My baby is 2.

Our sweet Oliver Dale... How can our baby be two years old already??  He is the sweetest most precious gift from God.  I have loved every second of the last two years with this boy. 
Favorite color- green (he calls everything green!)
Favorite song- "Deep and Wide"
Favorite foods- hot dog, raspberries, and marshmallows...
Favorite show- "Mother Goose Club" (we all know every song in the show by heart!)
-loves being outside, rain, snow, or shine!
-loves balls, cars, and books with sounds
-adores his brother and sisters
-can count the times on one hand where we've had to discipline... he's VERY well-behaved!
-has many words; starting to form sentences
-has been feeding himself with spoons/forks/big person glass for a very long time
-loves Play-doh and bubbles
-loves to wrestle Eli
-loves to sing along with songs before nap or bedtime
-EXTREMELY easy-going (and always has been!)
-loves giving hugs and kisses
-can say, "I love you" (which melts my heart)

Happy 2nd birthday, buddy!  We love you more than words can say. 
Looking forward the the year ahead :)

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.