Insta-Friday

Hello friends!

Fall is in the air, and it makes me feel downright giddy! I'm so excited for sweaters and boots and scarves and pumpkin spice lattes and visiting pumpkin patches and painting pumpkins and caramel apples and figuring out Halloween costumes and baking fall goodies!!!

The windows are open and a cinnamon scentsy is burning! My heart is full and happy.

The kiddos had their fall festival at school last Friday. It was awesome. They go to a truly amazing school. There were over 480 students attend this year! They had inflatables, laser tag, a climbing wall, snow cones, a food truck...a huge kayak tank....

A local kids hair salon did hair and nails...

There was a photo booth...

There were face painters...Brody said, "I'm BATMANNN!"

#priceless

There was the very popular traditional cake walk...where Abby picked one of our own cakes to bring home.

So funny. When I brought them into school, she told me she would be winning one to bring back home. She is one determined little girl. Like her mama, once she says she is going to do something, she does it. Nothing stands in her way. I'm telling ya, watch out for this one. She's feisty. We love her and all her personality up.

Mary Flair made her maiden voyage with us last weekend.

Be.still.my.heart.

It was seriously the most fun experience ever. I love that our kids will grow up camping. I love that they get excited to be outdoors and just hang out together as a family. I love that we get a break from screens. I love that we disconnect from the world and reconnect as a family. This was the best investment ever. A investment in us as a family.

When we bought her I knew she needed a name, and not just any name. Because she was not just any camper. She was the vintage camper I had dreamed about.

I told AJ she needed a name with 2 names. He thought for a second and with the biggest smile on his face said, "Mary Flair!" And we instantly loved it!

Flair-noun 1. A special talent 2. Stylishish and originality

She had flair. He was right.

Abby adamantly declared in her typical Abby style that she was Mary Flair THE JELLYBEAN. Because she was shaped like a jellybean.

And there you have it.

We snuck in some tubing on the lake with nana and papa. These kids love being on a lake. And man do they love their nana and papa. Abby says they are way more fun than mom and dad. Thanks Abby.

But seriously, who let Abby drive the boat?!

#terrifying

Brody Bear is always up for a boat ride. Sweet boy.

There were hot air balloons taking off while we ate breakfast. How whimsical and fun is that?! And now Abby wants to ride in one. Lovely.

I'm pretty much obsessed with Jamberry nails. They are just so fun that I have to take a picture every time. So then you get to endure all my nail pictures. I mean pink and orange ombré nails! How fun is that?! This set reminds me of Barbie in the 80's.

Oh Abby. We knew all her spunk would be interesting in Kindergarten. We knew she might challenge authority. We were hoping and praying it would go smoothly.

Week 2 and she had a yellow day and declared her dislike for getting "talking to's" by Mrs. M. Le sigh.

Pray that she is done testing the water and has learned consequences for not listening are not fun. Pray that this evens out. I love that girl, but dang she has her mama's edge to her.

We are really pumping up how fun and awesome Kindergarten is. We are in full yay school Kindergarten rocks mode. I even bought a shirt. Pray it works.

Until then, I'm mainlining Dr. Pepper.

"Lip stick mom. I found your lip stick."

Well at least it wasn't the Tums this time.

Love me some peppermint tea as the weather cools off...or during a thunderstorm...which we seem to have a lot of around here.

Brody walks around saying, "It's gonna rain mom. Mom, it's gonna rain." Yup child. You're right. It's gonna rain.

Brody Bear starts preschool next week! My baby is not a baby anymore.

He's gonna eat it up. I know he'll love every second of it. My boys love learning. Abby...not so much. #girlsarenoteasier

Yay fall magazines!!! Nuff said.

I love our morning together after we drop the big kids off at school. Just us. Playing in the backyard. It's kinda magical.

Have a fabulous 3 day weekend!!! I can't wait to soak up my fam! I'm pretty much head over heels in love with all of them.

Word.

Posted with Blogsy

Insta-Sunday

I am loving helping Abby with homework in the afternoons.

She is excited to learn to read and works really hard to have nice handwriting. Sweet girl.

Brody turns 3 next month!

Party prep for the boy that loves tractors has begun.

AJ had a scary allergic reaction to gummy Flinstones vitamins last Friday.

Glad that is over.

Love me an iced chai and fun nails.

