And the word on the street is... MARVELOUS!

This is me taking a break from photo editing. I had a marvelous family shoot this past weekend that I’ve been working on all week – hoping & praying that I finalize the details by this weekend. Eek! But anywho – I said I was in “break” mode - & what do I like to do on my breaks???? Ah – you guessed it, take pictures of our marvelous children (Which leads me to another story… later) jumping off [or falling off if you’re Gavin] our lovely deck. The weather was a bit nippy – for me, who wasn’t running like a hooligan, leaping to my death – but the kids didn’t seem to mind. Actually, when I walked out to check on them after lunch, instead of just jumping off the deck, they were jumping on each other off the deck (Are you confused yet? I was!!!) See – I caught Eden, who was on the deck, jumping on Gavin, who was on the ground… this was their brilliant idea of FUN… But kids will be kids I suppose. Clearly they didn’t care that it was cold out – or that they were on the brink of killing each other. Ugh… What will we discover them unraveling next??

Marvelous… remember, I mentioned it earlier in this very same blog. Marvelous makes me think of Gavin – who while getting ready for dinner tonight, plopped in his chair & said “Mom, I want one of your MARVELOUS cookies after I finish my supper. They are just FABULOUS! Maybe you should give one to Harper to ENTERTAIN her.” Yup.. I can’t say that I’m surprised to hear Gavin use those rather enormous words for such a tiny guy. He is, after all, our darling, sweet, perfect son!  Ok – so we’re a little biased around here.. who isn’t? But I’ve never heard him use that many Marvelous/Fabulous words all at once before. Then he looked at me with his bright brown eyes & crooked little smile, just to see if I was paying attention to him. He’s such a stinker… Oh, & of coarse he got the cookie! ;) These are the most rewarding moments for us as parents. Gavin’s mind is unfolding… Whatever will he think of next?

Lastly - My rocks.  I was playing around with camera settings - trying new things.  This is what I came up with.  I kinda like em!  I still have a long way to go in mastering our new camera... But I'm determined to figure it out!  These were shot in Av mode.  (Greek to you?  Don't worry, I still don't have clue!)

-Bri

Halloween

Here’s the Happy Halloween bunch… stuffed full of candy – dressed to the nines in their darling little costumes. A fairly chilly day turned into a warm, fuzzy evening filled with family & fun.

Eden’s Kindergarten year – a Chef (I thought her costume was darling. I think she was the only Chef in the Kindergarten class as a whole.)

Gavin’s 4th year – a Ninja Turtle (Our little hero! )

Lydia’s 2nd year – a Garden Gnome (She’s the cutest Gnome I’ve ever seen. Perhaps the ONLY gnome I’ve ever seen!)

Harper’s 1st year – a Bouncy Bumble Bee (Shhh.. Lydia wore this costume last year.)

Before the festivities began, we decided to do a fall shoot of the kids up against some fun textures & colors. I was so happy to have Seth’s help this time – he worked his magic behind the scenes so I was able to capture all those fantastic smiles, giggles & funny faces! Capturing their little personalities is the most rewarding thing for a photographer/mother. These are the little moments we get to cherish for the rest of our lives - & again, they’re only this young ONCE! I’m so thankful I was able to rope him in to helping out with this very last minute family photo op. You’re the best, Babe!

-Bri

Face Painting

This is what happens when you let a two year old play with markers!  Need I say more??  (At least they were washable...  Nothing even remotely close to the make-up/nail polish horror stories I've heard from friends... or the time Eden & Gavin decided to create works of art on Grammy & Grampy's walls with -a variety of different colors of- permanent markers!!)  Ahhhhh... I'm blessed!   

-Bri

Toothless Wonder

Yes – I know… this whole blog has lost its shimmer & shine! I just feel so overwhelmed at times; there’s so much to get done in a day with four little people. On a more positive note – WE’RE ALL HEALTHY!! Yay… Oh, & I’m actually blogging for the first time in about a MONTH! Isn’t that good news! Tee hee.


