cuatro.

Today Gabriella is FOUR!
that is amazing to even say! if you asked her she would say she had been wanting to turn 4 since she turned 3.
if you are just sitting around chatting you will definitely hear her say, "I AM SOOOOO BIG!" she will raise her hand in the air as high as she can and she will say, "See! I AM THIS BIG!" (today, now that she is 4 she is weighing in at 26 lbs.) (technically NOT big on any charts) then she will follow that up with, "LOOK AT HOW BIG MY FEET ARE!" and she will lift up her foot up in the air as high as she can for you to see! (today she is wearing a size 7 shoe, the same as jake, who just turned 2) (so technically NOT big)

starting out so small has never ever slowed her down for one minute. She is such a lover of life and adventures and wants to make the most of every moment in everyday.
some of the many things gabriella will tell you she can do: speak spanish! count to 30 say the pledge of allegiance say her full address write her name...she has perfected the G! she can do flips...she really has a lot of gymnastic potential

gabriella frequently tells anyone she can that when she turns 5 she is going into kindergarten and then first grade and then second grade. the other day she was asking about college and i told her she was allowed to go, but she needed to live at home and i would drive her everyday! i can't imagine letting my baby girl move.
what gabriella wants for her birthday: a pony she can ride...until the other day she changed it to 2 ponies and a horse! all that she can ride.

yesterday gabriella said, " I am so excited to have a baby brother!" I am so excited for the enthusiasm she shows for life.

gabriella,
you are going to be a wonderful big sister for your nameless brother. i know you are going to help with everything you possibly can, because that is the way you are. you go all out all the time! you never do anything half hearted. that is a trait that i admire so much. you love singing songs to Jesus and we love to watch you sing and dance. your favorite song to sing is david crowder's he is jealous for me. you sing all the words without hesitation and a lot of times you even close your eyes while you are singing. it is so beautiful to see. on sunday you took your Bible to church and read it the whole way. we can't wait to see all the work God does in your life this year as you are four. we love you so much and are so very proud of you! mama and daddy

beauty.

something that is beautiful to one person might not be beautiful to someone else.

gabriella brought me this just after a rain.
the kids were inside all day and were itching to get outside.
as soon as the doors opened they went running out...giddy to not be locked up inside with me!

after being out for a few
ella, as jake lovingly calls her, came bounding back in.
i was surprised to see her again so quickly.

she said, "here mom i brought you a daisy!"
she had a huge smile as she handed it to me.
how beautiful!
i was very appreciative that she had thought of me.
you could see her glowing with love for her mama.

i am so blessed to have such a caring and loving little lady.
she has so much beauty in her heart!

changes.

we had lots of changes in our house today.
it was lots of fun and even more fun cause papa was here to help.
gabriella got a BIG girl bed
and
jake got a BIG boy bed.
we are trying to get them ready for their brother a little early so it's not a shock when he arrives.
so far gabriella is sound asleep in the middle of her bed
and
jake is sound asleep on the very edge of his bed...thank goodness for the side boards to keep him from falling...we'll see if they hold him in.
i went to peek at him and he sighed really big. i wish i could take a picture of him sleeping, but that would really be pushing it and i don't want him to wake up scared.
when it was bed time he went into his room, climbed into bed and layed his head down. i told him daddy was going to pray and he can't get out of bed unless he calls for mama (like he always does in his crib).
i just didn't want him to think he could get up and play.
so he hopped up and climbed off the bed before we could pray and kept saying done
done
done
like he was ready to get up...so we told him no and he needed to get on his pillow.
he minded us very well and is sound asleep with his baby and george, his monkey.
we will see how the night goes, but i think they are going to do great.
i mean look at that smile!

ready!

to start wearing our boots!

birdhouses & pumpkins

this saturday jacob went fishing with his friend toph
and it works out great because his wife is a wonderful friend of mine!
we went to Michael's and found a little something for the kids to do.
we ended up with birdhouses and pumpkins.
the kids got to paint both.
i know that people normally carve pumpkins but we still have the whole month of october to enjoy our beautiful pumpkins.
they had lots of dirty fun.