couch, from there, climb onto the back of the couch, and climb up onto the bar.  Mommy DOESN'T think it is so cute when he does this.  Two words when I first saw this: heart-attack. 

Crews - Crewsie Bug (as he is known around here - I wonder if he will ever know his name is just Crews) is a funny, smart little boy!  Oh he loves his Mama so very much.  M & W come give me snuggles when they *want* to, but Crews would snuggle with me all the live long day if I could.  He has severe separation anxiety if  I leave him...sometimes even if I just leave the room.  The other day I went to Bible study at a friend's home.  I take all of the boys with me & a precious lady watches the boys in a playroom upstairs.  Well, when I arrived, I took Crews inside and left the other two out in the car while I got him set up.  I left him in the arms of my friend, Kellye, and when I had returned with the other two, Crews had worked himself up so bad that he had barfed all over the floor.  Since I wasn't sure if it was a bug or just a cry-so-hard-u-throw-up deal, we said hello and goodbye in about 5 mintues.  It ended up being just a cry-so-hard-you-throw-up deal (praise the LORD!  I dread the day the stomach enters our home).  Another little tid-bit about Crews is that he has been fooling us!  He will take a few steps here & there, but knows he wants to be carried everywhere!  The other day Bekah was here and she said Crews just walked across the living room!!!  I told her it had to be Maverick, but I look down at my feet and Maverick was right there with me!!  Lol!  I have yet to see Crews do this, but I totally wouldn't put it past him...clever little guy!   Here is Crews doing his new kissy/fishy face - so cute!

Warner - Has been so funny lately.  He is constantly babbling away... no words, just lots and lots of babble. (all of them babble- it just seems that he is the constant one!) It made me worry a little bit b/c none of the boys have been talking & Harper was already saying about 10 words at her 1st b-day.  (once again the difference between girls and boys is just crazy!)  But, I spoke with the doctor and he said no big deal...as long as they were saying/signing 4 words by 18 months they would be right on track.  He also said it is not uncommon for there to be a delay with multiples because they create their own language.  Awesome...hope I can learn it!  :-)  Anyway, W is always babbling away or just yelling...we say he will be a preacher, politician, or singer b/c he HAS to be heard - LOL!  He definitely has his opinion about things. He shows no interest of walking on his own.  He will walk when pushing a toy, but he will not try to take any steps between two people, nor will he walk if you hold his hands.  He is a stubborn little thang, but is such a cutie patootie. 

Seriously, look at that hair!  It is styled so lovely with peas or apples or something.  I love how all my kiddos have curls.  My hair is stick straight.  The only curly headed person I can think of is Chris' mom, Jo...so THANKS Jo Jo!!! :-)

Harper - This big sister has been cracking us up lately!  One funny little girl!  She has been attending a Mother's Day Out program at our church and is absolutely loving it!  She is learning so much and her teachers say she is a very good helper.  I am very proud of her as she is the youngest in the class, but is completely holding her own!  She pottys well, naps, is kind to her friends, and is a helper!  I think she enjoys being out of the house for a little bit, too.  So, a few funny stories about Harper:

#1- I love that she has started becoming quizzical.  The infamous 'why' questions are beginning!  Sometimes they drive me nuts, but I also love that her mind is trying to figure things out.  I was putting her to bed the other night, and we were saying our prayers.  Mid-prayer she asks me, "Mommy, I want to see Jesus."  I tried to explain to her that we can't see Jesus with our eyes.  He lives in Heaven, but one day He can live in her heart if she asks Him to.  She said, ' but I want to seeeeeeee him.'  I replied, 'well, we can't see him with our eyes.'  This went back and forth for a little bit until she said, ' But, I really want to see his hair.'  LOL!  She must have seen a picture of Jesus & how he has long hair.  Oh she cracks me up!

#2- So, Harps has been doing fantastic potty training!  Staying dry all night & day!  I'm so proud of her.  She is finally not asking for M&M's anymore - maybe once a week.  Anyway, the other night she announced she needed to go potty.  I told her she could go by herself.  So off she went.  The next thing I know she is crying/yelling at the top of her lungs. I am thinking she has seen a bug or she has fallen into the potty.  Well, I walk in there and she is standing by the potty with her panties and shorts around her ankles.  I asked her what was wrong.  She told me she tried to wee-wee like Daddy and it didn't work.  Sure enough, I had missed the giant puddle she was standing in!!! (On the off chance you are wondering why she watches Chris go to the bathroom - she doesn't/hasn't in a very very looooooong time!  She must have remembered from a while ago.) Poor thing will *really* want to stand up to go potty once her brothers start potty training!!

Also, that reminds me, I recorded on twitter the other day that for the first time in 14 months we ran out of diapers!  Our church family has been so amazing to us!!  In fact, we didn't even run out because our sweet Jean (who comes to watch the boys for me on Thursday) came to our rescue with diapers in tow...and she wouldn't even let me pay for them!  God has truly provided, and we are so thankful.  I also roughly estimated that the boys (not including Harper) have used more than 9,000 diapers in 14 months!  Crazy! 

And one more pic of the boys eating at the BIG table.  Still haven't made the complete switch over, but it's fun every now and then.  I cant wait for the day where we all sit down to dinner as a big family & all the seast are filled at the table! 

 That's it for now.  I finally unloaded all the pics from my camera, so I have a ton of things to blog about.  I just need to find the time to do it!  Can anyone spare a few hours?!  ;-)

Night night~
ML