disclaimer: not to worry, i wasn't being careless to grab these pictures. i was 2 {front} yards aways using a 300mm zoom lens. ;)
Just an average Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, October 30
Fox on the Run
or just laying in our neighbor's driveway after he'd visited our front steps
the animal control officer wasn't too keen on catching it bc it was still so alert.
alert but clearly sick enough to lay still
distemper or rabies
poor little guy...
i'm afraid there wont be any relocating this fox. they were talking about sending him to the state for testing since they suspected early signs of rabies.
After it was secured, we brought Addie out to take a peak at it. She was certain they would be giving it medicine to make it better. It's not every day you see a fox in your front yard!
disclaimer: not to worry, i wasn't being careless to grab these pictures. i was 2 {front} yards aways using a 300mm zoom lens. ;)
Just an average Sunday afternoon.
disclaimer: not to worry, i wasn't being careless to grab these pictures. i was 2 {front} yards aways using a 300mm zoom lens. ;)
Just an average Sunday afternoon.
Friday, October 28
Monday, October 24
Feeding the Ducks
A few weeks ago {yes, it's inevitable that I'm behind}, I took the girls to feed the ducks and have a picnic at the park. The weather was gorgeous, and I {bravely} brought my camera along.
When people comment on the little girls behavior {one being the mean one or one being the loud one or one pitching more fits or one being more laid back}, I've started to respond with only one thing: they are about as different as their hair. Because they are, and there are very few people {really just the people who live with them 24/7} that have any room to compare them, especially framing one of them in a negative light.
But feeding the ducks brought out their differences {of the day}. I never know who's going to be shy in situations and who's going to be shy with other people. I never know who's going to be more cautious and who's going to be daring.
Because it literally changes all.the.time!
As you may remember from this post, one was feeling a little more daring than the other that day...
And it carried right over into feeding the ducks.
Anne Perry would have attempted to walk on that water had I let her get that far. There wasn't a hissing goose or a jumping duck that deterred her!
Audrey Kate, on the other hand, stayed right about here. Can you see her wrapped securely between my legs with Addie's hand sweetly resting on her head?
Addie was being so brave, but a duck (or goose) came up behind her and nipped at her hand...
...and she came undone!
So I led my little ducks back to the car, and we headed to the park for picnic!
This little one continued to be less adventurous and tended to sit or crawl on the playground rather than run around.
But this little one {quite determinedly} went head on into things.
I love how different our little girls can be. I love how similar they can be. I love who each of them is individually...and how perfectly wonderful they are all together!
Perfectly wonderful...not perfect! ;)
Happy Monday (or Tuesday as it is now!)!
When people comment on the little girls behavior {one being the mean one or one being the loud one or one pitching more fits or one being more laid back}, I've started to respond with only one thing: they are about as different as their hair. Because they are, and there are very few people {really just the people who live with them 24/7} that have any room to compare them, especially framing one of them in a negative light.
Because it literally changes all.the.time!
Anne Perry would have attempted to walk on that water had I let her get that far. There wasn't a hissing goose or a jumping duck that deterred her!
...and she came undone!
So I led my little ducks back to the car, and we headed to the park for picnic!
This little one continued to be less adventurous and tended to sit or crawl on the playground rather than run around.
But this little one {quite determinedly} went head on into things.
I love how different our little girls can be. I love how similar they can be. I love who each of them is individually...and how perfectly wonderful they are all together!
Happy Monday (or Tuesday as it is now!)!
Thursday, October 20
the Girl, the Dress & the Maker
I don't write enough on here about my mom. I guess I have a tendency to take it for granted that she's in town. She's always a phone call away and most often times a very short car ride away. She never gets enough credit for all she does for us and for others, but she serves so many so selflessly.
One of our favorite things to do together is sew for the girls. Well, we plan it; and she does most of the sewing. If there's smocking involved, I do that; but she has been doing the cutting out and putting together since the little girls were born. It's been so special to see Addie and the little girls wear beautiful dresses that my mom made for me {many} years ago. I can only hope that if our girls have little girls of their own that they will find what we've made for them just as special {many} years down the road.
My mom spent several afternoons {quickly} making a sweet dress for Addie's school pictures. Addie missed taking the pictures with her class because of the stomach bug that violently attacked our family, but they let us come the last day and have hers done.
