Settling In

These are all from our first week home. We're settling in and adjusting:) Unfortunately, Jacob and Aaron seem to have some kind of stomach bug. Jacob has thrown up three times in the last week-no other symptoms, no fever, and just one time throwing up and then he's fine. Thankfully, he knows what's going on now and asks for a bowl before he throws up! Now Aaron has it, except his seems to be worse. Please pray for them to get better and for the rest of us not to get it...especially Isaac and me. I do not need to be throwing up two weeks after a c-section! Ouch.

Anna was having a hard time going to sleep one night. She was feeling out of sorts and just needed some one-on-one attention. And of course wanted to hold Isaac! :) I took this picture of the two of them so she could take it to school and show her class. She was excited about that.

Jacob seems like a giant now! I remember the first time I held him after Isaac was born, thinking "holy cow, this kid is huge!" haha He's so gentle with Isaac, though. And he tries to play with Isaac's hair when he's tired! It's really funny. The other night Aaron was working and Jacob had woken up (or hadn't been to sleep yet, I can't remember) and of course, before I could get Jacob to go back to sleep, Isaac woke up ready to eat. So I sat on the floor next to Jacob's bed nursing Isaac. Jacob couldn't reach my hair, so he settled for Isaac's hair! It was precious.

He's becoming more alert and has more awake times. I love watching him look around and check things out.

I think this is probably Anna's favorite picture :)

He is such a proud big brother!

Movie night on Binga's bed!!

Papa spent the week helping Jamie & Cassie. The kids missed him but he made up for it when he came back on Saturday! They can't get enough play time with Papa!!

My sweet baby. He gets bundled up good at night. He's my little burrito. It's no wonder he screams when I change his diaper...pulling him out of that warm cocoon! :)

The Farm

I don't remember when or why, but at some point this summer the kids & I went out to the farm with Papa and Binga for a quick visit. The kids love going out there! Papa was working on the old farm truck and the kids found some treasures. And I got camera happy :)

Grandma Mary found some awesome toys for the kids to play with! They were from my dad's childhood days (they didn't look that old! toys sure aren't made like that anymore!).

Doesn't he just look ornery?! :)

This is what Jacob spent most of the day doing!

Anna found the old croquet set in the garage.

Anna also got her birthday present from Great Grandma & Grandpa. A new baby doll and blanket (plus a giant thing of bubbles!)...can you tell she's happy as a lark?!

What a blessing it is to have such wonderful grandparents!!

The kids also found the creeper in the garage. Anna had fun directing Jacob to push her on it. Ha!
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Papa hard at work on the old truck. He was determined to get it fixed. And he did, of course. His dad taught him well!

I thought it was funny that this picture captured two things so opposite...the old farm truck (what year is it anyway? 60s?) and the tech-savvy Prius!

Busy, anyone?

This is what August looks like for us. Very few days with nothing going on! It won't slow down until the middle of September, just in time for Aaron to start his travel season. I think I'll be very glad when 2011 gets here...maybe things will settle down then! :) But look closely...tomorrow the kids and I are taking a "vacation" to Papa & Binga's!! We're all excited for a change of scenery (and play time with Papa!) PLUS I should have a "new" computer which means I'll be able to post "real" pictures! YAHOO!!! I've really missed editing and posting pictures. I've got a ton of posts backed up from the whole summer.
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Catching Up

We're still alive, just busy. With what...I'm not sure! Life with little ones, I guess. And so, while said little ones empty the toy box and lick the Ranch bottle, I'll catch up on blogging! ha



Valentine's weekend found my love and I at a marriage retreat. It was great...great learning, great fellowship, great night away from life! Grace Bible Church puts this on every year and invites our church. This is the second time we've gone. There were quite a few couples from our church this year. We had a prime rib buffet again Friday night. I was lucky enough to be next in line when they brought another roast out, so I got a well done piece! It was so delicious. I never know if it's the food that makes it so good, or the fact that I actually get to eat a hot meal...not a cold one after I've gotten up to get something for the kids 29 times! :) I have lots to share from the weekend, but that will have to wait...better move on before the kids decide to empty something else!

Speaking of the kids...

