Siblings...

Once again I think I took these pictures last week. Grrr, or maybe the week before... either way, it's been so long I actually thought I had already posted them.  Whoops!  Fail. 

I know I say this a lot, but I think our kids are pretty darn cute.  

They're ever so smoochie and they snuggle pretty well almost anyday. They love each other. Boy do they love each other, and it's oh-so-fun to watch them grow up together!

Madi still loves to hold her baby brudder and she often puts her arms out to him and talks in her eighteen-octives-too-high-voice saying, "You want sissy to hold you?" "Come here, come on, I gotcha." "Aw, it's okay."

Emmitt often embraces the baby roll and crawls right into her lap. Especially if he has a warm bottle or his favorite blue cozy.  

We were driving in the car the other day and Madi said, "Mom, how old will I be when Emmitt's eight?" I told her she'd be ten. She then continued, "how 'bout when Emmitt's ten?"

"You'll be twelve."

"How 'bout when Emmitt's twelve?"

and on, and on...

I finally said, "Why do you want to be big so badly? Don't you want to be a little girl forever?"

...And sweet little Madi said, "No! The bigger I get the easier it will be for me to hold Emmitt!"

It melted my heart.

And made me laugh thinking about 12 year old Madi trying to hold 10 year old Emmitt...

This girl sure loves her little brother, and she takes her role as a big sister pretty seriously...

Oh sweet babies, please stay little forever!!!

I'm so thankful I get to spend my days with these kiddos, even on mornings that I eat cold pancakes and cold eggs with a little man crawling all over me trying to mooch his third breakfast off of someone while getting called to wipe a bottom, only to return to a table just in time to find the little monster has pulled the chair out reached across the table and grabbed my mug of milk just in time to pretend to take a drink and dump it all over himself, the chair and the floor.  

Yup, even on these mornings.  

I'm a lucky mom. =)

It's a good thing my kids are so cute. 

*sigh*

Because I still love them!!!

Rain Boots

I love days like this...

when the breaks in the rain are long enough to pull on the rain boots, put on the jackets and head across the street to the park!

So do my kids!

Emmitt stands at the window most days and points outside with his tiny little index finger, while jabbering away in his own language.  This boy would live in the backyard if we'd let him, even during the winter. He recently learned how to open the sliding glass door too (he used to lay against the window with all his might and lean until it slid open, but now he reaches the handle on his tippy toes and grunts while pulling.), and I found him wandering the backyard with the dog and some seriously soaking wet socks and pants. 

*sigh*

Thankfully it's fenced, and it's the backyard, not the front!

His nickname is Monster around here...

It's okay though, cause this girl's got a good grip on him...

(the facial expressions are endless...)

He's such a little man. 

I attempted a group boot-shot, but someone wasn't into it...

So Madi humored me. =)

I love our crazy kids! And I love our crazy life! 

We finally had to head home cause someone was doing the potty dance and grabbing her crotch! We made it home safely (and dry) though! 

Happy Monday, folks! =)

Thankful

My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving...for my family, for my friends and for the many, many continuous blessings and provisions; but I'm most thankful today for our loving Heavenly Father who has rescued us from the sin of this world.  I look forward to spending forever and forever worshiping Him.

Psalm 145

I will praise you, my God and king,

and bless your name forever and ever. 

I will bless you every day, 

and I will praise you forever. 

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

His greatness is beyond discovery!

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.

I will meditate on your majestic glorious splendor 

and your wonderful miracles.

Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;

I will proclaim your greatness. 

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;

they will sing with joy of your righteousness.

The LORD is kind and merciful,

slow to get angry, full of unfailing love.

The LORD is good to everyone. 

He showers compassion on all his creation.

All of your works will thank you, LORD, 

and your faithful followers will bless you.

They will talk together about the glory of your kingdom;

they will celebrate examples of your power.

They will tell about your mighty deeds 

and about the majesty and glory of your reign.

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

You rule generation after generation.

The LORD is faithful in all he says; 

he is gracious in all he does.

The LORD helps the fallen 

and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.

All eyes look to you for help;

you give them their food as they need it.

When you open your hand, 

you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in everything he does;

he is filled with kindness.

