Emma's 5th Birthday Pics

I am FINALLY getting these up. October has been crazy! Below are pictures from Emma's 5th Birthday Party (a month late, but thats how it goes sometimes). :)

Me and my big 5 year old! So proud!

With Tia Megan and Uncle Bryan.

With Vava, who Emma adores!

Emma and Brody, best buds!

Aunt Stacie and Uncle Chad.

Nana and Papa!!

My little family. So blessed!

Auntie Kari and Uncle Adam (who were our gracious hosts)!

Time to make a wish!

My big girl! Such a sweetie!

Time to cut that ice cream cake....

but Mark broke the knife!

The birthday girl gets the first piece!

Papa entertaining Brody.

Delia and Emma!

BUSY!!!

After a week of painting, cleaning, updating and packing we are finally in our new house! What a BUSY week...and its still not over! There is so much to unpack and set-up, but I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel!

We could not have done this without the help of Mark's parents! Thank you Perry and Cathy for all your hard work! We appreciate you both so much!

Before and after pics to come!!!! :)

Have a great Monday!

-Alison

Emma's Ear Piercing

Emma asked if she could get her ears pierced around May. After discussing it we told her that if she still wanted them pierced in September then she could get them pierced for her birthday. She talked about it all summer long and as mid September approached she was very sure that she wanted to get them done. So the day before her birthday we headed to Claire's with all her Aunts and her Nana in tow! :)

Emma started to get really nervous once she was in the chair. Picking out her pretty pink flower earrings seemed to help her nerves a bit. I told her we could leave but she refused. :)

Marking where the holes will go.

I had to make sure they marked them just right.

"OUCH!!!" was what she said VERY loudly.

Then we both cried.

3 minutes later Emma was all smiles.

After taking a look-see my (almost) 5 year old says it was worth it!

Finished!

I learned to crochet almost 2 years ago and really enjoy it! My Grandma Borges is the master crocheter and I hope to one day be as good as she is. Below are pics of my first afghan! I started it last year and was a few stitches away from completing it. I finally pulled it out again about a month ago and finished it. Right in time for "winter"! :)

My Grandma & Grandpa. They are in the Azores right now and come home in a few days!

Fun With Friends!

We love hanging out with friends and birthday parties are always so fun! Here are the kids at another fun birthday party at the Grogan's house a few weeks ago!

Emma and one of her best friends, Emma Grogan. They are so cute and they call each other by their full names so as not to get confused. :)

Brody getting into the party fun!

The balloon game! Who can hold the most?

Emma and her buddy Christian tied!

Brody playing outside. This boy melts my heart.

My handsome guys!

My Secret Indulgence

Okay, I'm coming super clean with this.

I am addicted to the Twilight series. *GASP*

It all began this summer when my very practical sister, Kari, told me that she was reading Twilight. She said that she really thought I'd like it. I figured that since she's one of my closest I'd give it a shot, even though the whole vampire thing has never appealed to me at all. But it was summer and I needed some good beach reading material. Plus, I'd seen the movie and it was pretty good.... so why not?

Little did I know how completely in love I would fall with this series. I am almost embarrassed to admit it. I read the whole series in less than 3 weeks. And my kids are now very familiar with all the Disney movies we own because of it.

So how far exactly has it gone??

Yes, I have already bought my ticket for the opening midnight showing of New Moon on November 19th (technically the 20th) where I will stand in line with my Twilight girls....and a bunch of tweens.

Yes, we are all wearing our "Team Edward" shirts (3 of us will be wearing our maternity Team Edward shirts....cause that's just how we roll).

Yes, we are in the process of planning a New Moon party which we will attend prior to the movie (pics will be posted). Games, trivia, Twilight Saga talk, here we come!

Yes, there has been talk of a girls trip to Forks, La Push, Port Angeles and possibly Seattle during a Twilight convention.

Don't judge.

Megan's Engaged!

My baby sister, Megan, is getting married!!!

Meg is one of my favorite gals and I am so happy for her and her husband-to-be, Bryan!

Here Meg and I are the night of the proposal. We had it all worked out weeks prior to this night. She had no idea!

Me & Meg about an hour before...

Sisters!! Kari and I had it all planned out...

The proposal!!!

She said YES!!

Flashing the bling! So pretty!

The happy couple.

Meg and Bryan are getting married October 25th...THIS October 25th! She is so DANG lucky that she has a Wedding Planner for a sister! :) She's actually planned almost everything on her own and its going to be beautiful! I love fall weddings!

Hello October!

I LOVE October!

I love fall! I love driving up to Julian to see the leaves changing on the trees (because I live in SD and you just don't see that here) and of course for their famous apple pie. I love breaking out my fall decorations (which would have been up already had it not been for our upcoming move). And I LOVE my pumpkin spice lattes from Starbuck's. mmmmm.

But this month is going to be crazy!

We have a new house to paint starting on the 11th (do you like to paint? We're having a painting party ya know...), we move in on the 17th (do you like heavy labor? Free pizza for all!), I have 2 weddings (one of which I am in) on the 25th and the 30th, and of course trick or treating with the kids and our friends and all their kids the 31st. This is on top of homeschooling, field trips, consults with brides, leading a Bible study, and life in general.

Times like these I wish I were rich and could hire someone to help. Just to cook meals, run errands, clean my house, walk the dog, etc.

Pray I survive October! :)

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I have been meditating on this verse all week:

"If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg)

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In our couples small group there are 3 of us that are preg right now! Its so fun! We are all due around the same time and we're all having GIRLS!

These are also my Twilight girls (minus Jeannie). That is a whole different post, but yes, we're obsessed like 15 year old teens.

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Happy October!!!