Drama Club Debut and Haley's 12th Birthday

In the spring, Haley and Allie participated in a drama club with two of their friends. To finish the semester, they had to write and perform a sketch.  They did a comedy called "End of the World Forecast" based on their favorite comedy sketch from Studio C.  Haley played the weather anchor and Allie played a little girl excited that school was cancelled. The joke was that it would have to be the end of the world before homeschooling is cancelled.

Turning 12 is a big birthday for Haley.  She moved from the primary program at church to the youth program where the teenagers are, earned her Faith in God award from primary, got to attend girls camp for the first time this summer and she is able to attend the Temple now.  We're so proud of her.

Grammy and Pop Pop met us at the Temple for Haley's first visit.  They took us to dinner afterwards and we had a great time.  We're thrilled they could make it.

Happy Birthday Haleybug!

My Cuties!

I love this picture of Sarah Kathryn and Rachel and I couldn't remember if I had posted it or not.  They were walking into church, arm-in-arm, matching dresses and bare feet and I just happened to capture the moment.  They're so beautiful!

Spring Soccer

 We signed Joseph up for spring soccer this year and he just finished a season of fall soccer.  We signed him up to give him an outlet for his undending energy supply and opportunities to hang out with other boys.  He's really enjoyed himself.  His favorite position is goalie and he tied with another little boy for fastest runner on the team.

In a couple of weeks he'll start basketball and Brent signed up to coach.  Joseph is ecstatic!

Rachel's Birthday

We celebrated Rachel's 3rd birthday with a family party.  Grandma, Papa and Great Gran were able to join us.

Rachel asked for a booster seat for her birthday.  She was tired of riding in a car seat and wanted a booster seat like the older children.

She loved the butterfly birthday cake Grandma and Papa picked out.

Nana and Grandpa sent this little dress for Rachel's birthday.  She obviously thinks she's rockin' it because her pose says, "Adore me !"

Happy 1st Birthday Natalie!

Natalie celebrated her 1st birthday on November 2, 2015.  She loved having us sing to her, she kept laughing and the kids were singing "Happy Birthday" over and over again. She obviously enjoyed the cupcake.  I don't remember what we had for birthday dinner but it probably didn't matter since Natalie eats most everything.  She doesn't care for pico de gallo, only regular salsa.  Everything else is tasty in her book.

Natalie continues to be a happy baby.  She loves to swing, jump on the trampoline, watch "Sofia the First" with Rachel, color and play outside in the dirt.  She and Rachel are spending more and more time together and becoming good friends.  The kids get so tickled with all the new words and phrases she uses.  She says most everyone's name, is a little spoiled (it's the kids' fault, not mine), is particular and opinionated, and is a great dancer!  She's been a fun addition to our family, just like everyone else.

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Father Daughter Camp Out 2015

Each year in October Brent and the girls attend the annual father/daughter camp out with PopPop (Brent's Dad) at Camp Hulaco in North Alabama.

Sarah Kathryn got to attend this year since she's potty trained.  All the girls had a great time.  They stopped at Chik-fil-A for dinner rather than cooking tin foil dinners this year and they got rained out so they spent the night at Grammy and PopPop's and drove back to camp

 early Saturday morning in time for a big breakfast of pancakes, sausage, bacon, grits and eggs. They spent the day hiking, kayaking, tackling the ropes course, riding the zip line, repelling, and jumping off the Leap of Faith.

The girls love hiking to this waterfall each year.

That is the Leap of Faith in the background, a 30 foot pedestal to jump off, and that is Sarah Kathryn repelling off the tower.

True story: Sarah Kathryn wanted to attempt jumping off the Leap of Faith. The ropes course workers harnessed her and strapped on her helmet.  As soon as they checked her gear Sarah Kathryn ran and jumped right off the end of the platform.  She wasn't scared for a moment.  Brent said the whole camp was buzzing about the fearless three year old who jumped off the Leap of Faith at a run. I would have loved to have been there...but if I had been there I might not have let her go.

Sarah Kathryn and PopPop on the ropes course.

Brent's New Office

 Brent's opening his law office on March 14.  His parents gave him this office furniture as a graduation present.  Dad and Melissa have been kind enough to let us store it at their office.  Friends from church and the missionaries helped us move it to Brent's new office in Wetumpka.  The kids wanted to see Brent's new office and help with the move, so I brought them over and we let them pitch in.  Brent's mom came a few weeks later and helped Brent clean the office. We are all so excited for Brent to take this new opportunity.

Even Rachel and Natalie helped out.  Funny girls!

Fun Things

When the children and I were riding down Main Street in Millbrook to go visit Bro. and Sis. Allen, we were so surprised to see peacocks crossing the street. 

On our way home we managed to find them again and take more pictures.

I couldn't believe Natalie could balance on the teeter totter.  She was having so much fun with Joseph.  As usual, Rachel is not wearing pants.  Most of the time she's only wearing panties.

 Joseph and Emily's first day reading "Green Eggs and Ham".  This is the same copy I read growing up.  We are very proud of their hard work in school and desire for learning.

Haley drew this.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  She's been watching art tutorials on YouTube and her art has gone to the next level.

Brent doesn't like this picture for obvious reasons.  Haley is definitely looking more like a teenager and not at all like his little girl.  (This makeup is for fun.  She doesn't wear it outside the house.)

Brent took the children shopping for bicycles.  Now that the weather is nice, it's time for us to start taking our daily bike rides again.  Of course, everyone needs a new a bicycle and helmet at the same time.  We are accepting donations.

 The kids watched "Barbie Spy Squad".  Haley got creative with some yarn and ticky tack and created their own laser booby trap.  It looked like so much fun, I wanted to try it.

