The girls had so much fun at the pumpkin patch last week!

It took Anna Kate a while to warm up to the idea of the pumpkin patch.  Here’s a pic of the Christians and Ponds together – they are SO cute!

Noelle seems to strike a pose these days rather than smile.  Oh well, at least she’s having a good time.  Anna Kate was still getting used to the pumpkins.

Aww…  

The first picture of Anna Kate trips me out.  A lady was making faces behind me trying to get her to smile.  This is her “I’m amused but still think you look pretty silly” face.  I love it!

Striking more poses!  :) 

Happy little buddies!

Don’t everyone look at once!  🙂

There’s that winning smile! 

Sadie and Anna Kate are almost the same age (one month apart) and are starting to really interact with each other.  I think they are going to be great friends!

Bailey was making funny faces, but Sadie’s seen them all!  🙂

Look at our “Littles.”  We love them so much!!!

Group activity!

After lunch, we went to the produce store to buy our pumpkins and gourds for fall.  The kids had so much fun here too!  Anna Kate, let your Sissy love on you!  Noelle is SO touchy feely, and Anna Kate is just not!

I think the girls look a lot alike in this second picture. 

Bailey and Noelle sitting on top of their “castle.”

They started playing pretend and Amanda and I just stood back and watched. 

They were actually pretending to get married and the mums in Noelle’s hand were her bride’s bouquet.  Bailey kept trying to get her to throw it over her head.  They were in their own little world, that’s for sure!

We were so close to Daddy’s office that we stopped by to let him see the girls in their cute fall dresses.

Anna Kate was beyond thrilled!  They sure do love their Daddy!!!

Noelle worked very hard on Aunt Polly’s birthday card.  I included a picture of us from Easter 2010, so you could see how well Noelle drew Aunt Polly on her card.

Today’s Aunt Polly’s birthday!  She’s my mom’s mom’s sister.  Aunt Polly has been an amazing friend to me all my life.  She has taught me about how to cope with loss and keep laughing and being silly through difficult times.  I loved watching Granny and Aunt Polly cruise around J’ville together and pick on each other.  Aunt Polly still makes me laugh every time I call her on the phone and reminisce.  I wish we lived closer, but she will always be very close to my heart!

Mike was working at the kitchen table and Noelle and I were watching TV in the living room while Anna Kate was playing with her toys on the floor one night last week.  When she went into the kitchen, I thought Mike was holding her, but as it turns out, she crawled up on the table in front of where he was working and fell asleep.  She’s such a good baby and never fusses, so I didn’t realize she was ready for bed.  Poor baby!

Let’s think about it…

In theory, it could be a lot of fun!

We can take pretty pictures on the hood (where does Noelle think this stuff up)!

Or pose beside it and try to figure out its gears.

But at the end of the day, other things get our attention more.

And make us lots more happy, like puppies and people!  So the answer is a big fat “NO!”  Not this year anyway.

I asked Noelle to strike a pose.  Each time I ask, she does something random, faces included.  Ever since the Tiny Sparrow fashion show, she’s been recreating her own fashion shows, being the MC and all.  A little side note, the sparrow charm she is wearing came on the party favor boxes.  She got some ribbon from my craft room and asked me to turn it into a necklace.  She says it’s so she can remember to pray for Kate.  She prays for Curt and Kate every day!  Love your heart, Noelley! 

“Don’t crash, Anna Kate!  Hold on to the steering wheel for your life.”  Funny kid.

So here’s the story.  We LOVE to go on family walks in the evenings.  I’ve been trying to figure out how that’s going to work with three kids.  Then it came to me, Noelle and Anna Kate can ride in a Jeep (with Noelle driving), and Mike and I can hold hands and push the baby in the single stroller behind them.  Ha!

