Fall Fun!

There is going to be some creative fall fun around here tomorrow. 

But today were just worried about making the fall snacks to keep us motivated tomorrow!

Covered

I just loved these promises from my Savior this morning. 

They helped me to start my day feeling loved, protected, special and strong! 

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. 

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

2 Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.

Psalm 116:2

Because He bends down to listen I will pray as long as I have breath. 

Football in the DOME!!!!!

This fall brought the moment Sullivan has been waiting for...like, his entire life. 

REAL football. 

If you could win based strictly on excitement...his team would always win. 

If you could win based on being encouraging to your team mates...his team would always win. 

I love him for both of those things. 

The first game the boys played was at 1/2 time of our high school game. 

(Those pics are on my camera and I'll post those after his last game this Sunday)

His second game was at the UNI dome. 

Big stuff here. 

Can you imagine 8-9 year old boys playing on a college field. 

Yeah, it was that. 

Real deal here folks. 

Sullivan has the best coaches. 

THE. BEST. 

Look for the skinniest kid on the field...the one probably bouncing in excitement. 

That one is mine. 

The sisters got to run the chains. 

Insane cuteness going on down there. 

His fans are very loyal. 

We are so proud of you Sullivan!!!

Catch-up

My husband has been asking, begging and guilt tripping me to get back on this blog regularly. 

However, he has not yet resorted to bribery...maybe I should hold out a bit longer? 

Anyway, I am really going to try to blog on a regular basis again. 

I know if I don't that I will be sorry one day. 

So this will be my random get caught up post...with phone pictures from the past month. 

First, Falstaff. 

Honestly, we got a good one here. 

He is the best. 

He just wants to be with us. 

He loves school.  

Jordan is up long before the rest of the house.

And kitty wants his full attention. 

Jordan proves his love to me by not kicking Falstaff across the room. 

See that little paw?

That's Falstaff letting Jordan know that its morning and he deserves attention. 

Falstaff is a cat who wishes he was a dog. 

He fishes nerf bullets out of this box and brings them to us to play fetch. 

Ok, enough about that cat. 

School!

We are about 5-6 weeks in on the year. 

Its going really well. Attitudes are good and we are BUSY!!!

Phew, Im exhausted at the end of our days. 

I have to be 'on' always. 

I hear, 'Mom, can you help with this?' approximately 2472 times per day. 

No exaggeration. 

And somedays I want to say, 'no! I will not help you with that.' 

Somedays I want to be 'normal' and a bit more carefree. 

One day I googled: 'where is the furthest place I can get from where I am?'

(I know, that is terrible)

Turns out the answer was: 'The middle of the Indian Ocean'

So, I stayed. 

Kidding aside, homeschooling is an awesome thing for our family again this year. 

It works for us. It might not always...but for now we love it and we are all in. 

So some pics of school:

Avery and I were doing math flash cards. Torrance was yelling out random answers from behind her. 

It was annoying and totally hysterical. Avery was THRILLED. 

Maps and geography continue to be favorite topics. 

Schooling with Torrance has its share of difficulties. 

But for the most part she plays well on her own and happily paints or colors at the table with us. 

Or destroys the toy room and plays dress up. 

She doesn't watch much tv. 

But she'll drop everything for some 'Doc McStuffins'

It also must be documented that she is a CUBBIE now!!!

So excited to go once she got use to the idea of mom dropping her off!

It only took a little bribery from her teacher. 

Now she's excited every week. 

This girl does not travel light...a simple trip to the dr.'s office required 5 cell phones. 

Fridays is 'Spartan Spirit' day at school. 

They are insanely cute and really just the best of friends. 

I'm not sure I mentioned that Tess is attending all day kindergarten at the school.

It was the best decision for us this year and I am so thankful that Jordan encouraged me to make it. 

She LOVES it and is doing great but oh man is our house weird without her!

I miss her more than I can say. 

She was excited to share her 'A+' math test. 

(Her black eye was given to her from her brother...accidentally, while playing football on the trampoline)

Tess always has her monkey, made by my mom, close to her side. 

On this night she was reading to him...the book that Jordan's mom gave her with the monkey that looks just like hers. So cute and sweet. 

