What a blessed fall it has been here in Canada!!!

"How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours!" Psalm 116:5

We were blessed with AMAZING weather on Halloween!! The kids were able to carve their pumpkins outside and Trick or Treat without snowsuits covering their costumes!! Woot! Woot! It sometimes truly really is the small things y'all!!! :) 

We had fun making some Halloween treats and decorating, the kids were off school for "Faith Day" kind of funny, or really just lucky for those teachers! Ha! It was nice having the whole day for Halloween fun!

I of course really tried to convice the gang to go with matching costumes...how cute to theme them, right? Yeah...that didn't work out...I even got my hands on the Olaf costume for Bentley and ended up selling it because he was not negoatiating on being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...sigh...I guess Halloween isn't about the mom! Ha! :)

Mal was Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter, Whit was Elsa and the boys I think are pretty obvious..Ha! :) Brody kept his on for maybe 20 minutes...he was not into the hat or slipping and slidding on the hardwood floors!! ;)

The kids had a great time trick or treating...Scott took them out along with some friends of ours...the moms stayed back and hung out with Brody while giving out the candy! :) We got the best job! Ha! ;) Whit was pretty happy with her loot...

                 

Thankful for these sweet friends!!

My little man's first costume!! Last year we hadn't been released from the hospital yet after he was born on the 28th so he only had this costume...

Awe what a difference one year makes!! Love this little man SO much!!

and this little Ninja Turtle ;) He only took this one single picture other than the group photo...and only because I said I was showing Leo!!! :) Anything for his bestie!!

That nice weather I mentioned was short lived...here is Bentley with his "snow blower" two days later..

Mal and B have been playing soccer this fall and loving it! Of course it is indoor...this is still Canada after all...here is their number one fan!

Here is their not so great fan...she begs to not come...too bad so sad...we tell her all about all the games we watched of our sisters growing up. We talk all about being a family and supporting each other...I also told her daddy and I wouldn't have met if we didn't go to our sisters games...she is so not impressed. ;) and so totally full of sas...but man I love this little sassy pants!!

Soccer Stars!!

B's jersey is just a little long ;) Ha!

We have just been so blessed this fall! We are having fun with friends, the kids are loving school. They are having a blast with all their activities. They keep me busy running to dance, gymnastics and soccer. They love making new friends and learning new things! The time is going so fast! As anxious as I am to be home I would love to slow these monkeys down from growing so fast!! I love the crazy!! B got some costumes for his birthday...a favorite is his SWAT team outfit...he loves to arrest his sisters...we have had to put a stop to him arresting his brother...that is not very well received on Brody's end! hahahah!

We had a great time cheering on our Hometown Royal's from afar! No one even knew what our shirts were about but it was fun getting asked and being able to share!! By the time game 7 rolled around even the Calgarians knew the Royals! :) Shout out to Grandma for the great shirts!!

Shout out to my mama for keeping me warm and snuggly :) Loving my winter mittens and ear warmer!! :) They will come in handy when the high is 1 on Friday!! AHHH!!

Silly selfie with my little man! He is a mess...a total silly mess and I adore him!

This pic just cracks me up...crazy Mal decorating my birthday cake... and the M is for Mom not Mal there was some confusion with that...right, sister? ;) hahahah!! Love this silly girl to the moon and back!

Speaking of loving a silly girl to the moon and back...yep I feel the same way about her too!! :)

and another silly picture just because...somebody is getting too big too fast...is taking a step here and there and loving his birthday present. He is SO MUCH FUN!!! He is so king of the castle around here!! We all adore him!!

and one last photo in closing...I got out for a girls night and had so much fun with my dear friend, Sonia. I am so thankful for this Gal!! We have been blessed by the people and the love on this adventure!

