A newborn, and baptism

I've been busy with sessions lately, so here are just a couple that I've had recently. A super sweet newborn, who couldn't love that adorable guy?

And a beautiful young lady, ready to make the wonderful decision to be baptized. How radiant does she look?

 Check out some more photos from these sessions here!

Learning to do things the grown-up way

Halli has issues with her tummy, she has for at least the past year.  It never fails that at least 4 times a week, and more often than not, daily, I hear that her tummy hurts. It's not that she going to throw up, but it feels like someone punched her in the stomach. I feel so bad for her, but there isn't much I can do about it that I know of.

So, at her yearly check-up a couple weeks ago, we asked the Dr. what she thought about it. She thinks it may be a stress thing. Halli worrying about school, feeling pressure to do her best, stressing about the homework and studying and what-not. That's possible, although Halli says she doesn't worry about that stuff, so I don't know.

Anywhoo, the doc suggested some pepcid to help ease her tummy troubles. The problem is these aren't chewable. So, the time has come to teach Halli how to swallow a pill. I remember fairly vividly learning how to do this too. I remember when I was younger and had to take penicillin and my mom would mash up the pill in maple syrup or something like that. Later, as we got older we practiced swallowing MM's, and I remember it not being very easy.

When I told Halli we would practice swallowing pills with mm's she was so excited, and very ready to get started. Last night, I had finally bought the pills and the mm's, yes it took me that long, I'm a slacker! On her first try with the mm, she swallowed it without even drinking the water, but I'm pretty sure it was an accident, cause she put it too far back on her tongue.  She did one more practice with the candy and was ready to go, I was so impressed!

The pills are quite a bit smaller than the mm's, so I didn't think she's have a problem. It took her two try's to get it down and that was it. She's a pro! I can't believe she figured it out that quickly, but I'm so glad she did. That girl is growing up too fast and is just amazing me with all she can do. Yeah for learning new things easily and quickly!

Freebie Friday!

I should have punched these out so you could see some pictures of them all finished. But frankly I just didn't have the time right now, and I'm a procrastinator, which is why I didn't have the time. So feel free to send me some pictures of your finished projects!

Halloween Party Circles

Here are some super fun Halloween party circles. Use a 2" punch to cut them out, and use them for whatever you can come up with!

Boys and their Basketball

Ever since we've had Halli, Kevin has had one thing he really wanted. A son. Not that he didn't want our girls, he loves them more than anything.

What he wanted was someone to do scouting with. A son to send on a mission. Someone to give the priesthood to. These where the things he was thinking he wouldn't have when we found out Lexie was our third girl in a row.

I can't blame him, I didn't think we'd have a boy either.

Then one day there was a commercial on TV, with a little boy wearing a football jersey, hanging out by his dad at the grill. The little boy smacked his dad on the rear, like athletes do, and they sat down to watch the game together. When that commercial came on, Kevin looked at me and said, that's what I want.

Well, JJ may be a little young for some of that, but tonight was the first time Kevin got to sit down and watch a game together with his son. The first of MANY games to come I'm sure.

Jaden was really into it too, you know, for a 3 month old. He sat still and just watched the screen. It was kinda cute seeing my boys together like that, doing something that I'm sure will become a favorite tradition of theirs. 

  

On a side note, we got vampire teeth at the store, and the girls are LOVING them! Lexie too, even though they barely fit into her mouth.



Can't wait till next week and all the halloween hoopla!

What is "Normal"?

I've been thinking about this one alot today. What is normal? Not as in, what is a normal person like, but as in, what is my normal day to day life?

I think after you have a baby you are always reinventing normal, it's always changing. We, here at the Williams household, have seemed to have our fair share of  "not so great" stuff going on lately, and I am beginning to wonder if it will end, or if that's a new normal.

It kinda just seems like everyday, there's something new. For example,  in the last four days, two girls have grabbed my HOT curling iron and burned their hands. This hasn't happened ONCE since having kids, but now it's happened TWICE in less than a week.

