Honk, Honk!

Brent had Elynn outside with him this morning while I was doing some things inside. He put her in Ezra's little car from when he was little and she was LOVING it. I love how she is getting so big. She is just the happiest baby on the block!
As I was taking these pictures, I remembered when Emersyn was around this age (probably a little older) and we put her in the car for the first time. I dug one out so that I can post it here too. They are so similar in look, it's crazy!

Elynn is always all smiles!

Honk, Honk!

Elynn at 7 1/2 months

Emersyn at 10 months

Emersyn at 10 months

Ezra at 15 months

Love that I have a picture of all three of them in this car!

Deer Jerky

Every year, Brent makes Deer Jerky. In order to do this, he has to grind up the meat, put the ground up meat in his little gun to make long jerky strips, then place those strips in the dehydrator for hours. This is definitely a process, but the outcome is great! Every year, since Ezra could walk and talk, he has wanted to be a part of the process. Brent is so good and patient with letting him help. Even if it means it will take a little longer to do it. I am so thankful for Brent and that characteristic of his. Well, this year, Ezra is 4 and I just feel like he can do so much more this year already than years past. He has grown up SO MUCH and really has become super independent. Even though, at times, this is so hard for me to accept, it has also been a big blessing and I love watching him do things, by himself, that he hasn't been able to do completely by himself in the past. He can now get up in the morning, get dressed from head to toe, brush his teeth and comb his hair all by himself. This helps me so much, especially now that we have 3!
Anyway, back to the jerky. Yesterday, Brent got out all the stuff to make the jerky and Ezra was so excited. I stood back to see how it was going to be this year. They knocked out that jerky making so fast because Ezra was an actual helper to Brent this year. It was like Brent had another person to help him do it. As I was standing back watching, I was so proud of Ezra and how much he has grown. Brought tears to my eyes!

Ezra grinding the meat that Brent put in the grinder

Emersyn woke up from her nap and had to join in the action

Elynn's Dedication

We had Elynn dedicated on Friday, September 9th, by Dennis and Cindy Means. Cindy has been a mentor of mine for several years through OHC Mentoring Moms group. I have really gotten to know her and Dennis so well through the years. They have been a big blessing to me and my family. When wanting to get Elynn dedicated, I wanted it to be a sweet/special dedication. The one through the church is so big and impersonal, that I knew I didn't want to go that route. Dennis is an Elder at OHC. So, I asked if Cindy and Dennis would be willing to dedicate Elynn at their house and to make sure that it was allowed. They jumped on board immediately. We extended the baby dedication to more girls in our Mentoring Moms group with new ones. Our good friends, The Barricks, were able to attend and dedicate Noah. Along with Kristi and Padon. Noah is about 2 months younger than Elynn and Padon is about 4 months younger. We had such a special time. Cindy read scripture over Elynn, Noah and Padon. Then, Dennis prayed over them and anointed them with oil. We ended with a group prayer.
Cindy and Dennis then had us stay for dinner and swimming. It was a great night. My grandma came down for the blessing. Elynn Sara is named after her, Sara Jane, and her grandmother, Sarah Lavina. Very special women of God lineage. My grandmother surprised Elynn with her great-great-great grandmother's bible and autograph book from the 1800's!! It is such an honor to receive such special gifts and know that we have a strong spiritual legacy from which we come.  I know Elynn will treasure these one day when she is older. She is definitely going to do something mighty and powerful for God!

Kristi and Padon, Me and Elynn, Gabi and Noah

Cindy and Dennis reading scripture and praying

Anointing of oil

Cindy loving on Elynn and I after

Thank you Grammy for always being here for us and being such a big part of our lives! We love you so.

Thank you Dennis and Cindy for taking time out of your schedule to honor us with a baby blessing, dinner and fellowship. We love you guys and are so thankful for the example and blessing you are as a married couple and followers of Christ. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!

Nothin' Sweeter

There is nothing sweeter than 3 beautiful "babies" all clean, smelling good and wrapped up in their towels. Oh, how I LOVE these three!!

Preschool

Here is a picture of Ezra and his Marvelous Monkey teacher, Mrs. Campbell! She is so sweet and fun. He LOVES school and really wishes he can go Everyday! He has grown up so much. Last year I would carry his tote everyday because it was kinda big/awkward and can get heavy. Well, wednesday I grabbed his tote and started walking. He looked at me and said, "Mom, I can carry my own tote." Well, Excuse me!! Ha! So, I let him carry his tote in. He marched right in like he has done this before. Which I guess he has, but he is SO READY for school this year. When I was signing him in, he grabbed his name tag, put his tote in his cubby and started playing. I was like, "Bye, Ezra. I love you, have a great day." He smiled at me and said, "C-ya."

It makes me so proud and sad at the same time. My friend, Sam, on her blog had blogged about about being joyful and sad at the same time. This is completely one of those times. Even on our days "off" from school, he is asking about school and saying he wishes he could go. So, yesterday, I filled our day with activities outside. We had a really great day, but at the end of the day he said, "I am excited to go to school tomorrow."

