Sorry for the long absence. I'm going to blame it on busy-ness! Our lives have been crazy, but it's all good stuff. I think it's that mentality that keeps me busy though. I'm wrestling with the idea of not blogging anymore. I think it's just one more thing for me to do and one more thing to make me feel guilty if I don't do it. I really started blogging in Virginia so that people like my family and Jon's family could keep up with the girls and all their changes. I've never been fond of blogging or writing in general. So...I will let you know. In the meantime, hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy a day of thankful reminders!

Turkeyville!

A great fall day birthday celebration at Turkeyville, for Pa's 86th!

Fridays.....

When the girls are in school, the week flies by! Before you know it, it's Friday! And I remember now why we used to always live for Fridays when we were all in school...fun, late nights, sleeping in...even just for a couple days before we have to get back to the grind. Tonight, we had some friends over for taco night and playing cards. We always have a great time with them and their daughter plays so well with our girls. Unfortunately, just when we were getting ready to sit down and eat dinner, Makenzie said her tummy hurt and she wanted to go to bed and not eat. So she was in bed and asleep by about 7pm. I hope she's not coming down with a bug. Please pray for her! Hope you all enjoy your Friday before Monday comes back way too quickly!

And the girls turn 5!

We had a huge birthday party for the girls' 5th birthday. We had 25 kids and parents at the Bounce Party in Grand Rapids, where there are huge bounce houses, slides, mazes. The kids AND the adults had a great time! And Nana knocked it out of the park once again with the Wizard of Oz themed cupcakes...she is amazing, we keep telling her to use her talent to make tons of cash! I think Jon and I are still in shock on how quickly time has flown by, five years feels like two. It just feels like yesterday that we brought them home from the hospital and looked at each other and said, "When are these babies parents coming to pick them up?" Life felt so strange then, now we couldn't imagine life without them.

First Day of School...

Sorry these are so late, the girls' first day of Young 5's was last Thursday, and I'm finally just getting these pictures downloaded to my computer! I thought things would slow down and get into a rhythm when the girls started school, but it really just feels like life is moving quicker. Enjoy the pics! They will be 5 tomorrow! Hard to believe that 5 years has gone by since they joined our family. I can't really remember much about life before they were here except that I had more time and more money! But they are...priceless.

Going to the lake...

Going to the lake this week with Ali's fam and Nana & Papaw! We rented two cabins at Long Lake in Hasting and will be spending the week there. The cabins are about ten steps from the beach/lake, so lots of beach time! Taking about four books to read...I may be thinking way too positively as far as that goes since we will still have all the kids around! Like a friend of mine once said, "it's a trip if you take the kids, but it's a vacation if you have no kids." Well, this is definitely a trip, but I think it will be a really fun one! Will update you with photos on the flipside. Have a great week!

Last night, some of my girlfriends took me out for ice cream and then to see the movie Julie & Julia. It was a birthday surprise planned by my hubby and my good friend Sherry. I was picked up by Lori and then driven to Maggie Moo's where 6 other friends were sitting there waiting for us. Friends, ice cream, popcorn, good movie...what more could I have asked for on the day after my birthday? The movie is a definite recommendation, I give it an A. It was a great movie about the support and love of the men behind two women and how they couldn't have succeeded without them. Julia Child's hubby called her "the butter for my bread and the breath of my life". Too sweet! A very touching moment when she, Julia, found out that her sister was pregnant (Julia was unable to have children) and she cried into her hubby's shirt and then said (as she was bawling), "I really am so happy for her". I knew exactly how she felt and started bawling too. It brought back some very intense memories for me. I remember the exact spot where I was sitting in our home in Virginia when Allison told me on the phone that she was pregnant. I bawled but was also so happy for her too. Weird, conflicting emotions. But I do believe "all things work together for good" and I now am able to be empathetic towards those who are going through the same thing in their life.

Riding without training wheels!

Tonight after dinner, we went outside to help the girls learn how to ride their bikes without training wheels. Within one hour, they got it! It was so amazing! All the neighbors were out and cheering them on. They got so much help and encouragement...they loved being in the limelight. I know it inspired them! Then Landon got home from his birthday party at his grandparents and everyone had cake all around. As we were walking down the hall towards bed, Kenzie was skipping and said, "Mommy, it was a GREAT night!" Sydney wanted to be sure that she could get up first thing in the morning and ride again.