braces

carter is going to get those teeth of his straightened out. nothing like getting braces on halloween;)

blue and orange rubber bands in true BSU spirit.

this oldest boy of mine is sure growing up. . . he is awesome!

trick-or-treat

this year we had three trick-or-treater's. gracie was a big help and very creative with face painting the boys!

 mitchell went as a vampire

(it was a challenge for him to keep a strait face for the picture)

here is my cute little kitty kate:)

lydia would be nothing other than a princess of course. she says her favorite princess is ariel, but she went as rapunzel.

nate was a hobo pirate and played the part very well.

abigail was off with friends. gracie suited up in the gorilla costume and sat on the front porch terrifying innocent little trick-or-treater's. carter opted out of trick-or-treating this year and also helped grace with a few scares. such a fun holiday!

a new look

i got a call from the school nurse informing me that mitchell didn't pass his eye exam. she strongly recommended that he be further evaluated. now... i definitely had my suspicions. when i was his age, maybe a little older, i really wanted glasses and failed that eye screening intentionally. turns out he really did need them.

i must admit, he looks pretty darn cute in his new glasses:)

photo credit: audrey lewis

then & now

-photo credit: laura farris

a daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present,

and the hope and promise of the future.
-author unknown

homecoming

first high school dance. this was the topic in our home the past month. we were so happy for her to have the opportunity to go with a fun date and good friends.

glitter nails the night before. pinterest for hair/make-up ideas.

she loves getting dressed up.

beautiful inside and out

ready for a night of fun!

gracie dear

another year older this girl of mine. fourteen!

she sparkles, shines, radiates

i love her happy heart, courage, vision, creativity, talent and compassion. 

happy birthday sweet gracie girl.

chicago

i jumped at the chance to tag along with doug on a business trip to chicago . . . you see, my sweet sister just gave birth to her fifth boy. i was dying to meet little michael and spend the day with katie and her house full of busy boys.

yes, life is precious! no one can cuddle a cherished newborn baby, look into those beautiful eyes, feel the little fingers, and caress that miraculous creation without deepening reverence for life and for our creator. life comes from life. it is a gift from our Heavenly Father. it is eternal, as he is eternal.

-russell m. nelson

isaac {13}

 

eli {11}

james {7}

sammy {5}

i love that when i snapped these pictures, real life was happening. the boys stopped their play for a couple seconds. there were no quick hair brushes, or matching clothes picked out . . . boys at their best!

this james loves his baby brother. little mikey will be well protected and looked out for with four older brothers!

so thankful for my sister! what a treat to spend the day with you and yours.

young man

i am so proud of this boy. he just celebrated his 12th birthday with a bulldog win . . . which is great, but not the reason why i am so proud of him. he is good through and through. he cares about doing what is right and standing strong for what he believes. he is handsome, kind, always hungry, has a great laugh and a contagious smile. i am blessed i get to be his mom. happy birthday to you!!

carter and i share the same special day which makes it all the more wonderful!

eight months

Mother, oh Mother come shake out your cloth

empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

afternoon art

the greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.

-richard moss

face like a sunbeam

sweet kate.

2013-14 school theme

new beginnings

it all started bright and early. excitement, anticipation, new shoes, clothes laid out the night before, lunches packed and off they go. i will miss them! my home is quiet, i think about them. did he get his locker open? are her friends happy to see her? did she drive safely? did they sit together on the bus? i hope his teacher is patient. oh how i love these shiny back-to-school faces. in a few hours our home will be jumping, noisy, full. i look forward to hearing about the firsts this day brings.

 here miss lydia thinks she is getting on the bus with her brothers.

so sad to see them go off without her.