Levi's First Lost Tooth

Levi's mouth has been holding on to his first loose tooth for what seems like weeks now.  He has mentioned a couple of times having me pull it, and well I've been secretly grateful when he forgets his request.  I know I'll eventually have to pull one, but it just gives me the heeby-geebies to even think about pulling a tooth!

So, today we went to CC and Chris's to "surprise" Uncle Wesley for his birthday.  After the surprise, Levi was outside playing football with his uncles and cousins.  All of a sudden, they come bursting in the door, shouting that Levi got hit with the football - AND lost his tooth, and there's my boy - with one of the biggest, bloodiest smiles I've ever seen.

Not a single tear, and he loves that he can tell people that his cousin helped him lose his first tooth by throwing a football at him.

I can't believe my baby has lost his first tooth!

Another Greer Dress

Levi has been playing fall baseball.  Making it to the games is a bit of a struggle with the girls' napping schedule, so we usually just end up with ornery girls by the end of the day.  Just part of it when you want to see it all!

Here's another dress that my grandmother smocked.

Old Baker's Farm 2013

The annual trek to Old Baker's Farm started with a few hiccups and a couple of fun changes - Nana and Papa were able to join us.  

We made it to Old Baker's Farm with both girls asleep.  Not our intent, but the trip is a little long. 

Liza was not sure about the grass, especially since it was slightly damp.

The weekend we went to Old Baker's Farm was cowboy weekend, complete with a shoot out.  Levi was not excited about the possibility of gunshots.  Kara Jane was interested... until she saw what her bubba was doing.

Then she had to be just like him.

Levi climbed all the way to the top of the huge hay stacks, under Daddy's close supervision.

I was very thankful that Kara Jane wasn't there to see him.  I don't think this mama's heart could have taken watching her try to copy that!

Then, it was off to the pumpkin patch.  Thankfully, the "outlaws" didn't stop us with gunfire.  We think they saw all the kids and babies in the back of the wagon and thought better of stopping us.

 Kara found a pumpkin just her size.  It was totally lopsided - and absolutely precious.

We got a little smarter after last year, and we brought the wagon to help tote all our pumpkins.  We had no idea we'd have such great helpers to push the wagon!

We really wanted to take a picture with all the cousins.  BUT, Megan was asleep.  Levi didn't want to cooperate.

 Once Levi cooperated, I thought we might want to try to get Liza in the picture.

 Not a good idea.

After pumpkin gathering, we laid out quite the feast that Khaki and Q brought along.  Then we played (a new hula hoop champion was named - Gary Jr. beat Khaki!!) and visited for a while.  Levi played some football with Daddy. 

Another great year at Old Baker's Farm!

Will's Wedding

I decided to take the kids with my parents, sisters, and their families to my dad's cousin's son's wedding.  I was a little hesitant, just because of knowing it would be a later night for the kids and not being too sure on how they would handle it.  However, I knew we would enjoy it and that I would regret not being there to celebrate with family. 

We had a wonderful time!

Levi wore his first real tie and was pretty excited to match his cousins.

We attempted to take a picture with all the cousins and us sisters.  It is VERY hard to tell in this picture, but all the girl cousins even had beautiful matching dresses.  The first picture with all the cousins, including our newest addition, Megan Ruth!

The wedding was outside.  While we waited for the arrival of the wedding party, Uncle Chris took Kara Jane out and about for a walk. I loved this picture that CC took.

After the wedding (which was beautiful by the way), we took a picture with the whole family and then headed to the reception area.  On the way there, we saw the most incredible meteor.  It was really low and was very bright.  It shot across the sky for at least 15 seconds.  It was truly amazing - an awesome gift from God to behold.  After we stopped in awe, we continued to the reception area, but I spotted this adorable red carriage and asked to stop for a few pictures.  My two oldest in the cute red carriage.

Almost all the cousins in / near the red wagon.

I loved this picture of Khaki with Kara Jane and Liza Roo.  Do you see that Kara Jane is holding Khaki's purse?  I think she would have carried it around all night.  That girl LOVES purses.

