Trick-or-Treat

We were supposed to head to TC yesterday and trick-or-treat with the T family but plans had to be changed when my parents still didn't have power back, thank goodness it came back on this morning. So instead we headed over to j's parents so the girls could trick-or-treat with their cousins. They were really excited to trick-or-treat this year, I think each year they get more excited about halloween. J said that next year they'll probably have to expand their route, they didn't hit that many houses, soon though, they'll want to go to more I'm sure.

Our little stinker

Snow White, Addisyn Joy

Princess and the frog, Kylynn Joy

Cousins ~ Cole, Cambrey, Addisyn and KylynnAunt Kari and the girls going trick-or-treatingThe sis and I in our Halloween t-shirts

Pumpkin Carving Time

We always seem to wait till the last minute to carve pumpkins, oh well, it got done. The girls actually put their hands in the guts but not for long. J and I did most of the work, I should say, all of the work. I got an idea from a friend, ash, to print out pumpkin stencils. So we were a little more creative this year. I showed the girls the stencils and let them pick one out. Addi picked the friendly ghost and Kylynn picked a jack-o-lantern face, not the typical though. It was a challenge for me to veer from the usual but I can honestly say it was pretty easy and fun. Besides a little crampy hand it wasn't that bad.

As we were carving I said, Grandpa VanDyke should be here. He always loved carving pumpkins, or did he just do it cause we loved it. Anyway, next year we will need another adult to tackle Easton's pumpkin. Or maybe we shouldn't wait till the last minute. I love the tradition of carving pumpkins and hopefully some day I'll have a nice porch to place them on. Dreaming I know, but I am one for traditions and I can't wait to get into a neighborhood where my kids trick or treat in the neighborhood with their friends and we take a picture on the front porch with their pumpkins and costumes. It will happen, until then we'll trick or treat at grandpa and grandma's houses. This year we'll try something new. Stay tuned for photos.Addi didn't mind the guts, she just listened to her sister and didn't want to do itthis is the extent of what she took out, not a fan of the guts

daddy working on addi's pumpkin

trying something new

the girls with their pumpkins

our ghost and jack-o-lantern

our week

We didn't do a whole lot this week. I'm trying to take it easy and spend as much time as possible with the kiddos as I go back to work in 2 weeks, yup, 2 weeks and back to work I go. I just learned yesterday that pt conferences are the first 2 days I go back, how awful. That means my first two days I'll be at work from 7:15 - 7:15. Let's just say I will be exhausted that week, hopefully I can get to bed early and little man will sleep good for me. Keep your fingers crossed, say a little prayer for me cause I'm already dreading this. I'm sure we will survive but not going to be a fun week.

We had a play date with Mercy yesterday, the girls love playing with her. Today we went out for lunch with Aunt Linney and this weekend we plan to carve pumpkins. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

He's smiling more

my three blessings

Easton and Addisyn

Kylynn and Easton


Our happy boy

Big eyed Easton, check out his curly mohawk

The other day the girls were playing baby,
they play so well together, most of the time, I love it

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Mom

Today I want to wish my mom a very Happy Birthday! It takes becoming a mom to truly appreciate what a mother does for their children. Mom and I have probably become closer now that I am a mother and I love it. We didn't always get along the best when I was in High School, you know she just didn't understand, well really she did but I didn't think she did. She has always been there for me and I love being able to pick up the phone and have her there. Hopefully some day I'll be able to drive a shorter distance to get to her house if need her. For now though I will take her at a phone call away, 2 1/4 hours away. She has been a huge help to me with the three kids. When the hubby decides to head to the UP, mom comes down, or should I say Grandma. I am so blessed to have her to help me and give me a little relief.

In September we enjoyed the circus, this past weekend we enjoyed the pumpkin patch with the kids. We also started a new tradition of making applesauce, I really enjoyed spending the afternoon side by side with her learning how to make applesauce. She told me she learned from her mom and now I have learned from her, love it. Thanks so much mom for coming down once again to help me out, I truly appreciate it!

The kids giving Grandma her presentNow she has her Vera, and she even got socks

Mom, have a wonderful day and enjoy your day, do something for you, don't cook either! Love ya!

3 months

It is bittersweet for me to be posting about my 3 month old as my heart aches for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law who continue to grieve the loss of their two little girls. I just want them to be able to enjoy the blessings of parenthood that we have been blessed to enjoy.

Easton Marc is 3 months old today. He continues to bless us each and every day. This week he has started smiling so much more and even giggling and laughing We love to hear his little giggles and noises. Here's a little bit of what he is up to these days:

-eats every 2-3 hours still

-gets up once a night lately it's at 2:00 am

-wears size 2 diapers but soon to go to size 3

-wearing size 6 month clothes and still some 3-6 month clothes

-he loves his fist and sucks on it all of the time

-he also loves to be outside

-he loves stroller rides

-some of his favorite toys are his bouncer and Einstein play mat

-he does not care for the paci, I'm okay with that

-still most of his time is spent eating, sleeping and pooping

We're going to pull out the bumbo seat for him soon, he seems to have pretty good head control. Tomorrow will be our big 3 month photo shoot as Grandma is going to be here and can help get us some smiles.