Sarah Kathryn the Brave

On January 20 Sarah Kathryn had her tonsils taken out at Jackson Hospital.  Dr. Owens was her ENT. 

Sarah Kathryn was a real trooper and was even excited to get to the hospital and let the nurses take her vitals.  It was all a big adventure.  She was inconsolable as the anesthesia wore off.  She kept jumping off the hospital bed and trying to leave the room.  I asked her where she was going and she said, "I'm leaving".  It took a while for her to get used to being tethered to the iv pole.  Once the pain medicine kicked in she calmed down a lot.  She just wanted to sit in my lap while she slept, so we sat in a dark recovery room and I sang her favorite songs until she fell asleep.  By the time they moved us to a real hospital room, Sarah Kathryn was practically bouncing off the walls.  She was so tired, but the pain medicine made her hyper and jittery.  She would get up, grab her iv pole and bounce around the room trying out the chairs and tidying up messes.

It's not very often that I get to spend a lot of time with just one of the children. Being with Sarah Kathryn for two days was a great opportunity to get to know her better.  I never realized how particular she is and how loving.  The hospital provided lots of treats, puzzles and coloring supplies.  Grandma and Papa brought her gummy bears and a new toy.  Sarah Kathryn would get out of bed to make sure everything was clean and arranged the way she liked it.  It reminded me of Bubo. I mentioned it to my dad and he said from Sarah Kathryn's point of view she got all the ice cream and juice she can eat, more space to herself than she's ever had in her life, she doesn't have to share her mom, has her own flat screen tv and people keep bringing her surprises...she must have really enjoyed it.  When Dr. Owens asked her the next day if she was ready to go home she said "no".  At night, Sarah Kathryn couldn't settle down to sleep so I scratched her back and sang to her.  She insisted I sleep in the hospital bed with her. Techs and nurses kept waking her up for medicine and vitals.  I'd have to put her back to sleep.  At one point I thought Sarah Kathryn was sleeping but I was tossing and turning.  Sarah Kathryn rolled over and scratched my back.  I'm so glad I got to spend that time with her and learn new things about her.  It's nice to be able to spoil the kids from time to time...not having to worry about chores and responsibilities.  For a couple of days I was available for all the comforting, caring and play time she wanted and needed. It may not have been an ideal situation or location but I'll always treasure that time with Sarah Kathryn and the opportunity to recognize the need for more one-on-one time with all the children on a regular basis.  My kids are amazing!

Happy 4th Birthday Sarah Kathryn!

Sarah Kathryn turned 4 on December 10, 2015.  We had a family party at home and she opened gifts from Mamaw and Grammy and PopPop.  We took her shopping and let her pick out her own present, a family birthday tradition.  Grandma and Papa took her to lunch and Chick fil A and shopping at Michaels. Birthday lunch dates with Grandma and Papa are another tradition. Among other things, Sarah Kathryn picked out a plush siamese cat named "Grumpy Kitty". It takes a special person to love a grumpy kitty and Sarah Kathryn adores him.  She even took him to the hospital in January when she had her tonsils out.  The doctor let grumpy kitty go into surgery with Sarah Kathryn.

 Being cheesy for the camera while Allie reads her birthday cards aloud.

Sarah Kathryn has become better friends with Joseph and Emily this year.  She and Rachel join us at the table for school every day.  She's an amazing artist at 4 yrs. old and her personality is as bold and confident as ever.  I'm curious to see what she's like as an adult.  Happy Birthday SK!

The Week of November 2, 2015

 We celebrated Natalie's first birthday on Monday.  She was very curious about the candle and tried to touch it.  She loved everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her.  The kids were so excited it was Natalie's birthday.  I heard them all day long stop to say, "Happy Birthday Natalie" or "It's your Birthday!"  So cute!

 The kids laughed so hard when Natalie finished her cupcake.  She made such a mess.  Natalie thought their laughing was funny and she laughed too.  We took this video.

 We celebrated Natalie's birthday again on Tuesday so we could celebrate with Grandma and Papa.

 Joseph and the other children love to catch the little beetles, butterflies and lizards in our yard.  Joseph pretended to eat this one.  He wanted to make it his pet.  I convinced him otherwise.

Allie wrapped Joseph's ogre in red crepe paper.  I think he was defeated in a fight with the dinosaur and broke all his bones. Allie only gets more beautiful.

Other noteworthy stuff: today was the Primary Program at church.  It's always my favorite Sunday of the year.  The children do the entire presentation at church in lieu of adult speakers.  We had five children participating in the Program this year and it is also Haley's last Primary Program.  Another bittersweet milestone. 

Elaine Cannon said, "There are two important days in a woman's life:The day she is born and the day she finds out why." My family is definitely my "why". I love all the things I learn being the daughter, wife, mother, etc. The fact that it's November only reminds me again how quickly the time is going by. As exhausted as I feel sometimes from the demands of being the mom, I sometimes wonder how I'll keep myself from falling into some sort of depression when my kids leave home. My one consolation is that I've been at home all these years.  My children are growing, before I know it they'll be gone. So I'm glad I haven't missed anything.

The Week of October 26, 2015

Natalie is always this happy, unless she's teething. 

Even though she has her own look, you can tell she's a Helms baby.

 You can see some of her teeth in this picture.  She's getting a new tooth in at the bottom, #7.

 

 It's been a fairly boring week.  Except Natalie, everyone has come down with strep throat and we've been stuck at home all week.  However, I did have a momentous occasion this week.  I made my last bottle of baby formula.  I took a picture of the last container of formula.

Rachel looked so cute in this dress up... minus the greek yogurt on her face. She was very excited for me to take her picture. She kept trying to look at her picture on my phone before I could take a decent photo of her.