My inspiration is being drawn from my darling five year old who, I must confess, has been obsessing over a “wiggly” tooth on her lower jaw. It’s been weeks since Grammy pointed out that Eden’s two front bottom teeth were on the fritz.; Eden, however, has chosen to attack one at a time – twisting & turning, poking & prodding, relentlessly BEGGING us to wiggle it with our own fingers just to see how lose it really is – Oh, & did I mention that pushing it straight out with her tongue is her favorite loosening tactic???

Over the course of the last two weeks we’ve discussed drilling it out with one of Gavin’s toy drills, or the old slam the door technique. Grampy & Uncle Nick were more than eager to just give it an old fashioned YANK. Oh, but Eden wouldn’t have it… Her first tooth was going to come out her way: In bed, at 9:30 PM. lost in a heap of blankets! (We feared this might happen.) Much to my surprise, Sis did find her tooth in that monstrous bed full of sheets, quilts and blankets… in the DARK, mind you. After working so hard on that little tooth (& boy was it little.), she was determined to find it…

Losing a tooth is like Christmas – only, instead of waiting up all night for Santa, Eden waited up for the tooth fairy! Seth & I went in to check her around 12 AM & found Eden lying at the foot of her bed with her eyes open… peeking through the cracked door… hoping for a glance at the tooth fairy.  Mom & Dad might not have been what she was holding out for… but the tooth fairy did indeed bless Eden for that tiny little tooth… She could hardly wait to spread the word.

Just a friendly reminder that they grow up fast… It’s hard for us to think that Eden’s old enough to lose those precious little baby teeth… those teeth that seem like just yesterday, were breaking through for the first time.

-Bri

Blueberry Pancakes

Last night, my three sickies (Eden, Gavin & Lydia) all decided that they’d like Blueberry Pancakes for supper. & as we Mom’s all know, you can’t say NO to sick babies… pretty much what they want is what they get (well, unless it’s something totally off the wall like candy or pop. You know, all those yummy things that are soooo terrible for us, especially when we’re sick.) Anywho, another one of my ingenious ideas:  I thought it would be fun to let them make their own meal!! Yup! Three sick kids contaminating the entire kitchen with their sickly germs! Way to go, Bri. We’re licking spoons, fingers, each others fingers, feeding Harper. (Please pray that Harper doesn’t catch it!!!! As of today she is still well.) I just had to laugh.


On a more positive note: They had so much fun. They poured in all the ingredients, mixed it all up & ate like champs. It was an excellent time to just breathe them in; to enjoy these little moments before my kids realize that cooking & cleaning & helping mom isn’t as much fun as they thought! I need to figure out a way to keep them little, I guess!

To my three BIG HELPERS, Mommy loves you & thanks you for a much needed night off from cooking… & for the best Blueberry Pancakes EVER! (And I didn’t get sick!)

We're all doing much better.  All three of the kids are fever free & ready for school tomorrow!

-Bri

To the best Mom... On her Birthday

To the best Mom… On her Birthday.

Mom, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world! But I’m afraid I’ve neglected to tell you just how important you are to me. Do you know how much I love you? How thankful I am for all that you’ve done for me? Do you know how much I cherish & admire you? Do you know that I thank God everyday for giving me the best mom in the entire universe? & I know that I haven’t always treated you the best, that we haven’t always seen eye to eye. I sincerely apologize for that…. But I can’t even begin to imagine a better mom for me…. You’re the absolute best. You have always loved me unconditionally, protected me, been my sole cheerleader & my safe place to land in times of need. I can’t even begin to imagine my life without you. I could never begin to express just how important you are to me.

So… incase you don’t know, I love you & I’m always thinking of you; Thanking Jesus for you, my wonderful blessing… My Mom.

