The view from here....

Every year at Christmas, we enjoy pulling out our nativity sets.  We have our beautiful "grown-up" set that Scott and I received as a wedding gift (I've always LOVED it).... we have our Fisher Price set.... and we have our VeggieTales set.  The girls have loved both of the latter two this season.  Baby Jesus (AKA Junior Asparagus) from the VeggieTales set has gone missing and still hasn't reappeared.  Maybe he will show up around Easter??  ;)

Just thought you might enjoy a little look....

"Wait, Deanna?  I think I see something....."

Yes, you are correct.  Our boys decided that the little army/combat dude needed to join our beautiful nativity for the past month.  I guess to protect Jesus from Herod?

And another view....

"Wait, Deanna?  I think something looks a little off...."

Yes, you are correct.  Mary has gone missing, too.  Ellie decided that Snow White could stand in for her.

A little view of life with our kids. 

Our littlest baby....

.... is also our last baby.  And she gets away with all kinds of craziness.

bottles (STILL!) at bedtime

pacifiers (STILL!) at bedtime AND while she is running laps around the house

sigh.

this would have never happened when I was a younger mom.

it didn't ever happen when I was a younger mom with our other three.

but then, I never had an Audrey.

and now, I do.

and she is our littlest.

and she is our last.

but I am believing that we WILL take care of the bottles and the pacifiers....

someday....

The tale of two teeth

All Isaac wants for Christmas.....

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Last year, we promised our boys that we would cut down a real tree again this year (I would go and cut one every year if it were up to me, but it is not Scott's favorite tradition.... probably because we used to fight every time we were picking out a tree and trying to set it up.  We have since STOPPED that Christmas tradition!) :)  We headed out to our little tree farm on Saturday but were so disappointed to find out that their little trees had been nearly devastated by the drought and heat last summer.  But.... we were persistent.... and we found one that would work!  We had fun decorating our tree, but the boys were so funny.... after using an artificial for the last 4 or 5, they had forgotten how prickly real trees are and ended up wearing gloves to decorate.

On the hunt!

Poor little one.... the high brush in the midst of the rows nearly knocked her over.

Such a sugar!

This one works!

"Killing the tree" as Daddy likes to say

The finished product!  I love white lights but was vetoed this year as many of our white strands weren't working.  The kids are thrilled to have colored lights this year!

BIRTHDAYS!

I missed posting pictures from a few birthdays earlier this fall.... I've got to catch up!

Our birthday girl

And the birthday boy

Sweet moments of gratitude

I am so thankful that even in the midst of hard seasons, we can still celebrate and can still be thankful.  Tonight, Scott, our boys, and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving Eve service at church.  It is always a special time for our church family, and tonight was no exception.  This was the first time that any of our kids joined us, and they loved it.  Some of my favorite moments....

When Isaac sang "Blessed be the name of the Lord...." SOOOO passionately and at the top of his lungs.

When Isaac boldly walked up to the mic to share that he is thankful for "My family, God, and the Bible."

How distressed he was that daddy and mommy hadn't walked up the mic to share anything.... and would NOT let up until we both had (and even walked up to talk to his daddy about that fact three or four different times).

When Aaron walked up to share that he is thankful that Pastor Stan is in heaven and doesn't feel any pain anymore.

I'm grateful for that, too.... and so sad at the same time....

Election season

The other night, Isaac declared, "Ooh!  Maybe God will be the next President of the United States."

I love 6 year olds.

Farewell to Football

It has been a busy fall around our house as both of our boys were involved in an "extracurricular" activity for the first time.  We have always said that our kiddos need to wait until kindergarten before trying a sport or other activity.  So, with kindergarten has come flag football for Isaac for the first time.  Aaron also started tackle football for the first time which was a whole new ballgame (LITERALLY!) and involved three or four two hour practices each week and also games on every Saturday.  They both seemed to enjoy it.... but were both ready for a break, too (and so were mom and dad!  Trying to entertain two little girls through hours of football on Saturday mornings can be a challenge!)

Aaron started the season playing QB and played a lot of tight end on offense, too.

He did a great job playing corner on defense.

I don't know what it is about this picture, but it always makes me choke up a little.... Aaron just looks SO old to me here!

Upward is such a great program.  I loved that the coaches played QB in Isaac's division.  Here is our little guy, going out for a pass!

I'm still in love....

Scott and I were able to attend the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this week.  It was AMAZING!  Scott has been to the conference 8 or 9 times, but it was my first time to attend.

