Merry Thanksgiving New Year-mas!

I am going to stop apologizing for my lack of consistent postings -- life is crazy now, and I know you know that!  So we've got some fun pics from the past couple months, and I'll try to hit the highlights rather than post every darn one.  

As for the FUN of our kids right now -- because seriously, they are SO FUN RIGHT NOW -- there is much to tell.  Susannah is hilarious.  She told me yesterday, "Mommy, you don't call me 'Sus' anymore because, well, it's DANGEROUS!"  Her new favorite phrase is "in no time."  "I gonna take dis bath in no time!"  "I gonna be done doin' dis in no time!"  She's been known to use that phrase over 10 times in 10 minutes -- she'll make the record books someway, somehow.  

John is in a toddler bed now!  And he never skipped a beat.  He still loves going to bed and waits for us to come get him when he wakes up.  He will move in to Susannah's room probably next weekish, so we'll see if he stays in bed then!  (Yeah right.)  He is more obsessed with balls than any kid I've ever encountered in my life.  I think he'd probably prefer to have one to snuggle in bed over the bear he keeps in there.  For Christmas, Figgy and Pop got him a basketball and hoop, and I cannot tell you the hours he and Pete have spent out on the porch playing; since we put it up not quite a week ago, that's almost all he wants to do.  John is talking a lot more now, too, which is lots of fun!  It's still mostly that language that only Pete, Sus, and I can interpret, but it's still fun communicating with him.  He understands just about everything we say and is really good at following instructions, too.

We are now 6 months along with Baby 3!  We decided to wait on finding out the gender until delivery, so that's exciting!  Boy or girl, we have what the babe needs, no doubt.  As for names, we're still at the drawing board.  Hopefully we'll come up with a couple solid choices soon.  And as far as how I'm feeling/looking: same song different verse: my belly is staying small again (thankful!), so I'm not uncomfortable at all. 

Now for what you're all here for anyway -- PICS!  (And a lot of them!)

Ware clan cousins at Thanksgiving.  I said, "Whoever smiles biggest gets candy!"

This is just too sweet of John and Aunt Lauren!  (She's a boy expert, no doubt)

Sus and John had the best time with Sydnie, Maddie, and Aunt Carissa at the Children's Museum in Hburg

The best I could get of [most of] the Acker clan cousins during Thanksgiving week.

John was so happy to meet Uncle Bill! (And Aunt Carol, who's not pictured unfortunately) 

This was my birthday gift -- snuggles and football!  FIVE WHOLE MINUTES! 

Sometimes my big boy lets me pretend he's a baby again.

Brinner for Christmas Eve dinner!  Pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit salad, and strawberry poptarts -- This might have been my best decision of 2016.

CHRISTMAS!  John got his own "iPad" from PopPop and Dizzy!

Showing off the earrings her sweet brother got her for Christmas

Our 2016 Christmas experience in a nutshell. (New princess dress from Dizzy and PopPop and ball from Uncle Bear and Aunt KK.)

No damsels in distress tied to to tracks -- just some crazies under them!  A fav gift from The Ware boys!

Just your average pile of dirty laundry

Figgy and Pops got Susannah a beautiful tent for Christmas, and the girl LOVES IT!

Celebrating Christmas a week late (thanks to Sus and croup) with the Gilberts! 

These girls were super excited to discover that they had matching PJs after spending a whole day in unintentionally matching shirts!

As described above, this boy is ballin' nonstop.

Celebrating NYE (and our 5-yr-anniversary!) with friends and lots of kids!

These three are the sweetest little friends -- all born within 3 months of each other.

Lunch dates then and now -- she still can't take her eyes off him!  (me either, for that matter....yowza!)

Her first ever written word, and she's already name-calling.  Poor Hello Kitty never stood a chance. 

SUGAR BOWL GAME FACE.

My first baby bump pic of the pregnancy in honor of being in the THIRD TRIMESTER!

Watching a movie together in Susannah's new tent.  I melt.

Today Needs This Post

Praise the Lord the bandaid is being ripped off today and election season will finally be over (hopefully) tonight as the results come rolling in.  We're all disgruntled; we're all a tad anxious about the long-term effects on the US because of the next 4 years regardless of who wins tonight.  So we NEED some pictures of some cute babes.  WE NEED THEM.  

We also need to remember who is ultimately in charge here.  Beth Moore puts it best: "God can turn Pennsylvania Avenue into the road to Damascus, for crying out loud. He can soften the hardest heart. Transform the vilest offender. Thank God no sin is too great for the power of the cross. Oh for grace to trust Him more."  Let's trust Him and His power to remain SOVEREIGN in all this mess.  AND let's be "publishers of peace" (Isaiah 52:7) in the midst of all the upcoming reactionary words/posts/etc.  Please, there's no better time to create and/or solidify your witness as a Christ-follower than right now!

Now, turn that frown upside down and lift your furrowed brow!  Here are those precious babes!

(Milestones in 3 lines: Sus turned THREE on Friday!  John says some words!  They pick at each other like  real siblings now!  Bun-in-the-Oven is 19 weeks!  And we have the gender in an envelope that we're still not sure whether or not we're going to open!)

**THESE ARE IN COMPLETELY RANDOM ORDER:

Whenever you say, "John! Say cheese!"

SO SWEET!

All the little princesses at Sus's bday party with THE princess herself, Cinderella.  Susannah was slightly overwhelmed by her surprise appearance...TEARS, REAL SAD TEARS.

But they made amends, and Sus got to hug her most favorite person ever.

Cinderelly reading to the girlies the story about, well, herself!

