We have been busy!!

It seems like forever since I've posted something...there's a reason for that. We have been busy! I'll try to recap minus the rambling...I would hate to bore you! :)

As you know, we spent some time in Duck with Mena and Poppy. (The next two pictures were taken the first time we saw Mena and Poppy at Chick-fil-A and just never made it from my camera to the computer, but I think they're adorable! :)

Charis is so loving sometimes!

She loves to give hugs!

Found this hilarious picture on my camera too -
it was taken soon after we opened. Sheena's crazy!

 We have been spending a lot of time at Chick-fil-A. I mean, A LOT. I'm not gonna lie...sometimes (rare, but it does happen) we end up eating there twice a day! It has been our only chance to see Ian, so we take advantage of every moment...even if it's literally just a few a day! Since the trainers have left, it's not uncommon for Ian to be out of the house before the sun is up and come home late....REALLY late. He is developing his leadership team, and once he has some people in place that can handle everything on their own, he will be able to be at home with us. But for now, he needs to be at the store. We knew it ahead of time, so I have been preparing myself. I feel like the Lord is supplying strength and stamina when I need it. I cherish nap times even more now! (And I'm figuring out ways to get Cayman to rest...he rarely sleeps anymore...or at least play quietly in his room so that I can have a chunk of time to myself. May sound selfish, but I don't get quiet time anymore so I get it whenever I can!) [After a year of using this blog, I finally figured out how to change up the layout of the pictures!]

How cute are they?! And Charis actually wore
her bow for longer than 5 minutes!

We also have some awesome friends who understand the season of life that we're in right now, and they're doing whatever they can to ease the burden - whether it's volunteering to watch the kids or spontaneous play dates. We have been having a great time!

The kids and I drove to Raleigh last weekend to celebrate a special one year old's birthday. I can't believe that it was already a year ago that we were flying to Raleigh to surprise our best friends who had just had their special miracle baby! :) We carved pumpkins Saturday night (our fall tradition for quite a few years now) and celebrated her birthday on Sunday afternoon. We had a WONDERFUL time. While I was driving home, I started thinking about how special these two sets of friends are to us. I truly feel like we're all brothers and sisters. I know I can trust them; I love being with them; They support us and they love my children as if they were their own. I'm so thankful we met them six(ish) years ago!!!

Mine and Cayman's pumpkin is the one on the far left.

He had so much fun!!

Sadie in her birthday suit. :)

Let's see... I have been working for Ian from home a lot of days. I am in charge of planning and creating all the community boards in the store. I believe I put way too much thought into it (aka stress over it way too much!), but I want them to look nice and professional because so many customers will be seeing them on a daily basis. So I take my job seriously :)

We had our first official birthday party at the store last night.

Playdate with the Beans (Banyan is one.)

Noakea is so silly! And showing off their cool record player.
We jammed to Michael Jackson for a little while today. :)

Noakea insisted that Cayman borrow his roller
skates "for as long as Cayman wants to." :)

Charis became fascinated with beads while
she was at Grammy's house. 

We play with them a lot.

Even while trying on Halloween costumes at Wal-mart!

When we came back from Raleigh late Sunday night, there was a package from a sweet friend from Florida. Cayman was THRILLED to open a package from MASON!! Natalia and Mason had packed a box full of little treasures - a little dry erase board with a marker, a pencil box, a workbook, hairbow for Charis, stickerbook, notebook, foam shape blocks...I think that's all for the kids. But my favorite part were notes she wrote for me. On each envelope were special messages "When you feel fear" "When you are frustrated" etc, etc. How thoughtful and meaningful! Love it!

Cayman started drawing right away on the dry erase board.
In fact, it took him 20 minutes to acknowledge Ian after an
entire weekend away! Ian practically had to beg for a hug!

Cayman drew this face on our pumpkin. I was
so impressed!! He did it completely on his own,
and it's the first time he's drawn something
so well.