Saturday update

The weekend is here, and we are relishing it. I love to relax with my precious babies, watch my big boys play sports, eat long meals all together {and laugh - lots of laughter}, and just get to know them. Every time I look around the table, I feel so incredibly blessed.





Little man is growing, almost 5 months old. World's easiest baby, I'm pretty sure. He is such a delight to us all - we cannot get enough of his sweet cheeks with tiny dimples. He gets kissed a lot around here.





He sleeps through the night and takes nice long naps for momma, and the rest of the time he is generally a happy participant along for the ride that is our crazy life. Oh, but we love our crazy life.





Clare is beginning to potty train {although I am reluctant...why do I dread this so much? Probably my least favorite milestone}. She is our little chatterbox, and is naturally joyful and talkative most of the time. I am never lonely. :)





We realized the other day that she has been learning the boys' Sunday School verses with them. Isaiah 9:6,7 is really long, but she can pretty much do the whole thing without help. Pretty cute to hear a 2 year old with a lisp recite, "The government shall be upon His shoulder..."

The other day I heard her singing to her babies, "Hosana, Hosana, Hosana in the forest..." :)

{new hat from Grandma Renes}

I don't have any pictures of the older two. They don't stay still long enough for me to catch them, and when they're all home I usually don't have time to pick up the camera anyway. We're in the midst of an overlap of sports sessions - indoor soccer and basketball - and they both play both.

Today they both had soccer games at noon, on side by side fields. :)

Simon is playing with the boys he played fall soccer with - 3 of them go to CPLS with him, and they practice every day at recess. He has improved so much since the fall. I've been encouraged to see him growing up a bit, pushing himself harder even when he's tired, learning to think as a team instead of just as an individual. Simon is just so competitive - team sports help with that, I think. It's an outlet for healthy competition, but there is a chance to learn to share the spotlight and to work with others. Kinda like being a part of a big family. That helps too. :)

The indoor soccer games are out south of town, and we've been having lunch afterwards at different mom and pop cafes out there. Today the sweet waitress complimented our kids on their good behavior right before we left, and afterward Simon leaned over to Dave and said, "Yes! Do we get a trophy because we were so good??"

Nice. Not all of life is a sport, little boy.

Ethan played really well today, more aggressive than I've probably ever seen him play. He came out of the game red faced and sweating like a pig - made me laugh. He is a natural at soccer, especially indoor. Since there are no out of bounds, the play hardly ever stops. And constant running has never been a problem for that boy. ;)

It's been a wonderful Saturday, slow and fun. We're just so thankful for time to spend together today and with God's people tomorrow too.

Estes trip, part 2

The second half of our week in Estes we stayed down around town - we rented boats, picnicked, biked, shopped, took naps, did lots of reading, went swimming, ate lots of homemade ice cream from shops downtown and took walks around our cabin. There was some excitement when a chipmunk got into the house one evening, especially since my dad had just broken his glasses and was wandering around blindly in the living room with a big stick. :)

I think our boys' favorite day was when we packed a lunch and headed to the park to play...some neighbor boys joined them, the nerf guns came out, and all of a sudden there was a major nerf war going on. All the boys against Dave and Nate. And then the sprinkler system came on... it was boy heaven. ;)

The day we spent at Lake Estes was beautiful. We rented a pontoon boat and a fishing boat for a little while and went a few times around the lake.













Camp fires and s'mores also make little boys happy. :)























And playing cars outdoors. It doesn't take much, really. :)

I was so very thankful for the gift of this vacation. It was a chance to escape the heat {which, for this pregnant momma, was simply amazing}, but the family time was so precious too. I love that our kids are old enough to really do things with now. They all love being active, and it makes me excited for the future and how much fun we are going to have together. Even Clare was such a trooper on our hikes - she is one strong girl!

I don't have any pictures of Michael on this trip or Aaron Quinlisk, but they were there with us Sunday through Tuesday. My kids adore their uncle and view him as a big playmate - thankfully he's a good sport. :) Aaron too.

