5

I can't believe it is time for this post already. My first baby is 5 today. 5 years ago today, after 20 long hours of labor, I was blessed with the birth of one of the cutest babies in the world. He was quite the surprise, given that they had told us he was going to be a girl. He was a long, skinny beautiful baby and I could not have been happier (you know after the shock wore off.)

He has grown so much in the past 5 years and I still can't believe what a wonderful boy he has become. He loves to dance (I'm not sure he is capable of standing still when he hears music). He has earned a yellow belt in karate and is becoming a good soccer player. Noah makes me smile all the time and he's pretty good with a knock, knock joke.

I love to hear him talk about God and wanting to please him. I love watching him learn something new everyday. I love the wonderful hugs and kisses he gives me daily and watching him smile at something silly. I love how he is quiet and thoughtful and that one of his best friends has Downs Syndrome, but all he sees is his friend and not the differences.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for my first baby. I can't wait to see who he becomes and to help him on that journey. I look forward to all the hugs and kisses of the future; even if I have to force them out of him in the future. I'm looking forward to setting in the blistering sun and pouring down rain of all his sporting events.

The first 5 years have been amazing and I know the future is only going to be more amazing.

First Day of School

Noah's First day of Pre-K



Riley's very first day of preschool


Seth's first day of preschool

Company Girl Coffee

Good Afternoon Everyone,
I am getting a late start on my post this morning due to an outing with the kids. We decided to spend some time together this morning at Jump Zone. I thought this would be fun for us all and a special time together since the kids are leaving tomorrow for a week with my parents. Yes, you read that right!!!! I will have one week without my 3 favorite short people and while I will miss them terribly I'm looking forward to getting a couple of projects completed without my ever-present helpers.

I have to keep this one short since I still have laundry to finish and get them packed, but if you want to see what we have been up to check out some of my recent posts from this past week. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll let you know next week how my week worked out.

Kids' pictures

The kids love pictures. They love posing for pictures and they have recently figured out they love taking pictures. A couple of weeks ago I let me use my camera to take some pictures here are a few of my favorite. It is interesting to see how they view their world through the camera lens and how they act towards the sibling holding the camera.


Noah posing for Seth


"Seth" by Riley


Riley's close-up by Noah


Riley's dress up shoes


Me and Seth, photo by Noah

Yellow Belt

Noah earned his yellow belt yesterday. We are so proud of his hardwork and dedication to his karate. Here is a picture of our proud new yellow belt. I'll post more later.

8 Years

8 years!!!!!! Eight years ago today I married my best friend. We have changed a lot in those eight years and I can't imagine taking this journey with anyone else. During that time we have taken a few trips, I have gone back to school and finished this time, had 3 kids, refurbished a 100 year old house, moved, and a million other everyday things.

Jared and I started as great friends, (5 years before our first date) and I believe that friendship has helped us endure the difficult times. We pray together, laugh together, and sometimes cry together; although we laugh a whole lot more than we cry. I look forward to him coming home in the afternoons and our weekends together to play with the kids.

It has been a wonderful 8 years and I am looking forward to all of our years together. He is my best friend, my confidant, my husband, and so much more. God blessed my life by placing Jared in it and I am thankful everyday for the person he is and the person he continues to be. Jared is an amazing man who continues to obey God's will for his life and to be a wonderful example of a strong Christian man and husband to those who know him.

I am looking forward to everything God has in store for us and I know that together we can get through anything. I have my best friend to take this journey with me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Company Girl Coffee 8/14

Good afternoon everyone,
It has been a couple of weeks since I participated in Company Girl Coffee and I have missed it. It has been a very busy around here and I'm looking forward to things slowly down a little bit.

My parents and grandmother were here visiting last weekend and brought a wonderful new toy for our backyard. A TRAMPOLIINE. I'm a little jealous, because these are the same parents that would not let us have a trampoline growing up. Currently, I'm making up for that fact by jumping on the trampoline at least once a day. The kids are really enjoying it and my dad even joined in on the fun while they were here. I think he wishes he had a trampoline when he was younger too.


Seth and Gramps jumping together


This is what 67 on my Dad looks like. Hope it looks like that on me too.

Today's Small Thing was well accomplished when one of my friends called this morning. Life is crazy for us both and it had been several weeks since we had a chance to have a lengthy converstaion, it was great to catch up with her. Yesterday's Small Thing was completed when my husband and I made a batch of grape jelly and canned it. Here is a fun picture from that activity.

This is our 2 1/2 year old daughter sitting in the canner before we got started on the canning. Yes, she is very small for her age, she got my height not her father's.