The Rest of Fall

As promised, here are pics through Thanksgiving to get the blog caught up! 

The kids are SO excited for Christmas, they could hardly focus on school work this week. Only about 3 days left now!

 

My walking buddies

Our church's annual bonfire

Hannie's expression was precious when she realized she was chosen as the "mystery bell ringer" that week.

My sister Beth and her hubby Aaron were here from Texas for Thanksgiving! 

He's a good sport!

We also got to visit with Mike's side of the family for the afternoon. Here's a cousin pic with Max & Rudy!

 

It was so good to see Gran'mommy.

We got to take a few minutes for the cousins to play at the park.

Aunt Sarah & baby Mary at a different park play date 

Silly boys 

Another cousin photo thanks to Sally!

My funny girl

This was Charis's first year to come with me to our annual ladies' Christmas dinner & cookie swap at church. (For girls 8 and up). It was so special having my girl there!

I'm so proud of our little ladies & humbled to be having another one soon!

Handsome guy. Too cute.

The girls finished up their music class for the semester with 3 different performances. Charis & Hannah memorized their speaking parts and were  very brave!

Just loved this outfit.

Gingerbread house party!

As the kids finished the gingerbread houses, our first snow of the season started. We got several inches & it made for lots of snowy fun for a couple of days.

Decorating for Christmas

Hannie's first snowman! 

Pop & Fig came to babysit while I went to the big ultrasound, then all the grandparents came to watch the girls' bell concert.

Four of the sweetest blessings. 

Ok this is really more like them.

Celebrating a birthday with friends 

We visited our old neighbors, and the kids were thrilled to see Hailey!

He snuggles with me on the couch in the mornings 

She felt like big stuff with makeup on (thanks to Charis's beauty shop)

October

Here we are, a week away from Christmas, and I have to start updates way back in October because I don't want to miss anything! I hope to post Thanksgiving photos this week, too. Our "unlimited data" (or so they call it) runs out quickly most months, which leaves us with a connection that's too slow to upload pictures. 

Before we begin, we have to include the most important current event: we found out that we're having a baby GIRL! We seem to specialize in that kind of baby, so no big surprise around here. The girls (and Mike and I) are thrilled, and Nathanael is too young to care what kind of baby it is.  He and Mike decided to start their own man club. They've been planning club events like playing dinosaurs and growing up to become farmers together.

Enjoying the fire pit in our back yard before it got too chilly

Charis and I had an afternoon out to get our hair done! She was brave and decided to go short.

So excited!

And so pretty

Learning to play chess

Bethany turned FIVE in October! Our sweet Bethy with the gentle, nurturing heart, who still loves to play Little Mommy but has also added Legos to her favorite hobbies. She is so easily entertained, quick to giggle, and always eager to be my little helper. We love you our darlin' Bethany!

We loved being outside this fall.

Belle and Prince Charming danced to a Disney song together after Bethy opened birthday gifts

Aunt Sarah was here for a visit, as well as Baby Mary!

About to blow out the candles

This little guy came to get me in the night but must have gotten too tired, because he fell asleep on the floor next to my bed!

Cub's lanky, awkward phase

I took the kids to tour a replica of the Hebrew Tabernacle in Richmond. I thought it was fascinating, but they were more interested in the treat from McD's that we got afterwards!

These two girls giggle at EVERYTHING together!

Figgy & Pop came too!

After Bethany's birthday, we swapped cousins. Susannah stayed with us for a sleepover, and Than went home with the Ackers for his first sleepover with John! They had a blast.

Buddies!

Happy Birthday, ladies

Sally somehow manages to snap these sweet cousin shots

Pretty church ladies!

We enjoyed PE with our home school group. It was fun to meet lots of new families this year!

Mike turned 37! I think we all know what milestone is right around the corner...

One of our precious Pop Days that we love so much

Looking at the pile of socks with no match he says, "Braeby, I don't know how you sleep at night. I couldn't live with myself." So I have to explain that in a large family, the colors need not match. If socks are the same style, or even feel similar on your feet, that is a match.

Love our walks in the mornings.

A little treat to sweeten things up

Running errands with Daddy

Granna & Grandaddy came for a visit in October too!

My girl can ride a bike without training wheels now! Our walks are a lot faster these days, and I can't wait to order a jogging stroller so I can keep up when Baby comes!