SNOW!

It CAME! I'm sure it will be gone for Christmas but the damp spring weather was not the Christmas-y stuff we were looking for, but it finally snowed a little and we enjoyed some playtime outside and some warm hot chocolate afterwards ... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

 her "Christmas angel" as she called it

 warming up 

Candy

Candymaking was last Sunday and again, most everyone could be there!

Peanut Butter balls were rolled, caramel was stirred, chocolate was melted again and again ... it was another great year!

If you are between the ages of 10 and 30 ... you are on Peanut Butter ball duty

great to see my 'brother' and good luck to you in California, Taylor!

Caramel masters

 This is how Jack and Dad spent most of the day ... and yes, that is how crazy Jack's hair is most of the time

Looking at past years' pictures and telling stories

The youngest fully diving in to chocolate dipping (or Licking)

Amelia and Heather working hard

lounging, coffee, football

Peter and Ellie

Amelia quickly got tired of wasting all that good chocolate on the candy.. how could let all that melted goodness just sit there? 

Finishing off the turtles

We are enjoying our holiday traditions and look forward to Christmas coming soon!

Why you aren't getting a Christmas card...

So, we tried to get some good pictures with the kids for a Christmas card... I know, I've been a mom long enough I should know that when you set out to get good pictures, it usually means it won't happen. BUT, I had high hopes.

We got the kids dressed and all set to go. 

and for the first couple tries we were trying to figure out the best way to sit the kids when one doesn't really by himself yet

Apparently it was too much to expect the 3 year old to hold up (securely) the 4 month old

So once again we changed positions... But we were struggling. I mean, how do you take a picture with a baby who keeps trying to put everything, anything, or just something in his mouth?

or a three year old who does this when you ask her to smile?

with patience running out we searched for new ways to encourage enthusiasm ... and by encourage I mean bribe with M&Ms...

and we even managed to get a couple "decent" ones

so we pressed on hoping for GREAT! I mean they are cute... it should be possible, right?

But Amelia got fed up.... Jack got hungry.

So Mom gave up...

And no Christmas cards.

So From the Humphrey family

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Four ...

Hobbies:

fighting to take naps

laughing with Sister

rolling ... everywhere

New things:

grabbing things-he has mastered his hands

clicking his tongue 

and we figured out the bad eczema and rash stuff: milk intolerance! On a hunch, we switched to soy and his skin is MUCH better! 

I still feel like I'm just getting to know him. With some of his stomach issues and skin problems, I feel like we are just now getting into a good routine. He can be very inconsistent with sleep schedule and feedings. So here's hoping this month we have smoother roads ahead.

a New Heart

Every night after we pray with Amelia, I usually lay with her for a few minutes. We also talk about a bible story, her favorites being David and Goliath, Jesus calming the sea, and Daniel. A couple times she just wants to talk about Jesus. Last night, it was King David.

She mentioned the King David had a heart for God. Yes, Amelia. And we talked about what that meant. Confused, she then asked, "but don't we all have hearts of sin?" Yes, Amelia. We then talked about how we all sin but ... "Jesus can give us a clean heart, right mom?" Yes, Amelia. We talked about how since Jesus loves us, we can ask him to make us clean and give us a new heart. "Can I ask Jesus for a new heart?" Yes, Amelia.

Amelia prayed by herself last night, Thanking God for helping her have a happy heart, helping her to remember to use the potty, and asked for a new heart. I prayed with her thanking God for Amelia, and her desire to know and understand more ... Thank you, Jesus, for giving us new hearts!

 He didn't just clean up our old self, but we are NEW creations! a NEW heart.

Amen and Amen.

Thanksgiving Week

Dad had the week off and we were looking forward to a relaxing fun week. It didn't start so good ...

Both Amelia and Jack had bad colds over the weekend and after a few days of Jack not getting better, we decided to take him to get checked out just to make sure it wasn't anything too serious. Dad took him while Amelia and I napped. I got a call from James around 430 saying Jack was being admitted to the hospital and  possibly spending the night because of a low oxygen read. After rushing to get some things shoved in bag and Amelia shipped off, I raced to the hospital only to hear James tell me the Doctor's office didn't have a great system to read his ox level and Jack was kicking and screaming while they tried. Jack seemed perfectly healthy with a cough but not working to breath. Once he got all hooked up, his ox levels were perfect but he had to stay the night for precautionary reasons. 

So Jack and I spent the night in what seemed like just a very expensive hotel. I am glad they wanted to make sure things were fine but it all felt a little overboard since he felt fine and looked fine.

Here's our monkey resting in his hospital crib and tiny gown.

