My favorite photo from Christmas Day!  

We are enjoying the holidays and love having Brandt home all week. 

Still battling coughs and colds, but as of today, I think we are on the mend... finally!  

Happy Holidays :)

Merry Christmas from the Sorbels :) 

Izzy Mae -- 9 months old!  Love her big smile and big cheeks :)

Survival mode.  I have a 9 month old, and I am still in survival mode.  She won't take a bottle during the day.  She hates baby food and only wants real food.  She's trying to be a big kid, but she's still a babe.  She's waking twice a night to eat, and we feed her, cause she refuses it during the day.  She's waking at 5am most mornings and taking 3-4 naps a day.  Survival mode.  It's exhausting. 

As for Eli-- playing with the idea of putting him in preschool in January.  Two mornings a week.  It would be great for him to be social.  I don't feel 100% peace about it just yet, but praying...

My Addie is loving life and loving school.  She works hard at school and at home.  Even doing multiplication problems, thanks to Uncle Aaron who teaches her math every time they're together :) 

I've said it before... being a mom is the greatest and toughest job in the world. 

 Our Izzy Mae is 8 months old.

 

 Just love this little face :)

And of course, these two besties... well, some days they are friends ;)

Our latest family photo :)

I love this little guy!  We have successfully potty trained Eli - day and night!  He actually caught on quicker than Addie did :)  There have been occasional accidents when he becomes too distracted to think about it, but overall, he was perfect!
That was last week... this week is cutting naps.  I'm crazy, I know... but this kid fights me EVERY DAY at nap and bedtime.  When he naps (which has been every day), he isn't tired until like 8:30 or 9pm and we start bed time routine at 7:30.  So, our night without kids doesn't start until he's quiet.  I just think it's time.  Hoping he'll be exhausted and ready for bed when Addie is now.
Today was the first day.  He had 35 minutes of quiet time in his room.  I supplied him with trains, cars, books, and coloring stuff.  He had to stay in his room until the timer went off.  He loved it!  And besides the two times he had to go to the bathroom, I loved it :)  Tomorrow we'll make a bathroom stop before quiet time ;)

 Potty training Eli this weekend.  He's doing a great job -- no accidents on day 2 here!!  

This was one of my activities for our few "homebound" days-- Mummy Races!!

 7 months :)

Updated pic for Michelle :)

They are ALL growing up so fast :)  

 Addie's first homework assignment :)

First day of Kindergarten!!

My sweet Addie is LOVING school!  She wakes up every morning, counting down the hours until she boards that bus.  She's meeting new friends, loves her teacher, got to check out her first book from the school library, celebrated "Pickle Day" yesterday (whatever that is!?), and loves gym and music class.  It is so fun to see this excitement in her eyes every day.  Almost like she has a purpose for her day now, and she's loving that.  

I've gotten the other two on a nice schedule so they go down for naps before I walk Addie to the bus stop.  Then I have a little bit of alone time, can you believe it!?  Kinda strange, to be honest.  Some afternoons I sit at the kitchen table thinking, "What should I do now?!"  I'm sure I'll get used to the quiet afternoons ;)  

 Izzy Mae is 6 months!!  

 Trout Lake Camp- Family Camp :)

 tubing with our friends!

 Papa's boat!

 My boy is 3 years old!

 "The Shark" :)

Heading home after a terrific week!!!  

It's just us this weekend!  Brandt is on a "man weekend" with some friends up north.  We are off to a pretty good start.  Celebrating Eli's birthday on Sunday, so we have stuff to do this weekend to keep us busy. I'm struggling with finding a balance between playing with my kids and getting the everyday chores done around the house. It's hard to do both.  Addie and Eli are also super dependent-- wanting me to play with them all the time.  They have a hard time playing on their own and when they do play together, we are constantly battling a fight.  Siblings :)  Trying to enjoy the remainder of summer instead of just "getting through" it.  Kindergarten is just around the corner and things are going to change drastically!  Love being home with them every day still.  I think just not getting the normal weekend break with Brandt being gone has been a little tough.  A simple remedy would be looking at their picture up there-- can't help but smile :)

Love this little lady!!  5 months... it's a good age :)

 Lynn took us to Duluth this weekend to spend the day with Thomas!  Eli was beyond excited!!  :)

 Lunch in Canal Park -- Dad and Isabelle

 THOMAS!!!  

 On the train!

 Hanging out at the Pier

Thank you, Nana, for a fabulous day!!!

Arkansas Vacation 2012

Uncle Phil!

 Horse-back riding -- the kiddos and their aunties :)

 The highlight of our week-- swimming!!

 I just love this picture :)

 Uncle Jeff!!

 My little fish :)

Too brave, young lady...

Vacation was terrific!  The kiddos were well-behaved, got along, played and swam all day every day... They were loved on by their aunts and uncles.  They slept and ate well.  We couldn't have asked for a better week.  Izzy was there too... just didn't take many pics of her.  She was the best traveler, though, hands down :)

4 months!

They say, "It goes so fast!"  And it is SO true!!  My Izzy is already eating rice cereal like a champ!  Loving the stage we're in right now.  Feeling blessed to be able to stay home with my beautiful kiddos every day.  Wouldn't change it for the world.

My sweet, Miss Iz... Started the "cry-it-out" before naps and bed today:  
First nap- cried 20 minutes, slept 2 hours!  WHAT!!??
Second nap- cried 12 minutes, slept 1 hour!
Third and final nap (hopefully!)- cried 0 and still sleeping :)
I'm in heaven!  I can't even tell you how many minutes/hours a day I spend bouncing my sweet girl to sleep, for her to then sleep 20-30 minute naps.  Exhausting!!  We did the cry-it-out thing with the other two and they are excellent sleepers, so we started this little lady and Day 1 = Success!  Another weight off my shoulders and more time today to enjoy and play with the other two.  So beautiful :)
Keep it up, Izzy Mae!

My bestie took these sweet sweet pictures of my kiddos today.  Gotta love 'em :)

Happy 5th Birthday, Addison Noelle!!!  

We love you and are so proud of you :)