This was not posed.  Watching Aunt KK's snapchat videos is the best!

SUSANNAH IS THREEEEE NOW!

"Here Johnny, drink this water you probably peed in."

Cutting paper, cleaning deer racks, and shooting the breeze.

Can we all agree that WE COULD JUST EAT THESE CUTIES?!

With our favorite Figgy at Susannah's princess party!  LOVE this picture!

Sus had not wanted to remove her pink princess dress for anything since before Halloween until Bethany brought her a matching dress.  Twinsie love!

Should have cropped this, but there are the girl cousins after the party, hangin around.

I love this picture so much of two of my favorite people!  

Oh Gracious

Y'all, it's been way too long since my last post!  I know I'm going to miss so many things, but I'll try to hit some highlights.

Back in July, Pete and I were able to get away for a week to head up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to fish and enjoy nature and enjoy each other.  We had an amazing time and could not have done it if it weren't for our parents willing to watch Susannah and John.  Those kids had a great time and were spoiled rotten, which we are so totally okay with!  It makes their time with grandparents even that much more special!  Oh, and John started walking while we were gone.  SURPRISE!

The day we got back, I took a positive pregnancy test, and we're 11 weeks along now!  Baby #3 due April 4th!

Shortly after we got back, our church hosted our annual VBS, where every year I'm lucky enough to get to dress up like a crazy person every night to sing and dance and make a fool of myself all for the sake of the Gospel.  And when I say I'm lucky enough, I mean a totally volunteer to do it each year because I love it so much.  Susannah got to be in the preschool/kindergarten class this year and had so much fun!  And poor John learned to hate the nursery that week, as he was dropped off there nightly that week since Pete was in charge of the games outside.  He still cries any time we walk toward that room.

John has all his front teeth back to the first molars on both the top and bottom!  Little did he know that when he finally reached the glory of not teething anymore, he'd soon thereafter say farewell to his paci.  He's been without it for over a week now and is doing great.  

Pete left for his elk hunt yesterday!  We will miss our Daddy of the house while he's gone but know this trip is so good for him.  He is doing what he loves and providing for his family at the same time!  I couldn't be more thankful for this hobby of his!  Please keep him and his hunting buddy Gabe in your prayers -- both for safety and success.  In keeping with my tradition of every time Pete goes out of cell phone coverage for hunting, I will be posting embarrassing picture of him on social media; so be on the lookout.  It's my favorite part of him being gone!

Susannah's vocabulary is hilarious now.  She told me yesterday, "Mommy, I need so so so so so much money.  But we don't have so much money."  Ha!  Not sure what she needs all the money for exactly, but at least she's in the understanding that we are a poor, poor folk.  ;)

Here are some pic highlights.  These are just the ones on my computer, so I'm sure I'm missing so many from my phone -- I'm being a little lazy with that because it takes quite a bit more effort.  Maybe I'll do better for the next entry!

Sunset on Lake Superior was the closest to being literally breathtaking than anything I've ever seen 

With one of MANY fish ole Pete caught

One of MANY fish I caught

Pete cooked up some Walleye for us to eat!

Isn't this one of the most glorious moments as a parent?  When your child BEGS you to do chores??

"On second thought, if I have to leave my pacis here, I'll just stay here."  [before he said goodbye to them]

At VBS.  We had a foam pit!

Wild man at VBS!

How in the world is Baby #3 going to be as cute as these 2?!

Watermelon!

Quality time

Attacking me with his lightsaber.  This is a daily occurrence.

Dang, I know of several super cute pictures I haven't posted here that are on my phone.  Maybe that will be good motivation for me to post again soon!  Until then, here's Susannah's reaction to our baby news:

Family Visits and More!

FEROCIOUS

We've had a lot going on this past month, and it's been so much fun!  The highlights have been going to Richmond for Charis and Hannah's birthday party, followed by some time with FiggyPop, followed by a few days in Chattanooga with the Wares.  It is absolutely necessary for me to post pics from these events this week because next week, Pete and I will be off to Michigan for 8 days!  It will be up to the grandparents to take any cute pictures of the kids for the next blog update; otherwise, it will consist entirely of our pics from our Upper Peninsula adventure.

Just a quick update on the kiddos: they are still the sweetest.  John has 14 teeth now, and his last 2 from this bout of teething should be in any day (Lord willing).  He is saying a few new words, like bubble, Nana (Susannah), and day-doo (thank you).  Susannah has a new personal agenda every day, and it only sometimes aligns with mine.  ;)  She brags on the things John does more than anything else (Mommy!  Johnny puttin' da toys away!  John is huggin' me!  John is walkin'!  Johnny Boy is laughin' at me!) and is always quick to declare infractions (MOMMY!  Johnny in da dishwasher!  Johnny bitin' me!  John is fussin about sumpin!).

And now for some pictures!

My girl

So silly!

Celebrating Charis's and Hannah's birthdays! 

Pool time!

These little besties are soooo sweet

Playing with Aunt Sarah

All the girls at the b-day party wanted to put on a show.  Susannah just sat there while they sang and waited....

...until they all got off the stage so that she could sing a couple ditties.

Waking up Aunt KK for all the day's fun!

These buddies having a good time at the Tennessee Aquarium

In the shark tank
 

Swimming with the penguins

I spy....

Snapchat with KK is hours of entertainment

Heart eyes all day

Twinning with Hendricks

OUT OF MY WAY, YA BOZO!

Hudson took us to the top of the Children's Museum

Manicure with Aunt Lauren

Last lunch together before we Ackers had to head out

And now we're back at home, patrolling the roads once again.