The kiddos enjoyed all the tasty treats and inflatables at the Young Life community party last weekend. What kid wouldn't?!

I kept hearing ummmmmm ummmmmm ummmmmmm the other day.

Abby was trying to find her inner peace.

Hilarious.

Pre-eye appointment ice cream.

Cotton candy ice cream with snickers, marshmallows and gummy worms.

Our little man is getting glasses.

I'm always excited for school picture day...

 

This little guy is starting to fall in love with trains.

I signed up to bring 4 cakes to the fall festival but didn't really want to bake. Pinterest to the rescue.

What did we do before Pinterest?!

We probably didn't suffer nearly as many severe burns from our hot glue guns. Mother of pearl that blister hurt. An emergency trip to Walgreens for burn cream was in order.

I got AJ's back to school pictures from Sharon Arnoldi this week!

Be.still.my.heart.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever was the book that ignited AJ's passion for reading. The first book we lost him to for hours on end. The book that made him want to read the entire series and more.

I'm so glad Sharon captured that magic!

Next week in teddy bear week in Kindergarten.

Abby made her bear a fairy ballerina.

Those wings. Wow.

I had a splitting headache from a lovely head cold this week, but one my most favorite people in whole world made it better with this surprise chai.

Seriously made this girl's day.

I love seeing these two playing together.

They totally understand each other's appreciation for dirt and rocks.

And these are pure entertainment to watch. They just play and play and play together.

#soulmates

Abby came downstairs dressed like this the other day. Oh girl. You are something.

We had a crazy fun weekend!

Can't wait to share the next round of Instagrams!

Have a fabulous week!

Posted with Blogsy

Insta-Friday

Hello friends.

I'm loving getting back into a groove and having a school routine. I feel so much more productive when we have structure.

We decided to convert my sewing room into a room for AJ so that he has his own space. He never complained, but I know it was hard having his younger siblings tear up his Lego creations or his sketches he spent hours working on. He deserved a place where he could go read quietly and his stuff was safe from destruction. He is loving it, and I'm so happy he has it!

I'm so in love with Jamberry nail wraps! I'm always a sucker for a fun pattern and love having fun nails!

Mass with three kids can sometimes be rough. Last Sunday was particularly difficult. #mamaneededadrinkafterward

The beauty of my roses never cease to amaze me. I love how full and bright they are. They make me happy every time I come and go.

Caramel dip and apples bring back fall for me. Yummo. So looking forward to fall this year!

Abby was over the moon to meet Anna and Elsa at local toy store this week. It was pretty cute how in awe she was.

We did a family practice ride to school to make sure AJ was ready for his first ride on his new bike this school year. I love getting out for family bike rides. Even if I can't sit for two days afterward. #ineedtoinvestinpaddedbikeshorts

Abby was super excited and a little nervous to start Kindergarten this year! Her teacher gave her Ready Confetti to put under her pillow the night before the first day of school. She was so proud and excited to sprinkle that confetti under her pillow. Love that girl up!

I can't believe my AJ is a 2nd grader! He still loves to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and doing math.

He loves riding his bike to school with his friend Charlie whenever he gets the chance, and I love that he gets to do it!

Abby started Kindergarten!!! She is loving it! Whew. We were not sure how this was going to go.

She insisted on getting a roller backpack. Watching her maneuver that gigantic thing around is spectacular.

Sending this girl to school is so different than sending AJ was. With AJ I worried that my sensitive boy would get his feelings hurt by other kids. With Abby I worry if she will follow directions and keep her attitude reigned in. How can two kids from the same parents be so very different?

AJ had his first play practice this week! He has been working really hard on memorizing his lines and all the songs. I'm so amazed by that boy.

Oh Brody. Watching you eat can melt away a bad day.

All week, every morning Brody wanders around the house asking, "Where's Abby?" Then he asks, "Go get her now?" about 20 times.

Today we brought me this picture and said, "For Abby Cat."

He made sure to bring it with him when we loaded up to go get her from school, and proudly presented it to her when she came out of the building.

#meltmyheart #thisboyLOVEShisbigsister

Abby requested a Jamberry nail party with her BFF after school Thursday, and who can say no to that?! I love being girly girls with good friends. It's good for the soul.

Have an awesome weekend.

 

Posted with Blogsy