Mastering the monkey bars

I'm not going to lie, our kids do not get a long well all the time.  In fact, more often than not they are fighting and yelling at each other.  So moments like this, where they are getting along, playing together and even better helping each other are PRICELESS!!!  Therefore, they must be documented.  Today was a pretty fall day and we caught the kids playing outside on their playset.  Ella Catherine has finally mastered the monkey bars and she was trying to help Carter master them too.  So, it may look like she is trying to pull him off but in reality she is trying to hold him up so he feels comfortable letting go to grab the next bar.  I cherish moments like this.

Pumpkin Patch

We met Carter's preschool class at the pumpkin patch today for some fall fun.  Unfortunately, Matt had class but Nana came in town for the weekend and was able to come along for the fun.  The kids and parents had a blast.  Love that the activities were spread out because it meant the kids got lots of exercise.  Also, meant we had a quiet ride home from the Pumpkin patch. 

Unfortunately, the sun was right in her eyes when I was trying to document how big she is getting

And look how big this guy is getting.  Eyes closed but still smiling

Looking at the chickens

Carter having fun playing in the corm

Ella Catherine got her bottle full of corn 1st

This was a fun exercise in trying to get through the maze without ringing a bell by touching the straps

SISTERS

 

Carter didn't want any part in a picture so just me and my girls!!!

Nana, Ella Catherine and Cassidy

Picking out just the right pumpkin from the patch

Pulling the pumpkin off the vine proved to be more challenging than she thought

Carter found his pumpkin too and was more than happy to be in this photo

Cassidy is 10 months old

 I can't believe Cassidy is already 10 months old!  With Matt in graduate school, I thought this year would just creep along, but it has flown.  I'm sure for him it has not been as fast.   Cassidy is just getting so BIG!  You can see her little personality in all the pictures below.  The many faces of Cassidy.  She continues to be a GREAT sleeper, thank you Lord!  She is still a very happy baby.  She loves daycare, her teachers but mostly LOVES her siblings.  She is a good eater and has yet to find a food she won't eat.  She eats some with more enthusiasm than others though.  She is taking a sippy cup well.  She loves to pull up and cruise along the furniture but not ready to let go quite yet.

Cassidy, big 10 months old

What is this on my chest?

Wonder if I can get it off and put it in my mouth

Happy Girl

Wonder if I could go that way

Amy's 40th birthday Surpise Party

Matt did a fantastic job of pulling off a huge surprise for my 40th birthday.  My birthday was on Friday this year.  I had already planned to take the day off from work when we found out he would be out of town for work.  He would fly home on the 23rd but wouldn't get in until almost 11pm .  Since Matt was going to be out of town, my parents decided to come into town and help me celebrate my big day.  They drove in Friday afternoon.  I decided to keep the day off and dropped the kids off at school then did some shopping.  By the time I got home from picking up the kids from daycare, my mom and dad were here.  We decided to order dinner from a local restaurant and go pick it up.  My dad ordered two meals and I thought it was odd but never imagined he did so because Matt was coming home early to surprise me.  Just as we were sitting down for dinner the doorbell rang.  It was Matt with a bunch of flowers!!!!  I was thrilled.  Saturday my mom and I had planned a shopping trip in the morning and we were going to meet my dad, Matt and the kids for lunch.  Much to my surprise, Matt had arranged a surprise party lunch for me.  My best friend, Jennifer, from Louisville drove down with her husband and baby.  My best friend, Amy, drove from Indiana.  Brian and Lori drove in from Macon.  My mother in law drove in from Memphis. Then several of our best friends from the Nashville area made it with their kids.  Completely overwhelming!  He is a keeper that one!  VERY VERY blessed.  It was an AMAZING day.  If you have to turn 40, this is the way to do it!

Trying to process the surprise of everyone in the room

Me and Jen

Loving chatting and catching up with everyone

Room full of a lot of my favorite people in the world.  Thank you Matt!

Cassidy is 9 mo

Cassidy is still a very happy baby!  She wants to be in he middle of everything her big sister and brother are doing.  Luckily, they both adore her and are usually happy to have her in the middle.

Another tooth gone

There has been a little too much growing up this week in the Lynch house for this mommy.  Cassidy is pulling up and cruising. Carter has started Pre-K.  Ella Catherine started first grade and now has lost another tooth.  She didn't just lose a tooth, she pulled her own loose tooth.  She never ceases to amaze me.  We put her to bed after Matt said the tooth wasn't ready yet.  She decided otherwise and this is what I found when I went to go check on her.

 

She couldn't be more please with herself.  So excited to go to school and tell her friends she pulled her own tooth

The tooth

She wanted to wake Carter up to show him but I told her it would have to wait until the morning.  Then she reminded me that the tooth fairy would come and take her tooth so she couldn't show him in the morning.  We compromised on a picture of her with the tooth for evidence

Love that sweet snaggle tooth smile

Daddy wanted a close up to really show the space where the tooth used to be.

Ella Catherine first day of 1st Grade

Pretty girl



Super excited for first grade.   How did she get this big this fast?

I asked them to take a picture together.  Can't you feel the LOVE.

Carter warming up but Ella Catherine still not on board

Out of 8 pictures of me and the kids, this was one of the best ones.  Seriously!  I'm in stitches laughing as I scroll through them all.

At least by this time Carter and Ella Catherine are standing closer together and actually participating in the photos

Can't leave Daddy out.  Great picture of all four of them

Love these 4 so very much!