The best day ever??

If you ask jack this was definitely the that!! He got to go duck hunting with his daddy on Saturday and I'm fairly certain both of them had tge time of their lives! The Mosquitos were terrible. It was muddy and hot. They only got 3 ducks. But apparently none of that was enough of a deterrent- they both came back smiling and as happy as can be! 

My little "pack"

These three are anything but boring! they are hilarious and adventurous...naughty and fearless...incredibly fun and extremely overwhelming all at the same time! It seems that when they are without their fearless leader they tend to act like a wild little pack of hyenas. Everyone running and doing their own thing- no one really organizing or leading them. I suppose that would be my job, but hailey was so good at it that it's hard for me to remember I should be doing that!! And before I know it they are just running wild and wreaking havoc upon our house!! I'm just hoping that the house survives and is still standing by the time they grow up :)

Without their big sister around my 3 littlest ones have become closer and better friends!! It's pretty cute (most of the time) to see their little personalities come out in different ways! I think the funniest part is that no matter where we go someone asks if they are triplets. Makes me laugh every single time. Poor jack is just such a small little guy!!

Our highlight of the week is getting to go eat lunch with hailey! She asks us to come every week and it's adorable to see the little three just fit into the school so well! They go potty with the kids; wash hands with them; play on the playground and just naturally fall into line- just like all the other kids! 

I think my favorite part about just having the little "pack" around is that they're starting to develop their own little personalities and desire to be "themselves". Macy is still a bit more mellow than the other 4, but once she sets her mind to something there is no dissuading her! She was the oldest of all my kids when she finally was potty trained, but by fare the easiest one to potty train. One day she just up and decided to go potty on the toilet and hasn't had an accident since! Elli is our crazy wild child. She has no time for anything that might seem normal or have rules to it. She just blazes her own trail and does whatever she wants- she's a true free spirit and I love it. She makes me laugh and is by far the goofiest of any of our kids...even though she is the most shy. Jack is just  Jack. He's so much like Korey and so much like me. He loves to play by himself, as long as he's by someone, and wants so badly to be an army guy when he grows up. He's continually looking for a new hunting spot, wherever we go, and probably misses his big sister more than any of us!
I love that my little 3 love to be together, but I'm just incredibly excited that they are becoming a bit more independent and loving the individual attention. Yesterday I took just Macy to pick up hailey -she was pretty excited and kept saying "I so special today, momma" :)

We did storytime today at the library and I couldn't believe how cute they were or how well they listened!! Elli had no interest in anything but sitting on my lap and Macy loved it all!! She even did the hand motions to the songs! Jack answered all the questions and was generally pretty outgoing! I loved it!! It was the first time I've seen any of them in a situation like that. I was so proud of my little Macy for acting so grown up. (that's her between Jack and her sweet little friend, Taylor)

I think we all might be fitting into our new routine without our biggest girl better and better each day!!

A time of change...

It seems like the fall is always a time of big changes...the changing of weather & the leaves just sort of seem like the outward, most obvious show of what seems to be taking place in our little home and in my heart. I've been a bit absent on here because sometimes change is hard. There's usually the dying off of something and that's not always painless or easy. This year it's been particularly hard to get back on the swing of things; to transition back to school and rules and wake up times. Summer was so beautiful and so fun. Just a blessed time of running and freedom for all of us. Korey barely worked any overtime, so it was sweet to have him home. But, like all beautiful mountaintop experiences, it's a bit hard to leave that and go back. Jackson turned 4. Hailey started kindergarten (all day. every day). Korey started working long days and we were hit with a few overnight storms. It was a big fat dose of reality- all at once.

Honestly, I struggled. I'm still struggling a bit. I miss my big girl. She adds such joy, laughter and excitement to our house. There's a noticeable difference without our precious ring leader to guide us all. 

My little boy is becoming more and more like his daddy- which I LOVE, but it makes me miss the sweet little baby boy more and more. 

And, It's hard to be a mom doing it alone for days at a time. It's hard not to feel lonely- not to mention just plain tired, when your best friend is gone.

But, I'm so thankful that along with the hardness of change there is a beauty to be found in the sweet reminder of new things taking place of the old. Just how the fall comes to make way for winter and spring- we have to welcome in change to reap the sweet rewards that it brings.

 We started up our Wednesday night ministries at church and I get to teach the kindergarten class. I'm beyond excited to see my girl in action, to learn verses with her and to guide her and her sweet friends in their relationships with Jesus. 

My big boy has been really stepping up and taking charge of his little sisters. It's been fun to watch the 3 of them bond...we've been calling them our pack of hyenas :) and they are pretty much a tight little pack. I love seeing that. 

The twins have been getting cuter and cuter the older and more verbal they get. Today they were sitting by each other on the floor and Macy said "I love you" to elli, to which she responded "I love you. I really do" and put her arm on her shoulder. It was just a sweet moment that does a mommy's heart good to witness!

And...probably the biggest blessing of all has been that I set up my sewing machine again. I haven't sewn in years and it just felt good to get it out and make a little burp cloth and hem up some pants (it's truly the little things that make me happy) :) 

I'm looking forward to the rest of this fall and some of the fun changes that will be in store for us...I guess change can be exciting and fun!