We are moving/moved!

So we closed on our home yesterday and Ryan is moving things in right now as I type. I am home with the kids while they nap and then I will head over to the new house later.
Oh course I am overjoyed, ecstatic and relieved that we are finally moving into our new home. Three plus months later of living with family, out of boxes, sharing rooms, etc....who would not be? But as I was thinking today as I packed all our last items here at Ryan's parents, it dawned on me how good GOD has been to us. How sovereign, all knowing and kind he has been to me! Yes, this summer has been crazy, adjusting to new living arrangements, challenging almost at all times with training and disciplining the kiddipoos, and constantly fighting for JOY in the Lord....BUT now I see clearly how kind has been to me through all this.

It has been a real struggle for me as I have fought for Joy, most often not fighting....but God has been so gracious and kind to me none the less.
Some people may rejoice with me and congratulate me on finally having a home and finally getting my life back into my "routine" or "order". But I am grateful for this summer. All the memories of the hard and difficult days will probably be a blur to me in a few years. But this summer has all been a kindess from God to humble me, and an opportunity for me to recieve more grace!
I want to be occupied with Joy in my heart for the great things God has done for me!
I along with every other mom/woman want to cry out to the Lord for grace and humility so that I too may have joy in my heart and make my heart happy in the Lord....no matter my circumstances...or living arrangements.

" For you will not remember the days of your life, because God has kept you occupied with JOY in your heart" -Ecc 5:20

But thankfully if it was not for cameras, I really would not remember any of my days. This was a fun one to remember...Popsicles on the back parch, which he did regularly in the summer.
They like to share their food...sometimes...

ER telling Dean what to do. This pic cracks me up.

I found this toy that is a Clifford nose. So I tried it on for size. Then ER had a turn. Did not quite make it on her nose...but that is okay. Still cute.

There you go!

Dean makes an adorable Clifford.

ER wants to be Dorothy for Halloween and Dean to be Toto. And she wants to carry him in her basket. Then on other days she wants to be Cinderella and Dean to be the PRince. Today she told me she wants to be Belle and him to be the Beast.

It is sweet that she is thinks of her brother too for her Halloween costume. Ryan said no to all of them and said he did not want Dean to be an accessory to ER's costume. We will just have to see what I can pull together at the last minute. I may just squeeze on last year's elepahnt costume on ER and maybe borrow this Clifford nose for Dean!

who needs a haricut?......

August and everything after: Summer Summary Series

I am the most lame blogger ever...I know I know. Sorry family and friends that you have to look at pictures months after they were taken!
If I didn't take so MANY pictures I would not have this problem!
Here are some tad bits of info from the Princes:
-Dean started saying I love you mommy. But it really sounds like " I ouwe ewe momma". We were at ER's ballet class and I was watching her through the window and Dean was telling me something. Once I looked down to listen I realized he was telling me he loved me. Yes, I melted right there. He also tells me "tant uww momma" whenever I give him something. Which translates, thank you momma. I love it!
-ER loves to cook. And I have always been super cautious at the stove and letting her cook with me. And when I say she likes to cook, I mean,..once she hears me place a pan on the stove she is running to the kitchen , pushing a chair on the way right up to me and grabbing salt and pepper to sprinkle onto something. So the other day Dean was napping and I let her cook with me. She was like me little sous (sp?) chef. Stirring things, chopping things ( with her toy wooden knife), seasoning things. I was still nervous the entire time. She looked up at me at one point and said with a grin " mom, I'm a good lil chef!". From Ratatouille.
-We close and move into our new home next week!! HOOOO-RAAAAYYYYYY!!!
- And this week I officially start the busiest season of my Photo biz. It is complete nutso!
So throw moving and two kids into the mix and it will be a great opportunity for me to cry out for God's grace and get a chance to Grow like crazy!
I am looking forward to it!

So here is the rest of our summer....
Believe it or not..this incident occurred with a house full of adults and family inside, and somehow the children were unsupervised....and then.....

Don't worry....ER did participate in this fiasco. We all died laughing. More so that there were 4 plus adults in the house and no one knew this was going on.

ER and I had some baking time as a project one afternoon. I have been taking pictures, but ER has been amazing me with her drawing skills. That can be a post a later time. She likes to draw faces now. I did help her with the girls body here...

Okay! So I don't know why I have yet to have captured this on camera. But this is Dean's kissy face. It is the cutest, funniest thing ever! So if he comes to give you a kiss, you get these full kips laid on you. People, it feels like a huge great Dane just licked your face.

Pucker up June!ER's first day of ballet. She was too excited! It was adorable!

ER chasing Dean around the house....

ER likes to bring her bedding from downstairs and make a bed for her and Dean in front of the TV.

These are out of order..But Brenda hosted a "Cousin Camp" for my kids and Owen and Cole. It was loads and loads of fun....and loads and loads of work and sweat on our part. But it was so worth it. We had two nights and three days all planned out of activities and outings like: T-Shirt making, cupcake making, zoo trip, parks and picnics, petting farm animals, Mr. Gatti's, campfire stories and sleeping bags, the "Cousin Camp song" (which ER can still remember).....and there was more!
So in no particular order, and from three different cameras...here they come!

Mr. Gatti's dinner Dean puckering up for a kiss. Dean ADORES Owen. He calls him "Owie".

Cousin pile
I was tyring to get them to hold hands and walk together....Dean was trying to break the line

Cousin Camp with the creator of it all , Nana!
Morning cup cakes bake time! Only at Cousin Camp do you do something fun like that!
Brenda got them all matching shirts they decorated with their names on the backs

Random pics....ER doing dishes

Ryan took ER to "work" one afternoon. Which really was to a place they sell supplies. They always give ER popcorn and pop. So she thinks that Ryan eats popcorn and drinks sodas all day...

But just look at her! Seriously, what child would not be in heaven!

Ella Reese turned 3 in August. For months I would ask her what kind of birthday party she wanted. She would say "pink". I asked her what kind of cake, presents.."pink, pink, pink". So pink it was!
I made these little goodie baggies for the kids
pink princess wand and star lollipop
pink birthday cake with princess dolls on top..

We lost Cinderellas CLEAR glass slippers almost immediately. And the next day we lost Belle.
Pink streamers and balloons everywhere...and I mean I put those bad boys everywhere!
slip and slide fun plus pool action = happy kids!

Owen pulled a towel under Cole just in time for a save

I think Evie was petting Dean down the slide
Pizza....yum!
Sweet Evie

We had some Arts and Crafts time. They kids painted these clay animals

Got a pic of the Asian cousins since we don't get to see Evie very much at all. It just so happened that they were all also naked and in diapers...
Dean's model pose

And yes, his stomach looks like a teenager's...

Skinny and trim. No baby fat here.

These are from another time:

Some living room silliness

My how they have grown this summer!