November seems like a blur but doesn't it always!  The time between Halloween and Thanksgiving happened in a flash.  Luckily, I did snap a few pics to help remember some of it!  My SIL and I threw a baby shower for our niece, Courtney, while they were home from Canada for Thanksgiving.  I enjoyed finding ideas from my friend Pinterest and making some things for it.  She is having a baby boy and her nursery theme is monkeys...so cute!  I made the invites and thank you's.

fun little baby shower punch that apparently was tasty too because it was gone pretty quickly!

I made the invitation to match the monkey nursery theme

I also was lucky enough to help with the kids fall parties for school. It's a perk of being a WAHM to be able to volunteer in their classrooms!  I will definately soak up this time while my kids still want me in their classes.  Then the month was finished up by celebrating Thanksgiving at both my parent's house and my MIL's.  I tried to really step back this week and just be grateful!  I have problems like everyone but my goodness, I am BEYOND blessed.  I don't know that I could list them all without shutting down blogland.  I can start with the obvious of my faith in our God, my awesome family-extended and close-, amazing friends-old and new-and end with the simple things such as coffee in the morning!  I think as I get older I do well to step back from time to time and just say "you know what, it's all good and the little rough patches are just that"!  I pray that everyone can do this and realize how gracious our Heavenly God is and we are super blessed in this life!

Ava's 1st preschool program!  She was so excited.  She had a few jitters but sang her heart out!

Cameron's 4th birthday party

Now, once Thanksgiving was over, the crazy schedule continued.  I was determined (as I am every year) to be sure and enjoy the season, to not just rush and spend money!  I got most of my shopping done before December started and am trying to do things that are enjoyable, rewarding and to try and give back to others.

 

Posted by Heather Brewer Hill

fall traditions

One of the things I enjoy as a mother is starting traditions and now that my kids are old enough to understand and remember them it is so much fun but sometimes difficult if time is running low but their amazing memories are reminding me of the traditions we haven't completed!  I tried to make everything a tradition when I was younger and my mom reminding me that just because we did it one time doesn't make it a tradition!  Call me sentimental!!!  Anyway, we go to get pumpkins at Etienne's Market, enjoy Lark's ranch with a pony ride, corn maze and hayride and then carve our pumpkins and roast the seeds.  It is all so fun and the kids enjoy it too.  We almost didn't make it to Lark's this year but slipped it in right before it closed. 

We also finished up our soccer season and the kids improved alot over the season.  Now maybe we can have a few weeks of just dance and gymnastics!  It was a great season with great friends on each of the kids teams.  One of the other perks of living in a small town.

Alex and his "max" pumpkin for a school project.

Now, I realize my kids will all to soon try and get out of my traditions but for now I will enjoy every second!

Posted by Heather Brewer Hill

My first baby

My first child was a difficult one.  She loved me so unconditionally and caused all sorts of havic on my life!  She is my chocolate lab, Reagan.  She, in alot of ways, led me to my current family! Everyone told me as a single girl living in Indianapolis that I needed to get a dog in order to meet men.  Technically she is the reason I met my husband.  We went on walk after walk (not to meet men but because this dog had alot of energy), we visited many a dog park and even did some training classes but never expected to meet my future husband 2 1/2 hours away in the vet clinic for her puppy shots!  My parents had gotten Reagan's litter mate, a huge male chocolate lab named Lincoln.  When I was home for the weekend we made an appointment for their checkups together and there was the love of my life there to take care of my little pup.  Funny enough, he had a chocolate lab female that was only 4 months older than mine!  I have always loved dogs, always!  I couldn't wait to get a pup of my own and boy was she a challenge.  She hated her crate and nearly got me evicted from my dog friendly apartment complex.  I got a dog walker to come in while I worked...not enough.  The dog walker offered to watch her at her place but that got to be too much so I found a doggie daycare that cost me $25 a day while I worked a 12 hour shift.  Luckily, I only worked 3 days a week!  She loved it.  At her vet visits her handsome vet would say she was just going through the equivilant of teen years and she would grow out of her severe separation anxiety.  I guess even the most brilliant vets can be wrong once!!!  He, after living with her and watching her tear through doors, jump tall fences and destroy things to get to us, admitted that he may have underestimated her seperation anxiety!  This rotten lab is now 10, she has seen me through so many hard times. 

She has endured so much with me and I love her so.  She is gray in alot of places and still can't bear to be away from me for very long but she is such a cool dog.  She was overly jealous of Matt's lab but grew to love her and when we lost her she was devasted.  She looked for her for weeks when it was time to go outside or to eat.  She moved in to my little house with me and then took on Matt and his dog, Ellie.  She watched as we had a new baby.  This worried me so but she was so sweet and actually was loving and protective of her kiddos.  Then she took on two more little ones.  She sleeps at my feet every night and is always ready for attention!  It's funny how she sort of became Matt's dog so quickly but she has been my dog since day 1.  I hope to have many more years with her but her age definately shows.  She is pretty stubborn and I say often that she won't give up without a fight.  So, yes, she was my first baby but she brought me to my husband that started our little family and I love how God made that work.  We will always be best of friends!

