kids live here

maybe there will be a day when the house will be decorated in a way that doesn't have an elf hanging from the ceiling fan or a floor covered in glitter.  when there's not frosting on the table and snow globe music in the background.  when there's no sticky candy cane fingers to wipe and santa letters to write.  

but someday i will miss all those things.  

 i embrace the home that shouts out the season we are in: kids.  young, busy, messy, active kids.  

one of my favorite christmas decorations is the story of our family's growth evidenced by our annual card.  

 top of the tree:

full view.  the bottom portion is obviously compliments of caroline.  ben wants to put chicken wire around it.  she takes ornaments down like it's her job.  she's a girl on a mission when she spots one in her range.

our fireplace wouldn't be the same without a box of christmas books and the kid's nativity.

guess what present i am most excited to open?

guess what christmas decoration is my favorite?

a little tree to spotlight all the handmade ornaments.

and my favorite decoration.  (this is not staged)  the littlest climbs on the table at. all. times.

 until i can get some chicken wire for the table,  this strategy will have to suffice:

what is missing?

a big congrats to kinsley for losing her first tooth!  i did not realize what a BIG milestone this would be in her eyes.   

it amazes me that these kindergartners track each other's mouths so closely.  she can rattle off who is missing teeth, what particular teeth are missing and who has a wiggly one.   

a thanksgiving miracle

on the shallowest of levels, i am thankful for two things.  a double oven and avoiding a thanksgiving disaster.  the double oven is self-explanatory.  let me explain the near catastrophe.

i blame pinterest.  and the nester.  

i had seen beautiful ways to decorate and make centerpieces using nature.  about a week ago the girls and i set off with large yellow buckets and walked around a park near our house collecting hundreds of pretty acorns. 

 i filled tall cylindrical vaces with them and balanced candles on top. 

 the adult table looked stunning and i was proud of my frugality.  

a day before thanksgiving i was putting out the silverware and noticed a couple *maggots* on the table.  what the?!   i exited the scene and called in ben to deal with them.  he scooped them away and left.  when i reentered i saw a couple more on the floor.  what the?!  ben did his thing.  

 you probably know where this is going.  

we looked into my assortment of beautiful vases and saw HUNDREDS OF MAGGOTS HATCHING OUT OF THE ACORNS.  big plump maggots.  

the room was quarantined and cleaned.  

thanksgiving was saved.  

hallelujah we noticed before sitting down with our friends for our feast.  

the best part is that i hadn't told a soul and later that day i got a flower delivery from my mom.  she sent me a new centerpiece.  love her!

on the kid table, the girls and i made a thankful tree.  we wrote things we are thankful for on the leaves.

it was our first turkey and the first time ben used a carving knife we got at our wedding.  it has been in a box for 9 years.

the kids.  they are getting to be really good friends.

this is my friend kim.  long story short, they moved here from ohio (into our neighborhood) at the same time as us.  we bumped into each other at kinsley's school and stood outside for about 30 minutes wide eyed at all we have in common.  she has been a godsend.  it was so fun to spend this day with her.

a saturday

we have been basking in perfect fall weather for about 3 straight months.  this weekend we checked out a state park and fell in love with NC once again.  

i have finally stopped taking automatic pictures and keep it on manual all the time.  it's been a fun challenge.

however, far too many pictures look like this:  it would be easier if it didn't involve math.

photogenic kids make any photographer look good.

ben's exact quote in a very defeated tone: "this is a path to nowhere."

back at home caroline was doing what she does best...pushing all boundaries.  (she really was sturdier that she looks)  (i was more focused on shutter speed than safety)  (the ladder got put away right after this) (not my proudest moment)

in other caroline news, she graduated to a big girl carseat.  it was not installed for 3 days and she INSISTED on being buckled all the time.  we would all be in another room and she would happily be buckled in all alone.

she loves to dance in the car.  praise hands.  (for the record, ben was driving) 

a fun night to be a mom

it was so fun and they were so cute.  such a great night!