Jordan's long commute doesn't always allow him to be with the kids during the most optimal parts of their day...he makes the most of the time he does get...like sitting in the back to read to his littlest on car rides. 

Jordan's dad had a birthday in August. 

We seldom take pictures that include Papa...but we remembered this time! 

A few weeks back Jordan and I got away to watch some football and spend the day together. 

I love 'day dates'.

Marriage is not always easy. 

But my marriage to this man is always, always worth it. 

He loves me so much better than I deserve to be loved. 

And, seriously, he's good looking. 

Well that gets us caught up a bit. 

Stay tuned for a post on Sullivan's football fever tomorrow. 

my Lauren

Having older kids is pretty awesome in almost every way.  

Its hard for me to believe that Lauren is in Jr. High and almost 13 years old. 

I remember those days like it was yesterday. 

She is all about volleyball these days. 

She loves every second of it. 

The team dressed up for school the day of their first game. 

She's old, so she borrows my clothes now...my jean jacket this day.

Volleyball is a bit intense for me. 

I am THAT mom who cant sit or remain quiet. 

With age comes increased independence...like an instagram account.

And more time with friends.

She's yet to disappoint us.  

And a phone which she uses exclusively to text me.

(oh wait, that's not true) 

This day she was trying to be clever. 

And I love her for her sense of humor. 

Sometimes my poor girl has a really bad teacher...my comments on her 

writing assignments aren't always the most helpful. 

Luckily she appreciates my humor as well. 

 She loves taking my phone or camera and experimenting. 

I think she's got a good eye. 

So to sum up, Lauren is old. 

And I am actually ok with it. 

Because she's about the coolest, almost 13 year old I can imagine. 

AUTUMN

I'm convinced that people who claim any other season than Fall as their favorite 

have never visited Iowa during September or October. 

This is our time. 

The time we get to look at the rest of the country and say, 

'See! This! This is why we live here!'

During these two months I feel sorry for everyone else. 

Ah, it feels good! 

(side note...both my parents, especially my mom, were 'Fall People'...I feel closest to them, and miss them most, during this time of year. So many wonderful memories of chilly fall picnics, games in the yard and hiking as a family.)

Thankfulness and Joy!

There are little moments of joy mixed in through all the crazy in every day.

God's word reminds us repeatedly that the relief for sorrow, the key to finding joy, is thankfulness. 

I Thessalonians 5:16
'Rejoice ALWAYS'

Today I want to highlight the sunshine and smiles in thankfulness for the first day of Autumn and understanding that I can choose grumbling or joy each day. 

*The gorgeous bright sun sailing in the windows of my kitchen which is filled with my children. 

*Contessa patting Sully on the shoulder at breakfast and saying, 

'You sure are a big eater, aren't you buddy?'

*Contessa asking to send Daddy a text to show him her 'A+' math test.
* My sleepy, thumb-sucking 3 year old asking to snuggle.
*Cups of hot apple cider that magically make school work easier.
*My comedian husband making me laugh this morning.
*Tori pointing out Zenor's house on the way to the grocery store.
*Sullivan thanking me repeatedly for his new Bears shirt that he is wearing today.
*Out of the blue texts from my husband.
*Listening to Avery and Sullivan excitedly summarize what they read in our new reading unit yesterday.
*Reading Rosanna's blog and seeing all the pictures from their time with our kids this past weekend. This warmed my heart and made me smile like I cannot explain!
*Grilling outside for lunch with my kids on the most gorgeous Tuesday September has ever known.
*Listening to Lauren play/fight with Sullivan and Tori outside through the kitchen windows.

And this was all before lunch!

Each day I choose - keep track of the grumblings or the joys.
Both are there, every single day.
As a mom I set the tone for the whole house.
My choice makes all the difference.

Lord, Help me choose the joy! 

from the 3 year old

Torrance keeps us laughing around here. 

Here were a couple of funnies that she had while Jordan was fixing meals in the last couple of weeks. 

1. While waiting for her toast - 'Dad! Toast me!'

2. While asking for juice in her cup - Tapping on the to top of the cup -
'Dad, there's nothing in here!'

She is too much. 

Important Work