Unexpected

At the end of August Savvy came up and told me I had a baby in my belly.  I laughed and assured her their was no baby, she said "yes there is" and walked away.  Since then every 2-3 days she would tell me the same thing, I finally had to sit her down and have a serious talk, because it was starting to make me nervous:)  The Wednesday before we left for Gulf Shores I was reading a book to the kids and in the picture was a momma dinosaur with 3 baby's in a nest.  Savvy said "look it's our family" then Cohen replied "and look there is a baby egg in the back that hasn't hatched yet".  I finished the book and went and bought a pregnancy test.  There was no way I could be pregnant, but this was crazy.  It was negative.  Later that night I went to look again and if I held it at a certain angle I thought I might see a line.  I have taken 5 tests since, and with probably more shock than I have EVER felt, they were positive.  I was very excited, but for lack of a better word, felt overwhelmed.  How are we going to raise 4 kids, how are we going to do this with our family across the country, who's going to watch the kids when I'm in labor...etc, etc, etc.  I was in a tough place that week.  Then it was like a sheet was lifted from my eyes and I realized how absolutely wonderful this is.  How deep in my core I was made for this.  I'm so excited to have a baby in the house, love that we are a "big" family, the kids get another sibling, the list goes on and on.  And I realized that Michael and I are going to rock this family of 6 because our God can give us energy when were tired, grace when we fail, strength when were weak.  We didn't know this would happen but He did and OH how God knows I love surprises.   

So without further adieu and with love bubbling over in my heart, let me introduce our new precious, miracle

(We have a very sneaky baby who likes to hide during the day and makes my stomach triple in size at night)

That's Early

So our mornings before school have been, dare I say it, wonderful.  Before kindergarten I never, NEVER set my alarm.  We got up when the kids woke up and some mornings we would only have 15 minutes before we had to head out the door, most mornings were hectic.  With Savvy gone from me most of the day, I want our time together to be purposeful.  So with heavy fingers I set my alarm to go off at 6:00.  When I get up I have  20-30 minutes of quiet time, then I get completely ready(which is so nice to do with no kids).  At 7 I start breakfast which usually wakes the kids up and then we eat together and it's not rushed at all, its nice:)  We pick out the kids clothes the night before so they dress themselves after breakfast.  Then if we still have time we will watch cartoons.  It has been more than worth rolling out of my bed before the sun comes up.

Not all mornings are perfect, we still have had tears about brushing teeth, or turning off the TV or Cohen gets confused about what outfit is his or Caleb's.   Cohen had no idea, and had been in Caleb's clothes for 30 minutes before I realized

 So here's to keeping up our mornings filled scrambled eggs, oatmeal and high waters

Surprise Surprise

It's no secret I ADORE surprises!  My family has gone to the beach together for 23 years, yes this was the 23rd year!  And because we are completely on the opposite side of the country we weren't going to be able to go.  Well my crazy, amazing mom wasn't going to have it and made a way for us to go!  I have been bubbling over with excitement since May and we didn't let the kids, my brother or M.A. know.  It has been crazy!  We woke the kids up at 4:30 Saturday morning and headed out.  Cohen guessed we were going to get a toy, Savvy had no idea.  When we pulled up to the airport they were so excited but still had no idea.  Our flight got delayed an hour which made us miss our next 2 connections.  After a 15 hour travel day, magic happened

 Cohen has been given some kind of gift of talking people into feeding him.  Literally lifting up the fork and putting the food in his mouth.  I'm pretty sure I have a picture from his birthday party last year of mimi feeding him.  And sweet Bevvy fed Cohen breakfast at Church Sunday morning.... Church was at a bar, seriously it was at Flora-Bama.  It was so so good.

Sweet Annabelle's first beach trip, she loved it

 The only picture I got of all the kids.  Savvy, Cohen, Caleb, Henry, Annabelle

We had an even more amazing time than I could have imagined.  Seeing family, beach air, sandy toes, nights out with Michael, waking up with mom and MA.  It was precious

I Miss Her

My baby girl started school.  The thought of her away from me for 7 hours a day feels like someone is pulling my heart out of my chest.  I miss her, I miss her bad.  

But school is so up her alley.  When she got home today we got a capri-sun, cheddar bunnies and sat on my bed for 30 minutes talking about her day.  She showed me the sign language she learned, pictures she colored, names of friends she made.  Oh I love her!  I'm praying for a year filled with giggles, friends and reading

And He's off

 My Cohen started school!  He has the same teachers Savvy did, and we are so happy.  He will go 5 days a week for 3 hours in the morning.  I let him pick out breakfast this morning

 I'm sure this is the most bizarre snack ever.  He wanted a long carrot, but they don't fit in ziplock bags. Makes me laugh

                                  And here he is!  So proud of him

            He did amazing and was ready for me to leave and stop hugging and kissing him

 sister wanted some love too

And on a completely different note, I've been getting on craigslist again.  I found this entertainment center for $20

 and now it's a dress-up station/toy center.  I think it would look really nice with matching baskets, but I used things we had around the house

Labor Day

We packed a lunch and headed to Jubilee Lake for the morning.  Michael has an obsession with taking pictures of the landcrusier on mountains.  So yes the kids and I are in car making fun of him running around taking pictures:)  I love these times

                I'm pretty sure the ducks ate more of the kids lunch than they did

 Caleb is talking so much now.  I love this stage.  We know exactly what he is saying but most others don't.  He started yelling at Michael "astfar, astfar!"  And Michael started running, because baby boy wanted him to go faster, faster.

Ramblings

 Last Saturday Michael took the kids for a picnic to this place pretty close to our house.  He said that they were about to pull over to eat and they saw a black bear!  He forgot to pull out his phone until it was running away so he got this pic of it blending in with the trees.  I can only see it if I make the picture really big.  Exciting and scary

 Michael left Monday morning to go to Mississippi for the week.  He was supposed to fly home Thursday but the airport was shutdown because of hurricane Isaac.  He was able to get a flight out of Memphis Friday.  He was able to see Family and the Butlers and I might have teared up in jealousy:)

 Sweet Savvy bug had her 6 year old check up.  I loved watching her take the eye exam, and upsetting to her she has 20/20 vision.  She likes to accessorize with glasses:)

 When we came home she found this little guy outside.  She loves bugs and will pick up anything.  Her and Cohen were outside trying to put him in a ziplock bag.  When the praying mantis scratched her, she dropped it and screamed and oh my, Cohen came in the house running and screaming at the top of his lungs like his arm was cut off.  We researched to make sure there was nothing poisonous about them and she was fine but Cohen is scarred.  We were riding in the car several days later when he said "poor savvy, I still see that bug in my head"

                                                  Pure love

 The fair came to town and we went on Friday.  I really do love the fair, the kids loved the animals and rides.

 I absolutely love her adventurous spirit.  She had been asking all week if she could go on a real roller coaster.  So I picked the least threatening one and she loved it.  My stomach was dropping during the ride and I was holding on to her as tight as I could when she pushed my hand away and said "I'm ok mom" and put her sweet little hands up in the air.  When I look at this picture long enough I start tearing up

 Saturday morning there was a parade for the fair.  It was 2 hours of horses and cars and candy, oh toothbrushes too:)  Needless to say it was a hit