Mom & Nana

Hope you had an awesome Birthday! I know we loved every moment… & It was so heartwarming to see you smile!

Love, Bri

Bored... with school?

Gavin couldn’t decide if he liked his new preschool or not. His first response to me was that he didn’t get to do a craft (which means color/paint/cut out paper to Gavin - & he really does enjoy those things) & he didn’t learn anything!!! Ugh… not what a mother wants to hear. However, after thinking about it later, I arrived at the conclusion that Gavin just didn’t feel challenged enough with the United Methodist Church Weekday Preschool - Champaign ( have no problem with the church or the school) curriculum! True, it was only his FIRST day, but he’s been riding Eden’s heels ever since she started school. Whatever she learned, he wanted to learn too. He wasn’t going to get left behind, no way! Any maybe I’m a teensy bit biased, but I think Gavin’s a pretty smart kid. His vocabulary is out of this world, & he’s already starting to read. So, when Seth I read Weekday’s monthly newsletter, we better understood why Gavin didn’t learn anything… they’re starting with shapes & colors.  I’m praying heavily that we’re not wasting our money!!!



My Plug for TCNS – Thawville Community Nursery School:


I am so thankful for TCNS. Peg Classen does an awesome job with the kids, Gavin & Eden both learned so much coming out of her preschool class… Not to mention, they enjoyed learning & looked forward to being there! Seth & I really admired the work ethic & structure of the class, & we could both tell that the kids were growing academically as well as socially. It was/is a good thing!! I’m going to miss sending Gavin there this year. If you can send your kids there, I highly recommend it!

Today when I asked Gavin how school was, he happily replied that he DID get to paint.. Oh, & he played with some dinosaurs & made a new friend (he couldn’t remember his name, though)… but he still didn’t learn anything!


There is still hope, though. At least he’s still excited about going to school.. even if he doesn’t learn a thing.

Walking into the building.  It's a HUGE church near downtown Champaign - right along Church St.

The kids all have to sign themselves in when they get there.

Just finished washing hands; off to visit the classroom. 

Name recognition; he had to find his own name tag.

Making new friends.

-Bri

Eden the "Experienced" Biker

Well - lots of fun & interesting things happened over our Labor Day weekend - starting with Lydia's first haircut.  However, Eden was quick snatch a piece of freedom when she finally bit the bullet & began riding her bike.... without training wheels!  Sure, we'd practiced once or twice before; Seth or myself holding the back end of her seat while she teetered back & forth, paying more attention to whether or not we released the back of her seat than on the road ahead of her.  I guess, at the end of the day, she was left more frustrated than exhilarated - & only because she hadn't mastered her fear of this little thing we experienced bikers like to call balance ("experienced" as in I know how to ride a bike.  hehe  Not that I'm a pro by any stretch).  

Anywho - Monday morning, while we're getting ready to leave for my mom's birthday party, Eden sets out on her bike.. by herself.  She didn't ask for help... she just quietly pulled her bike out of the garage & started to ride.  Seth noticed her from the kitchen window (I think) & raced out the patio door to encourage & congratulate her!  We couldn't believe it!  All the hard work & trails had paid off... Not to mention her determination to ride without training wheels.

Eden was so excited that she couldn't wait to show off at Grammy's party..  & that's exactly what she did.  Up & down the street... Up & down the gravel ally behind Uncle Nick & Aunt Dani's house.  Who's the experienced biker now???  Way to go, Eden!

I think we'll all go out for a walk/bike-ride right now! :)

-Bri

 

Cute as a Button

Well – we weren’t quite sure what to expect from Lou (Lydia) upon the arrival of her first haircut. Would she be scared to death; scream bloody murder; act as though there were ants in her pants; be unable to sit still or constantly fidgeting? Seth & I had no idea how she’d react. In my head I assumed she’d hate it… that she’d scream from the top of her lungs, announcing her hatred for haircuts (& her mom & dad for making her get one) to the entire salon/store to hear! I mean, we’d lucked out with Eden & Gavin… they were DOLLS for their first haircuts (Thank you Aunt Vic!), & every other haircut from that day forward. Ugh… Unfortunately, I dreaded the “third time’s a charm” philosophy at this point & braced myself for the absolute worst…….



