Gifts, Priorities and Miracles

My wonderful kids made me a birthday sign.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.  All of the hashtags crack me up.  Stella's drawing in the bottom right also cracks me up.  Heartfelt cards are better than any gift.  

 Boy or Girl?  Bag is packed and we will most likely find out this week.

The women I have been in a Bible study with the last 5 + years threw me a little surprise shower last week.  You really don't expect anything for baby #5.  It was very unexpected and thoughtful.  And I am still dreaming about the coconut cupcakes.

Some (maybe most) people would not think it is wise to drive 2 hours away from your hospital when you are 39 weeks pregnant for a haircut.  Every trip we had planned to Ohio the past three months was thwarted for one reason or another so we were all desperate for haircuts.  Vanity won over wisdom and we are all feeling much lighter!  This was my favorite photo of the day.

Stella napped on baby this week.  She hasn't napped (other than an occasional nap on road trips) in longer than I can remember.  Miracles do happen.

Isa's Golden Birthday

This beautiful one turned 8 on the 8th this year.  I didn't know Golden Birthdays were a thing until I was an adult.  I feel so deprived that my mom missed mine when I turned 7 on the 7th.  (Ha.  Just kidding, mom.)  We had family over for brunch and kept her day really low key.  Less people and presents equals a more relaxed Isa.

Isa is doing amazing at school.  She works so hard for her teachers and they are proud of how far she has come this year in her focus and desire to learn.  (Once she gets home from school, it's a whole 'nother story.  Homework is punishment for us all.)  Her homeroom teacher said she is such a kind and helpful girl to all of her classmates and is always including the kids that feel on the outside.  Dear Isa, we couldn't ask for anything more than for you to be courageous in loving those around you and seeing everyone as the special person that they are.  

Cinnamon rolls and angel food cake in the same day?  Wha Wha.  That's a good day.

Grandparents went together to buy Isa a new bike.  She has looked like a circus bear on her little bike for a year now.  The style and colors fit her personality so well.

Drew and I took Isa and one of her good friends, Laynie, out to dinner and to paint pottery on Saturday night.  It was fun to interact with Isa without her siblings.  She and Laynie laughed and giggled and enjoyed the night so much.

The pottery place had neat little bowls, plates, mugs, containers, etc.  I suggested lots of uses for all of those items but they had eyes only for a little penguin.  We can pick the penguins up after tomorrow.  Isa is excited to see how the penguin will be transformed from chalky looking to shiny and smooth.

Happy Birthday, Eloisa.  You make our days a lot more colorful.  We love you and are so proud of you!

Fall Break and Trick or Treating

Okay, phew.  Getting close to present day.  

We helped Drew's parents get settled in their new house the first weekend of the kids' Fall Break.  I had a blast.  The kids had fun with boxes and packing paper but definitely had moments of boredom/neglect as the adults focused on unpacking and projects.  Here they are waiting in cages for us to pick out a toy storage solution.  

I finally got to see Tai's new house.  It's amazing.  No surprise there.  Her baby boy arrived last Monday.  He's adorable.  No surprise there.

 Spencer Farms.

I can't stop loving watching Stella on her scooter.  She is so fast and confident and flies around campus.  She was going so fast the other day I thought to myself, "She is faster on that than she is on a bike.  She should probably have a helmet on."

We didn't have power for 6 hours two Mondays ago because a squirrel got into some substation?  We went and got a pizza in Marion and stopped for ice on the way home in case power didn't come back before we went to bed.  The boys wanted to carry the bags of ice.  They all thought it was such a fun adventure.

Two weekends ago Gwen and I took our older kids to Purdue University for a free all day Space Camp.  They had a good day and Gwen and I enjoyed time together having coffee and roaming around Joann's and Target without kids.  We picked up Jimmy Johns and met the kids for lunch.  It was perfect weather.

It was 75 and sunny a week ago and then 40 degrees and sleeting/hailing/raining for Trick or Treating on Friday. Worst Trick or Treating weather since we have lived here.  We bailed about half way through at the kids' request.  We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with friends in a warm house with hot chocolate.  Much better.  Benjamin and Sam wanted to be a two headed man.  Watching them maneuver around town was the best part of my night.  People laughed so much at them.  Isa was Wyld Style from the Lego Movie.  And Stella was Anna from Frozen.  

Drew and I did a few hours worth of leaf removal from our yard on Saturday.  The kids were counterproductive.  Drew said more than once, "We need a few teenagers, ASAP."  Ha.

Soccer and Wedding

Benjamin's soccer tournament fell on the same day as a wedding Drew was in.  We made it to the first game in the morning and they won.  My mom took the kids to the second game which was played during the reception.  My mom and a friend texted us updates and they lost 1-0.  They had lots of shots on goal, ran so hard, but just couldn't get anything in the net.  My passionate oldest about broke my mom's heart with his tears.  Drew and I felt so bad we weren't there to hug him.  Learning to lose is hard.

Bowtie fun.  Steve and Kate's wedding was beautiful and it was such a joy to celebrate with them.

Random Photos

Garage Sale dress I was given over Labor Day.  Loved it.

Isaac and Isa entertained themselves through a Tin Caps game by putting a bag and hat on Isaac's head.  Their laughs were absolutely contagious.

Sam loves art so much.  Unfortunately, Eastbrook only has Art the 1st and 3rd quarters.  He and I did a few projects together when he was mourning starting music 2nd quarter.  This 3D hand was such a fun and easy project he and I worked on.  Last week he was thrilled when I got him in private art lessons at Taylor.

We are Community Connections for 3rd North English at Taylor.  They all come over for s'mores back in September.  Time with this floor the past three years has been the highlight of Isa's life.  She did all of their hair this particular evening.

 Sam pointed out this heart in one of our patio rocks.  It now makes me smile every time I pass by it.

 Isa likes to sit at the piano and write music.  I really need to get her in some lessons.

Stella and I are still enjoying learning a new letter each week.  G week she worked on this picture of her great, glamorous, grandmas.

Stella's friend has the friendliest, most tolerant, relaxed kitten I have ever met.  It almost made me want one.  She pretended it was her baby all morning.

 Sunset and America's Funniest Home Videos.  Perfect evening.

 Braids.

 Our little playroom upstairs is one of my favorite spots to read with the kids.  Cozy.