I am thankful for...

Lucas Clayton Eriksen

Peek a boo!

Where's Gray?!



Peek a boo!

Yeah, I am HUGE!

Getting ready for church

I walked into the girls room this morning and this is what I found. My favorite part was Kate yelling "ouch" as Elle paid no mind.

Halloween week

How many parties did you pack in?! Church trunk or treat, two preschool parties/parades, neighborhood parade and party and then finally the real deal Halloween night trick or treating. Hope you had a happy Halloween!

Here is Elle as Genevieve (from 12 dancing princesses). She has been saving her money since last Halloween for this costume. I am pretty sure she could not have been more pleased.


My Truck. And totally appropriate since the only word he can say is "car" and he is obsessed with all moving vehicles.


And the butterfly. She loved her costume as well. She had been wanting to be this for quite some time (I have no idea how they decide).




Had to include one of Kate's class photos because I couldn't get over the little boy on the Left. I don't think he was enjoying this moment.






The only picture we took on Halloween. It was poring rain with a harsh wind. Elle and Kate were sprinting from house to house. Elle did not want to stop. She even wore boots "so I can run in the rain". She definitely got the whole candy thing this year. More houses, more candy, meant Elle running as fast as she could.


And yes we did survive the field trip. This was the only sketchy moment. Gray decided to shoot down the slide (mock 5) he was berried seconds later after this shot. I literately had to dig to find him. The boy has no fear!

My heaven

I couldn't love this little guy any more. He is absolutely perfect in my eyes! I truly love everything about him. The way he is obsessed with cars, to his independence, his snuggles and kisses, the way he tries to make everyone laugh (his fake laugh), to how he steals every ones milk, to how truly brave and tough he is. I LOVE this kid. And on Tuesday when Elle and Kate both go to preschool, I get him all to myself for a few hours. Just two more Tuesdays and then he will share with the new baby but until then, I am going to enjoy.

Rapunzel

Elle forever now has been growing her hair out, "like Rapunzel". Any time she wouldn't let me do it I would tell her we would have to cut it if she couldn't take care of it. She would always let me do it. The other night in the bath she started crying telling me that she didn't want me to wash her hair. I told her that if she didn't wash her hair we would have to cut it. She got a huge grin on her face and thought that was a great idea. She couldn't wash her hair quick enough to get it cut.
The first big clump I thought she would cry but instead she started in "Oh how fancy. How stylish!". And for the rest of the hair cut told me how no one would recognize her and how her friends would ask her who she was and she would tell them Elle but they wouldn't believe her but they would than start playing with her (and on and on and on). It has been over a week now and I still catch her looking in a mirror, oven, window, or anything that reflects with a smile on her face, checking out her new do.
I know you can't see the hair cut in the picture but she was posing to show off her new do so I thought it appropriate.

I showered today

don't know if it was worth it.

terrifing field trip

So a field trip consisting of a hay ride, hay maze, hay slide, snack, pumpkin and gourd picking sounds like an absolute dream, right? WRONG! My poor, poor Kate. This was with her class and I am always excited for her to experience and be a part of her own things.
The hay ride went well. She sat next to her friend laughing and having a good time.
Next came the hay maze. The first time through, Elle took off with Kate's special friend and Kate couldn't keep up. Crying for "Liv". Next time through, Elle and Kate went running through with Liv and her mom. Gray running as fast as he could but not being able to keep up. The next time I thought I would wait for the girls at the end. I did but they again sprinted to do it again (they obviously knew exactly how to get through). I was waiting toward the entrance when Gray sprinted into the maze. I was a bit panicked when it took me a minute to find him. I found him and was half way through when I heard Kate screaming hysterically. I was yelling to her and trying desperately to get out but kept hitting dead ends. After a few minutes parents were coming to the side telling me to hurry because she was bleeding everywhere. Still I couldn't get out! Dead end after dead end, listing to my poor hysterical child. I finally got through going back the way we came and saw Kate with three adults around her trying to calm her. Apparently someone ran into her giving her a bloody nose. It was a bad one and looked even worse since she doesn't want anything to do with people she doesn't know well. They were trying to put tissue on her nose while she was thrashing all directions. Blood every where. All over her face, in and over her eye, in the hair, all over her clothes, hands, sleeves and boots. It was a heart breaking site. So as I am calming her I turn just in time to see Gray get bulldozed by a large boy. Giving him a lump on the back of his head sending him into hysterics. My poor Elle telling me about it later was in tears "I was so worried for Kate and you were not there."
To make the rest short, the slide looks fun in the picture but than she ate it and that was the end of that. The gourd Elle wanted had a slug on it which was a big deal apparently (don't worry we got it off). And there was a huge dog that Gray was terrified of.
Really none of this was a big deal but knowing we have to go back Monday for Elle's field trip makes it a big deal for me. I guess it can only get better:)

