High Tea

Hosted by Momma & Adriana...

Ava's First Piggies

Joy...

...that's what he brings into my life.

He's mine, ladies...

Family Portraits

I have things to post for the month of December; but before I do that, let's take a step back to a one that should have gone up a couple months ago. This fall my photographer friend, Janelle Bradshaw, did our family portraits again. They're extra special to me since it was our first pictures as a family of 6.

Dude, Where's My Card?

If you're a local friend who usually gets a Christmas card from us, take this post as an apology/confession of stupidity.

You were supposed to get a card. It looked exactly as I had hoped...linen paper finish and all. *sigh*  But your card, at this point, is lost in a cosmic black hole called the postal system. Here's the story...

It started Saturday night as Steven and I fell into bed after a full day. I remember one of us suggesting (probably me) that we not set the alarm and just get up when the kids wake us up. While the little sirens may be going off right now in your head, our tired little heads heard nothing.  With four kids, we're usually bound to be awaken early by at least one of them.

Sunday morning arrived with me rolling over and seeing the numbers 8:02 on my alarm clock. A strange feeling of restfulness mixed with horror, popped my bed head off of the pillow. Now since Ava's birth, it's not an uncommon sight to see the Sieb van pulling out on a Sunday morning with me applying my make-up right there in the car.  That's how bad it already is. So you can imagine us rushing around to get everyone their Christmas best. Chaos ensued.  In the midst of all of this, the "hand to neighbors and friends" pile of Christmas cards was put with the "mail to out of town loved ones" pile.  And, of course, a rushed stop at the mailbox with mascara in hand didn't catch the misplaced cards.

After a top to bottom search of the house that night, we realized what had happen.  The problem was that those cards had only names on them...no return address.  I made a desperate call to the local post office the next morning.  Maybe it was my imagination, but the postal worker seemed to holding back a snorting chuckle because who does that with a stack of cards?! Ooh, ooh, ME!  PICK ME!! And we still have yet to retrieve our little lost cards.

So here is your lame blogged Christmas card...with just as much love attached to it. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Ava's New Trick

Bulls, Band-aids, & Ava, too

A friend of ours has been taking a child development class and has used Adriana for some of her homework assignments.  I'm imagining the things her professor must be wondering about our family! During one of their times together she asked Adriana to make up a story. Later, she emailed me the original composition.

Little House on the Prairie 

as told by Adriana (note to self: explain plagiarism to four year old)

Once there was a little girl.

She walked down a little river and saw kittens.

She made a nest for birds.

When she walked down she had a dog and kittens.

They ran and played and walked down the river.

They saw a moose, cats, and bulls. They thought

they were going to run into them and the bull ran

into them. They crashed on the ground and had to

get a band-aid. Then the bull was nice; the bull had

to get a band-aid, too.

The End

And now we'll hear from the youngest Miss Sieb...

Ending the Day

Fabulous Family Day
Coffee to keep the parents fun- check.
Visit to Merrifield Gardens gorgeous Christmas display- check.
Visit to Borders- check.
Kids sneaking around each other, searching for the perfect under $5 gift for one another- check.
Dad getting revived with a nap- check.
Mom getting revived with more coffee- check.
Kids excitedly wrapping gifts for one another- check.
Reheated pasta dinner- check.
Playtime- check.
Popcorn- check.
Fireplace flickering- check.
Christmas music- check.
Finishing the day snuggled up, listening to Dad read Wait Until Then- check.

Grateful Momma- check.

Ava Lulu

My Ava will be 6 months old next week. Our baby girl who we sometimes affectionately refer to as Chunky Brewster (if you don't get the pun, we're probably not from the same generation) continues to have a sunny, easy-going personality which is always such a bright spot in my day.  She now sports an impressive army crawl and two teeth.  Her sitting skills are only so-so because she is usually too excited about life to remain still enough. Ava's baby talk, though somewhat rare and very cheerful, is the loudest of all my kids. And why not since it's the only way to heard above all the noise in the house!

Now for some pictures from this past month...

While I had the camera out, she scooted herself over to my curtains...

 ....to have a snack!

A Country Party

Our hosts:

It's Despicable!

Will someone please tell me that I'm not the only mom whose children's joy over getting dressed up and receiving candy is only matched by her dread over figuring out costumes and managing the sugar intake!?!

Our tradition is to do a Harvest Carnival at church for Halloween.  I talked to a mom that morning who was planning to take her kids to Walmart to pick out costumes a few hours before the carnival.  We would have SO been right next to them had I been in charge of creativity this year.  But, thank God, my sister Hannah decided to take over that department for this Halloween.  So instead my children helped round out the "Despicable Me" crew with my younger brother and sisters.

My two Minions and little Agnes-

As a bonus, we got a visit from Shaun the Sheep...

My Sister's Family

Since most of you know my sister Christine quite well, I thought you might enjoy the photos from her family session: http://alyssaannephotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/h-family.html

Lions & Tigers & Octobers- OH MY!

