Oh SAGE

Lately I think the only word that comes out of my mouth with this dude is "NO!!!"

I know its like totally not supposed to be what you say but when you find him doing things like....

climbing into his high chair
standing on a step stool in the pantry
eating an open box of shredded wheat in the living room
jumping off the top bunk (i think it was more of a fall but thankfully into a basket of soft toys)
standing on top of the dishwasher as they unload it
throwing unwanted food
sliding headfirst down the stairs
jumping four stairs up into a beanbag at the bottom of the stairs
climbing over the furniture and from piece to piece
pushing the automatic door buttons on the van - which don't reverse super quickly (I have been squished pretty good)
letting himself out of the library (thankful to another mom who ushered him back in - i guess i should keep better tabs on him while they are scanning my books)

is this not hillarious. he needed his beloved wankie and a push around by brother
kinda reminds me of a little old man in a wheel chair

lets just say what else do you say. Uh?

While I love the little dude to pieces, he is a handful.

He is also a delight.
He loves to snuggle, give kisses, read stories (kind of more like flip the pages), sing songs, and be sung too. If I didn't sing the itsy bitsy spider every time I change his diaper we wouldn't have made it this far. He is starting to understand and obey which is AMAZING when they get that concept. Yet he just is all boy and I am currently used to a very peaceful compliant 5 year old boy. So well I am relearning what it means to have one of the crazy all over the place energy dudes in the house.

And lately he LOVES the I...pad (a little bit annoying to anyone else who wants to use it in the house)

Thankful Thursday

Its thursday...

Wow. I need to start taking more pictures. I feel like a barely blog anymore.

Well I need to do another post on Sage Man. That one is going to throw me overboard. Love love that little guy but he is busy. I know it comes with the territory but neither of my other two were quite like he.

But it is thursday and while it is sleeting outside and the kiddos are watching Planes (yes. we bought it. not a normal thing for this momma but when you have sick kiddos you will spend an arm and a leg to get a moment to yourself or at least check out for an hour or so), I will list my thankfuls.

I can hear Sage so I know he is at least somewhat okay for the moment. If I can't hear him...then I am in trouble.

1. Sage's independence or determination - or whatever drives the inside of that little guys mind - You will be one successful dude later in life
2. Christmas lights on our house - they look amazing! First time for us so as much as I drug my feet they make me kinda giddy inside. Although Shadd is requesting colored next year.
3. Photoshop and all the fun things you can do...I can spend hours (big thanks to Jess for her expertise)
4. Christmas Cards
5. a fun shopping night with my sis
6. simple craft projects
7. for technology - you should have heard my explanation of Thanksgiving. Shadd thinks we are going to eat with the Indians. Oh dear. Its on the docket for next week. Need some library books too I think
8. our library - love story time, no late fees (ssshhh) and they even just waived the cost of a book we cant seem to locate
9. Sage's silly sayings (he sang happy birthday to my bro last week)
10. How God put two people together so perfectly.
11. Hearing about all the good going on another world away in Zambia (so awesome to hear it through the Kinzenbaws and soon the Smiths)
12. Compiling target coupons and the simple delight of a deal even if it requires a bit more of my time
13. a simple compliment by a complete stranger (like the colors of our house)
14. there is a whole holiday for doing just this...giving Thanks!

After that study of 1000 gifts (which I highly recommend)...it is a choice to be grateful! It can change my day if I look for the blessings among the chaos and at the moment there is quite a bit of that chaos in our house. Yet the blessings and gratitude I feel far outnumber any and all of that! And then all of sudden it doesn't feel quite so chaotic.

Fall

a fall walk...

love the trails in our town...

could the view be any more beautiful...

plus who doesn't love little legs

FALLing into leaves, literally

When D asked us to go rake the backyard, I chuckled inside. What leaves do we have? We live in a new neighborhood with some small new trees but lucky for us the nieghbors behind us have lived there for quite a while so we do have a few established trees in our backyard on top of the hill. As far as leaves go. Well we had at least enough to jump in and burn off some energy.

Check out this pile.

Huge uh?

