Oh Christmas Tree!!

Last night we went to the tree stand to pick out our Christmas Tree. The kids had SOOO much fun! They were so serious about the perfect tree. We barely got parked and they were already in the midst of the trees. We found the perfect tree and watched the man put the tree on top of our car - exciting. When we drove home, we drove through Hemby Bridge and they were lighting the town's lights! They loved all the great decorations.

The Perfect Tree
Santa - they were cutting the bottom off our tree - Harper thought it was too loud

Tonight we decorated the tree - they LOVED it! They were singing and really enjoying putting each one up. This was Harper's first year participating in the tree decorating. He was so good at trying to get the little strings on each branch.

Good thing Daddy is tall - with some team work they were able to get the ornaments on the highest branches!

Carly gave Finley an ornament to put on the tree. Finley held the bottom of it and Carly looped the string on the branch - it was so sweet.

Look how happy they are - Christmas time is getting better and better each year when you build up new, fun traditions.

After we finished decorating, we made fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and then had a campout. I read them some Christmas stories and they snuggled in for the night under the tree. They were so excited.

The giggles and the laughter was so awesome to hear! We had so much fun tonight - great tradition!! We will need to tweek the schedule for next year though. They were just so excited and at 9:00 tonight I did send them to their beds. The evening took a little longer than expected so they didn't have time to play and get their giggles out before bed, so when they got in bed, they were too excited. They didn't mind going to bed - they just hopped out and went in their room. Next time we will set the tent up with ample time for them to play! But regardless, it was a wonderful evening!

This Boy

Ok - Had to run and blog this one right away before I forget. So Finley was sitting in her saucer watching a Baby Einstein movie. She was fussy so I took her out, didn't turn the movie off since Harper was in there watching it and took her to the playroom so we could play. We were in there for a long time and Harper was in and out of the room. He then disappeared. After a little bit, I went looking for him. WELL - the baby Einstein movie I had on was a video tape and when it was over it flipped to the regular TV which was set to channel 11 and guess what was on - Maury!!!!! Oh yes, Harper was just standing there soaking in the Maury Show! And today's topic - Who's the father of my 4 kids - My husband or my lover?!!!! Oh boy!!! All this coming from my house and I won't even let them watch Sesame Street!! When I asked Harper what he was watching, he just told me they were loud - meaning they were all yelling! Classic!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Seeing as we are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow at my Mom and Dad's house, I am feeling very Thankful and need to post all that I am Thankful for! First and foremost, I am thankful for serving an almighty and awesome God! I am thankful for my salvation and the eternity that comes with it! I am thankful for all that HE has provided for me and given to me, because without Him, everything I have would mean NOTHING!! I am also thankful for my precious little Finley Claire! She is such a sweet baby and is a beautiful addition to our family. I am so blessed to have 4 healthy and happy children. Matt is definitely someone to be thankful for! He is my amazing partner in this journey called life and I am thrilled to be sharing it with him. Harper, Harper, Harper - need I say more!!! After his horrible accident, I will never be able to love him enough! You love so many people in your life, but after almost loosing someone, your love for them takes a whole new meaning! He is such a sweet boy and I am so thankful that God has more plans for this boy that He kept him safe in his sturdy hands. Carly - my has she grown so much this year! She truly has taken on the big sister role and looks after all her siblings. She is such a big helper and has a terrific loving heart. Chloe, my little bug! She is the sweetest little thing! She is always concerned about others and thinking of them first. I love each of these babies that I have been given and am truly blessed to be their Mommy. I am also thankful for Matt's job. It has given us some much need Daddy time that we so desperately needed. Having more time with him has made this whole family so happy. I am so happy that my kids haven't cried about him going to work, because that means they see much more of him!! And he is just so fun to have around! I am also thankful for our extended family and great friends. I could go on and on about everyone, but that would just take way too long to list everyone! Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Operation Christmas Child

The kids went shopping today for Operation Christmas Child. I told them that we were buying things for boys and girls whose Mommies and Daddies couldn't get them anything. Carly said, "because they don't have any stores?" I told her yes and that they would be sad. Chloe says, "These presents will make them so happy Mommy!" I love starting off the Christmas season with these boxes. It means so much to the kids that receive them and my kids absolutely love picking out so many great presents. They each get to put their own things that represent what they love and I know the kids that receive these boxes will love what they put in them. It makes me so happy to see them enjoying buying for others - I hope it teaches them to have giving hearts!

