The Williams Family: Claire is 4!

Oh the places you go when your soon to be 4 year old makes all the shots for a Mommy and Daddy date.

Derek had this great idea where the week of our kids' birthdy, they could go on a date iwth must Mom and Dad. I was a little hesitant because I love and look forward to our weekly date night, but I am so happy to start this fun tradition!

This cute girl has been looking forward to it all week and didn't know what to do with all the attention she was getting from us. We drove to Nac while we jammed out to the Greatest Showman music and princess music, then we ate at Pizza Hut (which was freezing inside), and then we ended the night eating ice cream at McDonalds. I tried to share stories when she was a little girl, but I don't know if she really cared, but it was fun for me to reminisce when "she was a little girl".

We are so blessed to call this sweet girl ours! We love you Claire!

She is a ssslllloooowwww eater and so the ice cream was melting, but she wanted to eat every bit of that dessert!

She used all these napkins! ha ha

We have the best babysitter! Sable made a note and hat for Claire. She was so excited that she wore her new hat throughout the date and carried that note everywhere.

Happy Birthday Claire

She has been asking for a unicorn for her birthday (which I forgot until last minute- thanks to Amazon for 2 day shipping) and Grandma Martinson made this cute plate for her! It is her special plate!

Thanks for the many gifts! We spent all morning play with her new toys!

We were lucky to FaceTime with Nana, Amberlin, and Riley. Amberlin and Claire have the same birthday and it was fun to hear their conversations.

Ashlyn was so disappointed that I wouldn't check her out of school early to celebrate Claire's birthday (ha ha). She didn't want to miss out on anything. So after the girls got home from school we did a movie of Claire's choice: Hotel Transylvania.

Derek was craving one of our favorite restaurants in Houston and was mentioning how he wanted to drive down to eat there. I totally thought he was joking. Well we ended up going on this beautiful drive because the leaves are changing and we ate at Chuy's and then drove home. To many that sounds crazy, but it was so much fun! Derek and I love our long drives to sit and chat while the girls are watching a movie (win-win). Then we ended the trip by stopping at a park for a long while to play.

This crazy idea turned into a very fun day!

Emmett Dancin'

I love all my kids imagination!

I enjoy being in the present moment with them.

Of course we had to swing!

Derek and I had a date where we went to a movie! The theaters here all got new recline seats and this was our first time trying them out! They were amazing! Too bad we had to walk out of the movie. But it was fun while it lasted!

Derek and I have a few shows we like to watch in the evenings after we put the kids down.
This is his impression of The Good Doctor episode from this week.

Sunday hair-dos

Ashlyn got the Student of the Month Award! She was so excited! We are so proud of the hard working student that she is.

She wanted to take her picture of her awards from this year and last year!

I love the month of November to reflect on all the things that we are grateful for in our lives right now. We truly are so blessed! We started a simple activity where we write things that we are grateful for everyday on the pumpkin. Wow! It is filling up quickly!

This dude loves his toys!

Mommy school:

Practicing writing the letter H

It is so fun to see these two become the best of friends. They are always playing together, giggling, and using the imaginations. I love watching their friendship grow!

Emmett this is only the beginning of what your sisters are going to do to/with you!

I had an amazing spiritual experience this past week. I was reading the Book of Mormon and I was in Mosiah 18 reading how mourning with those that mourn and comfort those that are in need of comfort and this lady in my ward popped into my head. I got the impression that I needed to serve this lady, but honestly I have probably said hi to this lady less than 5 times and I honestly know nothing about. When her name kept coming to my mind throughout the day so I finally just called her up by looking at her number through LDS tools. Well I stumbled through my words saying something to the idea of I can't stop thinking of you and I want to help and serve you. Is there anything that I could do for you and I list 4-5 ideas of ways that I could serve her. ha ha I am laughing while I am writing this because it was such an awkward conversation.

