All is broken on Halloween...

Unfortunately on this night of candy and more candy I find myself with a broken computer, as well as a broken minivan. Apparently things are falling apart around here. If I could upload my photos and blog like I would like, I would probably talk about all the fun school happenings that have been going on around here (Jada starting preschool, Red Ribbon Week, and Cowgirl Peg day to name a few). Or I would post about a million pics of my kids in their cutie Halloween get-up. Or post some pics of the delicious caramel apples we made (4 years and counting on our tradition). Or talk some about my cute baby boy and how he is obsessed with wearing his boots and has started saying all kinds of fun things like fish (shh), banana (na nuh), bye bye da da (to almost anyone going bye bye), wa wa (water), and some version of boots. And how he continues his obsession with every passing airplane with a squeal that sounds a lot like "thiiiis" and points at the sky. But since my computer is very, very sick, this cute picture from my phone will have to do from our early freezing soccer game on Saturday morning. The baby with his "na nuh"...
And a Halloween quote from Jada... While checking out a recently carved and lit jack-o-lantern she said, "I can smell it... It smells disgusting... It smells like Happy Birthday!" Happy November!

Feels like Fall!

I am so glad that Stacy and I decided to take all the kiddos to the Oil Ranch this year. We debated because 4 is a lot to pay for/drag around all day and we had Parent/Teacher Conferences in the morning. We decided to just go a little late and join the playgroup around lunchtime. I really am so glad we did! The kids had an awesome time, and it made me feel happy that I could take my kids to do something fun. We got a great deal via coupon, and the day was great! I feel like our life is so busy right now. School for the girls, Coyote Council for Elle twice a month, gymnastics on Tuesday for Mya and Thursday for Elle, soccer for Elle on Tuesday and Wednesday and Mya on Wednesday, homework, and church callings which keep Jake and I very busy doesn't leave a whole lot of time for fun. So this day was fun. And I'm sure glad we went.

The boy loves balls so it should come as no shocker that a whole patch of round pumpkins were right up his alley. Just picture him saying "bah bah" (ball ball) and then carrying around a pumpkin or trying to kick it like a soccer ball. Priceless.

Not quite as easy to kick as a soccer ball...

Coley's BFF...

Yeah he was real happy about this group shot...

I had to take a few pics of him on the train. He just looked like such a big boy, sitting all by himself on the seat. It was so cute!

I love that picture above! It is so cute of those girls who have been friends since they were little.

Neither Jada or Cole were really fans of the invasive cows. Jada dropped her cow food to the floor and Cole cried. Good thing we don't live on a farm.

I love these pictures- that is a whole lotta kids for only 4 moms! (And we were even missing one baby!)

My friend Allie's dad won the prize in my book for Grandpa duties that day. He swung kids on rope swings and pushed those Indian swings, saving us moms. It was great!

Overall a really fun day! The weather was a tad warm, but not humid. This has honestly been the most pleasant Fall as far as weather is concerned that we have ever experienced the in the 7 Falls we've been here. The humidity has been almost non-existent, and it's been so great to be able to sit outside and not sweat to death and enjoy the backyard and the park and being outside for soccer. Usually if it's not November, I don't trust the weather to stay cool. But this has been awesome weather that has spoiled us!

I love it when I get to put my college education to good use and bust out my first aid skills around the house. That afternoon Jada was taking a much needed shower (seriously my girls were filthy) and cut her finger pretty badly with Jake's razor. Never a dull moment!

We got to bring home pumpkins from the Oil Ranch and my girls put them by the front door. Except Jada who wants hers right in the middle. If you move it, she will move it back. So in the middle it goes. I'm just waiting for someone to trip over it when they leave my house. Or for Cole to drop it a break it. Both are bound to happen if we're not careful!

And I've also been doing other fun things like organizing under my kitchen sink and my game closet. There is something so refreshing about throwing stuff away. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over time!