They had set up a booth with bunches of funny glasses and props to be used for picture taking.  Levi loved it.

Especially when his oldest cousin joined in the fun!

The kids danced and ran, sang and played.  We had such a fun time at the wedding, and I'm so glad that we went.

Liza is Nine Months!

It is so hard for me to believe that Liza Roo is nine months old!  She is such a sweet girl and still so enamored with her older brother and sister. She continues to use her army crawl, which is almost exactly like the army crawl Levi did when he was her age.  She gets up on all fours quite often but can't move more than one leg and then decides her army crawl is much more efficient.  Liza Roo can wave hello and goodbye.  Her version of clapping is with at least one hand closed in a fist.  She is very observant, and she loves to hear and respond to her name.  She is also a huge fan of peek-a-boo.  Letting her hide behind a diaper and then show her face is about the only way to keep her still when I'm trying to change her diaper.  She wiggles around much more than the other two did.

Added on 9-24: I had to take Liza to the doctor today, because she had a fever last night and she'd been pulling at her ear so I was afraid she might have an earache (which she didn't, thankfully!!).  While we were there, the nurse wanted to weigh her - she weighed only 15 pounds 6 ounces -- with a wet diaper!

Sunday Fun

Kara Jane helped me bake a loaf of bread.

Liza helped Daddy play some baseball with Levi.

Kara Jane loves to be in pictures, so there she is climbing into the picture above with Liza and Daddy.  That as okay with me, especially when Levi wanted to be in the picture too!

Fire Station Birthday Party

We were invited to a birthday party for a little boy whose parents are in our small group.  The kids were pretty excited about getting to climb into a fire truck.

 Sorry about the sun spots.

 Levi even got to help with a fire hose.

When we were about to leave the party, Levi asked if he could take a picture of the cake.  Since it was over half eaten, I'm not posting a picture of the cake.  But here are a few of the other pictures he proceeded to take.

Kara Jane and I just before I put her in the van.

A selfie.

One of Liza Roo.

Kevin asked that the pictures Levi took of him be deleted.  I apparently forgot to delete them and it sure was hard to resist NOT posting it on the blog.  ;-)

Sweet Dresses and Special Visitors

Today the girls wore dresses they got from my aunt Kathy.

After naps, we had some special visitors all the way from Texas - my uncle John and aunt Rose Marie!  We were so pleased that they wanted to stop by for a visit.  Aunt Rose Marie was tickled when Liza finally let her hold her.  Kara Jane really liked Uncle John - and baby Megan was just peaceful as could be.  Here are my uncle, aunt, and the girls.

Boys will be boys.

So thankful that even they know how to act right together - sometimes.  ;-)

We tried to get a picture of just Uncle John, Aunt Rose Marie, and the boys - like we had the girls picture above.  But, do you see the flowered "blur" in the bottom right hand corner?

Kara Jane did NOT want to be left out!

After all the visitors left, Kara Jane ate and then had some yogurt.  I thought her mess of a face had to be shared.

Kitchen Helper

I've kept Kara Jane and Liza Roo home, because Liza Roo threw up all over me on Monday night.  Since Kara Jane has been potty training, I thought I would keep her home, too, to get it all a little more habitual for her.  She's been doing great - after just a couple of "minor" accidents.  Kara Jane also had a rash that we went to the doctor to check out - just to make sure it wasn't strep.  No strep, so we had some fun in the kitchen.  She has really taken an interest in helping me and has claimed the spot where she's sitting in this picture as her spot.

Labor Day 2013

Today while the girls were napping, Levi found a stapler.  He promptly said, "Mama, now I can make a book!" 

I only helped with some of the writing - all the words are his.  

Levi's first book, "I Like Kindergarten".  
Written by: Levi
Illustrated by: Levi

Page 1: "What I see in the distance."
Page 2: "I am 5."
Page 3: "This is a race car game."
Page 4: "Mario Kart Wii"
Page 5: "A rocket ship game... a roller coaster."
Page 6: "Mama and Daddy take me to school."
Page 7: "A curved roller coaster."
Page 8: "This is a wooden boat game, get away from the crocodile with fish around it.  The fish are your friends."