She cooperated beautifully for her school pictures in this sweet dress made by two of the most loving hands I know; and when we got home, she cooperated {almost} as beautifully for me.
Actually, right up until she'd had enough, she was a blast to photograph!
so silly and so expressive.
My main goal when taking pictures of Addie used to be to catch her eyes looking at the camera...maybe because for so long she was always headed in the opposite direction of my camera! but now I love catching her from different angles, not even looking at the camera...
because her expressions are often times so sweet.
Thank you RieRie for sewing for all four of your grandchildren! This little girl is always mighty proud to wear clothes you've made especially for her and will tell just about anyone who will listen!!
Thank you even more for what this dress stands for: your time, your talent, and your unconditional love for our family. We love you RieRie!
One of our favorite things to do together is sew for the girls. Well, we plan it; and she does most of the sewing. If there's smocking involved, I do that; but she has been doing the cutting out and putting together since the little girls were born. It's been so special to see Addie and the little girls wear beautiful dresses that my mom made for me {many} years ago. I can only hope that if our girls have little girls of their own that they will find what we've made for them just as special {many} years down the road.
My mom spent several afternoons {quickly} making a sweet dress for Addie's school pictures. Addie missed taking the pictures with her class because of the stomach bug that violently attacked our family, but they let us come the last day and have hers done.
because her expressions are often times so sweet.
Thank you RieRie for sewing for all four of your grandchildren! This little girl is always mighty proud to wear clothes you've made especially for her and will tell just about anyone who will listen!!
Thank you even more for what this dress stands for: your time, your talent, and your unconditional love for our family. We love you RieRie!
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
I Peter 4:10
Friday, October 14
Thursday, October 13
Happy Dance
some days, the little girls wake up in a not too happy frame of mind from their morning snooze.
other days, they are in the best of spirits.
monday was one of those happy wake-up days!
It was before the attack of the stomach bug that hit Addie early (3am) Tuesday morning. We thought we'd contained it until about 9:30 Wednesday night when it hit again. This time? Audrey Kate. At least at 3 we can explain to Addie why she's throwing up & that it is going to get better. A 17 month old just looks at you with pleading eyes begging you to make it stop.
here are several videos strung together after i edited out a little whining and half naked 3 year old. A wonderful reminder of where we'll be back to before we know it! my favorite is the last clip of audrey kate.
can we say happy dance?
That's what I'll be doing when this stomach bug has fully exited our home!
other days, they are in the best of spirits.
monday was one of those happy wake-up days!
It was before the attack of the stomach bug that hit Addie early (3am) Tuesday morning. We thought we'd contained it until about 9:30 Wednesday night when it hit again. This time? Audrey Kate. At least at 3 we can explain to Addie why she's throwing up & that it is going to get better. A 17 month old just looks at you with pleading eyes begging you to make it stop.
here are several videos strung together after i edited out a little whining and half naked 3 year old. A wonderful reminder of where we'll be back to before we know it! my favorite is the last clip of audrey kate.
can we say happy dance?
That's what I'll be doing when this stomach bug has fully exited our home!
Wednesday, October 12
Wordless Wednesday
if you're on facebook, you've seen this...but it's definitely blog worthy too!
riding the cow train (with mommy who's hanging on for dear life!) on her first school field trip to the punkin patch!
more non-iphone pictures to come!
more non-iphone pictures to come!
Tuesday, October 11
Happiness is...
found in the normal, average day with a
quick trip to the fall (aka mall, which is apparently a place we don't go often/ever so Addie had no idea what it was!)...
...to experience firsts even at age 3: riding the merry-go-round.
then eating pretzels and watching ice skaters (which, according to Addie, made our mall adventures for the day total in 3)
Addie's comment when we got home: Mommy, thank you for taking me to ride the merry-go-round. I had SO much fun going to the mall with you!
quick trip to the fall (aka mall, which is apparently a place we don't go often/ever so Addie had no idea what it was!)...
...to experience firsts even at age 3: riding the merry-go-round.
Addie's comment when we got home: Mommy, thank you for taking me to ride the merry-go-round. I had SO much fun going to the mall with you!
Monday, October 10
Sighs, Shoves, & Spit
I know I've said many times on here that I thinking parenting little ones is probably the most challenging (and most rewarding!) thing I've ever done. But it's tough. Some days are tougher than others to {attempt} to be consistent, patient, calm & firm at the same time, and follow through on consequences. In fact, the other day was downright exhausting. I'd all but lost my voice from allergies, so every word I spoke took extra effort; and goodness knows I can't not talk and still parent three little girls all.day.long.