Our friends down the street brought theirs over for us to try out/have.  Turns out, Noelle hates to steer (too much pressure) and Anna Kate gets freaked out with all of her Sissy’s sudden stops and starts.  So both of them extremely disliked the idea.  Who would have thought?  I had to try to sell the idea of playing with a cool ride I could’ve only dreamed of as a child.  Mike wasn’t sold either.  He was frustrated with the amount of space it took up in the garage.  So, I took pics of the Jeep and up and sold it for our friends.  No more Jeep, no more drama!  (for now, at least)  🙂

Mike’s awesome friends got together to celebrate Mike’s big day at his favorite restaurant, Gloria’s.  Noelle said, “This is a perfect night!”

Afterward, we invited everyone to our house for Mike’s favorite cake from the Red Oven: red velvet with cream cheese icing.  

We’re 21 weeks along now!  YAY!

Beau, Jon, Chris, and Slone came over for dessert with their lovely wives and cute little Landon.  Ty, Stephen, Susannah and Marcos came to supper too!

I loved decorating with primary colors… it was very boyish!

Mike just havin’ a good time!  :) 

 

This is one of the outfits we won last week at the Tiny Sparrow fundraiser.  Noelle has worn it every day since.  I’ve already washed it twice!  :) 

If Jon’s not at the party, you’re seriously missing out on a good time!

*A huge thank you to Kay Kay and GrandPapa for having Anna Kate to spend the night!!!

We are having a blast celebrating your big day with you!  We love you to the moon and back!!!

                 

After praying for Kate for over a year now, Noelle got to play with Kate!  Kate is the little girl from Arizona who had a simple hand tremor that began her battle with brain cancer.  Since then, she’s been fighting for her little life, and she is full of life, that’s for sure!  Her spunk is contagious and Noelle was enamored!

We had the honor of attending the Tiny Sparrow Foundation fundraiser in Mckinney at an upscale clothing store called True Rumors.  Half-way through the night, they turned the bar into a runway and had a fashion show of all of their new fall lines.  

The models were carrying the gorgeous pictures taken by Tiny Sparrow for children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.

This is one proud Momma!  How special… people were laughing and crying.  It was so amazing to be a part of!

Kate got to walk the runway!  Noelle thought she was seeing a movie star!  When Kate walked off, Noelle said, “Mom, Kate did a great job!”

Kate waving to Noelle, so sweet.  Kate’s sister, Olivia, got to walk the runway too with their sweet Mommy, Holly, who gave a speech to open the night that was so heartfelt and special.

They had the most amazing silent auction.  The girls and I won two awesome outfits you will definitely be seeing on the blog.  I was so excited to win and give to such a great cause!

While Holly was meeting and greeting, Noelle and Kate got to have cupcakes, which they had been patiently waiting for all night!

Everyone got goody boxes with treats on our way out.  As you can see, Noelle was pretty excited about hers.

I made bracelets for Kate and Olivia.  But this is only the beginning of the story.  When we first got there, Noelle spotted Kate and asked if she could go talk to her.  I was watching from a distance, and Noelle took out rings from her purse and gave them to Kate.  I had no idea she had brought her own present for Kate, straight from her little heart.  That started the flow of tears, and they kept coming all night.  I am so blessed to be a part of the larger body of Christ.  It is so overwhelmingly beautiful!  

To keep updated on Kate, and remember her and her precious family in your prayers, please visit her blog at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

                 

 

Noelle seriously can’t decide what to be for Halloween!  This is the first year she gets to pick.  They are having a costume parade at school… I can’t wait to see what she finally decides. 

*We had the most amazing night meeting Kate Mcrae last night.  Pics to follow ASAP!

I’m eating up my only child on school days!  🙂

We asked Noelle if she wanted to play soccer this year, and she said she just wants to play in the yard with Daddy.  So, we agreed!  

You can’t make this stuff up!

I’m so happy we have a yard that the kids can play in and don’t take it for granted for one second.  I can’t believe Noelle didn’t have a yard until she was 4, but it was worth the wait!