Embracing my family this week :)

The 2 that people responsible for creating ME :)

We don't have very many photos of the 5 of us so this is special <3

(Malakai's smile is brought to you today by reverse psychology... "Malakai, don't you dare smile!" I know it's bad but sometimes necessary to get anything besides a frown in photos these days... haha)

Sweet baby suffles

Yes, they were crying and trying to tear my clothes off...

**please excuse my make-up-less, unshowered, frizzy mess**

okay lovelies, your turn!

here's the nitty gritty on embrace the camera---PLEASE READ:

1. take a picture of YOU with your kids, spouse, friends, etc. the point of embrace the camera is to get in front of the camera and to document a bit of yourself.

2. link up your POST, not your blog.

3. link back to our blog by a text link or using our button IN YOUR POST.

4. and lastly, have fun and visit each other!

leave each other lots of love---it's not easy to get in front of the camera---bravo to all of you who join us every week! your family will thank you for it one day :)

Blessed Harvest

Seriously.

I Love fall.

It is as if our Creator chose this time of year to paint a beautiful canvas of orange, red, green, brown, yellow... its all there. 

Leaves falling. 

The air is crisp and clean.

 Such a refreshing feeling to follow the thick, heavy air that surrounds us in late summer. 

Fall is open windows, pumpkins, costumes, harvest... it is a culmination of all things wonderful :)

This season brings so many opportunities to build family traditions that will flood the minds and hearts of our little ones for years to come. Giving them things to look forward to :) For us, the pumpkin patch is a fun little thing my family really enjoys. This is actually the first year that Malakai has fully enjoyed it and really looked forward to it. He couldn't wait to pick out his pumpkin so Daddy could draw a face on it :)

With each passing season and additional children, I find that what I  look forward to the most is watching my children grow, learn and explore. Their first time touching grass, feeling sand, eating dirt (see photo above), seeing pumpkins... all of it new.

My life is truly blessed. 

We planted pumpkins this spring in hopes of reaping at least one decent pumpkin for this season. Sadly, the plant inadvertently was sprayed with weed killer and we had to toss it. And this happened just after we discovered little baby pumpkins beginning to appear.  We mourned the loss of that dear pumpkin plant (I only sort of kid) but I know that the harvest I will reap from loving my children will far exceed the joy that any pumpkin could have brought us. 

If we use our precious time wisely, as seasons change and our littles become biggles (no? too much?), we will reap a harvest that is far greater than any favorite tradition or perfect photo. It will be better than watching those first steps or hearing those first words. Show them Jesus and live out the gospel in front of your family and your heart will be full with the most rewarding harvest you could ever experience. 

I cannot imagine a greater joy than watching my children loving Jesus. 

 So tell me, what are some of your favorite family traditions? 

Lesson learned: You need at least 3-4 people to get 11 month old twins and a 2yr old to pose for photos :)