Let the Trapping Begin

Well, I met one of the inhabitants of the large cave under our front porch/hall closet tonight. We both were quite shocked to see each other. I am still really proud of myself that I didn't scream. But then again freezing is also one of my M.O.s

I was doing a little after dark landscaping using the front porch light as my guide. While I was standing and surveying my work, about 15-20 feet from me., out pops an Opossum. Did you know that their formal name really is Opossum versus Possum. I just learned that while watching the PBS show "The Cat in the Hat" with the girls. Anyway, I digress. So now we can add an Opossum to our list of critters. He froze. I froze. We just looked at each other and then he turned around and went back into his hole. I then packed up my stuff and also went in. Landscaping was fun while it lasted.

Who would have thought that I would have to start a monthly envelop for critter control.

Our Latest Neighbor

We seriously should have boys to live in this house. Not only do we have a half court basketball court in the backyard, woods behind us with a creek below, but we live in critter ville (no wonder we got it for a good price): lizards, walking sticks, mice (yes mice!!!), TONS of spiders and now a groundhog.

We Deeble girls just can't fully appreciate all of this. Dan tried to forewarn me of what a wooded backyard and creek might entail but I was in denial due to the beauty and privacy.

This is a picture of our latest friend. We also think he solves the mystery of the gigantic hole under our front porch. This picture does not truly represent our little friend's size. He is HUGE. I am still amazed at how he squeezes his fat body under the fence. Little does he know that if he just put one paw on the fence it would fall down.

I will just say this. If I ever see him in the backyard while I am also in the backyard then we will be hiring Critter Control to relocate him.

Fun Family Pics

Here are a couple of fun family pictures of the Deebles. We never get family pictures because one of us is always taking the pic. These are from some friends during our trip to St. Louis this summer.

The girls have to take family pictures for show and tell this Thursday at preschool and I thought oh boy I better see what we have....

Back to Church

I meant to post this a few weeks ago. The girls were all excited to be going back to our church. Brianna had to wear her special birthday dress from Nana to show her teacher Miss Marty.

First Dance Class

Deeble Girl Blessing

This is daddy's blessing for the girls when he leaves for work. They now love saying it and doing the hand motions. Priceless!

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Hadley's Big Girl Bed

So Hadley moved to her big girl bed on Thursday. She was climbing in and on the verge of climbing out so we thought it was time. She was so ready to be like her sisters and I love snuggling in bed with her to pray at night.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

First Day of Preschool

So the girls had their first official day of preschool.

As an aside, neither Dan nor I realized how much parental engagement has to go into preschool. I am hoping and praying that we don't become dud parents and forget a bunch of stuff: show and tell days, banners they have to color, baby pictures to be brought in, class parties, picture day. Yeesh. This is just preschool.

Our little "Me Too" Hadley had to get in the picture. Mia and Brianna only remind Hadley numerous times of day that she is too little to go to school. Hadley's new mantra is becoming "Me Too". It is really breaking my heart.

When I dropped the girls off this morning the director came out to the car, I got both girls out of their car seat and she took their hands to walk them in. Hadley started screaming "Get Me, Get Me". Poor thing. This is going to be the story of her life.

The car line. One of the main determining factors for us selecting this preschool is that they have car side drop off and pickup. You can all be praying that I never hit a child in the process. It is a challenge to hold up the girls name signs, slowly move forward, make sure I don't hit any kids and look for my kids all at the same time. And then today I was trying to take pictures. Now I understand why they also ask that you not be on your cell phone in the car line. Not a good idea. I am sure I will get better at it. Hadley and I were one of the firsts in the line today. Hadley is all excited to pick them up.

Soccer

Dan and I had a retreat at church so Aunt Mei Mei (Amaris) took the girls to their first soccer lesson.

Funny things about the lesson:
1. Mommy ran around to two different Targets to get them matching little athletic shirts and shorts
2. Bri insisted on wearing her shin guards outside of her socks
3. Girls received a gigantic t-shirt that they have to wear each time that completely covers their shorts. No more cute outfits.
4. Girls were at first handed an obnoxious orange shirt and my sister chased down the teacher and said their mother will kill me if I come home with the ugliest color on the team. The girls now have green shirts
5. Amaris said that she and the girls were by far the worst listens of the bunch and never seemed to be doing what everyone else was doing
6. The girls had to go potty and didn't even finish their lesson
7. The field was horribly hot and the girls climbed into the car and wanted to strip their clothes off
8. Aunt Mei, Mei learns that our van air conditioning was broken
9. We are hoping and praying that this next Saturday goes a little smoother. :)

Life Changes

1. Dan goes back to work after two months of sabattical
2. Mia and Brianna start soccer lessons
3. The Deebles go back to their home church
4. Mia and Brianna start preschool
6. Mommy runs errands with just one child
7. Brianna starts dance classes

Wow, life is already becoming crazy and our oldest is just 3. How in heavens name are we going to do it when they get older.

Excuses for No Posts

Sorry it has been so quiet from the Deebles but there are three primary reasons it has been so quiet:
1.) Dan was on sabbatical for 2 months and we stayed very very busy
2.) Dan's sabbatical came to an end and Elise is trying not to drown her sorrows on carbs
3.) Biggest reason is that our computer is completely and utterly out of space and we have to delete something in order to download a single picture. Yeah, yeah, I need to get on installing another hard drive but a girl can only do so much.

But in all seriousness, Dan's sabattical was an absolute amazing blesssing and we treasured every minute of it. Thank you Heartland.