'Laska Jammies...

One thing that I love about fall and winter is warm, cozy pajamas!  Even for myself, the hotbox that I am, still love snuggling in and staying warm in bed while I sleep.

 

The kids had a couple special family members go to Alaska this summer, and they each got a pair of pajamas from there.  They honestly can't wait until there "'Laska jammies" are clean, so they can wear them to bed again.  Here they are on the inaugural night.  Sorry Harrison's eyes are closed, but getting a picture where all three are decent is harder then expected.

 

Happy Fall/Winter!  And hope you can be nice and cozy in your jammies too!

Fun Times at the Lake...

 We love summer, and going to the lake!

One day we were minding out own business, and suddenly a boat pulls up that we are unfamiliar with, and out steps some of our good friends that we visiting with some family at our same lake.  We knew that they were just getting into town, but didn't expect to see them lakeside already.  This was probably one of the best surprises that I could have had.  The kids were so great and were able to get into playing right away like nothing really changed.  We even talked them into resting for a bit to have a Popsicle!  It was so nice having this bit of time with them for a couple hours, to just sit, relax, and enjoy a great conversation catching up on the little things in life.

Most people talk about vacationing during the summer, and this is really our vacation every weekend.  It's so nice to have a place to get away to, that doesn't cost us very much money.  It was even better that the kids were old enough to sleep really good, and that helped us as parents to enjoy the time out there even better too.  I just wish that it could last longer.

 Harrison, Emmett, and even Maura had a great time practicing casting the kids fishing line out into the water.  Emmett even took a dip off the dock when he casted so hard that he threw himself into the water with his clothes on.  Thankfully, Great-Uncle Joel was there to grab his hand and lift him back up onto the dock.  The funny part was that his biggest concern was that his clothes were wet, not that he fell off the dock!  There were a few moments when he was a little bit nervous to jump off to us again, but that quickly subsided.

Now we just get to wait another 8 months before we can start dreaming about the lake again.

Our Backyard...

 I have to say that I think we actually did a good job of enjoying our backyard this summer, considering we don't have alot for the kids to do.  We realized that the swing set that we have is getting too small for them now, due to three kids that all decided to learn how to pump.  Two of them going the same way would have that thing tipped on end in no time!  So we are on the lookout for a heavier set with bigger kid options.

When we couldn't go out to the lake, we managed to stay cool in our little pool.  The kids don't need anything big for at home (just yet), so we'll make do with what we've got.  It is amazing how "one more year" of growth and maturity in kids can make it that much easier on a mother.  I could actually enjoy being outside with them this year.  Big strides!

Maura does a great job of keeping herself happy and busy!  She thinks that she can do anything her little heart desires, and that can be a problem sometimes.  Like taking this 3 wheeler down the hill in our yard, rolling it and throwing herself under the car.  Needless to say, she got back on it a little while later and proceeded to go down the hill again, but with a little more caution.  She will keep us holding our breath in the future, I just know it!

It will be fun to see just what kind of fun things we can do in our backyard next summer!

School Days...

 This year we have two kids going to school!

I have to admit that it really did feel like this year wasn't ever going to come, and now that it has, I can see how all of the time of waiting has paid off.  Don't get me wrong in this way, but my children were meant to be in a public setting where they could be surrounded by people and have influences outside of my own.  I am far from perfect (as anyone would admit), and know that we can learn from others in their experiences.  We really have been working and preparing them for this new stage.  There have been plenty of parents along the way that have expressed their concern over "what kind of world are we sending them out to," but I need to trust that God has control over it, no matter what it is.  Sure, no way would I want any of my children to be in a volatile situation, but I can help them to know how to handle hard situations, by letting them deal with small things along the way in life.

Off my tangent...

Harrison started Kindergarten this fall, and is going all day, every day.  There wasn't a question about this for him as he is super outgoing, and a social butterfly.  It would be torture for him to be at school one day, then home the next.  All I would hear about would be why can't he be in school like all the other kids. :)  His struggle currently is why he isn't riding the bus.  We had this same conversation last year when some of the kids got to ride the Otter Bus to day care after school.  He is even liking the school lunches, although he doesn't get all of it eaten due to talking/time restraint.  All in all, a great start to the year!