We've had some super-fun stomache bug going through the kids, I am completely tired of going to the doctor, and today, I got a speeding ticket...first one in YEARS! (Kevin should have been driving us downtown to the medical center for JJ's appt, but cause of sick girls I was on my own. I fully blame the girls for this ticket, if only I could make them pay for it!:)

But, is that just life with four kids? I'm not trying to complain, just wondering what normal is, or is life never really normal? Do we just try to get to some point where things are consistant, and call that normal? Are there really BAD days, or just bad moments that we let make up our days without looking at all the good?

For instance, today, after getting a ticket, and driving around the medical center downtown by myself trying to find the parking garage in the midst of all the construction, I got to sit in a waiting room with my three month old and soak him in...all by himself, with no sisters around! We cooed at each other, and he laughed, and it was really nice! (ps, his head is fine and is VERY mild. no worries there, the doctors looked at me like I was some over-anxious mom. Trust me, I would have rather not gone!)

Maybe it's all about perspective, and realizing that with four kids, stuff's gonna happen, and alot of it probably won't be great. But with four kids, I guess there will be lots of amazing times to. Maybe normal doesn't really exist, and we're just tettering between the ups and downs trying to find our balance.

I don't really know...frankly, it's way too late right now, and I'm operating on about 5 very choppy hours of sleep from last night! So, here's to accepting this new normal, and hoping I can look at the good, and not let my children suffer too much in the meantime!

Cheetah

We are cat people. Thank goodness Kevin likes cats, cause I've always had one, and I absolutely love having cats! Yes, if I weren't married, I'd be a crazy cat lady.

They're lovable, (when the kids aren't around), they're clean, and I don't have to do a whole lot to take care of them.

Cheetah is a wonderful little kitty, and has been a part of our family for just over two years. She's also an indoor cat that loves to be outside. Unfortunately, the girls left her outside monday night. Usually when she's left outside overnight, she hops the fence and climbs into the engine of Kevins car for the evening.

We've found her under the hood numerous times. Luckily, she's found a spot that is safe for her and she won't be killed when he starts the car. Unfortunately, with our crazy week last week, we didn't realize she was missing until wednesday, and by then, she was gone.

I believe she rode with Kevin to work, and at some point climbed out of the car, and probably into someone else's car. Seeing as how she's done this before, and Kevin barely saw her, I'm assuming she did this again. The really bad thing is that at this point she's probably dead, and if not, she could be anywhere in Houston.

I think Halli is still counting on the fact that she'll be home someday. But when I told her that would probably not happen, she was heartbroken. I remember what it's like to lose a cat, or any animal for that matter, and I feel awful for the girls. She's praying for Cheetah every night, that she'll be kept safe and come home. I wish I could make that happen for her, but for now, we're a one cat household.

At least I know what I can get the girls for christmas!

Start of a new week

Life with four kids is obviously busy. Most days it's a normal busy, meals, naps, nursing, cleaning, and lots of back and forth to and from school.

Not to mention the endless fights to break-up, and the countless times I hear crying children on any given day.

But this last week was a little too busy for my taste, and that's just from Tuesday on. we actually got to sit home all day monday since Halli didn't have school and was still recovering from being sick. It wasn't even fun busy either. Dentist appointments, orthopaedic appointments, head scans, root canals, shots and WAY too many x-rays for one week.

We did learn that Jaden has all the bones, in the correct places in his foot, so that's great news. We just need to get those tendons stretched out, and get him a good pair of high tops that keep him from flexing his foot up.

My jaw doesn't ache anymore thanks to a new dentist and a super fun root canal...yes, my teeth are HORRIBLE!

Jaden also got to have an X-ray done on his head, we'll find out next week what the verdict is. His skull is pretty asymmetrical, so there is the possibility of a helmet, we'll see.

Last but not least, Halli and Peyton had their one year check-ups. Halli was 82% in height, and 78th in weight, and Peyton was 92% in height and 47th in weight. I also learned that as moody as Peyton can be at home, and how quickly she can cry at the drop of a hat, she is a tough cookie at the dr's office. She got four shots and barely cried at all! I was prepared for a major cry fest, but she proved me wrong!

