5 Year Stats

 I've forgotten to post Peter's 5 year stats from his well visit in Sept:

Weight: 49 pounds (75-90%)

Height: 45 1/2 inches (75-90%)

Love this boy!!

A New Shirt, Anyone?

Sevenly raises money for charities.  This week the cause is a ministry for girls struggling with eating disorders, etc.  Its not often that you feel like you can "do" something tangible!  But if you go to the site and buy a T-shirt, they donate to this ministry that helps girls recover free of charge! 

Go... get one!!

https://www.sevenly.org/

Raising money for this ministry!

http://www.mercyministries.org/

Great Outdoors

After Saturday Soccer, we headed west for a little hike :)

(I just thought Lily's hair looked cute in this pic... hehe!)

 What a sweet little hand to hold!!

 Such a pretty fall day!!

 a little Lil sized "cave"
(pink dog came with us... do you see her?)

 handsome man... he has pretty hair too!  

 Can you tell where we went, Paw?

 The kids did a surprisingly good job keeping up with us.  I loved that we got to see the waterfalls every other switchback.  That helped.

 another "cave"

To see Paw and Maw

This week we just went.  One day after preschool. 

We went on a ride with Paw.  Through his new land and to the river.

Its a little more peaceful there.  And less stressful.

Maybe its being with parents.  Maybe its the country.

Or some of both.

And not to be overlooked.... Maw cooked us some good food.  And cleaned up after us.  

And hugged and loved on us.

What We've Been Up To...

* Saturday Soccer 

 * A Surprise Visit by some folks we LOVE

Uncle Will is SO fun!

I couldn't decide which of these I liked best so had to include them both :)  I love the excited smiles!

*New Spiderman Jumpers and New Sneakers 

(maybe a little weird to include shoe pics but I thought their little feet and shoes were so cute!)

This is the pic I'd emailed to Mike after we got them...

 * Lots and Lots of Bike Riding!!  
Peter has been doing SO well.  His confidence on his bike has really improved.  He rides loops and loops independently around a circle at our pool parking lot!!  Yay, Peter.

I've learned that another secret to getting him motivated to do stuff is to pretend or imagine he is in character.  He and his bike ARE Lightning McQueen.  Lily is Mater on her tricycle. 

 Lightning is sharing a secret with Mater.

 *More Bike Riding

(I love Peter's subtle little dimples at the corners of his smile)

 Goo and Pop got them these sweatshirts when they visited Cornwall, England this summer.  

I love them!!

 how cute are they looking at each other.

* Friend-Sitting

Two of Lily's little friends came to visit while their mommies had other things going on.  

They were really cute together.

 Peter felt a little unsure of his place in the mix with the girls and with his usual playmate occupied.  

I hadn't thought of that aspect for him.  But was thankful to have that insight to pay a little extra attention to him.

 Necklaces :)

 *Cutting and Crafts

Lily and I made a run to get some new art supplies.  

We picked up some of that foam paper for cutting and the kids love it (I even do too!)

 But the clean up is a bummer ;)

* More Pretending

I am loving our schedule this year.  I reservedly decided not to do the Women's Bible Study this year for several reasons.  Is it OK to post those reasons?  It may be a little vulnerable or revealing or uncomfortable or something... but one of the main reasons is that I didn't want to watch others who are pregnant be pregnant.  (Just keeping it real.)  Its just too painful to do again.  Its easier to trust God with where we are (which is great!) without putting myself in a position to weekly look to the side at others.  The other reason that seems more acceptable to share & so I most often use in person and is EQUALLY important is that next year will be K and so its the last year of our life that my kids have the option to be at home together all day long.  So we are going to savor that.  We have the rest of our lives to run around.  Peter does his therapies on Tuesdays and so we have Thursdays at home.  

Its just been so good.  I am so thankful.

Here, they'd taken the pillow cases off our pillows and put their legs in them for sleeping bags. :)

 My closet is often their "elevator".

Taking the friends in... 

and out... 

 *Huggin', when I'm not fussin'.  Cause there's plenty of that too.

*Puzzles while Pete is at "work"

*Dinner with Friends  

 Peter got a Buzz Lightyear costume from Aunt Becky for his bday.  Its been a big hit!!