Weekly blessings

We've had way too much fun this week, and I should be catching up on all the laundry and cleaning I've neglected instead of sitting here editing photos. I probably have 8 loads waiting for me, and you don't even want to get near the boys' bathroom right now! But my washer decided to leak during the first load I attempted today, and to keep the basement from flooding, I had to shut off the water to the whole house. So there's not much I can do until Dave gets home...guess I'll enjoy the excuse while I can. :) (I guess I could vacuum, but I'm going to ignore that thought!)




It has been sooo nice to have Dave home for the good part of this week. We've accomplished everything we'd hoped to, and more. Of course Great Wolf Lodge was a blast, but I think my favorite part was just the time factor. Getting to spend time talking with the boys, catching glimpses into their hearts, without the rush of so many activities and commitments. It is hitting me very hard that Ethan will start kindergarten in 3 weeks (can it be?). I am so excited for him, and so thankful for the sweet young man he is becoming...but it is a bit hard to watch too. It's a new phase of life for us - and I'm sure it will bring it's own joys and challenges - but I will never get back the preschool years with Ethan. So I just want to soak up these last days of summer with him and make the most of our time together.

Yes, I think I will probably cry when I drop him off the first day! It makes me emotional just thinking about it! :)




Clare has been enjoying the extra cuddle time too - she has such a quick, charming smile. I hope her friendly demeanor continues!




What can I say about our middle child? Because he is that, in every sense of the word. Such a funny little kid! Dramatic as all get out! With a bit of a tendancy toward doing things his own way instead of obeying. We are working on it! And a week of 2 on 1 parenting has been helpful, I think. A little back-up never hurts! :) But oh, I love him to death...and I am looking forward to more time with him this fall when E is in school.



Today when I was grocery shopping with the 3 of them (see, I did get something accomplished today!), an older gentleman was watching our little troop, and he smiled and said, "You have been very blessed!" And I think so too!

What a gift to be a mother - to help shape little hearts and listen to their thoughts. To have constant companions throughout the day (even if those said companions inform you that they just cracked an egg on the kitchen floor...what in the world???? I better end this, quick!). My life is pretty crazy and hectic with these 3, but goodness, it is precious too!

Great Wolf Lodge - day 1

We interrupted our stay-cation to try out Great Wolf Lodge for a couple days. We've been wanting to try it out for awhile, and it definitely did not disappoint! The boys were over the moon when they saw the water park and everything else, and how could they not be? The place is all. about. kids. (And spending money, sheesh, its a total tourist trap! haha!)

Look who found her thumb! Not sure how I feel about this...

After several hours in the water park, we went to dinner. The boys got to grab an instrument and join all the other kids in a parade around the restaurant. Ethan loved this! Simon chickened out. :)

At 8pm they had story time in the lobby (in your pj's, no less! fun!), and after a bit more exploring, everyone crashed.

Literally.

Good times! I love family vacations!

Sonja's 30th and more

A couple weekends ago we celebrated my sister-in-law Sonja's 30th birthday out at her parents' house. Big hat party style. And I don't know what has been up with the weather, but we have had the most beautiful evenings this summer. Even in July! It has been just gorgeous. The Schonbergs have some acreage out in the country, with plenty of room for the kids to run and play. We honestly hardly saw them the whole evening! I guess that is one of the perks of having some land (and something we consider from time to time). It would be nice for our kids to have the freedom to roam a bit. Maybe someday....

My parents were in town, as well as Nate, Ruth and Matt too, so they all came along.






















So Dave ended up taking off work a little earlier than he had planned. Sometime while it was still dark outside (early Friday morning), the stomach flu hit me with a vengeance, and I am still not recovered. It has been a long day (for me, and for him, I am sure), but I am just hoping and praying that no one else gets it. Our scheduled stay-at-home vacation could be pretty miserable!

As I sat in the bathroom last night, praying for this to be over, I kept thinking about how many people are sick and suffering, and how little I have known of that. I am so grateful to the Lord for our health, for our children's health. I know it could be different. Maybe someday it will be. But for now I can cling to the Lord in the short periods of suffering I endure...and be thankful for His watchful eye over our little family. He knows, and He cares. And He has promised never to leave us, no matter what trials may come.

She loves her sling

I am just so in awe of having a daughter. We are already having so much fun together, and she can't even talk yet! But she is just a ray of sunshine most of the time - her sweet baby coo's assure me that she fully appreciates the big bows, bracelets, and cute, girly outfits as much as I do. Hopefully that's what she's been saying anyway. Haha!

She's been sleeping a 7 to 10 hour stretch at night for several weeks now, and every morning when I see her sweet face, I can't help but smother her with kisses. What a good little girl she is! (on a side note, perhaps this has something to do with why my middle child can't keep his lips off her? Just modeling my behavior!!!!)

