pictures, pictures...

As I pulled out my camera to take pictures of our princess and cupcake for halloween...

I stumbled upon a BUNCH of pictures on my camera from September and October!  I think I've become a little too reliant on my phone for taking pictures lately.  But it was fun to find these...

from the pumpkin festival...

 and Ackerman farms...

and more from Branson...

There were some fun ones in there...I think my favorite was the upward one of the girls in their swim suits :) :) :)...hopefully they won't hate us later for posting that!!

Aaaannd, back to pictures from my phone...because at this point, pictures are driving this blog ;).

Emma got a haircut a couple weeks ago...and I'm talking like at least 3 inches off!!  She has such thick hair with lots of body and so I was finding myself constantly trying to put it up and "do" it...which she NEVER was a fan of :(.

before: 

 and after!

we're both pretty happy about the end result :)

 they love this game...

Emma is getting mischievous!  I now have to make sure the pantry doors are closed at all times or she'll go in and get a box of cereal...and well, I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story...

a few other of her favorite activities are clearing the coffee table and emptying cupboards...

 and she was not so sure about Kevin the last time we had him over either!

To give her a little slack, she has been cutting her top 4 teeth the past 2 weeks.  She's not been too fussy, just a little more needy and emotional than the usual Emma we know!

Since going to get haircuts, Livie has now found a new passion...doing my hair :).  Blowdrying it, combing it, "curling it", whatever she can imagine.  It's actually pretty relaxing for me too :) and keeps her busy for awhile!

And another of her passions continues to be hoarding things...which I'm trying really hard not to encourage!!  Here she is with her current pile of things that she keeps in her bed "so Emma can't get them".  Oh my.  There has to be at least 20 things there...and you had better believe that she KNOWS them all and can tell if one of them is missing!!  For awhile she would insist on carrying them with her around the house...but we put an end to that by placing a box beside her bed for them so she at least wouldn't have to carry them around.  It's brought about a lot of conversations on selfishness, sharing, and not storing up treasures here on earth...but I think we have a way to go yet :).  

 Liv and Obie

 Emma had to sneak in on this pic ;)

And we have a new nephew!!  Crosby James was born to Justin and Katie just over a week ago.  He is the 15th grandchild on Chad's side...and SO cute.

And that's all for now :).  See you again when I have about 50 more pics!  I'm kinda kidding...

a little of what's been going on...and a lot of pictures!

Yes, it has been over 2 months since I last blogged.  Wow.  What have we been doing??  It's been so long since I've blogged my fingers even feel funny typing.  That is kinda sad!

So, what have we been doing?  We did just ask Livie this morning what Dad does at work and what I do at home.  Her answer for Chad was, "You play at work...noooo, just teasin'...you build houses" :). And for me she said, "You play and make us food."  :) There you have it.  From the mouth of our 2 year old, that is what we've been doing.

Though simple, her answer is pretty realistic!  Of course you could add the following too: Chad - hunting, starting weekly a class at the Gospel Institute, investing, church stuff, mowing (that is his favorite...just kidding ;)). Me -taking care of Livie and Emma, play dates, babysitting, household stuff, church things, Bible study, hosting a myriad of things at the house, relationships, oh - and I turned 31 somewhere in there ;).  Liv - loving music, her friends and cousins, and learning to share/be nice/and respect adults (at least that's what we're working on!).  Emma - teething, walking (yay!!! she is SO much happier now),  and talking (so cute).  And as a family - we're spurring each other on in godliness ;), getting comfortable as a foursome, loving our new place, took a trip to Branson with my family in September, and are thoroughly enjoying this time of year...fall is definitely our favorite.

I do have quite a few pictures from the past 2 months, so I'm just posting my favorites.  And just a warning...there's A LOT.  I'll try to be better next time and not try to put them all on one blog post ;).  

Tea Party...a playtime favorite

I think this took about an hour to complete (you know, it got knocked down a few times in the process ;)

Maamaw!

Happy girl

Wren and Liv

Yes, this was just two months ago!!  

My girls Bible study has exploded with children...at our last play date we decided it was just too chaotic to bring our children while we discussed what we were reading (I think there were 13 kids 3 and under here!).  We're now meeting in the evening, at a coffee shop, every other week, and loving it :).

Starting to love dress up and carrying things around (just like her big sis?).

Sisters :)

Emma is now in a forward facing car seat...that year went WAY too fast.  I'm thinking she thinks it's comfortable? :)

I love this picture of the girls and cousin Drake...lots of laughing going on!

 

Walking in the country...

Livie telling Emma to "Come on..."

Pumpkin picking is serious business!

Gorgeous night at Norris with friends

She loves this swing...

Blue eyes

Babysitting sweet baby Kevin (a little guy whose mom needed to go back to work when he was just 4 weeks old...Michelle let us know of this opportunity and we are SO glad we got to watch him a few days!).

Uncle Alex and Emma at Silver Dollar City in Branson

She rode this swing ride herself (as in there were no other kids on it!)...we were there during the off season.  Nice in some ways!  Oh, and she's wet because she rode the log ride with Chad, my dad, and Alex :)...little trooper.

Emma's favorite ride...she clung to that pole so tight when it was time to get off :(.

Our one family picture on the trip :)...not the best with Emma in the stroller and all...oh well.

Waiting for the fountain show.

The girls got some good DAD time on the trip :)

Hahahaha!  This picture makes me laugh.  Chad wanted to sit with the girls in the back of the minivan one night...I think this only lasted about 5 min??

Tired girl at the end of a fun trip!

AAANNNDDD...October 1st was the start of bowhunting season!!  Chad left the house WAY before dawn that morning.  And Livie stood at that window for a long time hoping to see Dad come home with a deer :).

  

About 4 hours later, Chad returned happy.  He had shot a doe, but forever lost her in the woods :(.  Not the best first day...but at lease he got to hunt.

They have started doing this in the car :)...love it!

Bright-eyed baby Kevin

Emma the toddler

Sweet cheeks

Love it when they play together :)

Cowgirls Adalai and Livie

Remy :)

At Cyd's for a birthday lunch!  Love that place.

My student driver

Cousin talk

Chad getting ready to leave for a hunting trip for the weekend...the girls were NOT excited to see him go :(.  Can't say I was excited either.

Play-doh

Alex invited me and the girls to a fall party with his work while Chad was gone...they had rides, face-painting, food...a good time!

Livie wanted a "big flower" on her face :).

Emma showing off that dimple in her chin...

Hehehe...

This little girl is always up for a challenge...she finds the biggest thing around to pick up and tries her hardest to carry it as far as she can!  

I just like this picture :)...

And this one too...

Liv is probably dancing or something in that last picture, but after I took it, it looks like she is looking up at the light from the window.  And this scripture came to mind as I looked at the picture longer...

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life and the life was the LIGHT of men.  The LIGHT shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1: 1-5

And I'll end on that amazing truth...