FYE: FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

Sometimes sad things lurk around lots of corners.  And stress.  It's a creeper.  We all have our own coping mechanisms for these seasons, and I've realized that I appreciate beautiful things and funny things.  They both act as a bit of salve.  Here's a couple of things I've been crushing on recently.


This Anne of Green Gables wedding shoot.  I didn't know that setting up fake weddings just for pictures was a thing, and part of me wishes I lived in an alternate universe where this was my job.  Planning a party without having to worry about anything practical? - sign me up!  I adore Anne of Green Gables and have read the 8 books in the series more times than I could count.  I used to re-read them all at the start of each school year growing up.  The pictures of faux Anne and Gilbert and all the little details are stunning.

(P.S. - I just realized this blog post I linked to was from 2012, so I am clearly way behind the times on this.  But, I found it this week.  So can you.  P.P.S. - I started poking around this website and realized that making fake weddings is part of this blogger's job.  There are SO many fun things to look at and draw inspiration from.  I'm ever so thankful that I got married before the advent of Pinterest, because I was already a bit over the top, and the sheer amount of IDEAS available now would have been overwhelming then.  I do pity the bride with Pinterest at her fingertips and an itching for DIY.  I'm not sure I would have been able to use that power for good.)

And then there's this Little Mermaid wedding shoot that made its way around Facebook.  I was so intrigued and taken with the whole affair!  It's totally gorgeous, even though it took me a few minutes to realize it wasn't real.  It's the first fake wedding photo shoot I found.  I want all of the little treats to be mine immediately.

Another very entertaining thing this week is this picture of my awesome nephew True dressed as Bob Ross for Halloween.  He is rocking that painter's palette.

Since winter is on its way, I thought you might all enjoy this SNL sketch poking fun at the Atlanta snowstorm.  John and I have watched it many times since a friend from Atlanta introduced us to it. Living in the South during the winter certainly has its moments.

And while we're on the topic of funny videos, I loved this clip of Bradley Cooper and Jimmy Fallon when they can't stop laughing.  Their laughter is completely contagious, and I am pretty sure I smiled/laughed the entire time I watched this.

So funny.  Hope this brightens up your week!  Laughter is so good for the soul.

FAMILY PICS BY MAIN STREET STUDIOS

I've had these for at least a week and just haven't managed to share them until today.  They are quite simply amazing - it's my new favorite family photo ever.  We took these back at the beginning of October, and Luke was able to work his magic once again.

Once Luke said he had gotten a good one, we moved on from trying to get anymore with all of us.  I know better than to push my luck at this point.  We did some individual shots of the kiddos at this location.

(Twins were not feeling the photo love - esp William.  He was much more interested in his pants.)

We moved on to where Luke was shooting his Fall Special.  Every year he builds new sets for this event, and I had been coveting the walkway pictures I'd seen on Facebook.  We got to shoot some here, and I was so glad!

The last ones of William are cropped in close, because he was not happy anywhere other than perched atop my knees.  But - he did great there!

So - thank you, Luke and Main Street Studios for these treasured pictures.  Other special thanks goes out to John for vowing not to act like my fifth child during family pictures and being a super helper even though it is not exactly relaxing.  And final thanks goes to our precious children who are really good at being cute.

Some of these will be appearing on our Christmas cards!  So excited for those to come in - I LOVE the holidays and sending and receiving cards.  I check the mail religiously all month, and it's right around the corner!  Hope your week is off to a great start!

HALLOWEEN 2014

I like to keep Halloween in October, even on the blog.  Halloween has its very fun place, but I like when its over as well.  Unlike the girls.  While we were putting them to bed tonight, they asked when they could go trick-or-treating again.  When I said next year - because WE JUST WENT, they both whined about how long that would take.  It will take "For-HOURS" to be able to trick-or-treat again.

So - they love it.  I love having friends over and seeing all of the kiddos dressed up in fun costumes.  We hosted at our house again this year, as seems to be the tradition.  Everybody brought themed food - I made this fruit jack-o-lantern that I saw somewhere online.

And these tasty little treats.  Can you even see my nails?  They sort of blend right in . . .

I took fewer photos than ever this year, because I needed to dress four children and have my house semi-presentable.  The Bug Squad watched Disney Junior to keep them from destroying anything else at the house, though it does not entertain the babies.  Violet was trying to rummage through the DVD cabinet.