Much to my chagrin, Lydia wasn’t scared at all. In fact, she loved it! She was so unbelievably still & sweet, I was amazed. My little princess had a wonderful first haircut experience… & she was so proud of her new do, she couldn’t wait to show it off. Everyone's attention for little Lydia spilled over at first sight of her new “bob” style, so much so that she was giddy with excitement! I guess a very special girl deserves a very special first haircut… a “princess” haircut…. At least that’s what Lydia called it. & like I said on my FaceBook page, Mommy & Daddy couldn’t agree more!

Great job Baby Girl!  Mommy & Daddy are so proud of you!

The "Before" shot!

Please don't cut me!

Harper, just watching & waiting...(i.e. getting into everything!!)

Hmmmm - what style should I pick??

So proud of herself!

The finished product!  Cute as a Button!

-Bri

High Heels - Liddy style

Another funny story – [bombardment with blogs from me tonight] Eden & Gavin were outside playing, it was just after 12 noon. We had just finished lunch & Seth was prepping for work when Lydia asked him if she could go outside to play with Eden & Gavin. His response was that she’d have to go find her shoes & put them on before she could head out. Well – This is what she did. Instead of walking clear across the house to her room, she stayed in MY [our] room; rummaged through MY [our] closet, resulting in Lydia wearing MY shoes (A very nice pair of Kenneth Cole Unlisted heels that my Mommy bought for me) Now, at the time I had no idea she was doing this… Seth yelled from the other room to have me come check Liddy out - & that’s when I saw it! She even had them on the right feet; shuffling herself all the way through the laundry room, past the kitchen & out the patio door!! She was determined to wear my NICE heels out to play… As you can imagine, it didn’t last long. I found them resting in the rocks along side the deck. She must’ve decided that heels are WAY too hard to walk in... & I can't say that I blame her! :)

This is just so exhausting!

Stopping to pose before making the escape!

And away she goes.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

-Bri

Storytime Snuggles

Kindergarten is well underway - & preschool is about to begin. Do we have lots & lots of books to read?? You bet!! & it’s only about to get better.  Once a week, Eden & Gavin bring home baggie books & a library book…. It’s a wonderful bonding experience, getting to read & spend time with your kids… But, we have SO MANY BOOKS! It takes us nearly a half hour to get through them all. On top of that, Eden has beginning reader books that she has to read to us – which, I’m pretty sure she’s just memorizing the stories, not learning the words… but it’s better than nothing I suppose. Anywho, I’m blessed with kids who are eager to learn… & LOVE to read.


I took these pictures last night. Grandma & Grandpa Runyon were all too eager to come visit/play/baby-sit, while mommy & Gavin went to preschool orientation. (I’ll have preschool pictures to post soon enough, don’t worry!) Upon our arrival home, it was time to settle in for snuggles and stories. After baths, Grammy & her three grandbabies (Harper gave up on stories & went to bed) climbed up in Eden’s bed for tales of Bears, Bugs & a Blue Bird Café.

Thank you, Mom & Dad, for driving down to see us.  We sure do miss you!

-Bri

Watch out World

Harper is finally getting around… & by getting around I mean WALKING! Lately it’s been a lot of furniture surfing & climbing. But today – she let go & took a few steps on her own! I was so surprised.. I guess I just didn’t think she was stable enough to do it. Little Miss Harper B was quick to prove her mama wrong as she stepped out on her own, letting go of the laundry basket to walk to me, letting go of the cedar chest to walk to me, & finally – releasing herself off Lydia’s potty seat (prolly after playing around in it… gross :/), walking to the bathroom door. It’s amazing how fast these little people grow up. Maybe I just assumed she wasn’t ready because, in my mind, she’s still “little”. After all, she is my precious little angel of a baby girl; my last. She could crawl forever, & that’d be alright with me.