Posted by Heather Brewer Hill

packing in the fun

We always try to go somewhere for a weekend right before school starts but this year was just too crazy at the end of the summer.  So we took a day and went to Evansville for some last minute fun.  We started at the indoor inflatable place and then saw Ice Age 4 and ended the day with dinner at Olive Garden.  We had a nice day with the kids and hopefully we can do a weekend get-a-way over fall break. 

We also had a short break in the weather and the kids had a camp out in the backyard.  I especially love this because I get to enjoy the s'mores and then retreat to my own big bed as I DO NOT camp!  Unfortunately, as I settled on the couch with my laptop and some hot tea ready to watch a girly non-kid movie Ava came in because she needed her Mommy.  So instead she fell asleep on the couch next to me and we "camped" in my bed together.  The kids love their campouts.  Their daddy is so awesome and very much enjoys doing this stuff with them.  He asked them at dinner if they wanted to get out the tent and camp in the back yard and their were screams in unison!  I admit some of it was me because I knew I could have some peace!!!

Lots of bagage for an overnight campout!

Enjoying some s'smores on the one day the burn ban was lifted!

Then this past weekend we went to the drive in with some fun families!  We had such a great time!  It was something I haven't done in at least 25 years and the kids and Matt had never experienced it.  It was a cool evening so we were able to bundle up, snuggle under our blankets and eat popcorn.  I love family time!

 

 

And finally we did some art projects, had friends over to play and spent some time with our fun cousins! 

 

Courtney, Carter (and baby Rory due in Jan.), Ava, Emily, Sophia, Kaleb and Alex hanging at Nana's.

Now I am trying to finish up canning.  I'm hoping to get some more green beans to finish up because most of ours got burned up in the heat or eaten by some critter:( 
Posted by Heather Brewer Hill

My baby is starting to not be a baby!

Our beloved Ms. Jane, she has taught and loved all 3 of my kiddos.

Ava had her 1st day of preschool.  She was so wishy washy on if she wanted to go but she did great as far as drop off went!  Now, with that being said it is still my little Ava (spunky, sassy, stubborn, determined to have it 'my way or the highway' little girl).  I was fearful that she would get upset with the other kids if they tried to "share" her toys.  She struggles with this at home, she also needs work on standing in line and doing what she is told when she is told and not on her own time!  That is the main reasons for sending her to preschool at 3.  My other two were more submissive so they just went with the flow but Ava Claire has her own flow!  At pick up, the teacher tells me that they lined them up to come in from recess and counted all the little heads but when they were inside playing a game and it was Ava's turn they realized she wasn't there!  Ava had snuck out of line and went back to playing on the playground (which is her favorite thing right now).  When we asked her why she did that she said "those girls kept moving around in line so I just went and played until they were done ( I think she means they were lining up quickly enough so she thought she would continue playing until they figured it out!)!  That is my Ava.  Her next day of school was much better and she continues to say she likes it and wants to go back! 

Ava 3 years, 3/4 class preK at WC.

That same week we had our first dance class!  This is Sophia's 3rd year and Ava's 1st.  One of our dear friends teaches it which makes it extra special.  Ava couldn't wait to go...it didn't disappoint either!  She is still talking about it 4 days later. 

stretching!

Ava 3 years, 1st year of dance

Sophia, 5 years, 3rd year of ballet/tap

Posted by Heather Brewer Hill

Back to the grind

School started a few weeks ago and I really wasn't ready for it to yet again.  I know alot of moms that are more than ready and I was always appauled by this but I have to say by Aug 1 I was beginning to understand it alittle bit.  With that being said I still missed my big guy being gone all day.  He did really well and being in the same class as his best buddy certainly helped.  He is now in the full swing of it and adjusting well.  Sophia stated to a new PreK program as we were not quite ready to send her to kindergarten and she is LOVING it.  She goes 5 days a week in the morning and they have art, music, chapel, library and gym.   She skips out the door excitedly each morning which makes this momma oh so happy!  Ava will start next week 2 mornings a week and we will see how that goes.  She has made comments like "why do I have to go to that scary school?"  "you will stay with me right Mommy?"  Ugg, the only reason I enrolled her this year is because she screamed every time we left Sophie last year and she did not get to stay.  We'll see, maybe she'll surprise me!! 




So happy to go to school!
Sophia is 5 years, preK.



Alex, 1st grade, 7 years old!

Her best buds are in her class, that might be part of the passion for school!

Now that we are getting in the groove I am on a mission to make things run smoothly....is there such a thing?  I have surveyed many blogs and friends on their ways to get their kids to do chores and how they "reward" them.  I know not only for the kids but for myself I have to keep it simple or we won't keep it up.  This is an idea from none other than pinterest but adapted to our needs.  I also made a list of our morning routine and that has helped significantly with making them aware of what is expected each morning before they can have time to watch TV or play before we leave for school. 

It hangs on the door and is a good visual for them.

Also to back track...Sophia is finishing up her cheer class from this summer and thoroughly enjoyed it.  She has learned so much and we hope to get back to it once soccer is over. 

Posted by Heather Brewer Hill