hallie showing some lovely hat-head.  

grandma jane made the dorthy dress.  completely darling.

 these are some of my favorite sister pictures ever.

caroline is the reason we make friends wherever we go.  such a goof!

 oh, caroline.

hands behind the back wasn't my idea...kinsley stood that way and hallie is always mimicking her big sister.   

caroline made it about 2 houses in the stroller.

 then she "helped" push the stroller.  (notice the pair of little feet)

then she ditched the stroller and waved to all the neighbors.  she was such a hit.

 baby girl, do you have any idea how much i love you??????

my little baking slave

look who won 2nd place in a community bake off.  

   

2:25

it's the time kinsley hops off the bus.   she hugs a couple older girls goodbye, pleads to play with ethan, invites neeshe and yohana over, then remembers her mom and sisters are standing there patiently waiting for some attention.  

our routine is to delay play dates until we can catch up, have snack and read her daily cuddle book.   kinsley reveals things she brought home one by one out of her backpack.  i ask as many questions as i can until she begs for mercy.  

my girl is growing up and it's hard not knowing the full picture.  i feel like i am putting together a puzzle of her day.  here are some of the pieces:

1.  saying i am proud of her is an understatement.  learning to read and write is amazing...especially if it is your own kid.  i love her terms:  she says she stretches the words out like a rubber band.   she is proud...we are proud...it is a win-win.   

2.  ben takes her to school every morning.  one day i had to bring her and did not expect it would take the vice principal, computer teacher and guidance counselor to peel her off me, screaming.  that was a rough start to say the least.  i was a nervous wreck to take her the next day but ben was out of town.  enter the best idea ever (credit to ben):  she took a picture of him and carried it to help her be brave.  it totally worked and he remains zipped in her backpack for emotional emergencies.   

3.  she has been talking about the school store for weeks.  one would not believe the amount of joy in that child when we let her bring some allowance to pick something out.  she couldn't sleep the night before she was so excited.   $1.50 later: a squishy bear keychain. 

4.  after talking about friends in her class she told me that joey takes medicine that makes his hair fall out.   my heart sunk to the floor as i asked her to tell me more about him and learned my fear was true.  absolutely heartbreaking.   joey is in my thoughts so often.  i don't know him or his story but he has impacted my heart.  the journey with him may be one of the most important lessons kinsley, and i, may learn all year.  

for the baby

caroline elizabeth,
you, my sweet one year old, bring so much laughter to this home.  i tell you all day long how funny you are.  your noises, silly faces, mischievousness and character bring every single one of your family members smiles every single day.  we are so thankful for you.

your sisters love to push you in their baby stroller.  they whip you around the corners and you seem to thrive on adrenaline rushes.  

you have an enormous smile.  this picture doesn't do justice to how big it can get.

you chose not to flash your big smile on this trolly ride.   longest trolly ride ever.  

your favorite toy: connect four.  putting the pieces down the slot is your hobby.  i swear i have seen you try to make patterns.

it's just hallie and you when kinsley is at school.

one of my favorite recent pictures.  i love the hands and little teeth.  

you can find a number of body parts when i ask.  i am partial to your tongue and belly button.

this is it.  the face you make ALL THE TIME.  when you are mad, happy or just deep in thought.  you scrunch up your lips so your nostrils are covered.  it is a gift not many can do.  (readers....try it...can you block your nostrils with your lips?)  

you ALWAYS want to be near or on me.  i give it a couple weeks before you can shimmy up my leg.

i love my little walker.

this is another thing unique to my girl.  when you are upset or frustrated you get in this position.  that means you are in this position lots.  

 you prefer to be off the ground.  you are pretty proficient at climbing on top of things that you should not be on top of.  

 sometimes, just sometimes you get new outfits that are not hand-me-downs.

you are a beautiful thing, miss caroline.  thanks for making this year one of my favorites.