November- First Half Quicktakes

I can hardly believe it's just days until Christmas.  I feel like November just started...but somehow it's already long over, so here are some highlights from the first half of last month.  

 

My dear friend, Megan (pictured above), offered to take a few family pictures for us because she knows how much I love pictures, but also how much I fear spending a lot of time and effort and money for something that, with kids, could be a bit of a disaster.  

Just a few sweet sneak peeks.  Swoon. 

 

Early in November, Chris saw an opportunity online to spread love.  A boy dying from cancer, who isn't expected to make it until Christmas wanted to celebrate early this year.  He requested Christmas cards from people near and far.  The girls all enjoyed designing (or helping design) Christmas cards and writing encouraging notes.  As I read them, I could not have been more proud and cry all kinds of ugly happy-tears.  Children are so pure and beautiful.  

          

          

         

          

These moments and experiences are ones I want to remember forever.  These moments are what I want our kids to live each day for the rest of their lives.  Love.  Kindness.  Peace.  Encouragement.  

 

Just Kolbe acting like a goofball. 

 

Our Florida food study was Cuban sandwiches.  

They were delicious.  

Additionally, I spent a good amount of time squeezing key limes (can you say hand cramps?) to make a key lime pie to celebrate our Florida study as well.  

It was also delicious.  

Chris came home one evening with a sweet bouquet of flowers for me. He sure knows how to win my heart over and over again all day every day.   

Elise also wanted to take pictures of them.  

She added colored pencils to the vase though for a more creative flair.  

Dress up is a normal occurrence around here.  It's usually princesses or pirate princesses or fairy princesses though....but not this day.  This day was monsters and allicorns.  

 

ha.  hahahahahahaha

 

Georgia state food study was also yummy.  Fried chicken and biscuits.  

Kayla's ballet studio had a parent observation week.  Sophie came along with me to watch Kayla.  She insisted on her own ballet leotard and wanted to join in the whole time.  I let her join the stretches from the back of the room.  

 

She was fairly impressive really.  Kayla did well as well.  

           

           

           

And that's a wrap on the first half of November.  

7QT Friday: Visitors, Anniversary, and Thankyous

Because all those things clearly go together right?

1. Breakfast guests

Last Saturday we had some dear friends (Chris' best man and his lovely wife) over for breakfast.  We broke out of the normal dinner guests, and it was a blast.  I made an egg casserole and a french toast casserole and Nic and Monica brought fruit and it was all yummy.  And then we just chatted and caught up on each other's lives and it was just wonderful.  

2. Thank Yous

(just a few photos of some of the sweet gifts we've received for little Kolbe)

I am slowly but surely working on actual thank yous to all the generous family members and friends who have poured love on us since Kolbe's birth.  We have received helpful household items, meals, diapers, wipes, and sweet little BOY clothes.  This is my official way of making sure that everyone gets thanked even if a thank you card somehow gets forgotten in the coming weeks.  We also had one sweet onesie ("Ladies, I have arrived!")  that came without a note, so we don't know who to thank.  So here is the blanket THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts in case we miss anyone.  You have all been so kind and supportive and generous as we transition to life with 5 kids.  

3. 8th Anniversary

We celebrated 8 years earlier this week, and for the second time in those 8 years we had babysitters on our actual anniversary.  Last year Chris' parents were in town and they watched the girls so we could go out and this year my parents were in town, so they watched the girls.  Kolbe was our third wheel/chaperone and what a sweet one.  He slept pretty much the entire time.   Chris found an amazing restaurant and we celebrated with delicious food and a wonderfully chosen bottle of wine. 

4. Nana and Granddaddy visit

 

My parents came into town for a few days to meet Kolbe.  Kayla, Elise, and Ava have been just about non-stop playing board games, reading books, and playing "hide the marble" around the house.  We've taken some lovely evening walks, gone to the nearby park and playground, and enjoyed s'mores at our fire pit tonight.  My mom helped out with cleaning and went shopping and picked up some helpful and useful household items for us.  The oldest 3 gals have gone to daily Mass with them each day and earlier today we all went to the library together to pick out new books.  My parents love reading as much as our kids do, so it was a pretty exciting excursion for everyone.  

