What's been happening...

Well, its November already?! I can't believe it and we've gotten our first good snow this morning. It was slushy on the roads. We got our first snow last week but it was just a dusting and melted pretty much immediately. Today we've gotten inches - not sure how many yet...it's still snowing!

First, I just want to say how thankful I am for Michael. He's gone out of his way lately to plan surprises for me and dates with me where we've been able to have some time together without the girls. I think the hardest thing so far for me with having three girls the ages they are has been me feeling overwhelmed. Everyone needing something from me at the same time. I'm feeding Eva, Elizabeth needs her diaper changed or help on the potty, and Madilynn is telling me something, you know talking non-stop. So, we realized it was really helpful if I could get some time away each week. Getting back to the gym has helped with that some. Then Michael planned the hike for us (a few weeks ago), and a surprise last Saturday. He signed us up for private tennis lessons! I had mentioned back in the summer that it would be fun to learn tennis this winter and it was something we could do together. But, I knew nothing about it or how to get started, so it was a fun surprise! I'm just so grateful for him! We went to play tennis this morning (practice what we learned - we aren't anywhere near really playing a game yet!) and we had a great time!

Mommy & Eva before going to bible study last week

we tried on her little headband for the first time

Mommy & Eva (with my new haircut) last Sunday afternoon before heading out to Lowes. We have started a little project with our kitchen table. I'll share more as it progresses. We're hoping to have it all done by Christmas!

Something I want to remember: My grandma called me last Monday morning (at 7:30am). We had a great conversation. She was hanging up pictures of the girls I had sent her and she couldn't believe Madilynn is 5 and how much she looks just like I did at 5. (She's really like me in A LOT of ways!) Anyways, Grandma reminded me that when I was 5 I used to ask all the time when my cousin Lyndsi would be 5 too. And she would tell me well when she's 5 you'll be two years older. I thought it was so funny that she was telling me that, because that is exactly what Madilynn does, she keeps wanting Elizabeth to be 4, and I tell her all the time when Elizabeth is 4 you'll be 7. (Then I think to myself whoa, I can't imagine what that'll be like!) I'm so glad Grandma remembers all those stories from when we were little, because I didn't, and I'm so glad she calls to remind me of them!!

Madilynn has been keeping busy lately with preschool, piano class, and reading lessons with me. Since she isn't taking a nap anymore, she has an hour of rest time then we do her reading lesson, and practice piano. It has been working out really well for us. We are using the book "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" which came recommended from some teacher friends here. We are on lesson 18 and she is doing so good and even starting to recognize and read words around the house! Soon we'll be registering her for Kindergarten.

Elizabeth is getting to be such a big girl! She says everything, even sentences. We've been counting and she can count to 10 and she knows colors. The last couple of days she's been using the potty more - yeah!! Maybe we're almost there (with potty training!)

So, that's a little update on what's been going on with us. We're getting ready for Thanksgiving and excited for Granny & Pepaw to be here to celebrate it with us!