Family Pictures

We got our family pictures done the other day by the wonderful Justin Meyer. He, as always, did an amazing job. I was so please by all of them. I felt like they really captured each of my children's personalities, except for Titan who was a clingy little guy. I was counting on him for the biggest smiles. Oh well, he got some great shots of the Wee Rudes and I am always please when I get to be in a few pictures with my kids. 

We were prepared with candy and snacks to keep everyone smiling. I would do just about anything for a good picture of everyone! It's hard to do with six people to get to all smile and look at the camera at the same time. My kids had a fun time with Justin. He is a friend of ours so they know him and he really made it fun for them, allowing them to take pictures with his camera, brought cookies for them and even handed over a camera to me in attempt to get Titan to smile. 

If you're in need of pictures you can check out his website to contact him. www.justinsalemmeyer.com

Between the two cameras that he had there he (and a little of me and my kids!) took over 1200 pictures. He narrowed it down to 200 on his website and I'm only posting around 30. I just can't get enough of these precious kids the Lord has blessed us with.

Quinton quickly volunteered to be the first photographed. I mean when you're dressed like a stud who wouldn't want their picture taken. A special thank you to Yvonne Johnson who graciously gives us all her old boy clothes. Her two boys are a year and two years older than Quinton and she ALWAYS gives us the cutest things. Both Quinton and Rex are wearing her boys jackets. 

 Oh I just love my big 4.5 year old.

 Rex was next and pulled out all his goofiness. He is full of amazing faces and fun and it was captured.

 This is a pretty typical Rexy face.

 Having too much fun!

 Myla was a little shy at first, but warmed up to her normal sweet self.

 She is a beauty.

A ruffled skirt was a must. If I'm going to have four boys then Myla will always be decked out in girly outfits. Love this girl.

And our youngest stud. He enjoyed quite a few skittles in attempt to get smiles. Quinton wore this same shirt three years ago in our family pictures. Titan looks just as cute and curly as Quinn did.

 Justin got the most smiles from him when he was snuggled up with Dan or I.

 Look at these two, SOOOOO CUTE!

 My two big boys.

A sweet picture of all four smiling big!

 

My three year olds. Blows my mind how big these two are getting.

 

My boys and I. I'm going to be one protected momma and I will never again have to kill a spider in my house.

Dan and his boys being tough... love this.

The Rude girls. I already see what a wonderful relationship the two of us will have, she is just the sweetest.

  

Myla and her Daddy. She get's treated like a princess from this guy!

Five years ago this is what our family looked like....

 Five years later...

 I can't even believe how blessed we are. It will be fun to see what personality #5 brings to our family.

And we ended with some running, just like last year. Titan was NOT up for the task.

And I love this picture, Quinn leading the way, Rex hanging on tight and Myla tough as nails and all smiles despite falling flat on her face.

Thank you Justin for such a fun morning and for all the beautiful moments captured. I am so thankful to have these great pictures.

Fall Fun

Just like summer, fall, has it's own list of fun things to do, adventures to go on, things to see.

Pumpkin finding, leaf jumping, lots of snuggling, nature walking, beauty spotting, craft doing. Nothing profound, nothing life changing but smile bringing, joy filling, memory making fun.

We went to Center Grove Orchard the other day, and despite being an orchard we only picked one apple (although I'm pretty sure it would have been frowned upon, I just wanted my kids to try an apple right from the tree so I grabbed one on our way in). It is FALL FUN. If you want to know what fall fun is, go there. There was so much to do I felt like we barely even scratched the surface and we were there for over 3 hours.

We had the privilege of spending the day with our dear friends the Larson's. You may not remember but Chuck Larson left last October and spent the next 11 months serving our country overseas as a Captain in the Marines. He left his wife Laurel, daughters Millie and Stella and son Bo (born in November) to serve. He literally came home for Bo's birth and left while Laurel was still in the hospital, Sacrifice. I wrote more about them in this post, SACRIFICE. Chuck arrived home about 2 weeks ago. He will spend the next several months in Minnesota during the week to finish up his work but will be home on the weekend. We are glad that he is back in the states and so thankful for his service. So this particular outing was even more exciting having him home.

                                     

 Laurel and all the big kids checking out the animals.

 Dan and our sweet kiddos.

 Chuck and Laurel.

Titan enjoyed all the adventures as well. I had a friend comment the other day while we were at the park that Ty is more like like a two year old in his physical abilities. HE IS SO DETERMINED AND AMAZING. He conquers flights of stairs, both up AND DOWN, makes his way down any slide all by himself, can easily climb onto anything, and runs, runs, runs with the rest of the gang. He refuses to be left behind. I just love this boy.

There were the three little pigs house at the orchard. Laurel and I laughed because the kids could have spent all day hiding in the houses, being scared by the wolf (one of their parents) and running to another. We had to pry them away from the little houses

Laurel being the big bad wolf.

 Quinton in the house of straw.

Titan in the house of bricks.

Myla, Millie and Stella

 

Sweet baby Bo. He is such a little stud.

 Millie and Stella helping Titan along. Sweet little helpers they are!

 Then it was off to ride the tractors. Titan was a happy guy, doing the same thing as the big kids.

 Quinn enjoyed these.

 They were a little tricky to peddle.

 Millie and Stella driving the tractor.

 Love this picture, huge smile on Millie, a little sass on Stella.

Next was the giant, giant, giant corn pool. Who ever came up with the idea of a corn pool for kids to play in is a genius. They all LOVED it.

 The hay bales around the outside provided for some great jumping platforms.

 Check out this awesome jumper!

 Love his smiles.

 Titan had tons of corn in his diaper.

 He didn't even want a picture snapped with Daddy he just wanted to get right back in the corn.

 Bo, did not feel the same way about the corn.... Happier later after he got used to the strange feeling.

 Quinton jumping.

 Millie was all smiles.

 Bo was a little happier sitting on someones lap.

 Oh Myla.

 Titan and I.

 Once again we had to convince them that there was more to explore and drag them out of the corn pool (we did make a second stop at the corn).  And it was off to the big jumping pillow.

I love this picture.

 It is a huge pillow to jump on, kind of crazy.

 Laurel, Chuck and Bo.

 Then it was off to ride blow up horses.

 Me and the love of my life!

 A hay bale maze

 Which the kids spent most of the time jumping from hay bale to hay bale rather than running through it.

 Quinton giving a big thumbs up. I think he really enjoyed it all.

 And then there was a giant slide, you're thinking to yourself, it is never ending. Yes, it was non stop fun and we didn't even do everything there was to do there.

By this point Titan was ready for nap, I'm not sure he enjoyed the slide.

 A sweet, sweet picture.

 And a little picture of my family of 6. We rarely get these, I just love them.

Such a fun fall day. Amazing friends, great adventures, perfect weather and tons to do. Loving all the memories we are making!