Here's a picture from when we dressed up last Sunday - I didn't attempt any more pictures tonight on actual Halloween.  There are more individual pictures in this post, in case you missed it.  My little bugs were super adorable.



And then, all of our friends arrived, and I had to feed all of my kiddos before we rushed out the door to break down other people's doors.  It was a bit chaotic to say the very least.  We did get a group picture with most of the children.  The kids that were crying are not pictured, and in a group this size/this small, you are bound to get some of those.



We did have several duplicate costumes.  I love these three Captain Americas!

And these two Bumblebees who have equal camera disdain.

There were also two Elsas and three Spidermans.  Such a fun crew.  Then, the adults decided that we would all sort of split up to go trick-or-treating, but the kids did not get that memo and immediately raced next door.  They continued on as a massive hoard.  Anytime someone answered the door, there was some sort of exclamation on their part.  "Oh, My!"  "Oh, Goodness!"

I don't take for granted the friends that we have or the sweet moments we get with young children.  I know there will be years in the future that are probably not nearly this fun, because everything has a season.  But, this is a sweet one - with children that want to be near us and relish the simple joy of asking neighbors for candy and are truly thrilled at being together.  I'm thankful.

We got back to the house with a bunch of sugared up children ready to look over their loot.

And also, there was this guy.  Don't you think the head-dress is amazing?

And that wraps up this year.  I can't believe another Halloween is in the books!

Past Halloween Blog Posts
Halloween 2013
Halloween 2012
Halloween 2011

LOVE LETTERS

Some of these letters will be more loving than others - you've been warned.

Dear World Cheese Dip Championship,
     I sort of love the grand scale of anything with "world" in the title.  You know that you are a serious festival if your title starts out with that kind of grandiosity.  But - you delivered again!  We hadn't been in two years, and you were every bit as good as I remember you being.  Plus, this year, we knew to bring muffin tins to help us carry all of our dips, and we met friends there, which made you even better.  Thanks for a good time.

(People kept making comments about our hoard of children.  I think they were just jealous.)


(Chips just waiting to be matched with the perfect cheese dip!)

Dear Violet,
     I wish that it didn't look like a crime scene so often when I go to get you from your nap.  This was the first day the heat was on, and your little nose started bleeding.  At least it was blood instead of poop this time.  Bless your heart.  And mine.  I love you anyway.  Obviously.

Dear October 28th, (yesterday)
     10 years ago. we got engaged.  I cannot believe it has been that long, and yet, I can.  I love thinking about the joy on that day and so many of the days in between then and now.  I'm so thankful.
(Here's a link to our engagement story.  Some of the pictures aren't working - I need to go back and fix it, but I can't right this second.  I certainly don't love that.)

Dear Gorgeous Fall Weather,
     Thanks for showing up.  You've been amazing since this morning.  I'll take it.

Dear 5,000 T-Shirts,
     I love that you are going to fly around the world and help clothe people who need you.  I'm glad I got to help fold you - I mean it.  I'm even more glad that I got to do it with friends, some of whom took the brunt of folding you to the tune of one couple single-handedly folding 1,872 shirts last week.  Ya'll are amazing - you know who you are.

Dear Butterfly Stencil,
     You were cute, but the glitter you contained did not look at all like what was pictured.  I'm a little annoyed with you for false advertising.  Next time, I'll know better.

Dear World Series,
     We've loved watching and rooting for the Royals.  So hoping for a win tonight!

Dear Lily,
     I love that you are learning to express your feelings - I really am being sincere about that.  After I sent you inside from bike riding for whining, you had a bit of time to pull yourself together.  You came out about 10 minutes later with this completed picture and a smile on your real face.  It depicts me working on the computer while Bella rides the bike that you wanted to be riding and you crying about it.  You nailed it.  I am so proud of you for starting to own things and understanding what contributes to how you feel.  And how you can sometimes change how you feel.



Dear Halloween Candy,
     I can see already that we will have a fraught relationship this year.  I love that you bring me Smarties and chocolate covered peanuts that I sometimes sneak when Violet is asleep.  You know - for her good.  We cannot have that in the house, so I have found a convenient way to dispose of it.  I do not love that the girls ask to eat you all the time, and so, you will probably have to disappear entirely very soon into next week.



Dear Trampoline Park,
     You were blessedly crowd-free today, and we had a blast with friends having the run of the place.  We got to hang out in the foam pit forever, which my little man really enjoyed.



That's all I've got for now.  Peace out.