Thanksgiving weekend

The day after thanksgiving, Grace's ballet school participated in The Corvallis Christmas parade. Unfortunately I didn't get one good picture of her in the parade. The theme was polar express so her class wore their pajamas and handed out candy. She loved it. Josh was great and walked with her. She looked so cute. (This is her watching the rest of the parade after she was finished)

the one picture I got of her in the parade

Gabe loved the parade! The polar express theme was great for him because every float looked like a train!

Grace finally spent some of her birthday money. We are trying to teach her about money so she got to save some, spend some and give some. She decided to spend it on this. She LOVES her "dye hair barbie". (that sink really works!) thanks bamma and gramps!

I just had to post this, Gabe had a tummy ache or something. We couldn't figure out what was wrong but around 9:30pm he started crying and wouldn't stop. Josh brought him out to watch football and calm down. He fell asleep like this, and while it was sad he didn't feel good, Josh enjoyed getting to rock him to sleep- it's something that never happens anymore!

Christmas Tree Day

All who know me, know that I LOVE christmas. Today was Christmas tree day in the Pannebaker home. It is a day that almost has holiday status. And let me just say that even more than I love Christmas, do I love this man pictured below. For he loves me so well, and allows me to be myself. One of our first Christmas' together we were planning to go to PA to have Christmas with his family. We would be gone over all of Christmas vacation (Josh was in school). So one day in talking about our trip, Josh turned to me and said.."so I guess we wont need to get a Christmas tree this year, huh?" I sat stunned. My jaw dropped open and I looked at him as though he told me he was leaving me for another woman. And funny as it is, that really was my genuine reaction- I don't think any circumstance would cause me to not get a christmas tree! Needless to say, Josh has never said anything like that again. Well I do love him, and saturday we were sitting around and he said "hey- want to see if we could get a christmas tree this weekend?" I melted. He brought be flowers, for no reason! the other day and while I SO SOSO love flowers and appreciated them THIS might have been better! He knows me, and loves me and I don't know why, it's silly but it just melted my heart. SO! I found a Christmas tree farm in town who wasn't really open yet, but whos owner just happened to be home, and we got a beautiful tree! It was pretty cold and blustery, so candy cane hot chocolate was a neccesitySo was Cinnamon, apple walnut cake

This was the best picture I could get of them. Our camera only half works and they just can't stay still- not a good combo

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!

P.S....?

Grace's self portrait- not bad!

The beach was gorgeous and so much fun!

I thought to myself "how cute! They are - heads together such sibling love!

Come to find out they're playing with my phone! A no no- but still so cute! At least theyre being mischevious together!

Happy Birthday Gabey!

We're pregnant!!!! We Pannebakers are still here and well! So many exciting things have happened to us since my last post! However two of which have been a broken computer and broken camera- making blogging so much harder! Anyways! News number one and most exciting; we're pregnant!!! Im due feburary 12th! This pregnancy started out a little rough- much sicker than I remember being with the first two, and right in the middle of moving to Corvallis kind of brought me into a depressing funk. Once I hit 11 weeks however I was so blessed to move out of the yucky phase and am now feeling great! And like I just mentioned we have moved! While I've loved our new home from the minute I saw it, it did take some adjusting. It is finally feeling like home and we LOVE living in Corvallis! Minutes from friends and family- it's just great to be home!

Other highlights- Gabe turned two! He is getting sooo big! Talking, counting, playing hide and go seek with his sister, climbing on everything, throwing everything! So sweet and SO energetic! Everytime he is too rough or hits, I say "Gabe be gentle" and he nods his head and says "baby tummy" and kisses the "baby!"

We spent an awesome weekend at the beach! (Thanks aunt liz!) Went to the zoo with my dear friend Jessye, and threw a birthday bash for my grandma who turned 75! I could be forgetting things but that's all thats in my head now. I just loaded pics from our camera- wasnt sure if it would work. Turns out the camera works fine but the screen doesn't work so these pictures were a nice surprise!!