Christmas

I didn't take many pictures on my "real" camera this Christmas, and the ones I did aren't that great. Look at how cute all the cousins are, though! Next year there'll be two more little boys in it!

I love my girlies! 

We got a good snow one of the days we were there, and my dad took some great pictures. This is the most snow the girls have seen all winter, too!

I can just hear Caroline's giggle in this picture!

Neither of the toddlers were quite sure what to do with all this white stuff! Malachi was so adorable in his sock monkey hat.

Snow at Christmas just makes all things seem better, don't you think?

Tree Hunt

The Christmas tree hunt is a beloved tradition in our family. For one thing, it marks the transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Elinor especially has become very interested in decorating for holidays, and so for her especially, this began a fun season. We tried a new tree farm this year, and although it was very sweet, many of the best trees had already been claimed.

Elinor was on a mission from the moment we arrived. The holidays get more and more exciting as she gets older.

The girls tried to talk Daniel into this monster. Once we explained that we didn't have enough decorations for it, they moved along, however.

Seeing Charlie so completely keeping up with the big girls was so precious! She looks up to them so much, and wants to do absolutely everything they are.

Love that confident spunk!

Sisters and besties. I pray they adventure together for the rest of their lives!

Elli and Cara guarding our tree while Daddy got the saw ready. 

Don't mess with these two... just trust me!

Watching a beautiful sunset while the hayride took us and our tree back to the shop for hot chocolate. In many ways, this was intentionally a low key Christmas for us, but I'm so glad we took the time to create another year of Christmas memories.

Insta-November

Those first precious six weeks of a baby's life are pretty much indescribable... sacred and raw and blurry and precious. Our November was all these things, and I'm so thankful for phone cameras and instagram to document all the sweet moments that might get a little lost in the growing pains of adding baby #4 to our mix.

- morning sister snuggles - watching the Royals take the crown! - looking up at the changing leaves in the trees - soaking up the beautiful weather as often as we could -

- asleep on the job - Great-Grandma meeting her two youngest (for a few months) great-grandchildren - botanica adventures - Mia came to help out for two whole weeks after Thea was born, and I really don't know what we would have done without her! -

- Charlie loves to put on her big sisters' shoes - most days we would spend the late afternoon outside while we waited for Daddy to come home; my view was pretty sweet - Charlie playing in the leaves - "Before I bring my need, I will bring my heart." This phrase from a Lauren Daigle song has really resonated with me lately. I often come to Jesus full of neediness, but my most desperate need is relationship with Him! -

- my four daughters - first Sunday at church... we did it! - Charlie reading to Thea - late afternoon walks -

- this magical afternoon was breezy, and the leaves were raining on the girls as they played - Thea would suck on her bottom lip as she slept - dance party, watching herself in the door - sleeping through a baby shower for some of her future besties - 

- I love baby breath on my neck - another Charlie dance party! She brings so much joy to our family - early morning snuggles before everyone else is awake - we eased into school for the month of November, here they are watching a Reading Rainbow segment about cranberries - 

- can't get enough of this sweetie - sketching on the porch - followed by recess outside - early smiles - 

- big yawns - my besties' babies are my babies' besties - first run... slow and steady wins the race, right? - more than any other baby, I've loved evening snuggles with this little one. It's the one time of day that I can truly just relax and soak her in without interruption -

- Elli always gets a smile - Charlie at 20 months - she is never far away when we're doing school - cranberry bread for Thanksgiving -

- our traditional Little Women viewing, which I started long before I even imagined I might have my own four little women!  - our hayride to get the Christmas tree - Thea was there too! - Charlie, making all our sugar and spice dreams come true -

- Thea and Tevy getting acquainted - watching the Thanksgiving day parade - my kind of Black Friday - Elli and Micah's first year participating in the gingerbread house contest -

- Daniel and I made the Millennium Falcon for our gingerbread house this year - sister snuggles! - the house was too quiet (usually a sign of a mess), but she was sleeping in her big sister's bed - the Christmas decorating has begun -

Glory Alleluia!

Charlie woke up this morning singing "Glory Alleluia!" What a wonderful reminder for me to spend some time giving glory to God for His goodness to us this year before I dive full steam ahead into 2016. I went through and tried to pick my favorite picture from each month of 2015... which is nearly impossible, but I did my best. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise!

I took this picture five days after that positive pregnancy test, feeling completely overwhelmed by God's goodness.

Surprising our family with the news that #4 was on the way was so much fun and totally worth the five weeks of secret keeping!

Easter Sunday with our sweet girlies!

Choosing just one picture from the beach was impossible, so here are a few favorites.

I was completely spoiled turning 30 this year, and this unplanned sunrise walk with two of my favorites on the beach was such a sweet way to start a new decade.

Finding out we were going to be blessed with a fourth GIRL was such a joyous celebration! 

Our first family camping trip - so HOT but totally worth it. I can't wait to do it again.

First day of our school year. 

The most meaningful part of the year was seeing God answer a lot of prayers, both big and small, especially in our baby girl's healthy heart.

This girl continued to bloom this year! I loved watching her discover and enjoy soccer.

These pictures need no explanation. Our cup overflows.

This is my favorite picture of Charlie this year. Look at that confident stance! And the pigtails!!! She is such a delight and joy to our family.

Thank you Lord for the sweetness and goodness of this year. You have been so faithful to our family.

Autumn

This fall has been deliciously warm... here it is the week before Christmas, and we are still spending most afternoons outside, often without jackets! I am thankful, because everyone is just happier outside, and those dreaded "witching hours" right before Daddy gets home are so much more pleasant when the girls can spend them riding scooters and drawing with sidewalk chalk while I hold Thea in the Moby. I know there will be many a February day when we are feeling a little cooped up, so we are taking advantage of every beautiful day!

These pictures are from about a month ago now, when the girls helped Daddy rake up the leaves... and by "help" I mean Elli actually raked leaves while the little girls ran through their piles.

Charlie thought the leaf blower was awesome, especially when Daniel would point it her way.

Which he did a lot.

Of course there was lots of running and jumping into the pile.

Charlie imitates her big sisters constantly, especially Elli. 

(Those sticks were removed before anyone was hurt!)

This was Charlie's first time playing in the leaf pile, and she was a fan.

Love that ever-changing smile!

Caroline brings such joy with her exuberance and laughter!

Life is so fun with these girlies!