Our Gracie girl turned five this month! I can hardly believe it! She is growing into such a smart, caring, and energetic little girl. She loves taking care of her brother (in fact I often have to remind her that I am the mommy:) She speaks such kind words of love to her family, and she is just so full of ideas and has a very creative imagination. We celebrated her birthday fancy style this year. She had a small party with just a few friends in the morning, and a family party at night. Grace got to celebrate with her friends at Le Patiesser, where the settings were fancy and the food tiny and cute!

They all daintily sipped their hot cocoas with spoons

The girls had their very own waiter, and were served like grown ups! (note- there are no grown ups - or boys- at the table, this was a very important matter concerning the party this year)

Mini eclairs for dessert! Yum!

Im so thankful Grace has such wonderful friends!

We had to make the place fancy for party number two! She loved it! She is so special- its amazing to me how appreciative and thoughtful she is. When she woke up from her nap, I had finshed decorating and she just gushed over it, and thanked me over and over again- what a five year old she is!

Dying to open her presents!

She is just the sweetest girl! Love you grace
I think this is my favorite cake I've made so far! Josh is just such a great dad- he made her a pop up birthday card!

First moments on the day she actually turned five!

update in pictures

Fall has arrived, we've been taking lots of walks and enjoying the sun and beautiful colors!

Im trying to do better at letting her learn by doing. I don't like to give up control in my kitchen, but she is getting SO big. I need to let her do things and watch her grow. And she loves to bake- and talk as she does it, she could have her own cooking show!bought 20lbs of organic apples and made applesauce, and a few apple pies ;) i LOVE fall!Super capes for super kids

awesome

We went to an early halloween party. josh and I went as a shot gun wedding couple....and no your eyes are not mistaken, Josh has .................a frolet. (mullet of a fro!)

Grosssssssss. And with no help from me- he did that himself!

We went to the pumkin patch with Papa

Love

The boysGabe was sooo happy to be riding a tractor

Such a good dad, did all the dirty work while we sat back and watchedI just thought she was cute. sipping her cider, while reading a book. The girl knows how to relaxGrace turned 5. and I know realize I have posted any of those pics yet, but I did happen to make the perfect birthday cake! I've been enjoying the cooler weather by baking .....a lot.They fight often, but are becoming such good friends. I love watching them play together.

oops, did I mention it's a boy??? I think I did - but this is how we found out.

This is sweet baby number 3. Still just number 3 as we have yet to settle on a name. He is often on my mind and my heart- I am so excited to meet him. I want to post more on our little guy later, for now a lesson of the day.

God sustains!!!! I stayed out way too late last night (though totally worth it!!!) And then slept horribly the few precious hours I was in bed. (Why I continually repeat the mistake of drinking coffee in the afternoon I don't know!) Josh's alarm clock woke me up at 5:45 or maybe I was already awake- but I laid there praying- begging God for 3 things. Help me go back to sleep before the kids wake up, help me to be patient today (and not take out my tiredness on my family) and three just sustain me- please! At that point I was kind of having a panic attack trying to figure out if I had slept AT ALL- wondering how I could take care of my kids all day long not having slept an hour. And I as I was praying I actually kept thinking- I've been here before - soo very tired, not feeling sustained, desperate, and you know what - I stayed out to late- it doesn't really have to do with God, I just stayed out to late and today is going to suck. period.

Well God sustains, and he answered my prayers. I did sleep- though for maybe 30 minutes. I was patient (not perfect) and I got EVERYTHING done today and now - instead of plopping in bed- I am blogging!!! Something I haven't done in weeks!!! It's just mom lingo not world politics or anything fancy but to me, it felt like tiny miracles all day long. For instance Gabe and I went to three grocerie stores this morning!!!!! Usually I am crying and he is screaming after one!!! Also- I baked brownies, cookies, and pumkin bread- AND cleaned my entire house- AND TOOK A NAP! AND josh didn't even come home for lunch or dinner! Again sounds silly- but in my daily life- amazing! The kids ........wait for it......................didn't fight ONCE today. .......................I am speechless! All this to say, it was amazing, I feel blessed, and God cares about my little life! (Now that I am sitting I am starting to fade- consider this a journal type entry because I am not proof reading or spell checking!!!) Good night!