costumes

I know - picture overload today but they were all so great.  I figured I would get some pictures before the costumes were too worn out.  we've had a ninja and spiderman here all week. 

Spiderman

 I love my crazy spiderman

Green Ninja

 Colin wanted to be the green ninja this year.  He's been talking about it all summer.  And was very specific about how it was to be made.  Thankfully my mom took over and made an amazing costume. He did have several phone converstaions with her that lasted hours and I'm glad she understood what he was saying.  I've already had people come up to me asking where I bought it.  Colin proudly tells everyone his Ma-ma-maa' made it.  And has told me numerous times not everyone has a Ma-ma-maa' who makes costumes.  The first helmet was papermache but after a few times wearing it it ripped so she made the new one out of duct tape.  We had our church's annual chili cookoff this weekend and the kids dressed up, then this friday we have a school trunk or treat and then on hallooween we are going to a Holy Ghost Weiner Roast with friends :)  And then I'm sure I'll still have a green ninja running around.  (She made Joel a blue ninja costume too)

Little Pumpkin

 A sweet friend got me this costume for Norah.  I can't wait to print some of the pictures off and give them to her. 

 

 Norah is the most adorable little pumpkin I've ever seen. 

7 months

Baby girl turned 7 months this weekend. I almost missed it. For some reason in my head I thought she wasn't turning 7 months until november.  Maybe because she is already growing up way to fast.  She started crawling last week.  And then this past weekend started pulling up on things.  The first time she did it, I was on the computer and Brent told me to turn around. She had pulled herself up on the exersaucer and was so proud of herself.  I told Brent to knock her down - not to let her do that stuff yet (jokingly of course) but Joel came in the room at that moment, looked at Norah and Boom! knocked her down.  Oh joel.   

She also got her first tooth last week.  And is sleeping much better.  Last night she got up once.  Lets hope this continues but I can feel 3 more teeth almost ready so lets hope those aren't as painful.  She is still very much attached to mommy.  I dont mind.  I know it wont last forever.

She is getting into everything.  And she isn't as innocent as she seems. As you can see in the bottom picture she is trying to figure out how to get the box of legos that are under the bed. 

Norah is starting to hold her own with Joel who desperately wants to wrestle with her like he does his Bubba.  I think the boys might be in for it soon.  I can just picture her chasing the boys with a nerf gun wearing a frilly dress. 

I go back and forth between desperatly wanting another baby to being competely overwhelmed by the 3 kids that I do have.  I'm not sure what the future holds but Norah is such a wonderful baby to end on if thats what happens.  Norah, your name means light and you are definitely the light of all of our lives. I dont know of another girl who is more adored by her brothers or her parents.  We love you sweet girl.  You are our pretty girl as Colin calls you and get more beautiful each and every day. 

Happy Friday

Little Swimmer

 

This past weekend we went and watched my cousin swim for the University of Richmond.  They had a meet at ODU and it was fun watching Meredith swim.  She's fast.  In honor of all the swimmers in our family, I thought I'd show you the newest member to have a talent in swimming.  This is what happens when Norah takes a bath.  We dont usually bath her in a swim suit but I thought I'd get a video of her that wasn't naked so when she's in the olympics we can freely share this with the world!

A life well lived

My grandparents loved each other. So much.  I love this picture of them after 62 years of marriage they still looked at each other like that.  One time I went over to visit and my grandma had just had open heart surgery.  Grandpa was so worried about her and she was so worried about him since he had a doctors appointment that next week about a spot on his neck.  They were both trying to take care of the other person.  It was fun to get picures for the funeral and look back over the years. Hard too as I was doing it while trying not to sob through the whole thing.  I had a hard time finding pictures of just my grandpa.  They almost always included my grandma. I hope after 60+ years I'll still look at Brent like that.

I miss him.  I miss him a lot.  But was very blessed to call him Grandpa. 

Walking with Jesus

Two weeks ago we stopped in to see my grandparents after the football game.  We had been there a few weeks before but in just 3 weeks my grandpa had declined a lot more than I was expecting.  He didnt really know we were there and slept the whole time.  When we got home Colin told me "Mommy, I dont think How-How will be there next time we go over there.  I think he'll be in heaven walking with Jesus."  It surprised me because we haven't really said much about how sick How-How was.  Just that How How couldnt walk because he was sick.  But kids know more than we think.  I told him he was probably right and then Colin got tickled and said "I bet he'll dance with Jesus." and it made me laugh to think of my grandpa dancing.  Although according to my grandma, he was quite the dancer back in the day.  Colin remembers when my grandpa was a lot stronger.  We used to go over and spend every friday morning with my grandparents.  He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when I was pregnant with Joel and I wasn't sure he would see Joel - but he did and then got to meet Norah.

Today I got the call that my grandpa had passed away.  I had been expecting it but it still doesnt make it any easier.  All day yesterday I just felt a heavy spirit and couldnt shake it thinking about my grandpa.  One one hand I have been praying that the Lord brings him home because it was hard seeing him in so much pain, but on the other I didn't want to let my grandpa go.  Its so so hard to picture life without him.  He has been such a big part of my life.  He would even bring me dinner when I would be lifeguarding at the pool late and make sure my steak and apple pie were cut into pieces so I could eat and not take my eyes off the pool. 

The last conversation I had with my grandpa we were all sitting at the table before school started and the boys were eating coffee cake and my grandpa was watching them eat and talking with them when he said "you've got some good boys there."   (granted he kept calling them Charles and Ole which just made me laugh - but he loved them. And Norah too.  He spent a while just watching her and smiling at her and laughing when she would look his way)  But I love that those were his last words to me.   I'm very grateful for the Lord to use Colin as a comfort to me today as I just keep thinking about my grandpa and how right at this moment he is walking with Jesus.  And maybe, just maybe, might be doing a little dance. 

This was 6 years ago.  One of my favorite videos of my grandpa.  

Sweet Moment

Slide

 Joel got the honor of taking Norah on her first slide last week. 

 Not sure what she was thinking but Joel loved it. 

She willingly went again. 

SWINGING

 Joel has never liked swings.  He didnt like the baby swing and hadn't warmed up to the other swings. He would want to swing at the playground only if his friends were swinging but after a minute he would be done and want down.  But lately he has learned how to swing by himself on the little disk swing in our front yard.  He is so proud of himself and now I can't get him off of it.  We've spent hours outside while he swings.

He likes to say "I swinging like a cowboy"  So cute. 

Solid food

There is this story in my family about how once James left an Oreo cookie on the floor and Mary (who hadn't crawled before that) scooted over to the cookie and ate it. So her first solid food was a cookie.  Well Norah has had her first solid food.  A mini Reece's peanut butter cup. The boys get a "surprise" after school and I hide it in their beds.  Norah hadn't pooped in a few days and when she did she let out a big scream.  I wasn't expecting to pull out a wrapper from her bottom - explains the scream and probably why she isn't into mashed up sweet potatoes. I'd take peanut butter and chocolate over that any day.  What I can't figure out is if she just ate the wrapper or the whole thing.  They are pretty small and she usually has chocolate all over her face from the boys kisses after they get their treats.  Either way she ate some of it.  And apparently loved it. 

She also likes to eat grass and leaves. If I put her on a blanket outside she will work her way over to the edge and grab fistfulls of grass/leaves and stuff them in her mouth.  Silly girl.