Without the nighttime feedings, I should be rested and back to my old self, but I'm not quite there yet. Since her birth, we've packed the summer full with traveling and get-togethers with friends and family. Every bit of it worth it and FUN! But exhausting too...sometimes you just have to slow down a little.

So that's our plan...Dave is taking next week off, and we are sticking close to home. Our plan is to play with the kids. Relax. Eat yummy food. Sleep in. Watch movies. Swim. Snuggle our sweeties.

I cannot wait!

My style...

Your style was:
Hamptons White Wash

You don't live by the sea; you live with the sea. A calm, balanced environment is your perfect space. Beloved memories fill your home. You love details and textures. The pieces you choose have stories to tell. Your home is welcoming; a place where people love to spend time together.

Your personal style quiz

Love this girl

2 months old and couldn't be sweeter...

Father's Day 2009

To my 2 favorite fathers - thank you for pouring your life into your kids. It is obvious how much you are loved!

Tee ball star

Okay, not really - Ethan is by far the youngest kid on his team, and he hasn't ever played before. But he can hold his own, and with his height, it's impossible to tell. Dave got a little lucky getting him enrolled though, since the team is for K-2nd graders.

We have been enjoying going to his games as a family, and cheering Ethan on. That picture was of a strike, but it was the only shot I got of him batting! :)

Oh, he reminds me of his dad! Or maybe my brother Michael...



Of course, Simon would rather be playing too, but now that he has his sister to keep him company, he's ok with just watching.



Poor girl, she gets so many kisses from that kid!

VBS 2009

Bounce house

Lessons with the infamous Mr. Miller

Games, friends, and lots of fun


Strike your best ninja pose...

Aunt Sonja and the girlies (Nyah gets jealous, I think :)

Someday she will play with you, Nyah!

Lots of extra cousin time

The week of VBS is always fun! And the boys really soak up the lessons - every night at bedtime Dave had great discussions with them about what Mr. Miller had talked about that night. It is so neat to see their little minds taking it all in.

But I have to admit, I'm glad for a slower pace this week!

6 weeks

Clare is almost 6 weeks old now. She is fitting into our family so well that it seems like she's been around a lot longer than that! I would say that she's the easiest baby ever, but I am still waking up pretty tired in the mornings... :) But really, she is a gift! I can't complain when she's really only up once to eat in the middle of the night. From birth, she's been this way!




Clare would prefer to sleep on her tummy (as have all my children), so for now she is doing a lot of sleeping in the swing. She is currently snuggled up in bed with me, with my comforter pulled to her chin. I'm breaking all the rules with my 3rd kid. :)

At this point we're not really sure who she looks like. She really resembled Simon when she was first born, same hair color and face shape, and she has the Renes chin, for sure. :) But she is looking more and more like her own person these days. I am guessing she will be blonde, but for now she still has some light brown fuzz.

The boys adore her, of course, sometimes a little too much, I think. The first couple weeks they were better about being cautious with her, but they are getting a little bolder now. Poor girl, to be picked up by a 3 year old! Scariness! The first time I spotted him, I about lost it! I must have gotten the point across, so now he doesn't pick her up. He just lays on her and coo's, no matter if she's asleep or not. I'm not a big fan of this (okay, so it's totally driving me nuts!), so we're working on it. That, and a few attitude issues too.

Theirs, and mine. :)

But all in all, the Lord has been so good to us, and I am trying to keep my mind focused on that. We'll get the kinks ironed out soon, and life will be back to normal.

Well, as normal as life for a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids can be...

Who's coming over today, Mom?

One of the best things about not being pregnant anymore is having the energy to have friends over again. The boys have been begging to invite people over, pretty much every day, and it has been so fun to say yes!

I don't have pictures of all our playdates of late, but I did manage to pull the camera out for this special moment. :)


Nothing better than PBJ faces, bed head, and mix and match dress up clothes!

Oh, and Asher refused to be in the picture, but he was there too. :)

Little trip to Estes Park

Last weekend, for Memorial Day, we drove to Estes Park and stayed for a few days with some of Dave's family. It was a perfect little get-away, and even with a 3 week old, we had a wonderful time.

It's still pretty cool in Colorado this time of year, and when we hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park, there was still snow on the ground. Here are a few shots from the weekend.

Our family - minus one! She was staying warm in the car with Grandma. :)

Our group (except Grandma and Clare, of course!), including Brittney's friend Nichelle and Chris' girlfriend Alex.

Chris and Alex

View around Bear Lake

The boys had so much fun sliding around on the snow and climbing up rocks - Colorado is a dream come true for little guys!

Dave and the boys

Kim and Brit

Hmmm...not sure what is going on here???

I am irresistibly drawn to my little boy's eyes. Can't. get. enough.

Dave and Si Si

Nichelle and Ethan

Glacier Falls

One of the many elk we saw - there were tons of them everywhere

On top of Trail Ridge Road