Mario and Luigi. Alex and Audrey. One and the same. Actually Audrey is "BIG" Mario and don't you go saying otherwise. You may have a bruise on your shin. Ok, not really but she is adamant that she is big Mario and not Baby Mario. Of course Alex does not support that argument and he whole heartedly defends his position that YES! She is Baby Mario because she is little and he is big. Yes, I am big (Audrey). No, you are not (Alex). Yes, I am (Audrey). No, you are not (Alex). Yes! (Audrey). No! (Alex) Yes! (Audrey) No! (Alex) Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmy! (Audrey/Alex) He said I was little (Audrey). But she is (Alex). NO, I'M NOT! YES, YOU ARE! At that point I usually run from the room with my hands over my ears and hide in a closet. But they always find me.

The kids had a great time this Trick-or-Treat. We had Trunk-or-Treat at church including a hay ride that Audrey would not get off of. Thankfully I had double layered their clothes because it got a wee bit nippy. Audrey could not be convinced that her chattering teeth would go away if she would just put on her coat. She had to be dragged, kicking and screaming (pretty much literally) inside just so she could warm up. Alex and Audrey then dressed again as Mario and Luigi for the neighborhood Trick-or-Treat at their Granma's and Pop-pop's. Their cousin Lorelai was a cute cowgirl the first night and then a pretty princess the next. We were going for Princess Peach...

It has been over four months since Anaiya's butterfly wings. I find it odd that time seems to stop instantaneously and then mysteriously startup again, full tilt, without you even realizing it. Alex tells me that he is sorry that Anaiya passed away. It makes me smile. How kind and compassionate he is. I didn't even know that he knew of it that way. Although, truth be told, we have had our share of tragedies these past four months. So I suppose it should not be too surprising. Alex says that he wants us to have another baby that stays with us. I keep telling him to pray about it. God only knows what is best and I am not rushing things!

Audrey asks about Anaiya every now and then, especially when she has a balloon. She asked about her the other day when we saw a newborn baby. Those times are the hardest right now. But I rejoice in the joy that others have! Romans 12:15a says "Rejoice with those who rejoice..." It is amazing what your arms miss!! I make up for it by smothering Alex and Audrey with hugs and kisses. I would hug Lorelai too but she doesn't want her Aunt T anymore. Rotten thing.

Lorelai is soon to have her very own baby brother. Aunt Em has not shared the name with us but there is a large consensus that says his name should be Henry Aaron. Granted that consensus consists of two votes so I guess that doesn't matter. Any day now we will know his real name! Lorelai will be a very good big sister. I have seen her take care of her Baby 'Mima (that's with a long "i").

Alex is learning how to read. He is doing really well. He talks about the silent "E" all the time. He always wants to spell something. It is usually something like "OXPQS" and then he asks us, "What does that spell?" Oddly enough, we have no clue. No wonder they start thinking their parents know nothing so early on. They ask impossible questions. He loves math, too. He is always trying to stump me with some addition or subtraction. Thus far he has failed. Give him a few more years and he will have to ask his dad all his math questions. Audrey always gets in on stuff too. She will NOT be left behind.

We miss summer already and the warm days are just three days gone. But fireplaces and hot chocolate make good memories too. We have so much to be thankful for and so often I fail to remember to do so or I find something to complain about. In all that has happened this year let everyone remember that no matter how abandoned we feel/felt, we never are. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still, be still my heart. The best is yet to come.