Happy Thanksgiving (and a road trip)

It had been several years since the whole family had been together...to put it in context, I think we've had 3 kids since the last extended family get together.  Thanksgiving happened to work out for us and we trusted/hoped that weather would not interfere with an eastward bound trip.  The trip was broken up into two days (each way).  Several kids were VERY excited at the thought of getting to stay in a hotel.  Miss F was just happy to be free of the carseat and able to crawl around.

Loads of fun was had by all.

All she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth!  Due to an unfortunate run in with a bannister she lost one of those front teeth just a bit earlier than expected. 

Saying "goodbye" to aunt, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.  Is Mr. R taller than grandad?  Maybe not quite. :) 

Miss E has been studying cathedrals and stained glass in her art class.  Her tudor suggested that a cathedral that was along our way may be a fun stop.  We all enjoyed the stop and getting to enjoy not only the art, but the stories of Christ's life that the pieces told.

Operation Christmas Child!

It's that time of year again!  Time to go shopping and fill up those boxes for children elsewhere that may not otherwise receive anything for Christmas this year.  Collection week is November 14-21 (I believe, it is here).  Look up your local drop points and give them a call to verify dates and times.

In years past we've matched funds with the kids to do 2-3 shoeboxes per child in our family.  This year it became evident that they've got this.  They'd been quietly stuffing their jar all year long.  They earned this money.  They paid for all of it; plus had some cash left over to donate to other needs.  I'm so thankful that the Holy Spirit has been working in their hearts to cultivate and attitude of cheerful giving.

I do not share to brag, but to spur others on to love and good deeds.  "....and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."  Hebrews 10:24-25   

Support the Pizza Party!

My kids saw these shirts (if you can't read them, they say "Proud Supporter of the Pizza Party") a couple of months ago and asked for them, and then wanted to have a Pizza Party on election day.  That seemed like a good party to get behind this year. :0

Miss E put together the invitations.  We're in a co-op that meets every Tuesday.  We made it easy and just let each kid invite one family.  We've got a lot of kids. Some of our friends have lots of kids.  It looks like there will be a good turn out.

The kids did all of the clean-up, set-up, and prep work/decorating.  We're buying the pizza and soda.  Now, don't go thinking we took this election lightly or skipped out on the real voting.  Nope, we just thought we'd also try to make some lemonade out of the lemons we were given. ;)

No matter how things turn out, The King of Kings is on His throne.  Our trust is in HIM as His children.

For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. Psalm 22;28

Happy Birthday Miss C!

Miss C turned 7 this week!  She's getting to be so grown up in so many ways, and yet she's still our sweet little girl.  She's got such a sweet, nurturing, caring heart.  Her smile and the twinkle in her eye shows that she loves life, and brings joy to all.

She was very excited about several lego sets that she received.

 Miss C requested a rainbow cake.  Miss E baked the cake.  We didn't get pictures, but the cake was stacked in rainbow colors.  I decorated the outside.  It was a fun team effort.  Miss C and I enjoyed talking about the rainbow and how it's a beautiful sign God gave as a reminder to Noah that He would never again flood the entire earth.  We are so blessed that God allows us to see many rainbows here where we live.

Miss C requested that we invite a special family over for pizza and cake.

8 Months!

My how time flies!  How can it be that she's already been with us (outside me) for 8 months?  This little girl certainly fits in here and does great rolling with everything we've got going on here.  The red head in her is starting to come out more too.  Oh my!

Miss F LOVES her people.  She likes people in general, but don't try to take her from her people.  She'll cry. :)  Even among us she has her favorites.  Mr. R had better not walk by without saying "hi" and coming over for a hug would be best.  Miss J is a favorite play mate.  Oh, and she sure loves her daddy!

She's been crawling for a few weeks now.  About a month ago I could tell she was working on it, but after watching some little friends at church race (crawling) by her she really got to work on it.  She studied those two carefully as they raced by her over and over again.  She'd lunge after them and sadly realize she couldn't follow.  Within a week she was making great progress and was quite proud of herself.  Most of my little ones have had a sort of mental block that kept them from moving from room to room the first month or two of crawling.  Not her!  She goes to where the action is; very much like Miss A did.  It's so cute to see her notice that someone is in the kitchen and head on in there.  Or that all of the other "littles" are having fun in the nursery so she makes her way on in there to join the fun.

She's loving eating real foods.  Miss F does NOT like to be fed from a spoon.  She likes to feed herself, but not finger foods.

I love watching her learn as she plays.  She loves pulling things out of baskets and putting them back again.  The other night she had fun opening a cupboard door and exploring what she found inside.  She's kinda over baby toys and likes it when we let her play with "big kid" toys like blocks, duplos, and play kitchen items.  We're more than happy to help her learn and play with the others.

This little girl brings so much joy to our family.  We are all so very thankful for her.  I love seeing how all of her siblings love and dote on her in their own ways.  I love seeing how she knows she belongs in this clan and wants to participate in all that we are doing whether it's sharing a meal, reading together, singing, working, or playing.  If we're outside she's more than happy to be out playing/walking/exploring with us.  She's up for being "on the go" as well, but she's a home body and I can tell she's happier when we get home after being out.