GMAT...CHECK!!

I want to thank you all for your prayers...God was listening!  Nick did incredibly well on the test (he, of course, is impossibly hard on himself and still wasn't pleased with the end result.)  His score makes him a strong competitor for his school choices, based on the research we've done.  (Of course Nick doesn't want to be a competitor, he wants to be a shoo-in :-P.)  He hasn't decided yet if he wants to take it again in a month from now, just to prove to himself that he can get a better score (that's my hubby for you!)  For now, Emmy and I are overjoyed by his tremendous accomplishment and thrilled to have his company again!  Next up: applications!  Deadlines are looming in the beginning of January for round two admissions!  It just wouldn't be like us not to confront multiple major life changes in a small span of time. :-P

Prayer Request

I humbly ask that you please keep Nick in your prayers tomorrow.  He will be taking his GMAT test at 10:30am.  He has been studying most every waking moment that he's not at work since the beginning of August.  His score will carry great weight in his eligibility for the business schools that he has his heart set on; which will therefore be a major determining factor as to whether our family's future will be in the military or the civilian world.  We are so eager for God to reveal His plans for our future to us...Thank you so much.

Celebrating Halloween at school!

Nick and I woke Emmy up this morning with some exciting news (I love gloomy weather because she sleeps longer!)  We informed her that it was a special day at school, and we needed to get her dressed in her tu-tu.  She sat straight up in bed and worked herself up into an excited frenzy. :)  Playing dress-up happens to be one of Emmy's very favorite things to do.  Halloween is Emmy's holiday!

Emmy and the kiddos in her class got to go on a hayride (the director's husband, Paw, pulled a decorated trailer behind his red tractor) and picked out pumpkins provided by a local farmer on Tuesday and they went trick-or-treating to the other classrooms today!  There are just so many reason why we love Emmy's "school!"  

P.S. I stole Nick's I-phone today to take pictures because my camera took a tumble off the counter and needed to be fixed at the Nikon Repairs Division in New York. :( :( :(  The idea of not having it for Halloween has kept me up at night, but I learned this morning (after refreshing the status page for the thousandth time when I first rolled out of bed) that it's finally on it's way home!! Praise Jesus!!

Izzy, Ali, Preston, Jaxon, Gabriel & Emmy

Elmo's side-kick and fairy-in-training, Abby Cadabby, a.k.a Emmy Horn.

Emmy & Dane

Dane is just three months older than Emmy, they met when she was two weeks old.  Since then, they have enjoyed playtime together at our Sunday church group gatherings, Mom's Day Out (Dane's Mommy is Emmy's beloved teacher,) and play dates in between.  Emmy adores her Dane Dane.  The mere mention of his name brings an enormous smile to her face.  When I let her know that we are on our way to see Dane, she'll repeat his name until they are reunited.  It was really no surprise to Nick and I, or Dane's parents, Lindsay and Mike, when the babysitters greeted us at the door after church group yesterday with video documentation of their sweet display of affection for one another.  All of the Dad's gave Dane high-fives; his smile was almost as broad as Emmy's is each and every time we have watched it since.

Meeting Jacob Ryan

Emmy and I left Dada with his GMAT books (and Molly and Darla) to go to Indiana to meet the newest member of our family this past week!  Mom joined us a couple of days in, and together, we did our best to offer Kris and JP as much relief as possible and to stock their freezer with meals.  (Although it's tough to tell how much relief we offered considering Emmy is the main creator of messes, instigator, and contributor to the overall chaos in the house. :-P)  We kept the agenda low-key, but managed to have lots of fun playing together and initiating Jacob into the crew, poor kid has no idea what he's in for...

Watching "Happy Feet" with a popcorn snack on the first rainy afternoon.

Mimi brought puppets for everyone and showed the kiddos how it's done.

Sweet baby kisses.

Emmy insisted on wearing Uncle JP's "hat" when she mounted the trike.

Clairey insisted on wearing goggles when she mounted her trike.  I love how Clairey thinks.

BFFs

This was the most tame moment of our bedtime routine.  Its only lasted but a minute before Emmy lost interest and moved on to other adventures like unloading Auntie Kristi's nightstand drawers.

Emmy can't get enough of Baby Jacob.  She loves him intensely.  The sweetest part about this picture is that it was genuine.  Emmy gave Jacob a goodnight kiss without any prompting, and he was the only one.