We talk (ha, when I can talk!) a lot (and i mean a lot) around here about honoring our father and mother and how to do that. But not just doing it, doing it with a happy heart. I fully understand that no child will ever {always} like what they are being asked to do or actually always {want} to do it, but goodness knows it is vital to teach them to have a willing, grateful, obedient heart! We're in an intense growing, molding, and training stage of their lives. It makes for some long days. Some extreme exhaustion. And lots of time spent in prayer. But the breakthroughs are priceless.
This post is not so much about those breakthroughs but maybe the breakdowns. There have been a few things that have come out of Addie's mouth recently where I've had to use all the self-control I can muster not to laugh (or cry!) or over-react. We don't tolerate sassiness or talking back and absolutely not direct defiance, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen!
I wrote down a few things Addie said so I could share them with Paul when he got home. Clearly she didn't get away with most of this. There were consequences. But it doesn't mean we didn't get a good laugh out of {some of} what she said later!
---
Addie picked up Audrey Kate. When questioned {and reminded that we don't and why we don't}, she informed me that she was just doing gymnastics with Audrey Kate.
Addie pushed Audrey Kate later. In the discussion as she pointed at the door, she told me that sign on the door says push! I'm all about imagination, but this is stretching it!
As I was getting out of the shower, I realized that Finn was chewing on something. That something happened to be one of my favorite black shoes that I had told Addie to put back in our closet as she was prancing around in them the day before. Oh.My.Word! She and Finn were in big trouble! Her {excited} response: but mommy, look, he didn't chew the other one! >:-/
Her newest thing is to sigh at us when we dont do something fast enough or just don't do what she wants us to to. Not.gonna.cut.it. I reminded her {once} not to sigh at me. Her response: I wasn't sighing mommy, I was just breathing.
Swishing spit around in her mouth for the umpteenth time, i {gently with a this-is-ridiculously-gross-and-has-got-to-stop voice} asked her what we are supposed to do with our spit {really? are we talking about spit? swallow it!}. She said: i was just making up a song with my spit mommy {?}.
HUH?
But then when her baby sister cries (not from anything she's done!), she goes and finds a pacie or her lovie and brings it to them.
She loves to help us, especially cook.
She reminds me multiple times daily that: God watches over us, We don't need to be afraid because God watches over us (I'm pretty sure she's reminding herself of this too). And that God loves us {so} much.
And more frequently than I ever imagined possible, she looks up at me and {randomly} sweetly says, I love you, Mommy.
...this too shall pass, the good and the not so good, but we're committed to the training and loving and teaching all while working extra hard to enjoy every.step.of.the.journey we've been blessed to walk with our girls!
------
Addie's verse at school this month is Luke 1:37 - For nothing is impossible with God.
A sweet reminder of God's truth...even for the little things in life.
We talk (ha, when I can talk!) a lot (and i mean a lot) around here about honoring our father and mother and how to do that. But not just doing it, doing it with a happy heart. I fully understand that no child will ever {always} like what they are being asked to do or actually always {want} to do it, but goodness knows it is vital to teach them to have a willing, grateful, obedient heart! We're in an intense growing, molding, and training stage of their lives. It makes for some long days. Some extreme exhaustion. And lots of time spent in prayer. But the breakthroughs are priceless.
I wrote down a few things Addie said so I could share them with Paul when he got home. Clearly she didn't get away with most of this. There were consequences. But it doesn't mean we didn't get a good laugh out of {some of} what she said later!
---
Addie picked up Audrey Kate. When questioned {and reminded that we don't and why we don't}, she informed me that she was just doing gymnastics with Audrey Kate.
Addie pushed Audrey Kate later. In the discussion as she pointed at the door, she told me that sign on the door says push! I'm all about imagination, but this is stretching it!
Her newest thing is to sigh at us when we dont do something fast enough or just don't do what she wants us to to. Not.gonna.cut.it. I reminded her {once} not to sigh at me. Her response: I wasn't sighing mommy, I was just breathing.
HUH?
But then when her baby sister cries (not from anything she's done!), she goes and finds a pacie or her lovie and brings it to them.
She loves to help us, especially cook.
