Costumin'

The kids had a lot of really interesting ideas of what they wanted to be for Halloween this year.  I managed to talk them down to a relatively attainable group of costumes.  And they looked adorable.

Charlie wanted to be Tintin, but we couldn't get the costume together.  So I threw together a cowboy vest, chaps, etc and we got an adorable little cowboy.

He would periodically take his hat off and yell "Yeeeeeeehawwwww!!" while waving it around.  And he told his horse to "Get me up, part-ener!"

These two.  This was Emily's "princess face."

And her singing princess face.  It was hard to get a picture, because she wouldn't stop batting her eyes.  Apparently we were going to damsel in distress.

Every little girl needs a unicorn.

Captain Haddock from Tintin.  He told me he would just have me paint a beard on, so I didn't buy one.  Then when it came down to it, he insisted this conversation never happened.  And when we went to put on the beard, he stoically stood with tears in his eyes.  So, I had to sigh and come up with plan b: tying fake leather onto his glasses.  He was happy, but opted for no beard the next night.

Funny little cutie.

Just try to resist that little face.  Just try.  Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw!

Emily told me I needed to be "Super Duper Cat."  So I was.

My powers include batting, scratching, wearing star leggings, and scratching my nose a million times in a 2 hour period and getting face paint all over myself and others.  Oh yeah, and handstitching last minute costumes like a boss.

Daddy is a great firefighter.  He rescued Emily.  Sorry, Mario.  The princess is in another castle.

Cute, cute, cute.

Henry was dressed as a dragon the first day, but hated the costume.  So he was a pumpkin the 2nd day.  He refused to wear the hat, which was super cute.  And he wouldn't stop moving for 2 seconds.....so he was a little blur most of the time.

We went to Mike's work on Friday where they had trick or treating in the office.  The kids got SO much candy.  Seriously, their buckets were overflowing when they walked.  At first, Henry was pretty wary.  By the end, he was seeing how many Snickers bars he could palm in one hand, and literally taking the entire bowl of candy from peoples' offices.  He was a huge fan.  On the way home from the church trunk or treat last night, he got ahold of a tootsie roll pop and even got the wrapper off.  We didn't know he had it until I looked back and he had the happiest, most satisfied look on his face while he was pulling off the last of the lollipop.  Pretty cute, little sweet tooth.

Em got a butterfly painted on.  She was extremely happy.

Candypalooza.

When I took the kids out to take pictures, Charlie told me he had "the perfect spot."

Spot on, man.  Spot on.

Fun in the Sun

We got out the sprinkler earlier this summer, and the kids have spent many a happy hour playing in the water.

I love that all-the-sudden-looking-and-acting-like-a-big-kid kid.

 Andrew is such an amazing big brother.  This picture makes me cry.

 My little guys.  <3

How Andrew jumps over the sprinkler.

How Charlie jumps over the sprinkler.

How Emily jumps over the sprinkler.

I love having kids. The entertainment factor is so high.

 And so is the sweet factor.

The bottom line is: sprinklers=pure summery joy

Birthdays Happened

All the kids have had their birthdays this year, and have had fun for all of them.

Including Woof Woof

On Emily's birthday, I tried to get a good picture of all the kids together.

I gave up. :)

Emily is FIVE.

My silly little SEVEN year old.

The best "I'm THREE" picture ever.

You Can't Stop the Co-op

We joined a really fun co-op where the kids were taught art, music, and P.E.  Andrew and Emily loved the art best, although they liked it all.  Charlie wasn't old enough yet so he was basically in the nursery.  He's REALLY looking forward to being in the big kid classes this fall.

We had a little showcase at the end of the semester, and the kids loved showing Daddy what they had learned.

 They also looked like this or a variation thereof for most of the time they were up singing.

Emily got an award from her art teacher (my awesome friend Grit).  She was super proud.  Grit really helped Emily feel like she could be the best little artist ever.  :)

We're excited to start back up this fall.  I'll be "teaching" the babies-3 year olds.  Any ideas on keeping them occupied for 3 hours?

Mothers and Fathers

Mother's Day 2016

 Father's Day 2016

There are days when we feel like pulling our hair out, and days when we aren't sure we can stand to hear that joke anymore.  Some days are full of frustration and guilt over not being as good as we wish we could be.  Some days, while sweeping up pounds of animal crackers, bread crusts, cucumber slices, and rice from under the table, we wonder how we're going to survive this time of four little kids.

But even during those trying times, we wouldn't give up one second.  We are enjoying tiny voices, hearing baby laughter and the ABC song for the 100th time that day.  We get to teach, to help, and to learn.  Being parents is a privilege, and we are so grateful.

Art and Ice Cream

Still catching up.  I guess I could just skip these things and start with current stuff, but I kind of want to document this, too.

In May, we went to our city's Art Festival.  It was awesome!  There were TONS of projects for little kids, and it wasn't all coloring.  They got to paint and make puzzles and draw self-portraits, and make giant bubbles and Charlie got someone to draw him.  It was very fun for everyone, although Henry was less impressed.  He slept the whole time.

Afterwards, we went to the new Braum's down the road for lunch.  Everyone was very excited.

Henry got to eat the largest French fry known to man.

Hooray for Family Saturdays!