"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully."

-Sally Clarkson from the Mission of Motherhood

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Fall Festivities

October was pretty packed with lots of Fall festivities.  It's fun to add more action to the calendar as the kids get older!
Let's start with a laugh...
Pretty great in the digital age that you don't have to order every picture that comes home from school.  You can just keep the proof. :)
He's smiling so naturally.  ???

Hilarious.  I don't think he could make that face again if he tried.

Ok on to the action...
Clark was up first with a Fall party at school.  Be afraid, people!

He has the BEST teacher (not that I'm biased), Mrs. Kristiana, whom he adores. 

Clark the tiger sat next to Doc McStuffins.  IS THAT NOT THE CUTEST GIRL/COSTUME YOU HAVE EVER SEEN???  I may or may not have debated taking her home with me!!
(disclaimer: if you do not have a preschooler, you will not understand it.  then you should google her.)



Ah!  I love the over smiling that preschoolers do!  The whole class.

After snack, we went up to the gym for some games.  Bowling!



Clark loves the "sensory table".  Any form or fashion!

Discovering with Dorothy aka Claire

Crash!
Later that week AnnMarie had a "Costume parade"  at gymnastics...

She found cousin Brooks!

A little Hokey Pokey with Maggie

Her rotation group.  I think I caught them just after the "official" picture.  I promise they are usually happy!
The next night our church had a Fall Festival...
We love cats so much that we just couldn't help but dress like them for Halloween!!!
NOT
Flowchart explanation:
Firstborn wants to be leopard (no, no plan Bs)-------->
Fine. Mommy wants them to coordinate.  (no, no plan Bs) ;)------->
Mommy finds a tiger costume at local consignment store (score, he likes anything "scary", we can call him an Auburn tiger, and hey, they're both in the cat family!)------->
Now Mommy has a nerdy plan.  MC can be a sweet little kitty---------->
Check EBay.  Bingo.  Done.--------->
Pretty funny because Sean is allergic to cats, and I do not particularly love them.
But anyway, Happy Halloween!!
We ran into our cousins!  The cutest fireman and clown you've ever seen!

Cool girls hangin by the backdrop (her sweet buddy Ava Grace)

Giant slide!!!!!!!!!
The next day we were invited to a pumpkin party complete with a real pumpkin patch, bounce house, hayride, food, and crafts, oh and smores!  So fun!...
Seriously the best I could get.  Out of 60.

My little crafter!
And that was all BEFORE Halloween! :)  Gettin some use out of these costumes!  woohoo!  

We went over to some friends of ours on actual Halloween night for some yummy dinner and trick or treating.  We LOVE our neighborhood 364 days out of the year.  Halloween is the only night we don't.  :) (no street lights, lots of bumps and hills, and no sidewalks)  Sooooo, we are thankful for friends that let us come to them instead!...
Daddy and Miss Kitty

Pinterest of course :) and easy schmeasy
Mary Claire's, little ladybug friend, Lainey.  Isn't she a doll???  She belongs to the "mistify people with our newborn hair" club as well.

The big kids were READY.  In case you can't see, that's the Big Bad Wolf with one of his three little pigs as well as a blushing bride.  ADORABLE

CANDY!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember that bride?  Here she is: Lila.  Is she not the cutest thing??  She called AnnMarie her cousin.  Sweetie!!!

Snuck in a family shot!

Poor Clark sadly walking away from a door....

Because the people wrote "NO CANDY' on the door.  Halloween scrooges!

And last but not least, we ran into some big boy friends of ours who were none other than Uncle Si and Phil from Duck Dynasty.  First place costume winners in my book!!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Mary Claire is 8 months!

Another wonderful month with our baby girl!
Taking in Bubba's soccer game with Papa

Cousin time!

Playing catch with Bubba

On a lunch date with Mommy and Daddy

Playing in the car with Mommy

Playdate with Grant---bad hair day!  Hope Grant can see past it!



We've had to resort to the "Pebbles" do at times.  It helps!

Mommy tried to sneak a sweet picture of how angelic she is when she eats right before bed.  That sweet chubby face and hands!

She's learning to wrestle...


Is learning to love the swing!

Likes to pose for Mommy

Went to more soccer games for Clarky---glad SC is there to play with!

A little snuggle time before bed with AnnMarie

Enjoying the shade and some talk time with Sissy

Was petted by some guy in a hoodie
Um Bubba's room is treacherous...  Good thing we're not crawling yet...

Got to go to big school to have lunch with Sissy

So funny!  We took a trip to Midland, and it was so dry that her hair was almost "relaxed" and had little curl!  Looks a lot longer! :)

Got to go to her first volleyball game and cheer for cousin Madison!  Go #20!!  It was so much fun.  She was so content, and finally drifted off to sleep in Aunt Jana's arms.

The volleyball star!

Matched with big sister and cousin SC at church.  Cuteee little angels!

*Started saying "Bay" for her baby doll :)

*Looves her bottles and still doesn't like baby food.  sigh.  Gonna start trying more table food.  Maybe that will help?  She's got six teeth so hopefully so!

*Rolls EVERYWHERE, and is kind of starting to show signs of crawling, but it hasn't happened yet.  Honestly, Mommy is glad because I think the Lord knows I can't keep up with anything else right now! :)