Watercolors.

So, today I gave the kids the option of taking a walk, riding bike outside, or painting...thinking they would obviously choose to be outside, which is normally what they choose...well, not today. Bummer. So, we stayed inside and painted with watercolors. Turned out to be a fun time, just a little more messy than I was hoping. Oh well. :) Maybe I won mom of the year today!

You can see some of Kaden's work all around him.

Campbell was very into it...

Check out Campbell's masterpiece...

Kaden concentrating...

To much for Calli to take in, so she just "checked out". :)

A friend asked how a busy mother of four has time to check out blogs, and make updates etc. So, incase you are also wondering, I am finding having 4 young kids is extremely overwhelming at times, but I try to take it all in stride. What fun is life, if I am always cleaning, washing, cooking, etc. So... this is my fun attempt at keeping my sanity. :) and the only way I keep in touch with a lot of my friends right now, is thru e-mail and blogging, as sorry as that sounds. Take care. M.

For that I am thankful...

I am a wife, I am a mother, I am a sister, daughter, and friend, and my heart is thankful. My heart is glad...

I am thankful for...my husband, the beach, Godly parents, good health, kaden, music, sunshine, Jesus, kaycee, books, desserts, campbell, christmas, friends, my house, a provider, calli, chickens, a wonderful moppy and poppy, who are always willing to take our kids-even at the last minute, a sister, candy bars, pictures, coke, toys, brothers, pretzels, comfy blankets, tulips, summer, memories, healthy children, computers, mashed potatoes, jeans, emotions, grandparents, God's greatest sacrifice, heat, nieces, a happy heart, grocery stores, movies, clean cold water with ice cubes, springtime, new life-especially new human life, e-mail, apple juice, treadmills, sleeping in, comfy pants, smiles, nephews, tractors, strawberries, blush, eyeliner, and mascara, telephones, the abililty to worship, freedom, childbirth, a bed, small group, love, pastors, a hot bath...

I celebrate Thanksgiving because my life overflows with things to be thankful for, and because God gave me the eyes to see how incredibly blessed I am. My list is simply insufficient, but it's what I came up with in the few minutes I had to create it. I hope your family has been blessed this Thanksgiving, and although our country is going through hard times (although you would not have known it looking at the line inside toys-r-us this morning at 5 am), may you experience God's overwhelming sense of love for you, his sufficiency to provide for us, if we just trust him...looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth with all of you this Christmas Season...Bring on the snow! Mis.

Calli is 6 weeks old already...

Yep...Calli is 6 weeks old already. Where does the time really go anyway? My days are very, very busy trying to be a good wife and mom mostly. My friendships are lacking a bit, for that I am sorry. I am finding that 4 children is quite a bit more "busy" then just 3. I question why sometimes, and haven't really come up with a good answer. I continue to run around a bit, with kids in tow, which helps me to realize what patience and a soft voice looks like. :) Matt asks me what I get done in a day, and sometimes I really have nothing to say...lots of diaper changes, plenty of cleaning up toys, and unloading and loading dishwashers, washers, and dryers, lots and lots of nursing, and burping, and of course cooking, and on some days even some cleaning and vacuming. (Some days). :) I really do love my life, and try to treasure this chaos. I know that our days are numbered and I was given this family for a great, great reason. My kids will not always be little, and I am learning it's okay to sit down and color, or "play mommy" or even play tackle football in the house. :)

And back to Calli...she is a very content baby. :) She is smiling now, and loves to be talked too. She is cooing, and making some fun sounds. She is nursing and growing well, and spits up a good bit too (as her big brother Kaden did when he was a baby too). She is sleeping anywhere from 6-8 hours a night, which is a super big treasure to me. :) I am thankful for her life...Mis.

We didn't Win!

Hey guys. Just wanted to thank everyone who took the time out of their days to vote for our bathroom...Unfortunately for us, we didn't win. Disappointed, but happy for those lucky people who did. I must say their bathroom was "uglier" than ours. We'll just wait a bit longer, or what's borrowing a "little" more money at this point, right? :) Thanks again. Have a great week, and lots of fun preparing for the Holidays. Love, Mis.

Fall time Fun.

Okay...so Campbell was ready for a nap, but the others were very happy. Just returned from a few days at the King Cabin. A fun family get away. I am trying to crawl out from under a ton of laundry, and decorate for Christmas...my absolute favorite time of year. (Hey Ang...Want to come get some laundry now? I am just kidding, of course)!!!