Of sleep..

We still are not sleeping well. Giggling till late at night. Coming in at 3am. Thinking it is morning at 5. Not napping and acting like it throughout the day, each day. But when I find them sharing a bed, I realize all is just fine:)


And although the second time around we still ate apples we also brought home a bushel.


I love this picture because it shows a bit of Kate's stubbornness. This is her refusing to get in her class picture. Despite all parents, kids and teachers trying to persuade her.

apple picking

I am pretty positive none of my kids put an apple in the bag. But boy were the apples good. And thank goodness for our friend who shared their wagon with us. Luckily Kate's field trip is tomorrow (hopefully we will come home with a few more than we did today).

STOP EVERYTHING!!!

But Seriously! I blinked my eyes and my children are all grown up! That really is how I feel. Elle and Kate both started pre-school (held Elle back and am proud of it, no kindergarten for this house). They both love it.

My hint to Elle growing up. She talked to me for an hour straight the other day about the drama that went on during their play time out side. And I keep hearing her say things like "Are you kidding me Kate". I am sure this means nothing to anyone else and although I enjoy each moment and stage of their lives I really just want a pause button for life. STOP GROWING UP!!


Further evidence of my children growing up.. Gray now runs to the girls when the camera is pulled out to get in the picture. And please take note of the outfit Elle has on. Of course she picked out every detail including my belt that she found and wrapped twice around her little body.


I told you, all grown up. She, wanting to be her older sister chose to wear one of Elle's skirts for the first day.





So this is a random picture but apparently the only one I took of our trip to MD for a cousin's wedding. Truly, Katherine Foulger (now Louis) was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. And that adorable pregnant lady in the back ground is not me, did I mention that 4 in my family are having babies and we are all due within less than two months. Welcome home Mom and Dad:) They will be traveling the country taking care of us crazy moms (I love that they are finally home). So the picture below is of us at the zoo, so obvious I know. The kids had a great time with their cousins.


And two of the funniest things my kids said while in MD.
One night while brushing our teeth, Kate stated. "Mom and Dad got married in the temple. I am going to get married in the temple." with a big smile on her face. Elle's response "Kate, you always talk about the temple" (which is very true). Kate "I am getting married in the temple". Elle "I am getting married in the temple and I am going to marry Gray because he is so cute and stylish".

Elle and Kate were supposed to be sleeping. I was next door at the wedding reception and a friend had her baby there. It was freezing and the little 6 month old was in shorts and a short sleeved shirt. I told my friend I would run home and grab him some warm things. I went home and was going through our suitcase holding the baby. Elle and Kate rushed out of their beds to welcome this baby. Kate was very excited. Than I understood why. "Mom, he is SO cute. I can't believe he came out of your tummy". So within the 10 minutes I had been away she believed me to birth a child and dress him for a wedding. Just call me super mom.

finding a way

I want this font. I am trying to justify buying it but of course can not. Although just to look at it puts a smile on my face.

getting ready for baby

We really are getting ready. We moved the girls into the same room so we would have a special little place for baby #4. It has only been a few weeks but we are lacking in sleep 100 fold. They giggle for hours at night, dare each other to sneak out during nap time and cry in the early hours of morning because the other one woke them up. Thank goodness we started early.. can you imagine that with a newborn?

the DRIVE IN

Best part about where we live. And to make it better they added a wonderful outside ice cream shop:)

Our last escape

Before school starts at least. We went back to New Hampshire for a few more days. We had a blast and then said good bye.