Emmett started preschool today and is going two mornings a week.  Ever since Harrison started, he has been asking each day when is it his turn.  Today finally came, and was the best first day for him.  He was proud to announce at lunch that he even made a new friend!  Good stuff!

 This is what Maura is thinking after having her brothers leave her with her boring mother.  Thankfully it worked that a friend could come over with her daughter that is just a few months younger than Maura and we could have a knitting lesson while the girlie's played.  Not a bad start to a new school year!

Next week Harrison gets to start his first of extra-curricular activities - Children's Choir!  Emmett and Maura will get a date with their mommy walking downtown, or stopping at the bakery/yarn shop/cafe... We have options!

3 Favorite Faces of Summer (and Always)...

 It's so hard to believe that summer is done; or at least if you go by school starting.

My boys continue to remind me that summer doesn't officially end until the end of the month, so at least with them I am happy to know that it isn't done, and we have a few more weeks to enjoy summer activities.

Emmett will be starting Preschool this week, and is really looking forward to joining his big brother at school this year.  We met with his teacher and helper this week, so he is all set and anxious to get started.  Emmett has already shown some big changes in his personality, and is more outgoing than what he was a few weeks ago.  This is all related to Harrison being out of the house more this week.  Amazing what transformations happen when one is able to get a word, or more, in edgewise.

 Harrison has really jumped through a big hoop this year by getting to go to kindergarten all day, every day!!  And I have a list too long to explain why he is completely ready for this big kid challenge.  Trust me, he would be bored out of his mind if it was any less than this.  It will be a good challenge for him to learn some self-discipline in getting ready each day, and time management with eating breakfast and lunch.  All in all, this is a great fit for him.  **Disclaimer:  I may not do this option with all of my children, but know that this is what's best for him.  I don't want to make decisions based off of what I want.**

Maura's biggest accomplishment is that she gets to start Sunday School in the 2 year old class with Kevin's cousin as her teacher.  I'm so glad that all three of my kids have the opportunity to have her, and think she will enjoy doing "big kid" stuff.  Her other challenge is getting used to not being around her brothers all.the.time!  This week, each day, I was asked a number of times where "Hsshss" is.  Really sweet, and I wonder if she will be sick of me on the mornings when it's just me and her.  Emmett and Maura did so well playing this week, and really were quiet and kind to each other.  So nice to see after a summer of screaming and yelling. :)  They are siblings, so would it be any other way??

Now you have the skinny on how our lives have changed suddenly this month.

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

 To our sweet pea, Maura Kaye!!!

This was her pure joy on Saturday, pulling out the tissue paper from the birthday bags.  The simple things in life.  Everyone in the family thinks that she's already 2 since we had her party a few days ago.  It was quite confusing for some members of the family to hear that her birthday really is today.

She still loves flashing a smile when the camera is out, so I take advantage of that and snap away.

We love you so much sweet girl!  You have added alot of sugar and spice to our family, and are thankful for the flavor you bring!

With lots of love, Mommy & Daddy, Harrison & Emmett

The Only Snippet from the Birthday Girl's Party...

I did get a few pictures, but they will come later, and they were mostly of her enjoying the tissue paper.  Oh to be 2 again!

And I feel I should say that the wind blew and the right time and helped her blow out those candles. :)

10 Years...

That's right folks!  We've made it to 10 years!

In some ways it hasn't seemed that long at all...

but then I see this picture and realize that maybe more time has passed than what I think.

This has to be the first time looking back and seeing an actual change in the way we look, in my eyes at least.  The biggest thing is probably that I've caused a few more gray hairs on Kevin's head. :)

We don't have any huge plans for our actual anniversary this year, but our hopes are to do something later this fall with another couple that is also celebrating their 10th anniversary too.  I'll have to post more about that as the plans come together.  I'd hate to put the cart before the horse on that one!  We will be going out to supper though, and maybe trying one of the new places around lakes country.  We started a tradition on our 1st anniversary where we go to a place where we can dine outside.  It limits us slightly, but it makes it a fun challenge to try and accomplish each year, and to try new places along the way.