A little redecorating

Do you ever get to that point in your house where you grow tired of your decorating? Yeah, me too. In all honesty, I can't take credit for a lot of my home decor- I have my mom and her awesome decorating skills to thank for that. And I really do think we have a cute little home here in Texas. But some of the stuff was getting to me, so I decided to take some stuff out, move stuff around, touch up some paint, etc. I spiced up our front bathroom with minimal effort- I kept the same paint color (just did a few touch-ups), and just changed out the curtain, rug, and decor towels. I got a new clock for the wall, a few new hand towels, and am updating the frame on the wall. It's a whole new bathroom for minimal effort! I love it! And to prove to my mom that we are using her gift, see below. Now Jake, the girls, and I all get to shower with our spooky Halloween friends. Good times.

I also decided it was time to update some family photos and actually put up some of our cute ones from our March family photo shoot (about time, huh!)

And I also finally got a frame and hung this cute little number...

In a home with many kids, it is hard to keep things clean, nice, and unbroken. Part of my re-decorating efforts have been focused on making things cute, simple, and functional with a family. As in removing the rug by the front door that always got knocked out of place or getting rid of the light bath mats that were always dirty. And replacing the table centerpiece that was chipped with this fairly non-breakable number...

Jada captured me in the act of finally giving our room some much needed attention. It still has a long way to go, but I'm happy so far.

Enough with that. Let's talk about my boy. One year olds are awesome. I absolutely love them. I always have. They are so fun and mobile and curious and changing. Sure, sometimes it's tough to force him unwillingly into his carseat or to get him to hold still for a diaper change. But I just love watching him grow and learn and come alive!

He loves to be outside and books it for any open door. He loves to point at airplanes and watch birdies and doggies. He's trying really hard to talk and is pretty good with the "B" words. He's figuring out what things mean and how to get his way. Like how he loves to grab his goldfish out of the pantry, and knows I will give him some if he brings them over to me while saying "sh" for "fish". And how he always brings me shoes to put on and says "buh buh" like he knows if I put on shoes we are going to go bye-bye. I love this next picture for many reasons. One's like these make a father proud...

He's a cute little man. I love having a boy. I have to admit I was a little hesitant to mix things up and add a boy to our family of little girls. But I wouldn't change it for a hundred million dollars. Wouldn't even think about it.

And I feel the need to come to his defense a little after the last three pictures where he is photographed with a baby Ariel, a baby doll, a purple hat, and a high heel. He really is quite a manly little boy who loves balls and kicks them around the house like a madman. He carries his dump truck around and loves to watch the trash truck. I'd wager to say he's holding up pretty well considering he's surrounded by girls. Anyways, let's move on and talk about ways a three year old entertains herself while mom is preoccupied. Snapping self-photos...

Lots of drawing, coloring, gluing, and cutting. And doing a little redecorating of her own. Only she used sprinkles.

Lots of sprinkles. That was a fun one to clean up.

I threw away seven, yes seven, sprinkle containers that day. Guess we won't be decorating cookies anytime soon. And don't ask me what this fascination is with putting things in the fridge/freezer. I found a piece of paper in my freezer the other day, cut and placed towards the bottom by Jada, I believe. At least not all the sprinkles ended up on the floor.

I think we finally pinpointed down Halloween costumes. I have to admit I've been a little unmotivated for Halloween this year. I think the fact that it's on Sunday is hindering my excitement a little. After lots of ideas thrown out by Jada (a few of the best being a tarantula, a cicada, and a bridge) we've decided to go with a witch. I had the witch hat, cape, and wand, and we got a few new things to make it fun. Elle's costume is still yet to be purchased (but I think we are going with a cute skeleton from Wal-Mart), Mya borrowed a bumble bee costume, and Cole borrowed stuff to be a fire fighter. Borrowing is the way to go when you got a lot of costumes to come up with.

Jada's been busy with her art and made this cute picture of Elle in a dress (above) and daddy (below). He always said he had a big head!

And one last cute thing made by the kindergartner...