Kaden- 5, Kaycee- almost 4, Campbell- 20 m, and Calli- 5 wks.

Kaden had his last soccer game on Sat. He loves to be a forward, and scored a few goals this season. He really likes being the goalie, and has proven to be good at keeping the ball out...He is already looking forward to next season! Here he is showing off the metal that he got.

Last Sat. we hosted The King Fall Birthday Celebration, and borrowed the "Barrel Ride" from our neighbors, Jeff and Rhonda, for the kids to ride around in. They had a blast! Campbell had so much fun being a big kid at 20 months old. And most exciting news of all, is she's deciding to potty train herself. Yikes! One of Campbell's favorite things to do right now is play dolly, and burp her baby, and change her diapers.

Kaycee continues to be a big help with Calli. She loves to hold and burp her, and is proving to be a little mommy to Campbell as well, if I can't get there fast enough. :) She really loves playing dolly with Campbell, and it's quite cute...I hear her talking to her babies just like I talk to Calli. So funny!

Kaden is getting spoiled spending lots of time with Daddy lately. He loves farming with dad, and would love to be a farmer when he grows up. He loves his 3 mornings a week at preschool, and has made a trio of guy friends there. He also loves being a big brother to 3 sisters... despite what he tells you. :)

Getting ready to take off on the barrel ride.


And, just a tidbit of video taking off on their wild adventure. Poppy and Uncle Mark were also driving the barrels some of the evening, but we didn't get any photos of them. :(

Cupcakes.

So...we are hosting the King Family "Fall Birthday Celebration" today...and part of our job was to make some cupcakes. We had a fun time, mixing and baking, and best of all decorating. Check out our fine work! :) Campbell getting a little help from Kaden, dumping veggie oil in "the mix".

Kaden and Kaycee did a great job cracking the eggs...only one little piece of shell we had to pick out...that's pretty impressive, eigh?

Did you know that my kids are really shy...and don't like the camera at all? :)

Licking the beaters...we had to have one for everyone...Well...Calli, sacked out at 3 wks. old, didn't care much.

By far, the decorating was the best part...Don't they look YUMMY? :)

Apples Anyone?

So...I gave my kids each a muffin...buying some time for me to go outside and clean up some toys from an afternoon of outside play with their cousin...and hold off dinner until Matt got in from the chicken houses...so we could see him before his "next" appointment...might have been gone 5 minutes, 7 minutes tops, and came in to find my 19 month old Campbell, sitting ON TOP of her high chair tray, with 7 apples sitting in front of her, each with a few bites out of them. Granted she does LOVE apples, and she has an ear infection, so how hard could I be on her? And, I, afterall am the one who didn't strap her in, just figuring the muffin would be all I needed...Boy was I wrong. Came in to see Kaden on the floor talking sweetly to Calli, and Kaycee upstairs playing "dolly" completely oblivious to anything that was going on, and Campbell eating some good apples.

So, we all grabbed an apple, and started munching...and took the opportunity for a photo shoot. :) Life is too short not to take full advantage of this funny moment...(just as long as it doesn't happen again anytime soon).

And, I couldn't leave Calli out...Calli at 9 days old with Kaden loving her.

More JOY!

Kaycee and Calli posing for a quick shot with Auntie Meg...

Me...looking a bit tired?...posing with my cute kids...Kaden (5), Kaycee (3 1/2), Campbell (19 months), and Calli (4 days old)...This has all been a bit chaotic, but today was a much better day...I was feeling a lot better and much more like myself. Look at all my BLESSINGS...We're just missing daddy here. :)
My uncle Galen and Aunt Deborah, from California, just happened to be in town...they don't usually get a glimpse of my babies until they are a bit more grown. How special they could visit Calli.

Kaycee spending time singing to her little sister.

Meet our new sister!

The kids returned home last evening, and we had time to fit in a quick photo shoot. They are loving every minute of her, and love to hold her and give her kisses...we'll see how long that lasts. :) She is such a content baby, I hope that continues too. :)

She's Here...

We wanted to share our precious angel with you. We welcomed Calli Ann into the world this morning at 10:34 a.m. She weighed in at 9 lbs. 3.5 oz. and was 21 inches long. My labor was short and sweet, even though it was 11 days off the mark. :) She really does not look to be overdue at all. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. We are so thankful and excited she is here, and can't wait for you to catch a glimpse.