"Trust in the Lord always, For the Lord God is the Eternal Rock" Isaiah 26:4

Dear my precious Brody Boy,

Happy Very First Birthday my little monkey man! I love you so much! Your first year has gone by in a flash! Every minute has been an absolute blessing! The amount of joy you bring to us is inmeasurable. Your smile lights up any room...and really makes the ladies at the grocery store happy. ;) You are the funniest, happiest most cuddlest baby! As daddy said the other day "we got really lucky" He is right but I also know it wasn't luck...you were chosen just for us by Jesus. He knows every little hair on your head. You are perfect in his sight and you are perfect in mine! We had so much fun celebrating you on your big day!!

Current stats:

26 pounds

33 inches

You are crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything, going from on the floor to standing unassisted and cruising on furniture. You LOVE your blankies, and your siblings, you adore snuggles especially on daddy's chest but you are totally a mama's guy. We are obsessed with you my love!!

I went with the Red, White and Blue theme to honor our home and so you will always look back and remember you are adored and loved we were just in another country so we couldn't gather around you with all our family and friends. But they were with you in spirit and can't wait to celebrate with you next year!!

You loved opening presents...you loved this little truck from Grandma...

And you are pretty obsessed with this spider man stuffed guy from your cousins!! You like to give him hugs and kisses and crawl around with him!!

and you totally love this little table we got for you...it cracks me up because it has English, Spanish and French...but what is funny is the English alphabet says zed instead of z...we will have to pass this on to your cousins so they can learn the Canadian way! ;)

We had lots of fun doing your first birthday photo shoot...man that smile!! You are amazing little Brody Man! I love you so much and I will always, always be your biggest fan!!

Happy First Birthday my precious son!

xoxoxo

I love you,

Mama

Dear my precious Bentley Bean,

How can you possibly be 4 already?!

You are my wild, crazy, unending energy, nonstop talking, silly, funny, stubborn, absolutely amazing king of my heart little boy!! Your hugs are the best, your smile can light up any moment of any day. You are a gift from God and you complete me. I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital...

That year went so fast and then we celebrated your very first birthday with a big fall bash! You can't remember it but you know from your sisters that mommy really loves a good party. Gathering with family and friends and celebrating the day of your birth is so special and so important to me. The Lord blessed daddy and I beyond our imagination by making us your parents and we love to celebrate you each year!!

In the blink of an eye we were celebrating your 2nd birthday with a big football bash! Again we were surrounded by all our family and friends. It is my favorite thing! My heart is so full watching all of those that I love gather and love on you my son!!

Last year when you turned 3 we celebrated a few days early because we were going to be in a hotel traveling home to Kansas on your actual birthday. Your day was all about hockey...hockey is life! You have taken on the Canadian way! :) It was a special day with just the 5 of us...it wasn't a big bash but we had more than enough love and that in turn made for an amazing celebration!!

When we arrived in Kansas your Auntie Amy threw you a super special Max and Ruby/ Hockey party at your request. It was amazing to gather with our family and celebrate you! Your were so so happy to be with your bestie, Leo!!

                         

I knew this year was going to be bittersweet. It was just our family and we weren't able to go home. But we didn't let that stop us from showing you how much we love you!! You got to pick your theme and of course it was Hockey! But this year you also requested some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...so we threw in Mickey Balloons! :) We let you pick the meal, pizza, of course was your choice! We played all your favorite games and celebrated your 4th birthday with abundant joy and love! I hope you know how much you are loved my little man. I thank God for you every single day!

                                              

                                           

This picture cracks me up...you had already opened your presents and changed into one of your costumes...SWAT team :) 

Bentley,

Happy 4th birthday. You are blessing to me every day. Even in the midst of moments where I want to pull my hair out...I would be untruthful if I didn't say there were a few...I still give thanks for you. You are such a light in our lives. I love watching you grow, play, and change every day. I will always be your biggest fan...and next your for your 5th birthday...back at home...watch out...IT IS ON!!! :)

xoxoxo

I love you to the moon Bentley Boy!

Love,

Mama