I should be processing photos right now; but for the sake of a couple of whiny blog addicts (you know who you are), I'm temporarily shirking my photographer duties to write a blog post. Hopefully no clients are reading this right now!

Steven and I have officially deemed October 2010 the busiest month of our entire marriage.  That's saying a lot considering the fact that we've been living in wedded bliss for nearly a decade!  Besides the 527 little daily things that make parenting 4 children a full plate, here are 10 of the more interesting reasons October was so ...

1. On To The Next Job

    If we could sit over a cup of coffee and catch up, which I'm longing to do with so many of my dear readers I would recount to you God's incredible provision of a new job for Steven.  About a month ago, I remember telling my mom how much Steven needed a new job. But because of an overwhelming work load at his current job, I explained, he had little time to seek out a new one. In stepped God with a wonderful new position in a new company.

2. Second & Third Grade!!

    Before I would blog while nursing.  Now, while feeding Ava, you might find me reading about Tutankhamen and ancient Egypt, listening to a reading lesson about the Pilgrims, explaining why you multiple and not add to find the area of a rectangle, and trying to stay calm as Elijah heads off into la-la land during Phonics. 

3. Co-op

    As I said before, the kids go to school one day a week. Below you can see my preschool enthusiast with her "special box". It was a show and tell project with a box filled with things that she loved that made her special which to her meant trying to put pretty much anything in the house that caught her eye into the box: glue sticks, food boxes, Isaiah's stuffed animals. "But Mom that piece of partially shredded scrap paper REALLY IS special!"

4. Clothing Resale

   This was the first year I participated in a huge consignment sale for all the no-longer-needed kids clothes. It was more lucrative than past clothing resale endeavors and, of course, in the middle of October.

5. Sports

   Steven played softball; the kids played soccer...nuf' said.

6. Our Family Photos

    Mobilizing the troops in picture-worthy clothing then sitting in traffic while trying to feed them a chicken dinner in the van is the reason that Mom remembered why she likes to be the one BEHIND the camera.  And guess who spilled dinner down the front of them before the shoot?  Not the 4 year old, not the boys, not even the hubby...nope that would be Mom! 

7. Caregroup

   We're in charge of small group from church with some fabulous couples with whom we get to eat, pray, and laugh. They help keep me sane.

8. My Chunky Monkey

    Ava makes me smile; you just can't look at her without doing so. The feedings, dirty diapers, and baby care seem like a privilege not an extra chore. Photos and updates on the sweet pea to come in later posts.

9. Laundry

    Sure I have to feed, clean, and mother these little people; but since Ava's been born, I think the craziest increase of work has been laundry! I can almost hear the tune of "U Can't Touch This" playing in the background when I look a the piles of clothing.

10. Photography

   Let me give my future self some advice...don't EVER put 10 photo shoots into one month again! NEVER!  Steven and I had decided that it might be helpful for me to take on some extra photography appointments to help pay for Christmas gifts.  We decided on 7, but because of unforeseen circumstances 3 more were added. While it was fun, I'm still coming out of the muck of the amount of work. Perhaps the craziness of the month helped inspire me to try this shot out at one of my sessions. I think it kind of sums up my life.

In October, I learned that good mothering needs more of my attention, that my husband rocks my world with his care, that God is on His throne even when I feel like I am drowning, that the Gospel is capable of bringing joy when the house is a disaster and the laundry is absurd, and that I'm really thankful it's November.

October Blogging Break

If you haven't noticed, I've taken an October family blogging break. Something had to go this month. I'll be back in November with updates. In the meantime, you can check out my very full photography blog: www.alyssaannephotography.blogspot.com

Decor

First Day of School

Last week we started up the 2010 school year. As we bowed our heads to ask the Lord to bless our school year, I realized that this was fourth "first day of school". I don't care how cliche this sounds- where did the time go?!

Looking back...our first, first day of school:

(You can imagine the "Adventures", as the book in the photo says, I've had with this goofball.)

This year's first day of school:

Isaiah is now in 3rd grade (say it ain't so!) and Elijah is in 2nd. Adriana is over-the-moon excited to be doing a preschool class at our church one day a week this year. And I'm trying to avoid thinking about the fact that I'll have three students next year!

Seven What?!?

As a little girl, my absolute favorite movie was the musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". If you have a daughter/niece between the ages of 4-12, take my word for it and make a girl's night out of the viewing of a classic. Just do it.

My boys even enjoy this movie; and since I own two copies (I recently pared down from three), it's readily available. On their last day of summer break, they were getting ready to watch it when this moment occurred...

Adriana mistakenly asked, "Mom, when are we going to start 'Seven Broads for Seven Brothers'?"

I chuckled and Isaiah, realizing it was funny, tried to extend the joke, "It's 'Seven Bras for Seven Brothers'!"

"Now that's not something we say," I corrected.

Then he looked at me with sincerity as if he just had a revelation, "But there are seven bras in that movie, aren't there!"

Oh. Boy. Blank response moment. The kid has a point.

And with all of that dancing, there are probably seven jockstraps, too.