She sweetly declined, but while I was talking to her she mentioned that she was having a difficult time because her mom passed away in January and the holidays bring up so many emotions so she is putting up her Christmas decorations because that was her Happy Place. While she was talking I got this idea that I should buy her an ornament that can remind her of her mom. So right away I went to Hobby Lobby while 3 kiddos in tow and looked at the ornaments trying to find the perfect one. While I was looking I found this ornament that is a fire truck which reminded me of a family in my ward that lost a family member about the same time as this other lady that I am buying the ornament for so I bought a total of 4 ornaments.

While I was checking out, the daughter was working of the lady that I originally got this idea. So I got a card and bagged the ornament so she could take it to her mom who she lives with! I was so excited to not tug my kids around all day. Well we get home and the girls start playing with the glass ornaments and one shatters everywhere in the kitchen. What do I do? I can't just give 2 of the ladies a gift (they live right next door to each other and they see each other everyday- it is a mother (in her 60s) and her 2 daughters (in their 40s). I will say I wasn't happy with the girls for getting into the bags behind my back and breaking one. So they had to do some chores to "earn" money to buy another ornament. Well when Emmett got up from a nap we went to Hobby Lobby again and got another one.

Through all the challenges, the most rewarding part was dropping off the gifts before heading to get the older girls from school. They own a bookstore so I dropped by to give the gifts to the mom and we chatted for a bit about how difficult it has been from her with the holidays coming and her husband's brother had his funeral this past week, all the emotions where surfaced and she missed her husband terribly. She says that she doesn't want to do anything, but stay in bed all day. She was sharing her heart, thoughts, and struggles with tears in her eyes. She needed a friend that very day and I am so glad that I acted upon the prompting that I got earlier that day while ready the scriptures. I love when experiences fall into place when you act in faith. It was a testimony building experience of the power of the Spirit and the revelation we can get when we read the scriptures.

I wasn't planning on voting because I didn't feel confident enough to make a decision. Then I was talking to a friend at dance that mentioned you can vote by party. Well right after dance and dropped off the kids at the house and drove to the church to vote. I walked in right as they were closing up, but I was able to vote!

I love spending the day with these two! I enjoy reading stories on the couch while cuddling up together. I am trying my best to be more in the moment and spend time with them more often throughout the day. It is so easy to get caught up in the to-dos, but I have to remind myself constantly that they are my most important to-dos!

Ashlyn made this thankful turkey and we have been filling it up!

Derek and I were able to get tickets from a lady in our ward to the Jim Brickman concert. I grew up listening to him every Sunday while my parents made dinner. The concert was great! I got emotional at one point thinking of the amazing memories and childhood that I have. I am so grateful for a wonderful family!

We killed so time before the concert and we found this outfit for Derek

Mommy school: Crafts

More crafts

I am excited for the holidays! We made a bucket list and we are excited to make so fun memories!

Made fun holiday treats!

Derek took this gross picture...

Emmett had his 6 month appt and all these cuties got a flu shot! They were so brave and such great helpers!

Every Tuesday I get to drop off the girls and I drive to Target and sit at a table at Starbucks (which is inside Target) and I get an hour to have MY TIME! It is glorious and I look forward to that time. I have recently been reading this parenting book called the Child Whisperer and oh I have learned so much. I am studying about each of the kid's personalities starting with Ashlyn. It has truly opened up my perspective to see Ashlyn and value her nature. Some of the things that I have learned are:

-She is a planner and will spend many months planning big events (like her birthday, baptism)

-Loves to make people feel special by writing notes or giving gifts

- Very sensitive to her feelings and other peoples'

-Comfort is HUGE- clothing, bed, environment

-She loves feeling connected through one on one time together and she expresses her love through physical touch (holding hands, hugs, cuddles)

-She asks a lot of questions

I learned so much about her and I wanted to share it with her. I wrote her a note and left it on her bed for her to find right after school. I wrote that we had a special date together where she could spend 10 minutes after bedtime and I want to share all the things that I have learned about her and I shared lots of reasons why I love her and I feel so blessed to be her mama!

Ashlyn really is a special girl and I feel so blessed to have her as one of my daughters and best friends!