So much, yet so little has changed in that time period, and I can only fathom what the next 10 years will look like.  I can't remember all of the hopes and dreams that I had for us at this point back when I was dreaming about it, but all I know is that this is exactly where I want to be.  Our life is definitely not perfect, but we have so much to be thankful for, and I want to dwell on that.

This weekend we get to celebrate Maura's 2nd birthday, so we will be putting more of the fun on her this weekend with family around.  She is changing daily!!!  The boys are with Grandma Jeanne for a few days, so I know there will be quite the reunion for the kids on Saturday when everyone arrives.  I know they are all having fun in their own special way!

Wow... I really am getting old!

My Addiction... I Mean, My HOBBY

 I know that I have shared some of the things that I have knitted in the past on the blog, but I know it's been a while... so instead of uploading some pictures from the camera to the computer, I decided to make a posting of some of my latest work.

These red and white striped socks were a birthday present for my brother in April.  He took a peak in one of my books at Christmas, and told me he really liked these high, striped socks.  I took note, and bought the yarn to get the job done.  Through a few changes of plans, I was finally able to get them to him a few weeks ago.

This hat and fun fur scarf was a birthday present for a friend's daughter in March.

Can you tell that I "gift" many of my projects?! :)

 I had been keeping my eye out for a simple sweater pattern, that covered a range of sizes to use for the boys.  They each got to help me pick out a color of this "Amazing" yarn for their sweaters.  I told Harrison that his was the same as his school colors, which then made him want to wear it one of his two days of school each week, opposite the other shirt that was school colored.  I'm pretty sure that the teacher thought he only had a couple of shirts to live off of due to his wanting to stay is true school spirit.

He had a huge growth spurt this late winter and spring, that I'm sure I'm going to have to make another this fall for him.  Oh well, I can't ever let my needles take a rest!

 Shortly after learning how to knit, I really wanted to learn Fair Isle, but was pretty insistent in my mind that I take a class of sorts, so I would learn how to do it right the first time.  I just hate having to re-teach myself something that my body or hands is already accustomed to doing incorrectly.  Thankfully, the yarn store in town has a class this winter, and of course, I loved it!!  Oh man, I was really going to have a problem now.  I just opened a whole new can of worms to play around with.

I am pleased with how the hat turned out, but it was a bit too small for my head, so I stuck it on my large-headed son to model, and maybe he'll end up wearing it later.

 Oh, socks!  I have a love/hate relationship with socks.  Love the yarn, and the skill it takes to make them, but dislike the length of time it can take to make them!  I have accomplished making a pair two-at-a-time, but I have not perfected that skill yet.

Either way, here is a fun baby girl present I made with some sparkly, variegated yarn that I just couldn't resist.  These were really quick to make!

 If only I knew how many baby hats I've made since I've learned how to knit...  A friend asked me to make an ear flap hat for her baby boy that she was expecting.  So I told her to go out and pick the yarn up, and get it to me.  Thankfully, they are so easy to whip up and take minimal yarn, that I was able to make a different style hat for her nephew that was due shortly after her son.








 Here's the same hat, but in different colors!  This one was for our nephew that was born last November.  My boys are smitten with pom-poms now, and would have really liked me to make them for the hats that they have been wearing for a couple years now.  We'll see if I get around to it.

This was also for our nephew, Daniel.  I had this done before he was born, but didn't know what he was going to be.  I saw the pattern and knew I had to make it for our first niece/nephew!  It was super easy and fun to make.  I love baby knits for the simplicity and the quick turn around time.

 Kevin's brother got married last fall, and wanted to do something special for them that wasn't a typical wedding gift, so I made them his/hers mukluk slippers.  These are Jane's, and Jeff's are a brown heather.  So far I had made 2 more sets of these, and also baby bootie size for Kevin's cousin who is expecting twins!

Here's our Emmett in his snazzy, striped sweater.  These colors totally fit him and his personality.  I just love variegated yarn!!!  It's fun to have no control over what color comes next, and the character it gives the project without fancy stitches.  It's the star, all by itself.

