New set of wheels

These days, if you drive by our house, it is very likely that you would see this (oh, and yes Maylee does have a black eye, her and Ella had a literal head on collision):

With the girls birthdays being so close together, this was their joint present (I'm sure we can't get away with that for much longer). They love it. They drive all over the yard in their car, listening to the little radio. They think they are something else. They are so cute, b/c many times they load up the car with their baby dolls (they but the doll carrier on the hood of the car), purses, cell phones, and sun glasses of course. I'll have to try and get a picture of the whole get up.

The day we gave them the car, Maylee drove first. It looked like a pretty wild ride. Then it was Ella's turn. And to help your imagination, I have visuals. OK, picture Exhibit A (only with Ella driving)......now picture Exhibit B.....I'm sure you can imagine what happens next. Yep, Ella runs them strait into the tree (note that almost the entire time she is driving, she is looking back at us, and not where she is going....not that looking forward would have improved her driving). Once they were in the tree, one of the still has their foot on the gas, so the wheels are still turning, they both are crying, and we (Matt, GG and me) are laughing too hard to run to their immediate help. They were fine, they both wanted their clothes off, guess it was itchy. Since then I have not seen Ella drive. I'm sure she will come around soon.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

5 weeks

Miss Hadley is now 5 weeks!! Can't believe how fast the time flying!! But then again, I can...it always seems to happen that way. After talking to my sweet friend Lindsay the other day, I realize I hadn't posted many pictures of Hadley. So Linds, you asked for pictures, boy are you getting them! So here is a little update of the past few weeks. (yes, Ella is pinching Hadley's nose, had to throw in the two princess off to a princess birthday party, and I just love the crossed eyes!)

Little Pig, Little Pig...

Ok, as a completely biased mother, last year I didn't think Halloween could get much cuter than my sweet Little Bo Peep, and her sheep:

However this year, I think they ran a close race as the Three Little Pigs.

We went up to our church for the Trunk or Treat. The girls had a great time. They loved getting candy. It was funny a bunch of the older people thought they were sheep....pink sheep with snouts! Funny.

Wishing for red...

As I sit here tonight, following the election, I'm starting to feel depressed. I'm wanting to see more states painted red on the US map they keep showing. As I'm coming to terms that Obama is going to be the new president, I remembered something I came across in a Beth Moore study. She touched on God being in control and setting kings up and deposing them, and giving them wisdom. So I thought I would check out her blog to see what she said. It was encouraging, so I thought I would post her thoughts:

A few things I'm so thankful for on this election day, regardless of the outcome:

*We live in a democracy where we have the right to a vote and a voice. We have the God-given responsibility to use both wisely and in the way that best reflects what God conveys through Scripture.

*God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" and "according to the plan." Ephesians 1:11

*Not only does God work out everything in conformity with His will, He has promised to work out everything for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

*God sets up kings and deposes them and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

*We, the beautifully diverse family of God, are never - not at any time - powerless. Nor are we ever victims of a system. Believing prayer takes us through doors we'll never be invited to enter and into judges chambers we'll never grace. Take a look back at Genesis 18 once again with astonishment over the dialogue between God and His servant and friend, Abraham. Rejoice that God is ever mindful of a faithful remnant. The Judge of the Earth will always do right.

*Even if persecution should await believers in Christ or harrowing circumstances hound us, God will use hardship to bring unity and purity to a people who need it desperately. The best of circumstances do not always produce the best in the Bride of Christ.

*The living God is firmly established upon His Throne and there at His holy feet we can always find grace and mercy in our time of need.

*No matter what happens today, we are GOD'S elect. He has elected us to show His heart and to walk in His ways in the culture that surrounds us. We are called to walk in the challenging balance of grace and truth.

May we be filled with Christ's Spirit today and our mouths given to praise and to believing, receiving prayer. God IS faithful and He has us firmly in His hand. We will not fear. We will not doubt. We will not hate.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

I remain your servant,
Beth

Sweet Ella Faye

turned two last week. She will raise one finger and tell you she is "dwo". Can't believe she is already two...then on the other hand I can see the terrific twos almost daily. She really is a sweet little girl, and it is a joy watching her grow.

Ella had a lot of fun at her party. I think her favorite gift was a box of band-aids, which she is proudly showing off here.

Just a year ago...how much things change in one year!

Three's a breeze.....

especially when my mom and mother-in-law have been here, taking complete responsibility for Maylee and Ella. Tomorrow after school, my mom is going home. That is when the real challenge begins. Hopefully there will be survivors! Everything is going well so far, some nights with little sleep, but that is always to be expected. Anyway, tomorrow the real fun starts as we are back to reality with our family of three girls.

Hadley Anne

Our sweet Hadley is finally here. She came on the 29th at 12:20 pm. 7lbs 1oz 18 3/4 inches. She is such a sweet baby and has been really good. How fast I forgot the sweet smell and feel of a newborn head, their soft warm skin, their little eyes that seem to go in their own direction, and so much more. I'm so grateful to experience all of this again.

Maylee and Ella are quite intrigued. Of course I had both our good cameras charged and ready to go (even at the hospital) and somehow Matt ended up only taking pictures with his phone! I'll post some of those later...there are some classics.

Everything went well, but there was a little kink in my epidural. Seems that they went a little too far, and the epidural went up and down. It pretty much knocked me out for the whole delivery....it was all I could do do open my eyes for 2 seconds to look at my baby! My arms went numb, had a some trouble breathing...pretty scary for a little bit, but everything ended up being ok.

We go home tomorrow to start our new life with three little girls. Like I always tell Maylee and Ella, "I don't know how we got so lucky to get the sweetest girls in the world!"

Thanks so much for all your thoughts, prayers, calls and emails!