Reflection

Three years ago, we lived in this house.

We had four beautiful children, 

with one on the way.

(whoa, Nelly!)

Olivia was a first grader at Ponderosa Elementary School.

Claire and Paige were ballerinas, 

 Aaron was into everything,

and this guys here was about to become a law student at the University of Virginia.

(not bad on the eyes, eh?)

Then our lives began to change.  First with the birth of Ben,

Next with the move from Boise to Charlottesville.

We settled into our life here in Charlottesville, and time began to fly.

There were first days of school.

Halloween's

and many, many new friends have been made.

Here we now find ourselves back in the same place we were three years ago.  There is a move on the horizon and everything is about to change.  I am uncertain of what is coming but I don't fear it.  God has put amazing people in front of us and I am gleaning all I can from them.  I know there are new people waiting for me, and I won't let go of the ones we will leave here.

We are following a new path, unable to see where it will lead.  The bumps and overgrowth will make us stronger.  We will learn to bend with the wind, change with the seasons, endure like the sun, find peace with our pace, and rest in the calms.  Life is a journey and we are living it up!

33 Years Young

To celebrate the birth of the man who was made for me, we snuck out just the two of us for a romantic dinner. We giggled as we tried to capitalize on the last fifteen minutes of happy hour like a couple of kids.  We indulged in good food and spent more than we should have for a family in law school.  We toasted to this year and the changes it will bring.
To you Todd, The man of my dreams, the wonderful fun loving father of my children, and the love of my life! 33 Looks good on you!

Fall

Apple picking with the boys!

Field trips!

Colors!!

Oh happy day!

If you assume that in the first three months of life you change a babies diaper 10 times per day, then you will change about 310 diapers in three months.  Assuming you change 7 diapers a day from that time until they are one, you will add on about 1,890 more diapers.  Let's say they don't toilet train until two.  Changing about 5 diapers a day that's another 1,825 diapers.  Bringing us to the total of 4,025 diapers more or less.

Do you know what this means people?!  I* have changed over 20,000 diapers in 9+ years!!!!  So celebrate with me this HUGE milestone, and toast to Ben and his tighty whities!

*Disclaimer- Obviously I didn't change all 20,000.  I am very grateful for my wonderful husband who helps tremendously in all areas of parenting.

Happy Halloween!

The girls knew what they wanted to be for Halloween as soon as the Wishcraft  catalog showed up in the mail this past summer.  They would flip through the pages with stars in their eyes.  I would find the magazine and quick toss it in the trash, because who can justify spending nearly 100$ per costume!!  "No sir, not me!" said the mom with 5 kids in tow.  But WAIT.... What's that?  Up in the sky!  Is it a bird?  A plane?  No, it's... Gramma Pat flying on a sewing machine!!! On her way to save the day.  Our own personal superhero spent hours and hours on her last trip out making sure all the girls had just the costume they wanted.  She would have done the same for the boys, but a trip to goodwill found us a mint condition Spider-man costume.  Never mind the fact that it was a few sizes to big.  Aaron wanted it none the less, and who was I to crush his spirit for 8$.  (Plus it will fit him next year, and Ben can get a few years out of it.) Poor Ben the forever victim of 'if it fits, it's yours!'  Much thanks to Gramma Pat for all her hard work!

Happy Halloween!!

and

BOO!!

 Would you take candy from this guy?  Todd had a good time scaring all five of the trick-or-treaters that came through the neighborhood.

Virginia Beach

What could be better than a 80 degee day in October?  Spending it at the Beach!  Gramma and Grampa Baker planned a weekend trip for all of us in beautiful Virginia Beach.  Our first day there was amazing.  Beautiful and hot!  We spent the entire afternoon relaxing and playing .

The end of the first day also brought the end of the good weather.  It dropped 20+ degrees overnight, giving us a chance to explore the Aquarium.

We tried to get a little more beach time in on our last morning, but didn't last long because we were Free-ee-ezing!

Good-bye Virginia Beach!  Till next time...