The rest of the week wasn't that exciting and we decided to take things easy so the kids could fully get over their colds. We had some good family time, mommy got some much needed alone time, and we got the hallway and study repainted. 

On Thursday, we headed to my parents for Thanksgiving. We had fun sitting around, eating lots of food, hot tubbing, sitting around a fire, and playing games.

Cousins by the fire. We had wonderful weather

Jack hanging out in his sweater vest. Handsome boy. 

Laughing on the floor with Papa

Friday we went out to get our Christmas tree. The weather surprised us! The fierce wind made it seem much much colder than it really was!

Amelia waiting to catch the tractor ride out to the trees.

Ellie and Jack trying to keep warm  

  Cousins!

We found it! 

We spent the rest of the day getting Christmas stuff all ready and set up. and Amelia was no way taking a nap, she was too excited for all the festivities. 

Saturday we were able to relax and hang out again with no real agenda. And Sunday, after church, we spent all day over with James' family. It has been awhile since we all have been together and it was nice to see Michael and Luke and Laura. 

Tomorrow things return to normal: Dad at work, piles of laundry I've avoided for too long, and regular dinners ... 

1920s

In light of her 30th, my sister had a "saying Goodbye to my Roaring 20s" party on Saturday. The festivities included: costume contest, silly pictures, and a mystery dinner. She did the entire menu herself and the house was decorated in all 1920s decor. 

me and Julia 

my gangster :)  

Julia and Landon 

Jenny and Peter 

Kristen and Shaun... the black wig sent kristen to the top winning our contest. 

Ladies 

Men 

Group pose before dinner 

Three.

Three Months Today!

Hobbies:

Blowing bubbles

Looking in the mirror

Cuddling

and, of course, still eating!

New Things:

Rolling over... yes my 3 month old is rolling from back to stomach

6 month clothes

and skin problems... yes, Jack has a bad case of eczema. Poor boy! Hopefully he will grow out of it soon! 

October...

 warning: long post with lots of pictures...


We have had a packed month with lots of fun family stuff and enjoying the fall weather which is why I've been MIA lately. Turns out free time is sleep time when dealing with a baby :) So here's our recapped month...

1. Oct 5-6: James and I cashed in on our anniversary gift from my parents and spent the night at a Bed and Breakfast downtown Indy. We left the kids and were able to enjoy a nice meal out and we walked around the mall before crashing in our old Hollywood themed room with a movie. It was a wonderful little get-away and the B&B experience was perfect.

2. Oct 12-14: Our annual Hess family Reunion in Illinois. It, like always, was a wonderful weekend despite the rain, hanging out telling stories and corralling the multitudes of children. There were four new babies since last year: Andrew-11 months, Will-9 months, Jemma-6 months and Our Jack - 2 months. We had to get a picture with all four and their moms. Then we tried to get all the kids... it was shear chaos as you can imagine.

 Jack and Papa by the fire.

3. Oct 20th: Pumpkin Patch! We took our trip to the pumpkin patch with two kids in tow. It was a little chilly and extremely muddy but it was worth the mud up to our knees. Amelia again loved the hayride and selection process and Jack loved being outside and around all sorts of new things to look at. Many commented on how calm he was just taking it all in.

Hayride

After mom almost fell twice wadding through the mud, Jack and I stayed back while Dad and Amelia found our pumpkins.

 Later that night we then carved away. This year Dad helped Amelia bring her vision to life while Mom took care of a pumpkin for Jack.

I wonder if pictures will get easier when Jack can support his own head a little better?

4. Oct 25th: Jumping in the leaves! This Thursday was especially warm for late Oct. so at the request of Amelia we found some leaves and a rake and went crazy.

Again, Jack relaxing outside

 Jack also enjoying his first swing ride. 

5. Oct. 27th: Applebutter day! For many years, every fall, we would get together with some close friends and make applebutter. It has been almost 10 years since the last time because of special circumstances... I cannot tell you how excited I was to do it again! We get to be outside in gorgeous fall weather, eat chili and stand by a fire stirring some delicious spread. The day didn't disappoint ...

Amelia helped add apples for the cider press... there is not many things better than fresh made cider.

the Press in action.

 There is it... 

 Best friend since birth... basically

 Taking a turn stirring

 And the best part- after the canning process, rolls are made and everyone gets to scrap out the applebutter.

On top of all these activities, there has also been trunk or treating at Amelia's school, a trip to the Zoo, Uncle Michael visits, and James getting used to a new role at work... It has been a wonderful but quick month and it's not over! We have a halloween party and trick or treating to do as well!

Bring on November!