Leaf Time

Matt has this week off, so we are doing some much loved family activities! We bagged leaves on Sunday and Monday - 16 of them - and the kids had so much fun! They were great helpers and we loved hearing their little giggles as they pilled them up! It may take a whole lot longer with them out there, but it is so much fun! I know there will be a day when they won't want to be out there with us, so we are going to enjoy our time now!
We even got Finley in on the fun!

Here the girls are being Mom and Dad - Mom holds the bags and Dad scoops the leaves. I love my family!

10 Year High School Reunion

I can not believe I have been graduated from High School for 10 years!! But yes, I am getting that old! The reunion was at Wingate University and it was pretty interesting to see some people that I haven't seen in a while. Before we left, the girls had to get into a picture with us! Don't you just love their outfits!
Me, Randi, and Sarah - and these are people I see alot!

Here are all the ladies who came from the class of 99! For some reason we didn't get a group picture.

My high school sweetie! We dated my whole senior year, so Matt knew alot of the people there.

Sarah and Tim

Amy and myself - she is such a great friend!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that!

Here are some random shots taken around the house. Everyday is something new, and I am enjoying every single moment with all my babies. I will never be able to get these moments back and the realization is setting in - I JUST WANT TO FREEZE TIME~

I was teaching Harper how to write an H - he was so proud because he did this one all by himself!
Finley was laying in the high chair and Matt had asked the kids to give Finley a toy - he turned around and they had piled them up for her! Maybe a little overstimulation here (and actually they had even put more than this on after the pic was taken). They all love to take care of her!

We went to visit Connor and Kaitlyn a couple of weeks ago. I took the girls to eat lunch with them so they could see what school lunch was like. I don't want them to go!!! They liked it, but they didn't love it. They said it was loud and I just didn't get alot of feedback from, therefore they weren't thrilled. They like playing with Connor and Kaitlyn at the park a whole lot better! But it was alot of fun to see Kris and the kids for the day!

Here are my sweet angels after bath time. They were just so cute I had to capture this moment. They love their baby!

Me and my sweet angel

Harper was sleeping like this - just thought it was funny!

And here is my silly Chloe being a turtle - don't you love her shell!

Halloween - a little late!

Trick or Treat! When we got home from church the day after Halloween, our old next door neighbor, Ms. Cindy, had left the kids a pumpkin filled with treats. They were so excited! They enjoyed their Halloween so much, and yet again - CANDY FREE!!

On Halloween night, I filled their pumpkins up with snacks and they thought that was the best thing in the world! So, no they did not have candy, but it was awesome for them!! We went to our church festival for the evening. The weather was really iffy, so I was not about to spend any money on costumes if there was a chance of us just sitting at home. So the girls picked out an old dance recital costume (a short one so it wouldn't get muddy in the field) and they put on their rain boots! Harper put on the only "boy" dress up thing we have - a Moe costume from the Doodlebops. He would not wear the hair!! They enjoyed all the jumpers and most of all - walking around with their pumpkins!

Our little flower child

Chloe and the donkey!

Harper riding a horse.

Carly riding her donkey! She rode a horse that morning at the Cow Train place and a donkey that afternoon - it was so fun for them!

Here is Mauren Grace. She is so sweet. She is in Carly and Chloe's Sunday school class. Her Mom, Leigh, had a baby, Maize, just a couple weeks before Finley was born. They are great friends.

Harper loved the big slide!! He would get done and jump right back in the front of the line. He kept confusing the lady, because every time she turned around, Harper was in the front of the line again!

Carly decided to go down the big slide with Mauren Grace (this was after Harper went down it several times). She was all smiles and ready to go. Mauren took off down the slide and Carly flipped out and scooted all the way to the back and cried!! Oh she howled! It was so loud. And there was no convincing her to go down. So, Mommy had to go up and save her!

Here I am at the end of our trip down the slide trying to console her. She is so dramatic! At least she tried - Chloe was no where close to this thing!

They tried so hard to win a cake at the cake walk. Harper won and picked a pack of cookies. He enjoyed them - and of course he shared with the girls!

Thank you!

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for my husband's new job. You have provided for our family in so many ways and we are truely blessed. It means so much to us to have him home every night and the kids love getting hugs and kisses from BOTH of us each night. We patiently waited for this and you have perfect timing. Thank you for all the supportive and loving people in our life that have helped us along the way. I love being able to spend time with my sweet husband and seeing him enjoying our children is awesome! Thank you again for holding us close and being in total control.

Amen