We're home now and the temps in Kansas have been soaring. Well above 100 every day. Makes Colorado seem all the more dreamy right now. :)

Wish I was back there...

We just got back from a wonderful week in Estes Park, Colorado - the whole Renes family stayed in a cabin together {except for Matt and Erica, who are in the midst of camp season right now}. It was wonderful weather, 70's during the day and 50's at night - which was such a relief from this heat wave that is hitting the midwest right now.

Today in Topeka the heat index was 111. Um yeah.




Just being in the cooler weather brought my activity level way up - I didn't think there was any chance I'd want to hike this trip {I'm 34 weeks now}, but I did and actually enjoyed it.








Ruth and I were a bit of a spectacle on the trails though - big pregnant bellies and lots of little kids running between us - made for lots of comments. :)





Tuesday was the beginning of Rooftop Rodeo, and there was a parade downtown to kick things off. Lots of pretty girls on horses mostly, and some firetrucks and farm equipment. Good ol' small town parade. The kids loved it {although Austin wasn't too sure when we first got there - hence the face ;) }.





Just down the hill from our cabin was Fun City - go carts, mini golf, bumper boats, etc... the kids begged to go any time there was a lull in activity. Pretty much every day. ;)























One of several elk we had venture right up to the cabin.























Night sky in Estes. More pictures to come!

Holiday weekend fun

The evening of the 4th we went out to the farm for some BBQ and fireworks. My kids have no idea how lucky they are - I never even lit a sparkler until I was an adult. :)



Bruce and Penny's house is up for sale {they want to move into town}, so this may be last 4th we celebrate on their back porch. A tad sentimental, for sure. The Everhart farm is a treasure.




So is this man I married 9 years ago. {Almost} 4 kids later, I really can't imagine life without him. He is so loving, and gentle, and steady. I had no idea what an amazing husband and father he would be when we said our vows that hot day in July.



The two of us got away for a night t0 celebrate, while my parents watched the kids. So sweet of them. Not sure who enjoyed it more - us or the kids - because they really don't see enough of Grandma and Grandpa Renes. So it was a very special treat.

Dave took me shopping and out to an amazing seafood place, and we pretended we were young and not expecting our fourth and stayed up late and just had a great time together.

{In truth, I feel more like a beached whale than a newlywed, and its so hot that I find myself complaining altogether too much...but Dave is very tolerant of his very pregnant wife ;) }

We stayed at a beautiful hotel, slept until our eyes popped open, and then had a late breakfast. Just a perfect little getaway.






And then we came back to Kansas for the Everhart festivities. Always sure to be fun, and slightly dangerous. ;)



Yikes.



This view is for sale, by the way. :) They get the best sunsets out at the farm.



Clare's first sparkler was pretty exciting. I honestly don't believe a 2 year old is old enough to hold a burning stick, but her daddy apparently does. ;)





One last view of the sunset. So beautiful.

Let Go

I'm currently reading One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. I bought it for my iphone kindle app, so its in digital form. This is a handy way to read, for a mom.

And you can read at night, after the lights are out. This is what I needed when I was ten, so I didn't get busted by my sister for reading by the nightlight. Or the neighbor for that matter (he seriously told my mom that he saw my bedroom light on at 2 am.) Die hard reader, what can I say?



I have really appreciated Ann's words about giving thanks, in all things - this is something the Lord has been teaching me and it has changed my life over the course of the last year. A way to find joy in the day to day, to accept all circumstances as from Him. It's the way to really live!



Because the more we deliberately notice the blessings He gives, the more we come to trust Him and see how much He loves us.

Thought from the book that really struck me tonight:

"Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control...let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy's flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will."



Speaking of thanks, we loved this Christmas with our kids. It was encouraging to us to see their genuine appreciation and enthusiasm for the gifts we had chosen for them. Can't help but think that the Lord enjoys a thankful heart far more than I do.

"Give thanks to the Lord of Lords
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who made the heavenly lights -
His faithful love endures forever."
Psalm 136:3-7