She reminds me multiple times daily that: God watches over us, We don't need to be afraid because God watches over us (I'm pretty sure she's reminding herself of this too). And that God loves us {so} much.
And more frequently than I ever imagined possible, she looks up at me and {randomly} sweetly says, I love you, Mommy.
...this too shall pass, the good and the not so good, but we're committed to the training and loving and teaching all while working extra hard to enjoy every.step.of.the.journey we've been blessed to walk with our girls!
------
Addie's verse at school this month is Luke 1:37 - For nothing is impossible with God.
Wednesday, October 5
(almost) Wordless Wednesday
love.them.all.
Monday, October 3
Gulf Shores: family time aka picture time!
Our time in Gulf Shores was laid back, relaxing, and enjoyable. We spent time with family on the beach, at Lulu's, and sitting on the balcony listening to the waves. The one request from Papa Ray and Mama Pat was a picture of everyone wearing their favorite team colors. Our family? Bulldogs, Elephants, and Tigers. Everyone else? Elephants, Tigers, and Tarheels. Unfortunately {grin}, the Elephants outnumbered everyone 9 to 6. Notice I said outnumbered...not won! ;)
I know for a fact that it takes a downright miracle to capture an even semi-decent family shot of the five of us.
Try throwing in 6 more adults, another kid and a baby...
AND two dogs!!!
And it's down right impossible!
I quit trying to transplant heads and move eyes and just kept the moments as they were.
Because that's what it's all about, capturing the moments: the silliness. the complete absurdity (of holding a 25lb baby on each hip for a good 10 minutes!). the tears and the laughter. the smiles and the closeness. the moment.
We started with Pat's daughter and her family and added my dad and Pat (and Bama Girl of course!)
My poor dad was seriously outnumbered here!
I then handed my camera over to Charlene (thank you Charlene and Sara for being such patient, wonderful photographers!), and we added the Root kids and their families.
Squirming toddlers, cranky preschoolers, teary babies, and distracted canines...
And out went the Moseley's and dad so we could grab some shots of my brother and me and our families. By then, my arms were aching; but Anne Perry and Audrey Kate weren't budging. My favorite {outtake} is the first one where I'm desperately trying to rearrange babies and failing miserably!
But I thought this one turned out pretty cute :)
...except Guinness (the dog) got distracted by something on the beach. oh well. :)
I jumped back behind my camera to get a few shots of my absolutely adorably handsome nephew, Tucker, and his beautiful mama and daddy!
But before that, we attempted to grab some of the Root kids, their families, and Papa Ray and Mama Pat.
I will admit though that is has to be the funniest of them all. My dad and Pat calmly smiling (you know: don't look at the kids, look at the camera so when the kids do look, we'll get everyone looking!) but with complete chaos going on behind them! I will admit they were a photographers dream. Us on the other hand...
...we captured the moments.
So Successful it was deemed.
Papa Ray and Mama Pat, thank you for hosting us for the weekend, providing some seriously delicious meals, and creating an enjoyable environment for everyone! We loved spending time with all of you!
I know for a fact that it takes a downright miracle to capture an even semi-decent family shot of the five of us.
Try throwing in 6 more adults, another kid and a baby...
AND two dogs!!!
And it's down right impossible!
I quit trying to transplant heads and move eyes and just kept the moments as they were.
Because that's what it's all about, capturing the moments: the silliness. the complete absurdity (of holding a 25lb baby on each hip for a good 10 minutes!). the tears and the laughter. the smiles and the closeness. the moment.
We started with Pat's daughter and her family and added my dad and Pat (and Bama Girl of course!)
I then handed my camera over to Charlene (thank you Charlene and Sara for being such patient, wonderful photographers!), and we added the Root kids and their families.
And out went the Moseley's and dad so we could grab some shots of my brother and me and our families. By then, my arms were aching; but Anne Perry and Audrey Kate weren't budging. My favorite {outtake} is the first one where I'm desperately trying to rearrange babies and failing miserably!
But I thought this one turned out pretty cute :)
I jumped back behind my camera to get a few shots of my absolutely adorably handsome nephew, Tucker, and his beautiful mama and daddy!
So Successful it was deemed.
Papa Ray and Mama Pat, thank you for hosting us for the weekend, providing some seriously delicious meals, and creating an enjoyable environment for everyone! We loved spending time with all of you!
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