In between all that, and our normal daily grind, I was sitting with Jaden one day, and looked down at his feet to see little hairs and lint all over them from the socks he had been wearing. Apparently, one of the hairs found its way around one of his tiny toes.

See that little red line on his second toe? That hair could have done some serious damage, and it hurt him too, he was very upset when I got it off, and even more upset when I wouldn't leave his toe alone, cause I had to get in real close just to make sure I had actually gotten it off.

We also spent a little time outside enjoying the cooler weather.

I am so in love with this girlie and her funny tongue that is always out when she's concentrating.

So, after that super eventful week, here's to a hopefully quiet and (somewhat) restful week at home!

Freebie...Saturday?

Okay, Okay, it should be freebie friday, cause that's what I'm gonna call it!:) But this has been a CRAZY week, (so glad it's over), and I didn't get to it until today.

I've been playing with a few new templates, and designing fun party goods, cause we all know how I love a good party!:)

So here is a super duper fun take-out box, just in time for Halloween!

Tiny Take-Out Box
Just print onto cardstock, cut-out and assemble!

(This is a pdf download, so make sure you have adobe reader!)

Clues is Asten, er, Austin!

I love the minds of children. I love the way they think, and explore, and are so curious about everything.

Today, Halli asked me how clothes were made, as she examined her tulle skirt.

So curious.

While we were in Austin with the Monsons, Halli and Blake decided to play a little game. There were clues, and answers. When we (the adults), found this little gem of a paper, it kinda made our day.

Oh, the things these kids come up with!

Here's the translation:

Clues in austin!

By Blake and Halli

1. clue: cracking in trees                                         1. Answer: squirrles and birds

2. clue: spiderwebs on the house                            2. Answer: spiders build webs anywhere 

3. clue: loud drop or bump                                     3. answer: chair dropped  

4. clue: something closed door automatically           4. answer: the wind

(These kids are some serious sluethes, aren't they?):)

5. clue: heard a tractor sound                                5. answer: it was a tractor

6. clue: yesterday, Blake had a giant blueberry       6. answer: because they made it that way

7. clue: why are the waves to bumpy?                   7. answer: because of the boats

My personal favorite, is #5.

I think I'm going to miss the day when I stop seeing these types of papers around the house.

I guess I'm lucky that I still have quite a few years ahead of me!:)

An accident prone weekend at the lake

A few weeks ago, (yeah, I'm always behind with blogging), we were heading up to the lakehouse again. This time with our good friends, the Monsons. The night we were leaving, I was making dinner for a friend that had just had a baby, so I made the dinner for 3 families, and the Monsons came over to join us for dinner before heading out to the lake.

I left to go deliver the dinner, and when I got home was suprised to see Kevin holding Halli's hand over the sink, and blood all over the floor.

Apperantly she had been trying to cut something, and the scissors slipped and cut her pretty good along the hand. I may have to stop leaving Kevin in charge of the girls, they keep ending up needing stitches when I do that!:)

Kevin, Halli, Sean and Blake headed off to the ER to get stitches while Allie and I waited around to see if we were still going to go to the lake. Luckily, they were finished pretty quick, and we were off. Only bad news was she couldn't get her hand wet for 24 hours, and she needed to keep it clean and out of the lake...fun for her!

I'm happy to say, this hardly stopped her from enjoying her weekend.

I didn't take as many pictures this weekend, but here are just a few. One of the times they all headed out, I stayed back with JJ and Lexie, so I got some fun photos of them boating around.

First rule of the lake - you must look stylish at all times, and Allie's sunglasses were the perfect accent piece. All the kids were wearing them. Literally, they kept passing them around it seemed.

Getting situated on the boat, the kids love their spot up front.



That is some beautiful water there! The lake was awesome this weekend. The perfect temp, and not busy at all! We loved it!

There is nothing more fun than being out there. I can't wait till the kids are old enough that we can all really enjoy it! Having a baby at the lake is a little tough sometimes.

See her hand all wrapped up there? She did a GREAT job of keeping that hand out of the water, it was pretty funny really!

