What we have been up to..

We have decided we are a crafty/skillful family. Ha! At least we think we are. So, here is what we have been up to.
1. I saw a great picture of a cute storage shelf that I thought would be great in my sewing room. Of course it is 130 dollars at pottery barn. So, I showed Brent to see if he could make me one and a little smaller version of it. Of course he could!!
here is the pottery barn picture.

Here is what Brent made. And a before and after picture of my sewing area.

pretty good, huh?

Before

After

2. And here is what I have been up to. I started appliqueing/sewing shirts. It has been fun. I have been able to do some shirts for Em and E. I also did some onesies for friends with new little ones! I hope I don't get carried away.

Front of the bird onesie

Back of the bird onesie

Initial onesie: m

Initial onesie: k

Fall pumpkin shirt for Emersyn and Elynn

South Padre Island

We just got back from South Padre Island! It was a really great trip with the Garrisons! We left Tuesday afternoon. It has been so long since I have been to SPI. We have gone to Port Aransas several times, but this was our first time to SPI as a family. SPI is about a 5 hour drive compared to the Port Aransas 3 hour drive. That is a big difference with 3 little ones. I knew we would probably stop about half way to give everyone a break from being in the car and feed Elynn. Lisa and Rob recommended a little hole in the wall restaurant in Kingsville called "The Kings Inn". It ended up being about a half way point for us, so we drove down this country county road 10 miles to find it. They serve seafood by the pound and you get tomatoes and their famous sauce with every meal. We ordered fried trout, which came with fries and the tomatoes, and an avocado salad for the all of us. It feed us all and there was not a crumb left on the plate. It was delicious. After everyone loaded back up, we got on the road and arrived at the condo around 8-830.

Wednesday morning we woke up and Ezra was ready to get on the beach. We ended up out and on the beach by 830! I am pretty sure, we were out on the beach until lunch time. It worked out great. By the time we were ready to eat lunch, we walked back to the condo pool area and ate our sandwiches by the pool and swam some more at the pool. After we were done swimming, we headed back up to the condo to bathe and rest. Rob and Brent decided they wanted to go fishing at the bay that evening. Rob, Brent and Ezra headed to the bay to fish while Lisa, her girls, her mom and dad and me and my girls went to dinner. After we ate dinner, we met the boys at the bay just in time to catch the sunset. It was so pretty.

Ready for the Beach

LOVE that belly!

Feeding the seagulls our left over french fries. (um..ezra and brent EXACT same throw except different arms)

Had a blast feeding the birds

Thursday morning was no different. Ezra was up and wanting to be at the beach right away. This time though, Rob, Brent and George (lisa's dad) had gotten up early to meet a fishing guide to go fishing off a boat for the day. So, Lisa, her mom and I took turns rotating staying at the condo with the two little ones and being on the beach with the four older ones. Ella and Elynn came to the beach everyday but not for a long time. Elynn LOVED the beach. She would splash splash splash splash when the water would come up to her and then when it receded, she would just scoop up as much sand as she could get in those tiny little hands. She LOVED it! Emersyn, on the other hand, was NOT a fan of the water and waves. It was so sweet. She was scared of the waves and would hold on so tight to my arm when we were in the water. I really think she thought the waves were going to take us away. One time, Brent was sitting next to Elynn while the waves were coming up to her feet and Emersyn ran up to her crying and just grabbed her so tight, saying, "NO, Elynn. NO!" She thought the waves were going to take her. So cute.
So, that afternoon, we did the same thing. Ate lunch by the pool and then came in to rest a bit. This time, we prepared sides for the anticipated dinner of FISH that the guys were going to catch. It was probably the best meal we ate there. The guys had a great day of fishing and caught a good amount of fish! After dinner, we headed back down to the beach and had a great time! We threw out the cast net and caught some little fish for the kids to play with. We also went "shrimping". So, you know those little holes you see at the beach after the waves go back?? There are SHRIMP in those holes. Rob got a "shrimping" device that you stick in the hole, suck up the dirt, and then push the dirt back out. If you kinda look through the dirt, you will find this little white, soft shrimp with no shell. I don't think you can really do anything with them, but the kids LOVED catching them. That night we had a bucket full of fish and shrimp. Emersyn was in heaven! She LOVED picking up the fish and carrying them around. Who would have thought? HA! When I was taking a picture of her and the "baby fish" at one point, she looked at the fish and said, "Fish, look at mommy!" Ha! I loved it.

Emerysn "saving" Elynn

She loved the feel of the sand

Cutest thing EVER!

Awe, my beautiful girl and her momma fish.

This is when she said, "fish, look at mommy!"

Our princess and knight castle

Belle went with us everywhere!

Our castle decorated with seashells

Friday morning. Friday the guys had planned a special fishing trip for Ezra, Hailey and Sydney on a fishing boat out on the bay. They were going to be gone till noon. So, Lisa, her mom, Emersyn and I went to breakfast and did some Island shopping. It was a fun morning. We found a really great shop, that I could have bought several things at. Love when you find shops like that.
By the time we were done shopping, they were done fishing, so we picked them up and headed back to the condo for lunch. After lunch, of course, we headed to the beach. We stayed at the beach for most of the afternoon. That evening we headed to Pirates Landing to eat dinner. It was a fun place to take the kids and it was right on the water. After we got back, we tried to pack up as much as we could so that Saturday we could spend our last morning at the beach.

Ready for fishing

They caught 3 fish!

Ready for dinner

Captin Ezra Eilers

Sydney, Ezra, Emersyn, Ella and Hailey (Elynn was sleeping)

Saturday morning, Brent, Lisa and her mom took the kids to the beach for one last Hoorah!. I had to do my 6 mile run, so by the time I got back it was about that time to shower, pack and go.

We had such a GREAT time at the beach. We are so thankful for good friends to share it with. THANK YOU GARRISONS!!!

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.