We had a great time away, and I was reminded about how important it is to take care of our marriages.  We nurture our kiddos and those relationships.... we've got to carve out the time and space and place to do the same for our spouses and those relationships.  I know that it sometimes isn't easy.... I am SO grateful for my wonderful parents who handled ALL of the details with our kiddos over the past four days (homework, "Hawk books", practices, games, piano lessons, naptimes, digging for winter coats, wiping noses, kissing boo-boos, cooking, feeding, bathtime, reading bedtime stories......)

After time away with this man whom I have loved for 17 years, I feel like a new person.  We heard amazing teaching.... we visited with some amazing friends.... we grew.... we were challenged.... we were inspired.... we were encouraged.... we laughed.... we talked..... we dined.... we drove.... we laughed some more....

Oh, and we slept through the night.

I am grateful.

This moment....

Sigh.

This was one of those moments as a momma that I never want to forget.  Ever.

At dinner, we always talk about the best part of our day.  It is fun to go around the table and is a good way to connect (I know that many of you do the same thing).  I love it because now, even Ellie will ask Scott and me about our day, too.

Well, tonight, I was gone during dinner (hoorah for some alone time at Kohls!) and even later tonight, after we put the girls to bed, Scott and I enjoyed a fire with our boys.

As we were sitting on the step right by the fire, Aaron was leaning back against me and eating a s'more while I had my arms wrapped around him, holding him close.  I remembered that we hadn't talked about the highlight of our day yet, so I asked, "What was the best part of your day?"

Without even a moment of hesitation or time to take an extra breath, Aaron said, "Right now."

He is growing up quickly.  My first baby boy will turn 10 this month.  But he still likes to spend some quality time with his mom and dad.  I hope he always does.

To my first baby boy:  that was by far the best part of my day, too.....

This girl is amazing!

I love these precious pictures that my friend, Abbie, captured of Audrey at about 14ish months.  Such a doll!  We had a blast wandering around the park and capturing these!  Thanks, Abbie!

Our very own "Hurricane Isaac"

Oh my, Isaac is at a wonderful stage.  He says the most funny things, and yes, he keeps us on our toes (wondering, at times, if we need to "run for cover"?!)  A few doozies this week....
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I had surgery last Thursday to repair an incisional hernia that I had leftover after four c-sections (thankfully, everything went fine, and I am recovering).  The night before my surgery, Isaac was asking many questions of Scott.... wondering if I would have "that thing in my nose" (the nasal cannula).  When Scott told him that I would have one of those again, Isaac immediately said, "So, is she bringing a baby home from the hospital with her this time?"  Because that is just what happens when mommy goes to the hospital, I guess.
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Dear friends of ours are delivering their precious babe today (YEA!!!)  At dinner last night, I said to the boys, "Guess who is having a baby tomorrow?!?!"  Isaac.... without missing a beat.... yells, "US?!?!?!"

Oh my, I guess he just has babies on the brain, and no matter how many times we tell him that no more babies will come out of mommy, he must not believe us!

As a little tyke, on his first birthday!

A little reality check for me

Vacations aren't always easy with kids!  In fact, I heard a great MOPS speaker once say to remember that when you are vacationing with little ones, it is actually much more work for you.... but worth it to try in order to make memories with them.  We are not always smiling at our house; we are not always smiling on vacation, and that is okay.  "Family" is about stretching and learning and growing together.... and because authenticity is a big deal.... I now present a few OTHER glimpses of our vacation....

Case #1:  The boys and their daddy climbed the fire tower at Brown County State Park (yes, that is our van down there!)  Isaac was still smiley after Scott said that he determined that it was unsafe to go all the way to the top....

Aaron... not so much.  He just couldn't understand why his dad wouldn't let him keep going.

AND.... Case #2:  This was our final night of vacation, and we went out to dinner at a steakhouse.  And Scott and I were nearly losing our minds at this point.  And Audrey was being very demanding.  And we made a decision to allow our children to use technology at the table until our food arrived.... something that we had never done before and something we have never done again since. 

But for that one meal, it kept mom and dad sane.... and it was worth it.

Fun in Columbus!

We had a great time at the HUGE playplace in Columbus and at the Children's Museum during our little getaway, too!

Standing inside a bubble wall

For those of you who know how much Scott "loves" bubbles and glitter, you can just imagine his excitement about the "Bubble-ology" room!

Amazing!

Summer Excursion

We had a fun little getaway to the Brown County area in early August. It was such a blessing to stay at our friends' home (thanks, Shane and Shannon!) and enjoy the beautiful camp where we were.  One of our kiddos' favorite things to do was hike in this dried up creek bed....

Getting ready to go!

There was a small obstacle course near the house.  Isaac decided to tackle the spider web!