Here's a bunch o' random pictures from my phone - things that are part of our everyday life and I want to remember.
Gracen is SO BORED without her brothers around. She and Alden and Eli are all pretty close in age and this is the first year that she's home alone. Fortunately we've met a couple of great playmates for Gracen but we still seem to have a lot of "down" time for her.
We have been loving harvest time. Jaron's parents are generous with their garden spoils and we're the grateful recipients since we aren't yet able to have a garden of our own. The picture below is roasted tomato soup and salad, a dinner made almost entirely out of their garden.
Harvest time makes me feel like I'm turning Amish, but without the faith. I had that thought one night when we were having chicken noodle soup made from home grown chickens, home made chicken stock, garden carrots and onions, and homemade noodles. Haha. Yummo.
I get significantly more clumsy as pregnancy goes on. I used to think it all must be in my head but it just can't be. In the last week I have dropped a pan of pizzas and a pan of muffins into the bottom of the oven as I was pulling them out. The picture below happened when I was making bread and accidentally dropped the yeast mixture bowl into the Bosch, while it was running. Then in my frantic panic, I accidentally turned it up to high instead of turning it off. Oi. Bread batter everywhere!
I sent these pictures to Jaron at work one day. My super happy, always laughing toddler just had a bad day one day. He was just so sad and I couldn't figure it out. I didn't get a lot done that day. :( But I did get in some big baby snuggles. :)
We've been hitting up our local Lowe's for their kid building workshops. As I've said before, we love free fun around here. It always ends up in tears at some point for my easily frustrated, perfectionist Eli but it is overall a great time. I love Gracen's concentration here (and, yes, she's wearing a clown costume. But her fashion sense has been discussed here before.). :)
The Reedster is a pretty independent guy. He often plays alone in the kids' bedrooms (Cars, mostly. He'll lay on the ground and roll them back and forth, watching their wheels and making a little "vroom" sound.)
He also likes to play outside. Loves it when his siblings let him jump but he'll also wander out there on his own. He's finally mastered the screen door himself so now he can get out, climb the slide onto the tramp, and go out and jump all by himself. Too unbelievably cute! So THANKFUL for a fenced in backyard. And a trampoline. Love it.
Reed also absolutely loves to "help" clean up these days. He'll clean up toys, wipe things down if he finds a cloth, and loves to get in my way help with my chores. I've learned that it's best to give him the broom a few minutes before I actually want to sweep and let him wipe down the mirrors first. He also helps change out the laundry and is especially good at unfolding piles of clean laundry. If only all my kids were so eager to help!
It was a way hot September around here. Since each of my babies has gotten bigger, this trimester is mission "do not have a ten pound baby." We've been walking the mile and a half each way up to the hospital for all our doctor appointments. One morning on the way home, Gracen felt it necessary to run in the school sprinklers. Reed thought it was a great idea - until he got wet by one.
We also had a chance to hit up a good old fashioned drive through! Jaron and I used to go to these when we were dating in college and I don't think we've been to one since. They were playing Planes and Guardians of the Galaxy. The kids loved the first movie, then we laid down the back seats in the van and spread out blankets and pillows so they could sleep. Reed finally fell asleep halfway through the second movie (around 10 pm) and Gracen a little after that. I was astounded that the boys stayed up all the way through both movies - until almost midnight! HELLO, 9 AM church the next morning!
