TidBits

We bundled the kids up a few weeks ago and headed to Light Up the Summit!  It was a fun short parade complete with Batman, Santa on a Firetruck, and Fireworks!  The kids all enjoyed it and Mommy and Daddy survived.

That same weekend, Kate also got her ears pierced.  I honestly did not think she would go through with it, especially after Daddy went into graphic detail about it, but she is a persistant one...just like her mommy, who is just like her Dad!  Once we get our mind on something...there is no truning back! 

Onto Sisterly love! 

Kate adores Avery.

Avery adores kate. 

Challenges

Challenges of 5 kids!

1.  It is very difficult to go ANYWHERE!  especially on time!
2.  I cannot quite remember to snap pictures as often
3.  My laundry has tripled with 1 additional child?!
4.  Daily trips to Walmart for something I don't have or that I forgot yesterday.
5.  Lots of sibling rivarly
6.  An ridiculously high grocery bill  (see #1 for why!)
7.  getting 1 full uniterrupted nights sleep, MAYBE once a week. 
8.  We are very cozy in our mini van
9.  The noise level in the house has seemed to double
10.  I can NEVER finish what I start, finish a complete sentence or a complete thought for that matter.
11. I cannot seem to keep my eyes open past 9:00!

A List

The 3 month mark with Avery home has brought about a huge change in Avery.  Keeping in mind that she spent the first year of her life in an orphanage, these are some major milestones, blessings and God's amazing grace we have seen in the 3 short (but long) months she has been part of our family!

1.  She can walk behind her push toy!
2.  She WANTS me to rock her and sing to her before I lay her in her crib.
3.  She loves her Daddy and can now say Dada!
4.  She will let our dog come close to her.
5.  She doesn't want to get in her crib anymore!  She use to love to be put down because she felt safe and secure in her crib, but now she shakes her head when I tell her it is time for a nap!
6.  She nods back at me when I say "I love you"
7.  She climbs on EVERYTHING!
8.  She can say Mama...to ME!
9.  She doesn't scream and cry when I pour water on her head in the bath.
10. She doesn't have a constant snotty nose...thanks to allergy meds
11.  She tries to sing along with me
12.  She lets me walk out of the room without her crying hysterically
13. I can get really good pig tails now!
14.  She will wear bows and shoes!
15.  She LOVES her siblings and looks for them when they are at school and squeals with delight when they get home!
16.  She cries out for me when she wakes up...she used to just lay in bed until I would finally check in on her and see she was awake!

Strides

We have made huge strides with Avery!  We finally figured out she needs to be on a daily dose of allergy medicine..hence the runny snotty nose we have dealt with since her stepping on U.S. soil. 
She is also allowing me to leave her with others a lot easier. She stayed with my mom for a few hours while I ran some errands and we had a babysitter on Saturday night and she did great!  It has been a big relief to know that she is ok when I am gone and happy to see me come home!
One more HUGE stride is she is walking when pushing a walker.  It is amazing to think she came to us just starting to crawl and now we are seeing her take steps while pushing a walker.  She is still walking in an unconventional way, which we will address at some point, but to see her up and walking is amazing!
Up date on all my other sweet kids...

Gray is on a batman kick.  He refuses to wear anything other than shorts and hates to wear underwear.  He prefers to wear his batman shirt or any other shirt that is way too big for him!  He also is really into layering his clothes...a few shorts on top of one another or 3 shirts is pretty common around here.  I pick my battles and believe me, this one is not worth fighting.  He has a unique fashion sense!
Kate is begging to get her ears pierced!  I have no idea why!?  We are planning to go next weekend.  I tried to scare her and told her it was going to hurt, but she said she didn't care.  She drew a picture of her with earrings on and they were BIG red hoops with dangles on them!  She might be very disappointed when she gets her gold studs.
Owen is all over the place....hence the nickname "hurricane".  I feel exhausted just thinking about writing about him.  He is my extremely logical and gifted child which makes it quite a challenge to discipline and parent.  I am doing my best and am so thankful he is also my child who needs lots of touch and hugs.
Wills is as naive as ever and such a sweet kind little boy.  He is growing up on me, way too fast. 
I pray daily that he will rise up as a leader in school and with his friends.  We started basketball last week and he has gotten a lot more coordinated this year, so I hope we can find something he enjoys doing...and yes, deep down inside I hope it is basketball!  ha!
As I write about my kids, even though at the end of the day I am tired, exhausted and want to crawl in bed....I am reminded of how blessed I am.  5 healthy children that God has entrusted Matt and I with.
I know I am doing exactly what God has called me to do at this time in my life!

Where have I been?

I have never gone this long without a post!  Where have I been?  Right here!  I just could not find the time to sit and blog and when I did have the time, I was way too tired to pull out my computer and "think" or pour my thoughts out.  I hope I am back.  I hate to think all the wonderful, funny, frustrating things that have happened over the past month, that I will probably never remember again because it is not in print. 
Oh well....I am not going to focus on what I haven't done....for now we move forward!  Coming up on my favorite time of year and lots of new memories to make as a family of 7.
Enjoy some pictures from October!