Good grief. That's all I've got to say about this picture!!

While we were at the retreat, Papa & Binga came down Friday to keep the kids (THANK YOU!!!!). They even kept Hudson, too...on his first night away from Mommy! He did great. Jamie & Cassie came Saturday & spent the night, too.

Hudson & Jacob "blowing" bubbles. I think they probably ended up with more in their mouths than not...

Poor kid...his feet are flat as pancakes just like his Mama's.

Jacob & Hudson would stand at the curtain and one of us would say "On your marks, get set...GO!" and off they would run. Every time, into my bedroom to the closet mirror doors. And then back out they would gallop, grinning.

I gave him another haircut the other night. He hated it this time. I just buzzed it mostly. He didn't like it to begin with, then he started rubbing his face with his arm (covered in hair because he refuses to leave a cape or towel on). Which meant he got hair in his mouth. But he wouldn't quit doing it! So it's not a perfect haircut, but it'll last a while! :)

Hudson giving us a show:)

Papa started it! Jacob loves being thrown up in the air!!

When Hudson wanted a turn, I told Papa "be careful you don't throw him through the ceiling!" Hudson is probably at least 10 pounds lighter than Jacob.

I think Anna & Jacob weigh pretty much the same, but Anna is so much longer--that makes it hard to throw her up very high!

Aunt Cara came to visit Saturday and Jacob would NOT let her out of his sight! The second he saw her, he ran over and wanted up. When she went to put her jacket on to leave, Jacob ran right over and wanted up. I told him to tell Aunt Cara bye bye and he looked right at me and waved and said "Bye bye!" then started blowing every BUT Cara kisses! :) Then when Binga left and wouldn't take him...you'd have thought the poor kid was an orphan the way he looked. So sad. So today there was no school and we're on a bit of company let-down!

Really?

It's official...my parents are crazy (or saints....whichever you prefer). Not only did they switch Jacob to a toddler bed, they decided to start potty training (neither of which I asked them to do, but I'll certainly not complain about them doing either!!!)! Mom said today was the first day with no diapers, but he's gone on the toilet several times in the last 2 days. Including #2!!! She hasn't changed a dirty diaper since I left. Lots of wetting, though. She figures he'll do it backwards (why not...he's done everything else in his own time/way!)...poopy will be done before potty!

Uhhh, Binga? These pants feel kinda funny...don't you think you should put one of these diapers on me???

Okay then...I'll just put it on myself!

Fun Visit

Binga has one of Anna's favorite movies...

Mary Poppins!!

The kids thought it was great to get a "movie night" with popcorn! :) And they were obviously enthralled with it!

So was Papa! :)

What a gorgeous sunset! I had to stop and capture it. I dream there's a house at the end of this dirt road...and I live there! ;) God has created the most beautiful, indescribable colors for us to enjoy!

Corn, anyone?

These are from several weeks ago. Last time Papa & Binga were here, they brought Iowa sweet corn! YUMMY!!!

Papa also fixed our dishwasher. Phew!! Of course, Anna "helped".

Mama...LOOK at all dis corn!

Look at the wheels bending! haha And there's not a whole lot left! It is so good. And my kids absolutely love it.

Jacob was being quite silly at breakfast one morning. He preferred eating a plastic lemon over his cereal, I guess. And wearing a rag on his head.

He wasn't the only one being silly!

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Next I'll post a picture from this weekend (yeah, only one. Good grief!). Grandpa & Grandma came and the boys worked on a project. :)

This is what happens...

...when Papa & Binga come to town!

My Montage 4/15/09

There are several videos put together...the first one is before they got here. In case you can't understand Anna, she's telling Jacob that "Papa & Binga are coming on Friday! and then it will be Ben & Karin's wedding!" Next comes several snippets of Anna's non-stop talking after they got here! She was going on and on about everything. First the story of the 3 little pigs (Dora version!), then the middle of a conversation about how Anna could stay home with Jacob and Mama & Daddy could go to Papa's house for the week. So she has to explain why she can't take care of Jacob by herself. And then the booger. Then bed was mentioned, so she asked Papa to play hide and seek (and some other games)! CRAZY girl :)