The Month in Pictures

As Thanksgiving approaches, I realize another month has passed by.

Lately I've been having these moments where I really, REALLY want to freeze time and remember little things said and done. I need to find a notebook where I just write them down, because so many have passed by without finding their way to paper or blog or memory.

Just today, I had three or four of those moments where I just needed a snapshot of time, so I would never forget both the good and the bad and the funny and the sad.

...Like the middle of lunchtime, when I was desperately trying to finish our reading for the school day, and I lost all three of their attention as they somehow found their way to the living room to dance the Nutcracker together. I was so mad. And, then I was so glad. We never did finish the reading. But, someday, the mouse dance is what they'll remember.

...Or, tonight when they had a "sister prayer" at bedtime, where mom and dad were not invited. Don't you worry. Mark listened at the door. :) Sweetness. And, relationships being formed that will sustain them through ANYTHING in life.

...My favorite of the day: Abby Kate's victory dance {and ridiculous scream} when she beat Daddy in kindergarten yahtzee, and then made him write "LOSER" on his side of the score card. Oh, yeah, and she wrote WINNER on hers too.

...Carlie lingering in her bed this morning to read more of her book, which she says is "so awesome she can't stop". Be still my heart.

...And, the breathtaking one of the day: A moment when Kendyll looked up from her school work to ask me a question and I seriously saw her face as it will look at age 17, asking me a question about something much deeper than math. I had to take a deep breath. It was her hair. Or her eyes. Or just her older face. I don't know.

Why do days fly by so quickly that we don't always stop to treasure these moments?

I've had some in-my-face reminders lately that time is fleeting, and life is about so much more than what we spin our wheels doing.

Anyway, just feeling a bit pensive tonight. :)

Here are some moments from November(ish) that never got blogged, but are not to be forgotten:

School "on the hill"...

...Where the nature poem assignment was cut short by a nest they just HAD to make instead. :)

What makes me sad is that I was quite annoyed by all the "trouble" of dress-up clothes, and suitcases, and nest-building. I mean, "can't you just write a poem without all the props?"

Until I caught a glimpse of this face. Seriously. Build all the nests you want. (And, by the way, she has half the refrigerator packed under that pink blanket...)

Okay, this next one wasn't technically November. But, it's my hubby and my oldest on their way to a date together. And, I never blogged it. She felt so grown up. And, she had such a fun time with just Daddy. Kinda glad AK was too sick for me to go along. These are the things she'll remember...

And, this girl. My goodness. She is a busy one. Still enjoying school...both at home.

And at Sunshine School. (She got to make her own Hush and Brush book characters out of pumpkins. She was GIDDY.)

And, feeling very big these days in her piano lessons.

Ms. Roberta asked to "practice" on her for pre-K lessons, and we've been going strong ever since. She really loves piano. I think it MIGHT be because she gets to be like her big sisters. And, she gets to play Jingle Bells. Twenty times a day. :)

And, November means Popsy's birthday! Our traditional picture continues for the TENTH year!

As Christmas season approaches (but not yet!!), we had a very fun mommy/daughter sewing sleepover!

The mommies taught the girls how to sew, and some fun projects were made.

Some are secrets (shhh!) and the others were modeled right away. PJ pants for the girls!

They made them all by themselves! It was such a fun time with girls and moms who we adore.

So, that's {most of} the month in pictures. There is alot more to share about His Chase and funds being raised for new projects.

And, the fun we had with our visitor from Rwanda, who got to experience tex-mex, a pumpkin patch, and a six lane Dallas freeway all for the first time with us.

Then, there's the three men and a little lady who rode 20 miles to make a difference in the lives of orphans this month! And, there's still money coming in for their hard work! To God be the glory for hearts like these!!

But, that's all for another day. I promise. :)

Ola! Ni Hao! Aloha!

So, to get me out of the blog funk I am in, I'm going with a no-brainer post. :) I have a much deeper, needs-to-get-out-of-my-head-and-onto-paper kind of post coming...

But, for now,

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This year's costumes were agreed on by the girls very early. They have known their "theme" since August, and while the details have wavered weekly, they stuck to their plan rather well.

Our entire curriculum for school is a trip around the world, studying different countries and cultures. So, they decided (at Kendyll's suggestion) to be from different countries!

After deciding between being French or Spanish or Mexican, Kendyll finally landed on a Spanish Senorita (a.k.a. Flamenco Dancer) and it could not have been more perfect for her personality.

She played up the sassiness and enjoyed doing the dances as much as possible. :)

Carlie decided very early that she would be Chinese. And, it was perfect for her too!

She loved her pink parasol and played the shy, reserved, beautiful Asian princess very well too.

My favorite part was seeing Carlie with black hair!

She was beautiful, actually! And, she loved having dark hair for a day. It was her dream come true.

And, then, we had our precious little Katers. She knew RIGHT away that she would be from Hawaii. (Did I mention on the blog that she went to Hawaii by herself with Pops and Grandma while we were in Rwanda this summer?) So, now she thinks she has a pretty special bond with the beautiful tropical islands and liked showing her moves too.

Here she is shaking those tiny, almost non-existent hips. Oh my, I love her.

It really was funny how well each country fit these three girls.

They all enjoyed their choices SO much! And, now we have great dress-up options for playtime!

We got to take the girls to the symphony the day before Halloween, and it was a "Monsters of Film" theme. We actually got to sit where the choir usually sits, so we could see the instruments up close and personal! And, the entire symphony was dressed up in their own costumes too.

It took Mark and I back a few years, as we heard Ghostbusters and a few other old school tunes. It was so much fun, and the girls loved trying out their costumes before the actual day arrived (minus the spraypaint hair and makeup).

And, it just so happened that we were already heading over to Pops and Grandma's house, so they got to see their little international granddaughters for a sneak peek!

On Halloween day, we helped with Abby Kate's school party (which I have not one picture of), where we made fall frames, played Halloween games, and had a blessing snack mix activity. Kendyll got to read the class their story, and I was reminded again how much I love that my big girls are with me for events like that. They LOVE getting to be a part of it all.

That evening, we spent time at Grandad and Grankay's house, eating hot dogs and trick-or-treating as a HUGE group of cousins. Wow. This group is a house full of fun!!

It was a fun day for everyone, and it ended in the perfect way , of course...

With plenty of chocolate for all the international travelers!

Now, our passports can go back in the drawer until next year. :)