Nothing compared to the huge trees in my yard growing up. I gave my kiddos the speel on how things were when I was growing up as we were raking. I mean I was raking.

looks slightly dangerous don't you think?

We did do some jumping and throwing. I think I raked up the pile at least three times.
Here are the actions shots.

As I sit here typing this I really should be outside putting them in a bag because I am "killing the grass" as the yard crazy says. But we might wanna go jump around in them again today, right?

Thankful Thursday

What an amazing month to be grateful. Yet it shouldn't just be a month, although its a great start but it should be a transformation of stopping to notice the obvious. The stuff we take for granted. The blessings that abound in front of us. 

Its amazing what a grateful heart can do. It can change the entire day. A life for that matter. 

For me stopping and taking time to name the things that I would normally just shuffle off as givens, allows me to be remember that nothing is really that big! God's got it and I don't have to worry or fret but rest in Him and exude my thanksgiving and praise in HIM  and Him alone. 

"But seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" Matthew 6:33

This verse as been written on our chalkboard in our kitchen and I love what Jesus is saying. 

So my thankfuls...

1. friends that moved in nearby (we get to see so much more of them these days)

2. our church

3. a date day with some of our bestest friends, love the time we got to spend together - watching the game, eating Georges. 

4. nuggles and tisses from sage man

5. the sides our kids take - boys vs girls already and we are slightly outnumbered.

6. spending time with our cousins

7. my sister and sister-in-laws (i'm lucky to have such women in my life)

8. chilly mornings and warmer afternoons

9. hot chocolate w/marshmallows and slippers

10. a fun win filled volleyball season - WPRD Champs this year (after losing three years in a row)

11. random impromptu time with my momma (like sitting in the hot tub after a vball game at 10:30 at night

12. that shadd includes sage in things - best big brother ever

13. my kids love for learning, makes school so much easier

14. how shadd loves everything in full force his daddy does 

15. the shift in ells demeanor (lots less discipline)

16. a big garage - makes for easy winter cleanup and lots of playroom

17. sisters in christ

18. slower more family time of the winter months

19. christmas music - already on at this house randomly throughout the day. not a constant quite yet.

20. I am just thankful that God's got it. Its not my responsibility. What a stress reliever. Love that! 

Halloween 2013

We sure had fun celebrating this year. Nothing better than dressing up in fun costumes and eating lots of candy, right?

This year we had Donatello, the purple teenage mutant ninja turtle, Captain America (girl version), and a cute little puppy dog.

not exactly what i intended for ells to wear but you know how that one goes. 

We had a little pre-party that spiderman attended instead of Donatello with our neighborhood. Complete with hayrack ride and face painting. The kids had a blast. We couldn't stay too long as D's run was the next morning, but it was cute idea and hopefully our neighborhood will have one again next year.

We started off the week with pumpkin preschool stuff. It was fun to take a little break from what he have been doing and craft a little, make some jack o lantern faces and have some fun.

We did do some practicing the whole trick or treat thing. Check out that basket.

Plus the made up jokes were pretty comical. Shadd "Why did the chicken carve the pumpkin?" "Because he wanted a chicken pumpkin!" Creative I tell you.

And a lot of fighting over this sweet tmnt mask.

We carved pumpkins. Thanks to Papa and Frama for joining us because it is not one of daddy's favorite things to do. Ells got in and got dirty this year. Shadd not so much. He was into the drawing of his face though. 

They both turned out magnificent.


We went trick or treating at Great Grandma Rene's (probably the best and quickest way to load up on candy - not that we need it or at least I don't)

All the cousins were there and it would have been a blast except Sage just doesn't understand the trick or treat concept. He is a treat eater. And the word "no" well it isn't well accepted so him and I spent most of our time in the cafe area trying to avoid crying and meltdowns.

The others however enjoyed collecting treats.

Then we went trick or treating around the block and Uncle R's house with Cousin B. Kind of an interesting crowd out and made for some good laughs.

We also got to help Aunt E and her mom hand out candy.

The next night we trick or treated with some of our best friends in their new hometown. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful night.

And finally some oh so cute and totally awesome teenage mutant ninja turtle drawings.

Love these.