8/20

 All out of order, but Mia came home! Littlest big brother was unsure.

But when Lexi tried to take Mia back, he grabbed on tight!

And why do big siblings look so big when babies come home?!

Giant head kisses. 

He was so happy when his mom and dad got home! We got the cutest video of him going to the door and making the happiest noises. Then Lu took off her shoes and in his excitement Henry tripped right over them and said clear as can be “owwww!” It was the funniest. 

None of my girls have been around brand new newborns, so that was super special. We just missed Frankie!

So so happy!

And eating his brekkie before everyone came home. 

Mia ready to come home from the hospital. 🎀 

We’re in love. 

Henry is a good little helper! He throws away diapers and cleans up spills. 

Lu took one look at this *on our way to school!* pic and said “we’re getting their hair cut this weekend.” And they did. 

I could mug in newborn baby cheeks all day. Thankfully after several days of rest Delaney was feeling so much better. 

We got our traditional happy birthday and it’s a girl balloons. 

The boys came home a few hours later and were obsessed. 

Such an exciting day!

Mia was a total trooper!

And everyone did a good job sharing our sweet girl. 

Helpful Henry putting the luggage away. 

And the most daddy cuddles!

Just two babies of the families!

This was actually the first shot of Henry holding Mia. So proud of himself!

8/19

 Adi got up with the boys the next morning since I’d had such a late night at the hospital. Delaney got super sick when we got there and had the worst achey cold, so she was no help. Even though she could have, we didn’t want her to get anyone else sick with a brand new baby coming .

Lu makes fun of Adi and her “dinner rolls” shirt from Thanksgiving that she always wears, so of course she put Henry in his “bread” Thanksgiving shirt.  

I was charging my phone so sat down to eat in a little nook by the couch and Henry came up right next to me and plopped down to share. I’m obsessed with this guy!

And this gal!

I love a good hearing test shot. 

I picked up the boys from school while Adi played with Henners. 

We knew the crew would have to stay another night, what with Lexi’s antics. 🤣 Emmett’s 7-year-old incredulousness. 

It was *so* hot outside that we really just stayed inside to play mostly. And this girl after 3 brothers has alllll the bows. 

Mia says “no bow - no go.”

9/27-9/30.5

 There was a baptism after church so we got home around 4 and I finished up Disney dinner prep. I’d done most of it Saturday night and Sunday morning.

We watched Lilo and Stitch, so it was a very coconut and pineapple themed meal. 

 Used the leftover pulled pork from the girls graduation party and did not add the pineapple. Too much of a good thing is still too much. 

We watched our movie and prepped for the week and it was just another quiet Sunday. 

On Monday I had to force myself, and it was tough, to finish the first coat in Frankie’s room. Then Matt had to buy more paint, but when he got back I had to force myself again to do put on the second coat. 

That plant is crazy and just soaked into the walls. I swear it needed 3-4 coats. Maybe we should have used a primer, but I’ve never been a primer gal and we buy the “higher quality” paint to avoid it, but. 🤷‍♀️

Anyways, I painted forever and then passed the reigns to Matt and then Delaney when she got home. 

*girls coming down to Disney dinner. I always make them guess and none have been right. Also, a little wave of sadness only grabbing down 4 glasses instead of 5. 😢 

So Monday was deviated to painting and we had leftovers for dinner and Frankie stayed to watch the JV football game and then everyone did homework and our days are long and busy.

*After first coat.  

After second coat.

Maggie sent me this. Aloseph in their heyday!

What my room currently looks like. Moving clothes and furniture and all the things is so messy and such a lot of work. 

I took a sister to run an errand Tuesday morning while Matt did a few touch ups. Then when he was done with work we moved D’s furniture into her new room. 

I made pork chops and grits for dinner - working my way through an old Pioneer Woman cookbook. 

We had a lively discussion during scripture power hour. Not really about the scriptures, but it’s good to counsel together as a family. 

Today I passed on the pumpkins galore auction and moved the pile of stuff out of our room and into Adi’s new room. 

I looked at Christmas gifts, worked on some calling stuff, put away some laundry, organized some emails, downloaded an app to communicate with Christian during his deployment, and a dozen other little tasks that often fill my days and make me feel like I’m not getting much accomplished but I’m always busy. It’s just a busy season, it’s fine. 

9/23-9/26

A friend from Clovis recently posted about how it feels like this is a season of everything all at once. It’s beautiful chaos. 

Adi had a field day at Amy’s wedding. We joked that they had to pay extra for all the photo booth’ing she did. 🤣

On Wednesday I drove the ballet bus at 3, shopped, then drove the ballet bus home at 6, picked up Frankie from cheer at 7 with dinner, then drove her to church. My afternoon/evenings are filled with driving. Just a few more weeks. 

Thursday was more of the same, only Matt and I volunteered at the free yard sale that was this weekend. Only, Matt went and then went to Nate’s for guys night, then after my driving duties, I went. 

Everyone was off on Friday so we all enjoyed a much needed sleep in day. We had talked about doing several things, but then didn’t do any of them. Then D had dance at 3 and Frankie had to be to the school before 4, so we didn’t have the most time, but it was nice to have a slow morning. Then Matt and I went to Frankie’s game at Westlake. They, of course, lost, but we sat with the Kinneys and it was nice to visit.

Frankie loves this cute exchange student from Spain! (Whose name I don’t remember 🤦‍♀️)

It was a beautiful day and is just getting a little bit cool. 

They had food trucks outside so we got Frankie some tacos. 

When Frankie has her license we’ll be able to make it a real date night and go somewhere after the game, but until then we have to hustle back to the school to pick Frankie up. 

On Saturday morning Matt and i volunteered at the free yard sale again. It was busy busy but there were so many donations that we still had a lot left over. 

I got Mia these cute little dresses and a bagging cute clothes on Thursday too. 🤗

Matt and I picked up one of his English Connect students and her baby to shop, and then a Walmart order and then came home for more work.  

Delaney is taking over Adi’s room, including painting it. 

Frankie is taking over Adi’s bed, but Delaney doesn’t want Frankie bed, so that means we got to move 3 beds. Also dresser swaps. And paint prep. 

Then Matt ad Delaney go started working while I made salmon for dinner and then 2 brownie trifles - 1 for the baptism and 1 for us. 

I also continued my mom and dad bin project. 

It was a busy day and we were so ready for our Sunday day of rest. 

And these cuties made good use of their zoo membership. ❤️