For him, this is like a totally huge deal. Me... not so much.

I guess it's just not quite as exciting for the ladies.

The best part of the day: Deer season for me is done! (Too bad for all you deer widows out there with an open tag.)

He has been looking for this EXACT buck several different evenings and again many Saturday mornings.

This morning he went up with my dad. Apparently he was the lucky charm!

Pictures of the cape Tony packed out. They were able to drag the carcass to a 4-wheeler and carry it out. I brought the truck up onto the range and we all came down together. After snapping a few little moments of the happy (and exhausted) hunters:

This was an OLD buck. Very gray and mature. Rare to find a truly wild buck this size/age.

(This is what I overheard the men saying. Didn't that just sound so smart?)

I love to see them so excited and truly giddy about something!

Way to go guys!

Spoiler ALERT...

See that little gem up there? That is probably one of about 5 pregnancy pictures I have ever had taken. Ever.

Not my most attractive stage.

And just so you know, this little gem will probably be making an appearance on our Christmas cards. Sorry to ruin the surprise. I know you were all really excited.

My dad took it for me with my little point and click. Photoshop is so handy! It's a composite of about 4 different images. Lauren and Krew looking at the camera in the same picture is IMPOSSIBLE!! I was actually considering not even having Krew in the picture he was such a wiggler!!

Still, didn't Markus do a pretty darn good job for a 55-ish year old man? High fives to you!

Jack and Joss-o-lanterns!

Tony was hunting all weekend and having the time of his life.

We were at home, wishing he was with us. Sniff. Church by myself is less fun. Ya know?

He tried to make up for it by helping the kids carve their pumpkins. We started right after school, and the sun was out and the air was crisp. It was the perfect autumn day.

The kids drew on their designs and Tony was the official knife-weilder.

What did I get to do?

Scrape the guts!

Luckily, I have been completely desensitized to yuckiness after nearly 8 years (so far!) of diapers.

Krew was sitting there with us, watching me with my arsenal of spoons and scoops, Tony with his knives, and he runs in the house. He comes back out... with a wisk.

Which he used to smack the cat.

The finished art:

A choo-choo train

Ash the Pokemon trainer

and two girly girls! With bows!

(P.S. The cat is fine, and I washed the wisk.)

Now, I am not a professional. But...

I cut Lauren's hair myself.

I was nervous that she was going to end up with a flat-top (me, circa 1983.)

She's constantly putting her hair in her mouth and chewing on it, so I thought if I made it harder for her to do that, maybe she would stop.

This is her at 8:30 in the morning, browsing a toy catalogue, choosing the 200+ items she would like from Santa:
I love this hair cut for her. Too bad she still chews her hair.

Let's just go ahead and cook him a little longer...

This month at my monthly check-up the doctor surprised me with a 3D sneak preview!

(Have I ever mentioned how much I love this? Oh, I have? Sorry.)

There were some skinny little arms and legs, a beautiful top lip, and it looks like he's still a boy! ; ) I think this little guy needs to take his chunkies a little more seriously. Good thing he has a few more months to get squishier!

(And what is that weird thing that looks like it's pinching his nose? This is some bizarre, wonderful, miraculous technology!)

I wish I may, I wish I might...

I want one. I have wanted one for about, well, 4 years.

Nikon D7000. Camera and lenses: about $1750. Sniff.

And I would need all the Adobe software to go with it, right?

Why do I not buy it? Because I would prefer a house.

(But don't worry, the wishing star heard about the house too.)

Still... I think every gal deserves a wish list!

While my kids DO get their homework done every night, and I am caught up on the laundry, I have to say that lately my blog has been an...

EPIC FAIL.

We have been so busy, I feel like this has been put to the side for a bit. Which is okay... I will get to it. Eventually.

Doesn't he just melt your little heart? I know, mine too.

He hasn't been taking naps for months now and hardly sleeps at night because he crawls out of the pack-n-play lickety split! This is the hardest thing we are going through with him right now... Last night he went to bed at a quarter to 12 and was up before 7. He will be going strong all day. I wish I had his energy! And his golden curls.

So Krew turned 2 and Lauren turned 5 in August. They shared a dinosaur party, which was Lauren's idea and delighted them both! Easy Peasy!

Then school started, which is so busy but also so nice because it gets all of us back on a schedule.

Gage is doing a science club, football and soccer. Football is brutal! For the first 3 weeks it was 2 hours every night. Poor little Gage gets throttled pretty much every minute of those 2 hours. He is in the running for smallest guy on the team. He has asked several times if he can quit, but I'm the mean mom who says, "It's important for you to learn to do hard things." Then I feel bad. Still, there's only a few more weeks and we will BOTH stick it out. Then wrestling starts!

Jossy is doing soccer, violin, voice lessons and Science club. She tries so darn hard, it plumb near breaks my heart! She's pretty good at everything she tries, but I think that's because she gives 110% on everything she does, everyday single day.

Lauren is doing preschool and soccer. She is technically old enough to have started kindergarten, but when we took her into her assessment, I thought it was wise to let her grow another year. She didn't even know her last name! Best mom ever.

Krew does snacks and cartoons. But not naps. Sniff. He still doesn't talk very much, but seems to be quite coordinated! He does some awesome baby-ninja moves that are hilarious!

And the little man I can't wait to meet... you are making me fat.

I went in for another appointment, where they did their monthly ultrasound (which I love) and again the doctor said BOY. I am so excited for you to be here (not as excited to GET you here) and hopefully by then you won't have to share the crib with Krew. Tony and I keep debating names; mostly the same ones we considered last time for Krew, but we are open to suggestions! Middle name is still totally undecided.

Once we made it past that whole green stage that I just want to skip, I have to say I feel good! I feel strong and like my worn-out body is coping well! Hopefully, we can continue this blessing all the way to delivery!