Spring Break 2016!

Spring break was a success!  It took us a couple days to get used to having everyone home, but we adjusted and then really loved being around each other :)  We did Chuck E Cheese, swimming, Como Zoo, lunch with Dad, a movie, and Easter Egg hunts with family.  Blessed to have these kiddos in my life.  Now back to the routine again ;)

Happy 4th birthday, Izzy!

Interview with Izzy---
Favorite color: all of the colors, except for white and brown
Favorite food: mac and cheese and a sandwhich and nuggets
Favorite dessert: cookies and brownies and ice cream cookies
Favorite toy: doll
Favorite movie:  Little Mermaid
Favorite show: Daniel Tiger and Justin Time
Favorite outside activity: play on trampoline
Favorite friend: Anora and Dagny and Kailie
Favorite thing about school:  playing with friends
What do you want to be when you grow up:  dancer and gymnastics girl

Love our Izzy girl.  She's spunky, but sweet.  Couldn't live without her!  :)  Looking forward to seeing what the next year holds for our girl.  Happy birthday, Izzy!!

I'm back!

Life is busy!  But I will try and update more regularly... for all our viewers... (Lisa)!!  :)
We took our sled picture today... don't mind the grass in the background!  Ha!  Needed to get it in before all this warm weather takes away all our snow.  I want to do one every year until they are full grown and hate me for it!!  :) 
Things are good.  We head to Wisconsin Dells tomorrow for a 4 day get away!  Kids are missing a little school, but seem to be excited to go.  I will post pics when we return.  Looking forward to uninterrupted relaxed family time.  Yipee!! 

my sibs

I love these people.  So fun to spend Christmas break with family.  I miss them like crazy.  My brothers and I live very different lives.  Jeff is trying to make it big in LA and Phil is writing music in IN.  I stay home with four rugrats :)  But so fun to get together and feel like none of those differences matter.  What matters is we love each other, care for each other, pray for one another, and support and encourage each other.  Family.  What a gift. 

Milo!

We surprised the kids with an early Christmas present... a new kitty!!  We tried for a "U" name, but no one could agree... not surprising... Ursala, Ulysses, ect... No thanks!  So we agreed on Milo.  And we love Milo.  He's perfect.  Kids are enjoying their winter break with him :)  Counting down the days until Christmas and spending time with family!  Yipee!!!!

sneak peeks!

My sweet friend, Amber, took our family pics... these aren't the best ones, actually!  I'm saving those for Christmas cards and Christmas gifts.  But wanted to give a few sneak peeks!  Fun to be in this "big kid" stage.  We felt it at Thanksgiving for the first time.  Three kids entertained themselves, for the most part, and mingled/hung out with the adults/ order cousins!  So fun!!  Oliver still attaches himself to me every chance he gets, but I'll take it.  We still had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend together as family.  Love my people.

Hawaii

We had the very best vacation last week in beautiful Kauai.  It was perfect.  The weather was perfect.  We did fun things as well as just relaxed. It was a memory of a lifetime.  Thanks to family for taking care of our kiddos while we were gone.  I was ready to come home and kiss their faces.  These are a few of my favorite pics from the week. 

Happy Halloween!

FALL!!!

 We love fall!!!

Today we went on a "crunch walk" with Nana.  So fun!!!

I'm amazed every day how the Lord gives us the capacity to LOVE.  I am overwhelmed and grateful that I can love each of these kiddos fully and equally.  There is such a special place in my heart for each of them individually.  Again feeling so thankful and so blessed that we get to love, play with, and raise these kiddos.  Thank you, Lord, for each of these little blessings.  And thank you for FALL!

And with that... I am left with only one at home... :(

The older two have ROCKED their first week of school.  Eli was exceptionally tired the first couple of days, but has adjusted to the 7-hour day very quickly.  Addie loves everything about her class, her teacher, her homework, etc.  She has that spark again!!  Izzy started this morning and walked in with zero tears.  Her mama had a few on the car ride home :(  They are growing up crazy fast.  Love walking through these "firsts" with each one of them.  Hope for many more.

summer days come to an end...

It's been so fun to see these kiddos interact this summer.  They all fight, of course... they have their moments where I want to scream or pull my hair out... but for the most part, they really love each other and take care of each other.  I've seen Eli and Izzy really connect this summer, becoming the best of friends.  Addie has done an amazing job at taking care of Oliver.  Fun to see their little bond.  And Oliver just adores Eli.  Many mornings I'll walk in the room to see him sitting in Eli's lap, watching a show or just letting Eli rub his back.  I am so ready for them to be back in school, but at the same time, I will miss the days we just get to hang out and be together, with no agenda, no schedule, no rushing around.  Love these four.  Looking forward to the year ahead and watching them grow.