I am completely praying about what we are supposed to do next year and kindergarten. He will just have turned 5 in July. So he would be so young to go. But, at the same time, socially, for sure, he is ready. I will probably keep him back another year and have him do the 5 year old bridge class at OHC, just cause I want that ONE MORE YEAR. We will see what God has planned. This boy is growing too fast. Love him so!

Ezra and his monkey tote.

Crafts

I have been working on a duvet cover for Emersyn's room. I just wanted a simple white top, with a rose or some sort of pattern on the back with pink. Not a whole lot of pink. Well, after looking and looking and realizing, duvets are kinda pricey, I thought, "hey. I bet I could make one out of sheets." So, I found the sheets I wanted and set out to make her a duvet. Her duvet in particular was a little more of a "project" than I anticipated. The sheet I found for the bottom part of the duvet was part of TWIN sheet set. Emersyn's bed is a Full/Queen! I thought, I am sure I can make this work if I undo the fitted sheet and made panels that run down the sides of the twin sheet. Well, you can, it just is work! Ha! But, I did it. I even learned how to do buttonholes and sew on buttons using my sewing machine. All by myself! I am kinda proud of myself. After I finished, I thought, "I hope I really like this and that it was worth the work." Ha! After I put it on her bed, I knew that I liked it and that it was worth the work. She loved it. Now, I just have to make one more for the twin bed on her top bunk. That one should be super easy!

Another thing I made, was my Halloween wreath for this year. I am really pleased with how it turned out. It was super easy and only like 10$ to make!! I think I might add some plastic spiders to it once it get closer to the occasion. I was going to make a different wreath using burlap, but when I saw this wreath I knew I could used it throughout the holidays. I will take off the "BOO" and make big burlap flowers with buttons for fall and something christmasy for christmas. Not sure why that excites me, but, it's the little things!
Thought I would share.

Oh ya, Ezra started Preschool again. He is a 4 year old Marvelous Monkey with Mrs. Campbell. He LOVES it! I didn't have my camera yesterday. Hopefully I will remember it tomorrow and get some pictures posted!

Labor Day Weekend

I felt like I really did "labor" this labor day weekend. On Saturday, I met my mom in Schulenburg (half way from her house to ours) to drop Ezra and Emersyn with her and Ron for the weekend. I was excited about them going, but always very emotional about my babies being away from me for the weekend. It helped that they were super excited. On Saturday morning, I got up before they were up and did my 4 mile run. When I got back from my run, they were both dressed (thanks, dad!) with pillows and blankets in hand and saying, "I am ready to go to Mimi's." So sweet. So, I showered, got ready and loaded everyone up. (I took the kids to Schulenburg by myself because Brent set off for his own weekend of filling feeders and dove hunting.)

I placed them in the hands of Mimi and said an emotional goodbye. Not really sure why it was so emotional. Maybe because it's the end of summer and I have been so used to having all three all the time. Constant love, talk and play. The drive home without them was SO Quiet.

Elynn and I had a great weekend together. Saturday afternoon, we went to Target and Michaels to prepare for my day of scrapbooking on Sunday. After shopping, we headed to our Saturday service at church.  Then my friend, Mandy, and I met up at Mama Margies for dinner and a rita. So good, so fun. I ended the evening watching Soul Surfer. I usually watch my girly movies that I know Brent won't really want to watch while he is gone. It was a good, christian movie with great actors (helen hunt, dennis quaid).

Sunday, Elynn and I got up and headed to starbucks for a scone and iced coffee and then headed home. We sat outside that morning while I did my bible study and just hung out outside for a bit. I am loving this cooler weather. During Elynn's morning nap, I cleaned the house from top to bottom. I know you are thinking, "Why did you clean the house!?!" Well, no kids means no interruptions, and I can't just "sit" and "relax" until I have a clean house. I know, Type A! I am well aware of that, and completely fine with it. Ha!

After house cleaning, I scrapbooked. I am NOT a scrapbooker, but have been pretty good about keeping up with all three of the kids baby books. I usually do it when they are gone for the weekends. Which doesn't happen often at all. I got all three caught up and looking good! I do watch movies while I do this, so it is not so bad. I also finished the duvet cover I am making for Emersyn's bed. It took me a bit to finish it because I had to learn how to sew buttonholes. I taught myself how to do buttonholes and sew on buttons using my machine. Watch out Martha!

Brent ended up comping home Sunday night, which was a nice surprise. We got to watch the Aggie game and just enjoy each other.

This morning we woke up, got ready and headed back to Schulenburg. We met my mom and Ron, had lunch and even got to see Brent's sister and her husband who happened to be in Schulenburg as well. A good little Monday.

Had a good and busy weekend with just Elynn and I, but sure did miss my family. Thank you, Lord, that we are all back together, under one roof.