Emmett too asked frequently if it was "a sweater day". :)  We'll see how long I can go before they don't want to wear my creations.  I'm hoping I'll have a bit longer before they care too much.

So now you know what I keep myself busy with when the kids go to bed at night, or when we spend any time traveling on the road at all.  Sometimes I hope for a long extended road trip so I can spend hours knitting the time away.  Is there something wrong with me?  Oh well, I guess it could be worse!

Spring is Finally Here!

We have been enjoying the nice weather these past few days!  The trikes, toy mowers, and patio furniture have seen a lot of use lately.

I was even able to get the garden planted last weekend, in which Harrison informed me "now I love tomatoes (cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, etc)!"  That kid is hilarious!  We'll see how it goes this year.  I was able to get a small tiller for my birthday, and was able to till up my garden by myself.  It's  nice to do things when I have the time and not have to wait for someone else to complete a project before I can begin mine.  We are hoping to clean out an area that had a few perennials, and start a strawberry patch there.  I don't think we'll get it going this year, since there is rock and sheeting to remove, but something to work at during the summer to prep for next year.  The asparagus is growing nicely, and have been able to harvest a few spears here and there.  I know that I'll be reaping my rewards in a few years when they are all mature enough to eat.

We bought some paint this weekend for the kitchen and living room, but I don't have a day or two scheduled on the calendar quite yet to get those things start or done.  I'm a "wild hair" kind of person, and one day I'll wake up and get started.  A characteristic that my husband doesn't always appreciate about me, but none-the-less, it is all picked out and ready for me when I am ready.

Our bike riding is also changing a bit this year too.  Harrison has moved up to a tag along, and Emmett and Maura are in the trailer now.  Kevin took all of them out last Saturday.  It was set up with the tag along connected to his bike and the trailer hooked up to the tag along.  I can only imagine the looks that he got with that huge train behind him.  Last night we went out and I had Harrison and he had the littles.  We had a great time on our family outing around the lake.  All I have to say, is if I even need Harrison to talk to me, I'll take him for a bike ride.  He would not shut up!  I tried to encourage him to pedal instead of talking sometimes, but that didn't seem to work.  No doubt it won't be as fun by the end of the summer.

Now we just need to get some time at the lake!

This Girl Slays Me...

 Oh man, what can I say about this daughter of mine?!

There is no way of knowing what's going to strike her fancy each day, and what will come of it.

Here's a cross section of some random snippets of this little darling!

She's so polite, and well mannered...

Has a relaxed personality...

 Can accessorize like no one else I know...

 Can't wait to show her baby cousin all kinds of tricks...

 And has a problem with the camera, at least keeping her eyes open for them.

She's one-of-a-kind, and we love that she is in our family!

A Visual of our Birthday Boy...

 Here is our Emmett on his actual birthday!

We had a party for him on Saturday with grandparents and a family friend.  I always let my kids pick what they want for their birthday supper (when they can tell me, that is), and not surprisingly Emmett picked mac & cheese, poppy salad (applesauce jello with pop in it), and yet another rainbow cake!  I did ask him what kind of meat he wanted and he chose hamburgers and hotdogs.  I'm never surprised that these boys have picked the same thing each year.  Emmett not only chose a rainbow cake, but requested that they be made in jars, based off of a picture he saw.  Which was fine with me because making the same exact thing twice is just not as fun.  It worked great with being able to put a small scoop of ice cream on top and a dollop of frosting.  I'll have to post pictures once I get them off the camera and onto the computer.

Hence my camera dilemma.  I'm so bad at taking pictures, and I want to blame that on my bulky camera, but not sure that I would be any better with a smaller, more compact one.  Maybe I should test it just for fun?! :)

Emmett has a super fun, and interesting personality that can be challenging, but so funny all at the same time!  The first picture is incredible because he's not doing this...

Nearly every time the camera is out, he is making a funny face or being all serious.  It is very difficult to get a decent smile from him.  He can be on both ends of the spectrum within milli-seconds of each other.  Being super sweet, then bam super spicy!