Well, Harper soon discovered that learning to walk isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. What she didn’t plan for obviously happened… We stumbled, we fell, we pouted, we cried. But the one thing so fun & interesting about Harper is that she didn’t give up; she persevered. In the pictures below you’ll notice two battle wounds. The bruise alongside her left eye is from cracking her noggin on the bathtub. She didn’t quite make her destination.  The split open bump above her right eye is from miscalculating her climb UP the cedar chest… & boy was that one a whopper. (She cried for quite some time after that. You can see her little tears in the pictures.) But, when it was all said & done, after her bottle & some Tylenol, Harper was back at… climbing, surfing, crawling… even laughing. Guess it just goes to show that she’s not the baby I thought she was – a quiet, calm, needy infant. Instead, she’s strong, determined, & very, very brave.


Our world is about to change! Harper is walking!

-Bri

Happy Birthday Pop Pips

This past Saturday was Jeff's (Pop Pips) birthday - & to celebrate, Jeff decided to take all the kids to the mall to ride the carousel.  See - riding the carousel is one of Lydia's favortie things to do with Pop Pips & Grandma Ne Ne (Lindy)...  She can't make it without her weekly carousel fix.  So - the McIntyre clan headed out to the mall for lunch & a carousel ride.  This may sound silly - but after all these years I've never been on or near that carousel!  How many years has it been in the Champaign mall?  Guess I've never had a reason to use it, and with four kids, zero time to browse the mall - let alone a carousel ride.  So, I must say that this was a grand experience for me... & not because it was new.  Instead, because of how happy & excited my babies were.  They LOVED it... & that always makes me smile.  :)  

Thank you Jeff & Lindy for the many carousel rides.  We hope that Jeff had a Blessed Birthday! 

 

That evening Ami invited us up for meatlaof (which she made) & my favorite, POTATO BAKE!!  Yummo...  It was all wonderful.  That Ami can cook :)  I wish I'd have taken pictures to share of our time up home with Mom & Dad...  Hopefully this coming weekend as we celebrate my Mom's birthday, I'll be able to sneak some great family shots!  :)  Then I'll plaster them all over my blog & facebook page!  Love you all & miss you tons!  You're the greatest.   

Little Feet

First, thank you all so much for your wonderful comments! I really appreciate them. I still have so much to learn about the world of blogging. As you can see - My blog page is lacking. How can I set up links to my Facebook page, etc? Oh - & I think I'm following some of your blogs twice.. or anonymous (which is totally by accident.) Please pardon my hiccups... & if anyone has any advice on ANYTIHNG blog related, let me know! :)

Well - We've been sick in the McIntyre House. I think Lydia started with the bug - passing it down the line to the rest of us. So, earlier this week - after dinner - Eden & Gavin kept bugging me to play outside. It was a hot, muggy evening, & I could tell Lydia's cold was starting to take over. I just didn't feel well. (& dealing with three toddlers & infant outside didn't sound like Moms idea of fun. How about a couch??) However, after thoughtful consideration (i.e. a relentless Eden) I gave into the idea or playing outside. Or, going to the playground, but only because I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning/rearranging the garage after we were finished playing... Bottom line, less mess for me.

So, we managed to make it to the playground. Other than Lydia's tiny poopy accident, we had a great time. The kids played, swung, ran around... All while I pushed little Harper in the baby swing & took pictures. Most of the pictures posted here are of Harper & her tiny feet. She was so content to just sit in the swing... & since she's the baby of the family, I don't have nearly has many pictures of her :( The more kids I have, the busier I am... Eek! (Good thing I'm done having kids.)  So, enjoy little Harper's tiny toes... they'll only be this small once!


Little Feet: