Fall Fun 2015: Lahmeyer visit

While Ryan went on his annual trip to deer camp before Thanksgiving we got to enjoy a visit from Daicia and the kids. Aunt Amy stayed over too and it was so great to catch up as well as a life saver to have extra help with the kids - so it was a win win! 

We weren't sure how it would go with all the littles by ourselves but it turned out to be one of our best visits! 

Saturday we hit up Martin Nature Park after lunch at Hideaway (tried to hit some of the local great eating hot spots): 

Our College roomie weekends aren't quite as carefree with 5 littles in tow but something extra golden about watching the next generation friendships grow! 

Ava and Quinn are reaching a milestone where they are old enough to share a room. They played so hard they would crash fairly easily for bedtime, we would check in and hear sweet late night talking and story telling before they drifted off to sleep. 

This trip was also special because Daicia got to meet Penny!
 After we got the older kids to bed Penny would stay up with us for our usual late night chats, movie watching and snacking. Each night we would swear we wouldn't stay up so late but then 2:00 or 2:30 would roll around and we would find ourselves still up, some things still don't change with visits, unfortunately our wake up time must but still worth it to get in all our good chatting on all the topics we had been saving up. 

Daicia took some sweet pictures of the kids. 

In true Daicia style she planned a fun seasonal food art activity for the kids. 

Art is Ava's love language, she always enjoys a good "project". 

We also hit up Zorbas, did a make your own Pizza night and meet up for brunch with our other college buddies before they left town.

My dad and his college room mate always stayed in touch and some of my favorite childhood memories are some of our family times together, his daughter still one of my most cherished friendships even though we don't get to see each other as often as we would like these days. I love that Ava will have so many sweet memories of a similar type and with each visit we add more to her collection that I know she will treasure as much as I do.

Daicia thanks so much for braving the road and Dallas traffic to come see us, it was one of our fall highlights for sure! 

Till our next memory making adventure -

Fall Fun 2015: Trunk or Treat

I would say Trunk or Treat at our church is the real highlight of our Halloween month even more so than Halloween itself. We have so much fun getting ready and spending that time with our church family and neighborhood community. 

Ava decided this year she wanted to be a mermaid and I found this cute shark idea online to make for Rhett so we went with an under the sea theme
(Penny was  rainbow fish for about five minutes of the night). 

Here's our award wining trunk: Ava and I had fun crafting our under the sea trunk in the weeks before, we found most of the ideas online and Ava was big help painting all the coral for me and helping me put the fish together.  It's fun she's at an age now when she can actually be helpful in the process. (We planned most of our crafting while Rhett was napping, he's not so much at the age to be helpful but he did help us with a few fish)
We won the most boo-tiful trunk award for our efforts which Ava has proudly displayed on her door. 

Ava and Izzy, these sweet friends have attended this event since their very first Halloween.
How are they so big int his picture!

(Katie, I stole this one from your blog, being behind the camera I am often not in our pictures
so I love to snag ones where I can of  me in the action. Thanks for taking this one! )

 There was some trash talking competitive fun amongest several of the trunkers (is that word? I think I just made it one) prior to the festivities. I wish I had taken more pictures of the other trunks, so many great ones this year!

Trunk or Treat 2015 is in the books! 

Fall Fun 2015: Orr Family Farms

Time to play catch up on our fall fun! 

First up our yearly trip to Orr Family Farms, nothing feels more like fall than a trip to the pumpkin patch.

With working around Ava's school schedule this year we hit it up on a Saturday, 

so it was busier but the weather was great. 

 If you would of told me this time last year I would have a newborn with us this fall I wouldn't have been able to imagine it but 2015 has unfolded in lots of  unexpected but fulfilling ways!

First Days

While we never know fully how our lives will unfold, in my mind these are our last 'first days', and being the 3rd time around you know just how fast they go. For me first days tend to always be packed full of what is hard and what is beautiful, which is kind of a perfect combination of what it seems the parenting journey is no matter what season your in. 

In our first few hours or so of bringing her home - she was so very excited to have her "best, best sister" home. 

Our mom's came the first week and were a big help! 

ah the early days of no make up, no sleep, shower - maybe?
but lots of snuggle time. 

Rhett got to spend a day with Ryan at his office during the first week Penny was home. Here he is so excited! 

and later in the day closer to nap time. 

Penny and I enjoyed a Call the Midwife netflix marathon while the big kids were at school one of the first days. 

I was really hopeful we would not have to do lights but she followed in big brother and big sister's foot steps with a few days of light therapy at home for her jaundice and the dreaded blood draws that go along with. 

Rhett kept his distance for the first few days and wasn't sure what to think about her but as the week went on he started showing more interest in "my Penny" and would give her kisses. 

Watching Sesame Street together. 

late night hang out time

First Family Outing, Martin Nature Park

These words of truth from Ann Voskamp from when her youngest turned 10 are so meaningful to me in this season of family life, I can't read them without a lump in my throat. These family days are so precious and every time I'm tempted to hang on a little too tightly to what has already been or look longingly forward to be done with what is hard, I miss the gift to myself and them of being fully present for what is beautiful now. May this be only the beginning of making our lives say I love you in small ways, big ways and all the in-between ways - no matter what days we are in. 

"And maybe that's what happens in families: I don't know where those 10 years of breakfasts and laundry, loud laughter and dishes, reading stories together and nighttime prayers went, but that wee little baby will blow out her 10 birthday candles today... and all those grinning little kids will be a whole lot bigger around the table today... and 10 years of just putting one foot in front of the other, you turn around and see:

That every day that you do the hard things that you don't want to do --- you're building the family you always wanted to have.

And that's what family means: people love you and keep on holding on to you especially when you're not loveable.

And family is a verb: it's not just what we are, it's something that we actively keep on making.

With every phone call.... every time we make time for each other. Every way we make our life say: I love you.

As many I love you's, as many times as we can, because maybe that is all there is: Love is only real when it's shared."
-Ann Voskamp

Preparing for Penny

Well the count down is on, 

We've been preparing for her arrival and our get ready list is getting shorter and shorter.

Since in my mind this is my last pregnancy I don't feel too rushed for her to be here, I'm having the usual issues I have this stage  -some pain in my hips and weird sleeping patterns but I want to soak up and enjoy this time for what it holds. I really do like the anticipation and excitement of not knowing yet when she might arrive and how her birth story will unfold. If she follows the same timeline as brother and sister she will be here later this week but she may carve her own path at her own pace and that's okay too. 

These sweet friends hosted a beautiful shower us last month.
Amy and I have known each other pretty much our whole lives and Katie and Annaleise have been friends of mine since our OC college days, which I'm realizing was 16 years ago this fall that I started my Freshman year!!

These salted caramel cupcakes are AMAZING and it was so sweet for them to thoughtfully prepare so many of  my favorite foods and beverages (They even had a Dr. Pepper drink station!) There were so many little touches that made this day special like the beautiful handmade bunting banner that one of my dear friends that is out of town sent for the shower and is now hanging over her crib.

Even some of our out of town family were able to join us to celebrate, Jen and I are pregnant at that same this round - fun to get a picture together, Cousin Ian is due in February.  

Ava was pretty excited to have cousin Allie in town. (I keep a little journal on my night stand of funny things the kids say and the other day I was flipping through and saw where I asked about a 3 year old Ava what she wanted to be when she grew up and her answer was first a mommy and second an Allie) I still remember the day Allie and Chloe were born and being there for their births, now they are both getting old enough to baby sit my babies, surreal in so many ways!

With taking this extended time off work, I've even had time to get most of her room prepared. After a great debate I decided Rhett needed to stay in his crib so Penny got some new furniture for her room, Ryan of course being Ryan found a steal of deal on when the kids and I were out of town one weekend and it's been fun to get her room prepared, Pink, White and Gold themed. 

Our moms' were in town for Grandparents Day at Ava's school the other day and since I didn't have much baby stuff left on the to do list, they helped me deep clean my entire house! which was so kind of them to lend that kind of practical help before we start this next busy season with adding a newborn to our mix. 

I've had time to squeeze in some one on one time with each of the kids in the past few weeks, Ava and I spent a day together the other week at the mall and Rhett and I to the zoo last week for a just me and him date. 

So the main thing left it seems on the get ready list is to settle on a middle name, other than that I'd say we are ready when you are baby girl!

a full circle moment

These pictures carry so much meaning to me, They are taken a year apart and while I hate the pain and suffering it took to get from one picture to the other for someone I hold dear, they are a sweet reminder of enduring hope and a journey of faith that has inspired me and been important on my own spiritual walk. 

The first picture was a girls night out with two very dear friends - friends you do life, friends that have known you through different seasons, that lift you in prayer in a way only they can because they know your inner struggles and the desires of your heart. Friends where warm and deep conversation fills you up regularly and laughter is also just as soul filling and easily visited. I am deeply grateful for God's provisions for relationships like this in my life, I have several in my village and it's certainly something I treasure greatly. 

On this particular night we were having a soul to soul life state of the union chat and we spoke of loss of babies and children and the openness and desire of my friend for a forever child in whatever way God saw best to provide - fostering, adoption or biological. My friend has such an open and enduring faith for God's plan for their family that I have been inspired by, yet time and again they were hit with loss after loss on all fronts and it was so hard to understand why this painful journey just kept continuing and the waiting and the continued losses were getting so very hard and exhausting.

So many many many prayers I know went up through that season and journey from many. On this night I prayed one of the boldest prayers I ever prayed. I get a little too cerebral in my prayer life - I know God has the full picture and I don't, so often I don't know what outcome to pray for, certainly not time tables and often my prayers are swirling of I don't know what to pray, please bring strength, comfort and surrender to your will - whatever it may be. But I know there is scriptural examples for bold and specific prayers and this night I prayed a more fervent prayer than I had prayed in a long time - please let the wait be over, please by this time next year let my friend's forever child be in her arms in whatever way is best for that to be fulfilled. 

Fast Forward a year to the picture below - notice those tiny toes! My friend found out she was pregnant the same fall. The pregnancy wasn't an easy one and an earlier than expected delivery that also made for some continued challenges but she is here and beautiful and this moment was such a special full circle moment. My friend's mother heart will always carry all her children with her the ones that came before and of course this little one. I don't understand all the ways God works, why some prayers are answered in certain ways and others are answered in other ways. I know that's part of the mystery, struggle and wonder of faith but when I look back at August of 2015 I don't want to forget the power of this moment or the meaning it holds. Certainly there is truth that everything has season, that there is a time to mourn and a time to dance -and this moment is certainly a time to celebrate what the Lord has done.

Maternity Pictures

Two of my dearest friends happen to also be talented photographers. They've taken so many of my favorite pictures of my kids and family from different seasons and milestones and it's so special to me to have these treasures captured by each of them.

The other day Annaleise took our maternity pics and neither her nor I realized at that time we planned it but it ended up being literally the hottest day of the year! We went downtown to the Myriad Gardens and shout out to Aunt Amy for being our kid wrangler during the shoot.  I love her use of light in her pictures, her use of candy and other tricks worked well for the kids and Ryan. We survived the heat and the kids got to play in the fountains as a treat after. As we plan for this to be our last pregnancy round it's so special to have these, thanks again Annaleise, love them and love you!

Here are some of my favs from the shoot:

I love Rhett's face in this one, he was so crazy!!

She's so excited for baby to be here.

This baby is becoming more boy everyday but he still loves to cuddle and I hope he doesn't grow out of that any time soon. 

I do love this crazy guy, sometimes it feels surreal we've been married over a decade and have a 3rd one on the way but here we are, not 17 anymore but living the dreams we've had from that long ago.