Handsome little man! He's such an incredible baby, it's as if he already knows he's third-born and is as patient as they come.

He has the sweetest disposition and the most kissable little face.

Our girl now enjoys having her picture taken.  She sees my camera, shrieks "EMMY!," then poses, shrieks "CHEEEE!," and then runs to check the playback on my camera.  She's coming up with the most hilarious forced smiles while she's posing.

Swinging with Mimi

Playtime at the pumpkin patch!

What a ham!

Here are the pictures that I stole from Kris' camera:

Making a train on the slide!

Here they go!!

So fun!!

It's scary to think that in three short months they will be five strong. :-P

Obsessive Compulsive Nesting Sequel

This weekend, I kicked off my Obsessive Compulsive Nesting sequel! My first trimester/early second trimester fatigue has given way to a glorious burst of energy!  I have loaded up my to-do list with a bunch of household reorganization, sewing, painting and craft projects to make way for Miss Hannah.  I'm on the clock to get my projects finished before I am too big and uncomfortable to tackle them.

First up on my to-do list was Emmy's Halloween costume.  Even though we've read Fancy Nancy's Halloween edition, she doesn't understand the concept of the spooky holiday quite yet; but she does love to twirl in her Abby Cadabby tutu!  Abby is Emmy's second favorite Sesame Street character (next to Elmo), and Emmy was positively giddy during her costume fitting! :)

Next up, was making a slipcover for a cozy chair in the man room.  Rather than buy another piece of furniture to serve as our reading chair in Emmy's room, I decided to repurpose the one we already had.  Only trouble was that, being a reddish brown leather material, it didn't go with the decor at all.  I have an innate need for things to match, otherwise it bothers me.   I studied up on slipcovers, and, after reading a great explanation on the ease of caring for white ones, I started sewing.  It was certainly my most complicated sewing project yet, but in just one late night and one naptime, it was done!  While it's far from perfect, I was tickled with the outcome; so I decided to slipcover the glider and ottoman to match my yellow, grey and white color scheme in Hannah's room!  I'm dragging today, and looking a little cross-eyed, but all I have to do is go into my girls' rooms and see our new cuddle places and know that it's all worth it!

Cutting, pinning and basting completed.  Ready to break out the sewing machine!

Finito!

The new and improved glider and ottoman. 

As if I didn't already take on an ambitious load of nursery projects for this tight nesting window, we are in the throes of bathroom renovations as well.  I believe I am guilty for causing a water leak in our master bathroom (the end result of my frantic plumbing "repair" the day Nick came home from his deployment :(.)  Our master bathroom is partially down to studs as we had to have a restoration company come in to clear out the (small amount) of mold that had crept under our linoleum.  The Environmental Hygienist just cleared us to begin rebuilding our bathroom; which means that Nick and I have spent what little time we've been without Emmy (and one very unfortunate time WITH her) "window" shopping for bathroom flooring, hardware, fixtures, etc.  Luckily, there are a ton of resources online, too, and scouring them is how I have spent many recent nap times and evenings while Nick studies.  We are opting to upgrade our guest bathroom floor and fixtures as well, seeing as how the builder didn't bring his A game when selecting the existing ones (who pairs brass and chrome together?!?)  Luckily, the guest bathroom hasn't been demo'ed yet and is serving as our only functional bathroom for all five of us (the dogs reside in there when we leave the house or when I need a break from them).  Needless to say, it's very cramped.  We will be so very grateful to return to our two bathroom status as soon as possible, and I'm hoping the renovated spaces meet our vision.  I've learned that I am not a fan of expensive gambles.

Cause for Celebration!!!

Jacob Ryan Sacksteder made his grand entrance this afternoon at 1:35pm!!! He weighed in at 9 pounds, 7 ounces, is 23 inches tall, and is as healthy as can be!!  Thank you, Lord, for our newest family member!! Congratulations JP, Kris, Andy & Clairey, he's a keeper!!  Way to go Kris for birthing such a big boy!!  You are my hero!!

First time laying eyes on sweet Jay Jay!  Emmy said "hi" about 45 times.

There they are!! Can't wait to squeeze them both in person!!

Celebrating Baby Jay Jay's birthday with a cupcake!