He is really looking forward to preschool this fall, and I think the routine and schedule will be really beneficial for him.  He's had to watch his brother go all year, so now that it's his turn, he is pretty proud of his accomplishing being able to go!

Happy 4th Birthday...

to our Emmett Robert today!!!

You are an amazing little boy!

You love to snuggle, and touch;

antagonize, and sympathize;

make funny noises, and are quite stealth.

Most of all, we love you for who God made you to be,

and can't wait to see the boy and man you become!

Love to you today, and everyday!

Oh, the weather outside is...

BEAUTIFUL!!!

This is by far the best winter I can ever remember in Minnesota!

Seriously, when we have a stretch of 70's mid-March, that is down right gorgeous!!!

The kiddos had a couple friends over one evening, and we just planned on wearing the kids out in backyard! It wasn't hard to convince them either!

It definitely gave me Spring Fever too!

All of these lovely thoughts of sitting outside while the kids run and play, made me all giddy inside! Maura is at the perfect age this summer to keep herself busy, and able to do somethings by herself. Hallelujah!

I love how much the grass has greened up with some recent rain, and seeing the trees with buds and leaves coming. It's always amazing to see the new life emerging from things that were bare and dead looking. So many metaphors there that I won't even begin. :)

I LOVE SPRING!!!

Oldest and Youngest...

Looking SO Grown Up...

This little girl is growing up WAY too fast!!!!

Seriously!!!

We have been trying our hand at hair lately, and one day we were able to do this...

And of coarse she couldn't help but have to look at the camera and say "cheese"!
Obviously these pictures were taken before our heatwave and 75 degree temps, considering she's wearing long sleeves. However, I can't get over the fact that these at 3T clothes that she is wearing!!! REALLY??? It really is true that she is growing up, and getting bigger by the day.

Bed Head...

This girl has some sweet hair, but never has it really had any morning character to it. Until this day...

It doesn't compare to some of my friend's kids hair, but even so, it was a great reason to smile and chuckle a bit. And of coarse, when the camera is brought out, she gives a great cheesy smile!

LOVE THIS GOOFY GIRL!

Silly Snuggles on the Couch...

Okay, so the order of these pictures is not how I intended them to be, but backwards.

The kids love getting covered up on the couch.

And then, very quickly, get quite silly by kicking their legs and making the other kid mad by making the blanket go on the floor... Rough life, I know.

I was happy that I got some smiles (or not) out of it to share!

Harrison and Emmett's turn under the blanket...

Emmett's "I'm too serious to smile right now" face.

He did make sure to have his sheep with him.
I guess Maura's silly smile makes up for Emmett's.
She had to have her kitty and baby with her under the blanket, which I thought was a very sweet thing of her to care about.

Maura and Emmett enjoying their blanket time on the couch.

On days like this, it is so fun to see them play nicely together,

and actual enjoy each other being there.

I know it will be soon enough when they will all be in school.

Baptism...

On January 8th, we were honored and privileged to be at Daniel's baptism as his Godparents! We had a great time going to Jill and Zach's church and being at this celebratory service. He was the 4th generation on his dad's side to wear that baptismal gown (if my memory serves me correctly). Our trip ended up to be a quick one, but was still fun none-the-less, and wonderful to spend some extra time snuggling our sweet nephew!

New Years Sleepies...

It's not too often that I can sneak a picture of the little kids while they are sleeping. This was New Years morning, so I'm guessing that they were extra tired from all of the Christmas festivities that they were able to sleep through the beep of the camera focusing. What is it about watching your kids sleep anyways, that's so relaxing and peaceful?! I'll take it any chance I get!

Post-Christmas Concentration...

I thought that Harrison's facial expression was too funny on the picture not to share. Not sure if is was because he had been looking at it so long that his eyes were starting to hurt, or if it was an eyebrow stretch of sorts from not getting as much sleep from the night before. Maybe even a combination of the two! And of coarse, Maura hounding the cat.

I think it's funny seeing Emmett playing with something while sucking his thumb. He has really enjoyed his new book cartridges!
And more of Maura and Barbie! Seriously, she was everywhere that the cat was and loved giving her treats so she would come close.