Remembrance

Please join me tonight at 7:00 in lighting a candle in memory of my nieces, Alayna and Ella, who were taken from us too soon. Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. This is a day that is set aside by President Regan to remember all of the lives that were taken from this earth too soon.
My nieces would have been born either yesterday or today and we would have been celebrating the births of two new cousins, instead we are celebrating them in heaven. Please continue to pray for Brian and Lindsey as they continue to travel the road of losing two beautiful little girls too soon and as they continue to try for another child. They are going to make wonderful parents and this is part of God's plan but it still is hard as they just want to be parents.

thankful thursday

This week has been full of smiles. I decided to bring out yet another thing to clutter up our family room but boy am I glad. Easton absolutely loves his Einstein Playmat. He laughs and smiles like no other. Kylynn also learned that if she grabs his legs and pulls them back and forth she can get big giggles out of him. I'll have to upload a video soon. I am so thankful for little smiles, giggles and laughs from my litle man.

fun in the leaves

Last night Jason blew the leaves in a large pile for me to take pictures of the girls in.

We had some good laughs and got some great pictures.I guess I should be happy my girls are somewhat photogenic,

love these pictures, can't wait to scrapbook them.Once again we tried getting a picture of the three of them, not so lucky. But some great bloopers.We told Addisyn it was time to head inside, she decided to keep playing in the pile. Daddy warned her he was going to blow her away, take a look at what unfolded. Her face was priceless when he started up the blower and came towards her. We had a great laugh watching her.

God's Child, Easton Marc

Today was a special day in our family, Easton was baptized. We made our vows to God to raise him in a Christian home and to do everything in our power to guide him in the way of the Lord. What a blessing He has given us. We are truly blessed to now have another child entrusted to our care and to raise to love the Lord. Today while we were singing in church the girls were with us. We were singing a song and one of the lines was "we raise our hands..." Addisyn did it so innocently and it was just precious. Just wanted to share that cute moment. The other not so cute moment was when I was trying to take Easton out of church to the nursery and was going to take Addisyn to Little People's church, she started arguing about a candy that Kylynn had. I was able to diffuse it really quick with another treat, thankfully. All in all it was a beautiful day, weather wise as well. We enjoyed time with family celebrating Easton's baptism and enjoyed time with our family taking a walk tonight. Gotta take advantage of the last of the nice weather.

Our little guy being baptized
Easton with Pastor Marc

4 generations, Great Grandpa, Grandma, and Daddy with Easton

Old Papa, J's grandpa, and Easton

Our big guy

Beautiful fall days

Today we took Easton up to Rockford to have his footprint and handprint done in a tile for his room. I did this for Kylynn as a baby and we did a tile this spring for the girls room. What a great day to take a walk down by the river. It was a gorgeous scene along the river, the pictures prove it. I told J that next year we're taking the kids down there for pictures, it is a beautiful place and the colors make it even better.

My girls

By the $ ram, they were all painted differently,

it was pretty cool, the girls loved them

Tonight J and I enjoyed date night, we went to Outback for dinner-delish, and then to the Lady A concert. Wonderful concert but I felt very old. It was nice to just sit and people watch, oh and sing along with one of my fav groups. Great concert! Thanks hubby for taking me. Now we have baptism in the morning, so I should get to bed as it will be a busy day. I'll update soon with pics from baptism and our little guy.

family photo shoot

I had some fun with Picnik, my new favorite site. You can make these cute collages and that is also how I did my new banner for the blog, thanks to my sis' help. Enjoy some shots of our family from our recent trip to TC to visit Grandma and Grandpa VanDyke and Aunt Kari.The familyThe family with our furry friends, gauge and remingtonI am so blessed to have my girls, they are each others best friend

and worst enemy at times, they sure do love each other though.

Definitely did not get a great one of all three kids, better luck next time!

I love fall afternoons

J and I did a little wine tasting,

he said he wished they had beer tasting
Fishtown

Me and the hubby

We had a wonderful fall afternoon together. I don't get many of those ever as he loves to hunt in the fall. But today he took a day to spend with me, thanks hun. We drove all the way around Leelanau Penninsula, stopped at some wineries, had lunch at The Cove in Fishtown, went to the Lighthouse at the end of the point, shopped in Suttons Bay and headed back to our three lovely children. They enjoyed a day with Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Kari. Our time together is limited as there are now three little ones to care for and usually people aren't too keen on watching three. Today looks like an even better day, sunny and beautiful fall colors out the back window of my parents house. We're going to attempt a family photo, we'll see how that goes.