Halloween Costumes

Macy was a pirate, Jack was a Transformer, Lily & Ava were ladybugs. Getting 4 kids to sit together, not fight or hit each other, be still (knowing that there is candy just waiting for them beyond the door), and smile while looking at the camera is pretty close to impossible. So, we have individual pictures, and not very good ones at that.

Lily knew right what to do with that candy! She just plopped down & started chowing! Wrappers? Not a problem!

Pirates of the Canyon

One of the perks to living right next to "central park" is that we have a lot of cool things that happen practically in our front yard, like the city's firework display...and hot air balloon lifts (once we even got to ride in one that was taking off from the park!). We woke up Halloween morning to discover a small balloon festival taking place, so we bundled up in our blankets & pjs & took some coffee to the end of the street & watched over 25 balloons fill the sky with beautiful colors as the sun rose. It was so pretty (I can't imagine the BIG festival!) and so peaceful. The balloons would slowly fill with life and rise from the ground, the only sounds being the whoosh of the fires filling the bellies of the big balloons. Lily was pretty enthralled with it all, never taking her eyes off the action & pointing to them with wonder all over her face.

As for the name...it's the group that organizes this every year, with it growing each year. Apparently they started this tradition in the canyon but have since moved it to our park...and we thank them!

Guttin' Punkins

I am so far behind I thought about just skipping ahead, but the whole reason I started this blog, other than being an easy way to share pictures with the grandparents, was to record our days as they happen...so I will slowly catch up.

On Halloween day (nothing like the last minute, eh?) we carved our pumpkins...something that Macy looks forward to as much as the candy of the night. Not one of Jack's favorite things though...he has to have lots of wet paper towels handy. And Lily...well, let's just let the pictures tell the story for her. Haven't had a kid enjoy carving pumpkins quite the same way before...

Ah, yes...there's little Miss Sunshine having an afternoon snack...of raw pumpkin guts. Feed them well around here, I'm telling you!

You know you need a break...

When you find yourself coming up with cute one-liners throughout the day to summarize your life. I cut FaceBook out of my life 2 weeks ago...and honestly I haven't missed it. My reason is simple-it's a time-waster. God was whispering to me every time I would check in on my "friends" that I always had a great excuse to never check in on Him.

Our goal has been to simplify life, cut out the unnecessary, get back to what's important. As I mentioned, I have abandoned some of the internet distractions, I have deleted all non-utilitarian apps on the iPhone, and we even decided to go to *dramatic gasp* basic cable! Before you start thinking how boring life is around here, to spice things up a bit we traded in both vehicles for a new one that fits everybody & then some extras. OK, now you can say it-we've gone off the deep end. What was to be a temporary situation, it has been interesting & has posed a few challenges here & there but now we're both curious to see how long we can go! I really like dropping everyone off in their respective places in the mornings & then most everyone gets rides home. Its fun to have found a little bit more family time...

Now...on to finding other distractions to cut out!

"To God alone be the glory, to God alone be the praise!"

Trip to Boston

I consider myself very blessed that my husband doesn't travel very often, only going to conferences here and there(sometimes I even get to go with him, which is really fun!) but usually home every evening with us. I am not a wife that could (happily) have him gone all the time! In October, he had an opportunity to travel to Boston for a really good conference...I'm pretty much a homebody right now with such a little one so I wasn't able to go.

He had a little bit of time for some sight-seeing...walking around town.

Here are some row houses. I'm reminded of The Cosby Show...I loved that show! And, I remember thinking it was crazy impossible for people's houses to be touching.

Here's Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox.

And, my favorite picture. The building is a fire station, but SO unlike ours. It's such an old building, with so much character but yet it's functional.

Ava's Baptism

What a glorious day to have the newest member of our family welcomed into God's family! Ava Patrice was baptized on October 18th at our parish with Msgr. Waldo presiding. We were so excited to have her baptized in our new church with the new, beautiful baptismal font, created with the Samaritan Woman's vessel in mind.

It is a blessing to our family and especially for Ava to have Kim & Tim Hoelscher as her Godparents. They are a beautiful, dedicated, God-fearing couple that have been a source of inspiration for us. They have helped us in our faith journey & we look forward to our years of friendship with them and their family.

Nana made a very pretty, very special cake for the occasion!

Look Back

This picture tells me 2 things...
1. Jack Jack was the happiest baby I had ever known at that time. He was silly & sweet & adorable. And, man oh man would you look at those eyelashes! Jack is very blessed with l-o-n-g eyelashes!

2. I want another little boy. They are such stinkers but how can you resist? Besides, there's a whole lotta estrogen going on in this house & it would help balance things out.

I have a whole bunch of posts I want to do to catch up from October to now-can't believe it's been that long, but they will wait.