November - First Half

Daddy teaching Annabelle how to club throw. She's bound to be a pro. Notice the "bucket o' clubs"

We found this while playing in the backyard - a snakes skin. Which is now housed in the boys' bedroom.

Joe loves cursive!

I love watching them work together during free time.

But, I especially love walking in the room and "catching" them reading their bibles.

Sam off for his first ever intra-squad competition.

I think he just looks so handsome in his uniform.

Andy is hilarious. He bought a bunch of new clothes for his new job and wrote himself a gift card. I opened it after it was delivered and just chuckled. I love his quirky sense of humor. 

Lucy came to visit and we had such a wonderful week with her.

Pictures for Friends

Some of my best friends asked me if I could take some photos of them the day they found out the gender of their baby. I jumped at the opportunity. It just so happened that the grandparents were in town and I could sneak away for a couple of hours and head up to the most beautiful place in Charlottesville, Carter's Mountain. I had such a lovely time celebrating this miracle they have been entrusted with.

And then they thanked me with these puppies below!!! Amazing! I tried to horde them all to myself, but wasn't successful. I caved and shared due to a major sugar overload. That special cupcake in the back right is the famous lemon drop cupcake, which is supposedly responsible for putting around 200 women into labor. Me being one of them!

I could definitely get use to this... taking pictures for cupcakes? Yes, please!

Night Hike

Joe's First T-ball Game

They decided on a team name and they are the Tigers. Too cute that Daddy was on the Tigers when he was little, as well.

This picture makes me CRACK UP!

He said he wanted the highest number on the team! He got it. #10! And now he's sporting his new hat.

Joe's cheerleader!

He was always looking for me, smiling and waving.

And as expected he was a natural. He played catcher and first base for the 2 innings they played. So get these rules... everyone bats each inning, there are no outs and there are only 2 innings. Oh, and you don't keep score. Pretty intense.

Practices are at 5:30 on Thursdays and games are on Saturdays at 9am.

Joseph's First T-ball Practice

Joseph had been asking for a few months if he could try T-ball so when the fall came around I was determined to find him a team. The fall season is significantly shorter than the spring so it will be a great time to try it out. This boy couldn't have been more excited when the day of his first practice came around. It's a 4-6 year old coed team and he's the biggest on the team. I need no explanations for the photos to follow. His face says it all.

Daddy is quite happy that he can attend more of the kids' sporting events with his new job. Watching Joe's first t-ball practice was a must.

I just had to include these precious photos of Rosie so content after she was reunited with her daddy after a long day apart.

Seeing the joy on his face melts my heart.

Albemarle County Fair

The weather has just been incredible. I cannot get over how nice it's been. This particular Saturday we had just set aside to do housework... well there was no way we were going to stay inside with how gorgeous the weather was. So, we decided to hit up the county fair. I'm so glad we did. I just stayed up late that night to clean and got it mostly done. Definitely worth the loss of sleep.

Rosie slept almost the entire time we were there.

My dancing princess.

My two sons! Oh how I love them so!

But we did get her to take a picture being a pig.

We were able to watch some fun animal races, take a tractor ride, pet some cute animals, watch a bee keepers demonstration, look around at the 4H winners and have some yummy food. So thankful for Saturdays together as a family.

Splash Park Fun With Aunt Juju

Action Packed Weekend

Our church meets at an elementary school and members of our church volunteer to help run the school's fundraising carnival each year. It's a yearly tradition now where Andy volunteers and I run around with the kiddos doing all the fun stuff. This year Gigi and GranRan came, so we were able to play man to man for the night, which was super helpful. (Rosemary didn't really count since she's so easy and just hangs out with me in the carrier).

The kiddos showing off their face paints from Miss Kim. Joe got a frog (of course), Belle got a dragon and Sam a dolphin.

Annabelle got some sand art for the first time. They got tattoos and balloon swords and flowers.


We had a campfire with Gigi and GranRan on Saturday night. I just love this picture! The pure love and joy in Robbie's face. She's in heaven when she's with them.

Rosie crashed after church. This was the best I could do to get a picture of her in this adorable outfit.

Annabelle trying to do pushups like Daddy. Haha!

I come around the corner and found her like this. Joe made it for her.

 

Sunday evening our community group was cancelled, so we took the opportunity to get some fun family time at a park. The girls and I played while the guys went on a run then we all met up later. I was able to take some cute pictures of Annabelle in action.

 



Joseph adores her so much. He's always telling her that she's so cute.

She loves her pink catty jacket.

Several days ago Samuel brought me a dandelion to blow all the seeds away and told me to make a wish. I told him there wasn't a single thing I wanted that I didn't already have. He told me that I should wish for another baby in my belly. My heart just sunk. Here he is, the oldest of 4 and is anxious to welcome yet another sibling into our family. I am so blessed to have him as our firstborn. He is so tender with the babies and is so eager to do whatever is needed during any given situation, baby related or not. I have seen him really maturing lately. Its becoming easier to imagine him as a young adult. He reminded me the other day that he only has a little over 3 years until he's 10!

Love these kids more each day!