Livie is 3!!!

This was our first year having the chance to celebrate Olivia's birthday. It's crazy to think that her birth and 2 other birthdays have come and gone in her life and we didn't know about them and don't know how she was celebrated. Because there's nothing we can do about that part of it, we are choosing to celebrate her well from now on!!  So, her birthday celebrations kicked off with a party at school. 

Olivia loves school so much - probably more than any kid we've ever had - and so Chris and I were really looking forward to being about to go into her class, meet her friends, and get a glimpse into her world. Our kids are finally old enough to realize that birthdays are a day that you get some options on how you want your day to go and Olivia has consistently asked for a Hello Kitty birthday, so we were more than happy to oblige her!

So, off to school we went with her Hello Kitty stuff and cupcakes!

Mrs. Lori came by to let the birthday sweater sing Happy Birthday to her. 

and then we all sang it to her again. 

It was awesome to get a glimpse into her world at school and we are so thrilled that she is thriving! She's a great helper, always gets a special snack for helping clean up, is kind to her friends, and her teachers love her.

Once we got home from preschool we had planned to celebrate with Daddy. Because her actual birthday is October 26 and we were planning to be in Florida on the 26th with Chris staying home, Liv just got an extended birthday!

So, opening presents with Daddy began….

Aunt Lisa had sent her something in the mail too so she got to open that

 and loved both of her new kitties :)

More cupcakes!! Cupcakes twice in a day is Olivia's perfect day!

So, the next day we drove to Florida to spend the weekend doing all kinds of fun stuff (another post) and one of those fun things was Olivia's birthday!! She woke up Saturday morning to more presents waiting on her and she was so excited. Because when you're 3, a girl really can't have too much Hello Kitty stuff :)

Same day later on, the birthday celebrations continued at Aunt April's house with cousins!  Well, technically Rebeka was sleeping but we celebrated with Mace anyway. Aunt Lizzie decorated and the boys basically destroyed the balloons….because that's what brothers do...

and then there were a few more gifts where she had some "help" getting them opened. By Cadence, Mace, and Uncle Shannon :)

after presents we headed to the pool!! Because if you're in Florida in October and it's your birthday its always an option to go swimming!! So, we took the option :)  Actually the water was FREEZING but the kids had fun playing in it anyway. 

and just because it's funny and cute and such a real part of poor Caleb's life - a butt shot! One day he may be able to keep pants up but not in this season of life…

Either way, Olivia, we are so glad that you are a part of our family. It is one of our greatest joys to see you find your "spot" in our craziness. You are helpful, sweet, a little pouty, independent, and getting to be a bigger girl every day and we are thrilled for the front row seat to watch the story that God has written for your life unfold day by day. 

Road Trip with the Big Girl

I love when we get rare moments with an individual child and get to really look into their world. When Caleb had heart surgery, we got to do that with him and we see the glimpses of it with all of them at home but a few weekends ago, Cadence and I took a trip to FL together - just the two of us and it was so great to be able to really look at her and into her world - uninterrupted. 

Our first stop along the way was at Cracker barrel for dinner. I love that she is at an age where real conversation - other than instruction and discipline - can take place. We had such a great time talking and doing a crossword puzzle. She learned how to the the little "peg" game AND we took the time to play checkers. She had never played before and I had to google the instructions in order to tell her how to play - but we figured it out!

We spent the night with a friend in Atlanta and stopped at this really interesting Chick-Fil-A for breakfast. I didn't realize that it was one of the first ones or the original one or something like that. Chris told me later :) and Cadence has decided that Chick-Fil-A is her favorite breakfast from a restaurant. 

and then as we drove, Cadence got control of the camera/iPad. So, these are some of her very pictures and videos. You need to watch the videos. They are short and so appropriate for this stage of her life :)

Here's ONE, another ONE, and a third ONE

Disclaimer: I'm not texting and driving - I'm probably FaceBook-ing

Sunflower seeds are a staple on an Andersen trip. and since she got to pick her own drink from the gas station she picked this orange drink (which was gross according to her) so we dumped it our and it became the seed bottle instead. and was picture worthy according to Cadence :)

 We went to FL for a memorial service for my Uncle Butch. He was my Dad's oldest brother and lived in the panhandle part of FL (not the Disney or beach part). They are so far out in the woods that there's literally no cell phone signal or internet. So, you entertain yourself in other ways. Like watching the deer, or feeding the deer, or fishing or driving the golf cart. Cadence did all of this!

 She was Aunt Jane's personal chauffeur on the golf cart!

 I can't believe how fast this girl is growing up. Her Daddy and I are so proud of the girl she is becoming. She is helpful, funny, smart, loves her brothers and sister,

 never meets a stranger, and overall a pretty good girl and 

I am so glad that Daddy took care of the littles so we could have a weekend together!

Family Days

We have been so blessed throughout September to have some great family days. Because a ministry schedule is pretty demanding most of the time, we are trying to be so purposeful to carve out a day a week to spend together. Our "normal" family day is Friday and it seemed like every Friday in September we accomplished the goal of hanging out together and with our kids doing fun stuff. 

Sometimes it's just simple fun like this:

and sometimes it's extra special fun!  and this particular Friday was extra special. Some friends from church own a boat rental business and because the boating season is coming to a close in North Carolina, we were invited to take a boat or jet skis out if we wanted to. Well, of course we wanted to!  So, on a friday morning we dressed the kids in bathing suits, packed a picnic and "water" toys and headed out. 

Creed spent some time on his "motorcycle" while we were loading the car :)

We got to the place, got on a boat, and headed out. We knew that there was a little island that has a pretty good beach area so we headed that way. For several hours we had the entire island to ourselves!!  What a treat to let the kids run and play and swim and dig for treasure and eat  Completely uninterrupted!  Daddy even has taken to turning off his phone on family days :)  and Mommy's was only used for pictures....

 Taking Caleb potty in the woods - or maybe he was going potty himself :)

picnic lunch on the "beach" it's not white gulf sand but on a Friday in September in North Carolina

 - it was pretty good!

I love watching how different our kids are. Creed literally laid in the sand and played with a couple lego guys and a stick - all by himself - for over an hour. Caleb LOVED to be IN the bucket/ I guess if you're 4 and fit in a 5 gallon bucket, you should take full advantage of that :) Cadence spent the majority of her time in the water and Liv just enjoyed being covered in sand and then washing it off herself. The baby - well if you know the baby he's into EVERYTHING!!  and this day was no exception :)

after having tons of fun on "our" island we went for a boat ride to see some houses in the area. The kids loved the boat part and even managed to stay awake to enjoy it!  We thought they wouldn't but they found the energy to stay up.....

I'm so grateful for our little family and a Daddy who takes the time to play with his kids. 

We are blessed!