The four older kids getting ready to go tubing on "the beast"

 Sean was being so nice with all of the kids on the tube. They did NOT want to go in the water so he went nice and slow. Unfortunately, this made the front end dip into the water....and down they went! It was really fun watching it from the boat dock!

Kevin and Allie jumped in to help the kids, and all you could here was a chorus of crying from Peyton and Braden, and Halli laughing while holding her hand in the air to keep it from getting wet. She was SO fast at getting that hand up when she fell it, I was amazed it stayed dry!

 Allie had to join them to keep them out there. Peyton and Braden were ready to be done!

There was also an incident at the pier, a fun little restaurant on the water. Braden ran into the corner of the bar and ended up with a HUGE goose-egg on his forehead. The restaurant even called for an EMT...they were doing their best to avoid a lawsuit! We ended the weekend with a mini birthday celebration for Braden, a perfect ending to an extremely fun filled weekend. The older kids didn't get much sleep, they were a little too excited. Luckily for me Jaden slept amazingly while we were there, unfortunately, it didn't last after we got home!:(

Mr. Man at three months

I have no idea why I've nicknamed little JJ, Mr. Man, but I have, and I kinda like it.

It suits him I suppose, cause he's a boy and all. 

At least this way I know I won't call him, her. Yeah, I've been known to do that before! 

So, our big boy is three months old today! In some ways it feels like it's going by WAY too fast, but in other ways, it seems like he's been here forever. I think that's just cause these first few months are the hardest.

and I'm tired, so EVERYTHING feels like forever!

It could feel like he's been here for so long, cause he's just so big. Seriously, I feel like he should be sitting up already, cause he's the size of a six month old!

Is that not the most kissable little dimpled bottom you've ever seen? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his chunky lil' thighs! There ain't nothin cuter!

Okay, maybe his squishy face, and double chin, but you know what I mean!

So far, having a boy isn't too different from having girls. Besides the whole changing the diaper thing. But I'm starting to see the first difference. With the girls, I couldn't wait till they would sit and watch one video of baby einstein. Just so I could have that half our of peace and quiet.

Well this guy is already stuck on it. When I'm holding him to sleep on the couch, he positions his head so he can see the TV. In the car he even cranes his head around to try to watch the videos. It's kinda funny really. He doesn't watch for too long, but I know the girls were oblivious to the tv at this age.

He is overall an amazing little baby. He's happy most of the time, and sleeps okay, I usually can't complain.

Except for last night. I could complain about that, but I won't. I'll reserve that, for Kevin!:)

We are all just so in love with our little man, or JJ, or J-dub, or J man, or just good old Jaden.

But seriously, who wouldn't be?

The Later Family

Check out the super-duper cute Later family here! Also, in an effort to finish booking up through Thanksgiving, since I won't be doing any sessions later than that, I'm offering a free christmas card design with every session booked through next friday.

The Payoff

It's amazing how nice it can be to have an older daughter sometimes. Maybe not so great for her always, but I sure appreciate. Yes, the fact that Kevin and I got pregnant just a few months after getting married is starting to pay off.

We went to good ol' micky D's tonight after soccer practice. I know, not the greatest dinner, but hey, that's what happens when you're up at night with a baby and a toddler with a stuffy nose, so you're exhausted, and you don't get around to making dinner cause your just plain lazy tired from taking care of kiddos all day!;)

Well anyhoo, we went through the drive through, cause there's no way I'm dragging four kids anywhere I don't have to! They forgot Kevin's burger, and I checked after we left the window, dang it! Thus making it necessary for me to haul all four kids inside for a stupid hamburger. :(

Then I realized I have a seven year old. :) Yes, she was able to run in for me, while I watched through the window, and get Kevins very nutritious (heheh) dinner and save me a HUGE hassle.

Yes, having older kids will be nice. I'm sure for many other reasons that this, but for now, I'm gonna take what I can get!

Believe it or not

Sometimes, my girls actually love each other. Maybe not all the time, but at least sometimes...

I LOVE those times!