Hi Everyone!
It's hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. We are really excited to be traveling to Kansas to spend Christmas with the Shoemaker side at Kate and Noah's place this year. It will be a long drive, but well worth it!
This post is going to be lots of pictures and less writing for sake of time. :)
This post is going to be lots of pictures and less writing for sake of time. :)
Here's what we've been up to...
We had a great good-bye visit from Scott in September. It was pretty tough to say goodbye for the next to years, but it helps to know that he's excited about being stationed where he is and at least we have Google Hangouts so we can still see and talk to him (just about) as often as we want.
Visiting the Greensboro Science Center with Scott.
One last picture together...Owen is having a hard time. I wish I could say it's because he's thinking about having to say goodbye to Scott, but I'm afraid it was much more 3-year-old-ish than that. ;)
There's a half-smile!
Goodbye! :(
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Got a special visit from Pappy in October!
Blake and Seth were able to join Pappy in an overnight camping trip with the boys at Iron Academy where Pappy occasionally teaches. Quite the adventure!
Pumpkin Carving Party!
Blake's strange reading habits... hey, whatever helps you concentrate, right? Ah, the freedom that comes with homeschooling... :)
We added some new members of the family. Tink and Tigger joined us from the local Animal Shelter. The boys carry them all over the house and play with them often. They are learning how to be gentle and how take care of small animals in the process.
I love this picture!
We had the pleasure of meeting Grandma Ensmenger and Grandma Betty in Gaitlynburg, TN. What a cool place to visit! Grandma treated us to the famous Dixie Stampede Dinner and then Grandma Betty treated us to a very full day at Dollywood! We were pretty much spoiled rotten the whole weekend. Thank you again, Grandma and Grams!
The boys thought they'd died and gone to heaven when they experienced cotton candy for the first time!
Liza was so funny, she pretty much stayed in the stroller most of the day and then about an hour before it was time to leave we discovered that there was a whole section of the park with rides for her age and size. SHE WENT NUTS! She wanted to ride them again and again and started screaming when each ride ended. LOL, she finally found something she could do!
Back at home...
I finally figured out a better way to go on walks! :)
I celebrated a birthday in September, my very first sugar-free birthday ever! No Splenda or anything like that, just natural sweetening. I had my doubts, but yes, my birthday was still a happy one. Even without sugar. :)
Owen surprised me when we were doing school the other day...he said he was doing his chores and started cleaning the glass with a nice, dripping wet rag for me. :) So sweet. Tidy-up time is usually his most dreaded and tear-filled time of the day, so this was a nice surprise. :)
Got to go skating on Homeschool Day a few weeks ago. Blake and Seth are still working on keeping from falling and often spend a good portion of the time just watching the big boys speed around the rink. Some day...
Baby, Blanket and BaBa, all you could ever want to get through breakfast!
This post's edition of... Blake's Strange Reading Habits... :) He would probably hate it if he knew I added these, but it's just too cute!
Part of our morning routine (after the much dreaded daily "toof bwushing") is reading time with Owen and Liza. In preparation for her and I flying to Kansas for Christmas, Liza and I are working on our sitting still skills so I usually have her sit on my lap for at least the duration of one book. It's going just okay so far. :-/
Liza laid her head against me the other day while I was holding her (while I was also getting ready for the day) it's so rare that this wiggle bug is still long enough to snuggle with me that I had to get a picture.
Movie night while Dad's gone on a business trip.
Blake loves to help me in the kitchen!
Blake and Seth finished their semester of Archway classes so we went out to celebrate. Blake loved learning about ocean life this fall and his aspirations of being a "marine bee-ologist" are stronger than ever. :)
Silly billy!
Took this one today after a nice long play date with friends. Liza was so tired most of the time we were there that she passed out once we got in the van!
This is going to be a short post this time....the boys are running around playing with Micah and it's rather loud at the moment. :)
Quick Funnies...
In discussing our upcoming trip to Kansas, we talked about the possibility of flying. Owen asked Micah, "Do you opposed to have a cape when you fly to Kansas?"
No idea where this one came from, but here's a goldie by Owen- "Can I have some water wiff no cup?" :)
Hope you all are doing well!
Love,
Kari, Micah, Blake, Seth, Owen and Liza