The LORD is close to all who call on him,

yes, to all who call on him sincerely.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

The LORD protects all those who love him,

but he destroys the wicked. 

I will praise the LORD,

and everyone on earth will bless his holy name 

forever and forever. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

The Playroom + The Lip

I ran into a little bump in the road this morning when I attempted to get away with an early morning blog entry.  Evidently I've ran out of "free" space through my blogspot account and I was no longer able to upload any pictures, without upgrading and essentially paying yet another monthly fee for something.  No, thank you! Thanks to my brother, I think I've fixed my problem.  And in all honesty, it's partially my fault for not making my pictures smaller before putting them on the blog.  It's probably rather unnecessary to upload 2-3 MB pictures, but I've just never bothered to scale them down.  So, my fellow bloggers, beware! You can't say that you haven't been warned, although you're all probably a lot smarter than me when it comes to this nonsense. 

Anyway, that's my excuse for this post being delayed. Now on to more important news:

Matt's been a bit under the weather lately, to say the least, so when he finally fell back asleep on the couch around 7:00 this morning (after sleeping less than two hours during the night) I knew Emmitt and I had to hide when he woke up ready-and-roaring at 7:30!  We locked ourselves in the playroom and I did everything I could to entertain this kid with the exception of letting him hold my camera, which you will see his reaction too soon enough... 

It worked out quite perfect.  We said sayonara to our guest bedroom at the beginning of summer and it was one of our best remodels yet.  It gets tricky to find new space in 1,092 square feet (I love zillow), but we are determined to make this place work. So, with a $10 can of chalkboard paint and a few new Target accessories, we said "wala" and created a much more useful space with a final project of a playroom/office.  Emmitt posed next to his name for me, which happened to be written on the wall from yesterday. 

This kid is a ham. 

 If you say something like, "show me your cute face," he usually does this...

Oh yeah, he knows how to work it.   

Including giving Momma kisses...

But look closely, because the next picture is the best picture of all time (although I intend to perfect a "lip" picture).  His newest thing is pouting, and oh-boy does he pout!  I refused to let him hold my camera so he tipped his head down, stuck his lip out, and then slowly, ever so slowly tilted his head up until his eyes could just barely see out... just to make sure he was getting the attention he was hoping for with the lip.  

 Wow. 

Don't feel bad for him, please.  

I promise.  He knows how to work it.  

And finally, when the lip doesn't work, he just started in with the tears...

And so I continued taking pictures of the rest of the room (don't mind the mess), while he cried on the floor.  

I just love this little pouter and I'm awfully thankful for our "new" found space to throw all the kids' crap **cough, cough** toys into. =)

Throwback and the Frog...

We're still alive.  Every time I have a two week blogging lapse, I always promise that it will be my last time.... so, I won't make that promise this time.  I'm not sure what we've been doing, but clearly not blogging, that's for sure.  Basketball season has come over us with a vengeance and the busy-ness of Daddy being gone six out of seven days has become a reality.  Tournaments are in full force and we're sneaking in family-time here and there including whole family games of hide and seek in the dark (thank you daylight savings time...) and Christmas movies and popcorn on Sunday nights.  No one feels 100% around here, but Matt has definitely been hit the hardest with strep throat and a car accident all in one week (he was rear ended at a stop light).  Thankfully, he'll be fine, our car on the other hand... RIP... 

Despite the frustrations that can come with life's obstacles (including insurance companies), we're putting one foot in front of the other and trudging on...right into the holidays!  Yay for visits from aunties and uncles and a week to spend with all of my siblings and their families!!!

As for our kiddos, I took these pictures over a week ago and haven't had a chance to post them.  I couldn't let the opportunity of another frog-shoot pass us up and I just happened to pull out a bin of clothes that my mom saved from when I was a little girl.  We often hear how much Madi looks like me (especially dressed like me), but I can't help but see Matt in her eyes!  Here's to throwback days full of Osh Kosh B'Gosh and frog costumes...

and really, really cute kids! ;)

And when enough is enough, this is what  you get...

Oh man, these pictures almost make me want to wake him up just to smooch his cheeks.  

I think I'll just wait 'til morning! ;)

Good night all! And happy Thanksgiving WEEK!!!!