5. Dinner guests

We invited the neighbor (who is recovering from a stroke) and her friend (who is visiting from New York) over for dinner yesterday.  It was so much fun and everyone had a really nice time.  My mom and our neighbor became fast friends and talked late into the night after we'd all gone to bed.  Kindred spirits, as Anne Shirley would put it.  

6. Ava's Early Birthday Celebration

Since my parents were here, and Ava rarely gets to celebrate her birthday with either set of grandparents, we decided to celebrate a little early.  Her 4th birthday is next Saturday, but we celebrated last night with my parents and Clare (our neighbor) and her friend (Carolyn).  Clare brought strawberry shortcake and we sang Happy Birthday, and Ava was in 7th heaven.  She told everyone excitedly the rest of the night that "I'm the BIRTHDAY girl!"

7. Four Weeks

Kolbe is 4 weeks old today, and we are loving his silly/cute faces, his amazing sleeping and napping abilities, and his hearty appetite.  He's a keeper.  ;)  

Link up with your 7 quicktakes over at This Ain't the Lyceum

7QT- It's nearly the MIDDLE of AUGUST??

Joining up for 7 Quicktakes Friday with Kelly of This Ain't the Lyceum .  Definitely check out the link-up--always so many interesting blogs and tidbits!

1. Pregnancy updates

I'm still pregnant (duh).  I'm at 36 weeks.  

I am for the first time ever NOT positive for Group Strep B, which means I do NOT have to get antibiotics at the hospital before delivery (which by the way, I never get, because--fast deliveries (or haven't you read some of my birth stories?).  Normally we have to stay at the hospital longer and baby has to get checked out a bunch because I've always been group strep b + and I almost never get the antibiotics dosage before baby comes barreling out.  This is GREAT news for me.  I don't know what made a difference.  The changes in my life this pregnancy were that I went gluten free for my thyroid, lowered processed sugar significantly, and I take probiotics regularly.  Or it could be totally random that I am negative this time, but whatever the reason, I'll take it!!!

2. Hatchprints SALE!

One of my favorite shops in the world (I LOVE her prints) is having an awesome SALE!  From her FB page:  "SALE - Buy one, get one! Buy any single print and get any other print of the same size FREE. Sale excludes The Seasonal package and cards. No coupon code needed; please write what print you would like in the notes section at checkout. For example, if you buy five 8x10 prints, write the names of the five extra 8x10 prints you want. Sale ends Saturday, August 13th at 11:59PM Pacific or until supplies run out. Great time to stock up on gifts!" 

So definitely go and check out Hatchprints and snag up some lovely prints! 

This print in the frame is one of hers that I have by the kitchen sink "God walks amid the pots and pans" - St. Teresa of Avila

3. Hormones

I have been a hot mess this week.  The flowers in the picture above are from Chris because I was just on an emotional roller coaster this week.  Up and down and up and down.  

A dear friend and mentor from my old mom's group also sent me a beautiful card with lovely words of encouragement because she knew that I was having a bit of a rough time recently.  

And another wonderful friend here, Megan, brought lovely sunflowers another day when her family came for dinner.  It was such a breath of fresh air in my emotional week to hang out with another amazing family and to get a beautiful bunch of sunshine-y flowers.  She's having surgery today, by the way, so keep her in your prayers.  

4. Baby's arrival guesses

This week we put our official arrival day guesses up on the calendar.  

Chris: Sept. 7

Me: Sept. 5

Kayla: Sept. 9 (the due date--she wants baby to be a due date baby like she was)

Elise: Sept. 16

Ava: Sept. 3

Sophie: Sept. 13

And then we just randomly put everyone's names on other surrounding dates to fill the calendar up for the week and a half before and after the due date.  Whoever's name is one the actual arrival day gets a prize.  Chocolate for Chris and I and if it's one of the kids, they get the first turn holding baby at the hospital.  

5. Last Summer Concert in the Park

A park near us has summer concerts and last week was the final one.  It was a Frank Sinatra-style cover band and it was really fun to listen to.  

concert selfie--minus Chris

6. Fly Me to the Moon

It really was such a nice, relaxing, enjoyable concert.  Take a listen. 

                             

7.  Tumbling Camp

Kayla, Elise, and Ava all attended a little 2-hour tumbling camp together and loved it.  There's Elise on the rings.  

They all wanted to go again next summer.  Or tomorrow.  Whichever comes first.  ;)