OCTOBER 23-31 | PHOTO-A-DAY 2014

October 24, 2014 | 3:21pm | Verity

Greg and Verity were reading a book and she was being so animated and pointing every single thing out.  I just love this look on her face.  It’s like Greg has said something verrrry suspicious ; )

October 24, 2014 | 4:40pm | Amity

Our trip to the apple orchard.  Boy, this is a story!  I will try to be brief.  We have wanted to visit out dear family friends at their apple orchard in Orondo, WA for quite a while.  This summer we made plans to take them up on their long standing offer to visit.  We decided to come in the fall!  This was the longest car ride we’ve done with both of the girls together, and they did great.  It’s a six hour drive but was an eight hour trip when all was said and done.  We arrived on a Thursday night at about 8:30pm.  Adam was out with friends for a men’s group at church, so we got the kids settled into bed and then caught up some with Hannah.  We went to bed about 10:30pm.  At 11:00pm Adam got home and after getting ready for bed was leaving the bathroom when a glow from the living room caught his eye.  After getting closer he saw that the entire detached garage was engulfed in flames.  He told Hannah then called 911.  Hannah yelled down into the basement where we were sleeping in a firm but calm voice, “Greg and Katie!  Our garage is on fire.”  I can’t tell you all the things that went through my head at that moment.  Then I thought…no sense in trying to figure out what is going on.  Just get the kids and get out.  Right as I was about to swoop Verity up out of the pack’n’play Greg said, “Hold on.  Let me go see.”  So I waited while he ran to the top of the stairs and then promptly ran right back down and said, “Yeah.  We need to get OUT.”  I grabbed Verity.  Greg got Amity.  I had him get my purse while I grabbed my shoes.  We went up the stairs and then saw the flames for the first time.  I saw immediately that we would not be exiting the same door we came in that night.  Hannah ushered us to where the front door was.  It was so weird being in a house where we didn’t know the layout.  At the time I didn’t know the garage was detached.  The living room was bright from the light of the fire.

We all congregated on the front lawn near where our car was parked.  Both of their cars were in the fire.  Hannah remembered that our car keys were on the kitchen counter.  Greg set a sleeping Amity on the ground to run inside and get the keys.  I was standing next to her trying to pull on my sneakers and watching the huge flames shoot into the sky from behind the house.  I couldn’t believe Amity was sleeping through it.  There were explosions.  Adam had Ver and was helping to move everyone further back away from the house where Greg would pick us up in the car.  I picked Amity up and with a racing heart joined Adam, Hannah, and their three kids.  Hannah was counting kids over and over.  We piled into our car, Greg and Ver in the driver’s seat, Amity and I in the passenger seat, Marshall and Eleanor in the kids’ carseats, and Hannah and Beckett in the back SUV trunk space.  We pulled away from the house and parked far away, where we stayed to watch the fire fighters work for a little bit.

October 25, 2014 | 10:43am | Verity

As you can see, we all survived the fire.  It was terrifying watching with our friends their house burning.  Adam stayed behind with the house and waited until the fire fighters arrived.  They were able to save the house.  The garage, two cars, and obviously everything in it burned to the ground.  The side of the house closest to the garage had caught fire and sustained a good amount of damage but nothing that can’t be renovated.  Evacuating a house that is on fire is so scary, but then your mind races with all of the “what-ifs.”  I am so thankful that no one was hurt and what was damaged can be replaced.  We stayed that night at Hannah’s parents’ place and then the next day even returned to the house (we slept upstairs that night! : )  We were able to do many of the fun things that we had planned for the weekend.

October 25, 2014 | 11:36am | Amity

October 26, 2014 | 7:22pm | Amity

Home again, home again.  Oh how sweet it was to be home.  Such a crazy trip.  After a busy day of unpacking, cleaning, cooking, and getting ready for the week the girls were bathed, and I found them like this.  Sweet moments like this are rare.  Bickering is more common.  So when I spot these sweet moments you’d better believe they are getting documented!

October 26, 2014 | 7:24pm | Verity

I’ve probably said this already but Verity is forever mimicking Amity’s every move.  I had put Amity’s jammies on first, and while getting Ver’s on she was watching her sis read.  So as soon as I was finished with her she went over and got a book, plopped herself right next to sister and read too.

October 27, 2014 | 6:28pm | Verity

Somebody’s tired!!  We had some family photos taken by my friend Ashley this day and afterwards went out for a quick dinner at Chipotle (one of our favs!  Just wish it wasn’t across town from us!)  They had been at school all day, then the photos…so yeah, they were tired.

October 27, 2014 | 6:31pm | Amity

October 28, 2014 | 11:17am | Verity

Trying to help her big sis out.  Amity was actually letting her help, too.  They were a pretty good team for about 30 seconds ; )

October 28, 2014 | 11:19am | Amity

Then they dumped it over, Ver took off, and Emily and Amity did the puzzle again.  Amity really likes to repeat the same puzzle over a few times now.

October 29, 2014 | 7:23pm | Verity

Sooooo spooooky!  Greg started the pumpkin carving by making the monster pumpkin for Amity.  We took pictures of it, and then Verity started to really freak herself out about it.  “Scary Monster!  Scary Monster!”  So Greg made her a puppy dog pumpkin (mad props for free-handing it, too; no template!)  Scroll down to the Halloween photos to see the puppy ; )

October 29, 2014 | 7:24pm | Amity

October 30, 2014 | 6:43pm | Amity

Happy Birthday to our FOUR year old Amity Lynn.  Boy, I love her more with every day, every month, and every year that passes.  She has my heart forever and always.  She is very fierce with her love for me and every time she gives me an unsolicited, “Mama.  I love you,”  I just melt and think, “okay, I’m not doing such a bad job after all.”  I am so lucky to have been given her as one of my daughters.  She is a gift in every sense.   Smart as a whip, funny, out-spoken, loud, and so loving.  I feel like birthday number four is a pretty big milestone…she steps out of toddlerhood and into kid status.

October 30, 2014 | 6:46pm | Verity

Not to be left out!  Must do everything that sister does!

October 31, 2014 | 4:59pm | Amity

Much earlier this year I saw this costume idea on Pinterest and knew it must be for Amity and Verity this year.  Thankfully, I have a friend, Kara, who is uberly talented, and she made the costumes!  I found Amity’s shoes on Zulily and Verity’s at a local thrift store.  We had one of the best Halloweens to date.  Well, it certainly trumped last year’s (Verity sick with ear infection!).  We trick-or-treated in the neighborhood over from us and let me tell you: it was TEEMING with children.  Wow!  I’ve never seen so many trick-or-treaters in one spot.  The street was bustling with activity.  At first Verity was having no part in walking up to a stranger’s door, but after 3-4 houses she was off!  No need for mom and dad.

October 31, 2014 | 5:00pm | Verity

Citizens of Salem!  Fear not, for Batman and Robin are here to Save the Day!!