We had a blast picking out our pumpkins and playing at the pumpkin patch this fall!

 

This year we dressed up a little and made a family date night out of it!  Rara was in town, so we had a blast having her with us!

 

Anyone want a pumpkin? 

 

Noelle grew a lot since last year!  She asked me to take her picture last year and this year by this sign so she could compare her heights.  I wish I had done it with all the girls after seeing how much she’s grown.  We’ll start with the littles next year. 

 

Our little family blog documents our happiest moments, and while our lives are far from perfect and difficult in ways I couldn’t have imagined, our love is so real and so strong and I’m so honored to have these guys by my side. 

We didn’t plan on taking mother/daughter pictures, but I’m so glad we did.  Noelle is so awesome!  I have no words to describe her.  She’s simply amazing.

Aww, love my Cutie Kate.  She is just so cute all the time!  I miss my buddy so much this year in kindergarten! 

Rose has been growing and changing so much over the last few months.  We are so excited about this kid.  Her maturity has given us so much more freedom to go out and have fun all as a family, and we are loving every minute!  We have no one in diapers and no teenagers yet… it’s amazing!  I want to freeze time every single day that goes by.  Isn’t she adorable?

 

  

 

This is Noelle every single day, every where we go.  She is always thinking of other people and ways to make their lives better!  She found the pretty flower this little girl is holding and wanted to share her great find with someone.  I watched her walk up to this little girl and give it to her.  They were really far away, that’s why the picture is blurry, but I wanted to remember this moment because I cannot tell you how many times a day she is sharing and caring for others, including her little sisters, who depend on her for so much.  Noelle is spending the night with a friend tonight and when Anna Kate was falling asleep, she started tearing up and said, “I need sissy.  I just miss her so much!”  I know Noelle will always take care of her sisters, and I’m so thankful for that!

 

This was the last picture before it got dark at the pumpkin patch.  Mike got great video footage of Rose on her horsey.  She was hugging and kissing him and talking and riding him like he was real.  Her world is so alive and vivid.  It always has been, but at 3, the possibilities are endless.  If this horse had turned into a real miniature pony, she would not have been surprised.  In her mind, things like that aren’t out of the question.  It’s hard to describe.  She’s wishing for a real live unicorn for Christmas.  She keeps bringing it up and talking about it.  A.lot.  She asked Mike last week to make sure we remember his cage so he won’t run away and lots of hay too.  I seriously don’t know how we are going to let her down gently.  That’s just a very reasonable, normal request in her mind.  And I absolutely love and admire that she is not jaded and harsh realities are not a part of her life yet.  They will be, all too soon, so I’m soaking it up and learning from her all I can while life is just simple and fun.  Happy fall, you guys.  Hope you’re having a good one… one just like Rose’s!