Greatest find of the summer!!!

I was going out to do a few errands this morning and saw a garage sale at the end of our street with some kids stuff, so I drove down to check it out. To my surprise I found this...

A BRAND NEW NEVER OPENED bike trailer. We have one, but now that we are a family of five who loves to bike, we need another one. I know you are dying to know what I paid for it, but you will have to read on first...Next I came across these other treasures. A brand new never opened alphabet floor puzzle. Just last night I got the three that I have (same brand) out for Melia and she put them all together. Also found two construction hats to go with their tool bench, two games, a mask making kit, musical tub toys (also never used),....

Leap frog fridge magnet letter, a gymb*ree long sleeve shirt and sweater vest, and finally a pair of Old N*vy fleece lined jeans and shoes for P.

ALL of this for $27.45. What a steal. The bike trailer was only $20.00 (Target is selling the exact same one right now for $159.00). $2.00 for the letter magnets and everything else was 10, 25 or 75 cents. The women was so excited, because this was her first garage sale ever. We both felt like we hit the lottery...I found a lot of great stuff for very cheap prices, and she was watching her tables empty faster than she could add up the prices.

Gearing Up

Gearing up to head back to work. Can't believe it's that time already. I have been to school twice in the last week to try and get organized. I am teaching a new program this year, which brings about MANY changes. For the past 8 years I have taught 3-5 year old special needs students. For a three year period in there, I taught 3-5 year olds and birth - three special needs children. This year I am back to teaching the 0-3 population. This means switching schools, principles, staff, and a whole new group of parents and kids. The classroom is being moved within the building, which means unpacking and setting up the classroom also. When I first heard that I would be teaching in this program, I was not super excited about it, but after having the summer to think about it, I am coming around. I have spent the last few days going through files and organizing all the paper work, and next week will have to spend time in the classroom getting things set up. Before I know it, Sept. 1st will be here and I will be officially back to work. Teri and my mother-in-law will be taking care of the kids again this year, which I am very thankful for. Summer is winding down, and fall is just around the corner. My baby boy is almost 11 weeks old. Where does time go? I have enjoyed spending so much time with the kids this summer and will miss them when I am at work. Thankfully, I am able to work part-time again (the reason for the switch in programs). My heart is at home, but duty calls. The anticipation of heading back is always worse. Once I get there and fall into the new routine, I do not dread it as much. For now, I will enjoy the next week and a half I have to be home full time.

A Day at the Beach

This morning, my sister and Syd, sister in law, Emma and Lilly, my mom, and myself and the kids all went to the beach. This was the first time for my kids this year. They had a GREAT time. We had to drag Melia and Emma out of the water for lunch. Sand, Sun, Sweat, Smiles, Swimming, Snacks, and Sand Castles describe our morning. What a fun family day!!!

Sydney

Emma and Lilly


The boy among all the girls!!!


Eva

Swimming with Nana

Sand Fun!!!
A break for lunch

2 Months Old

Our little guy turned two months old yesterday. Where does the time go? He gets his first shots a week from today. When I weighed and measured him, he weighed in at just under 13 pounds and is 23 1/2 inches long. He has grown so much this month. I don't think I could love him any more. I love the quiet time we have together in the morning before the girls wake-up. He is usually awake from 6:30-7:30am (the it is back asleep for a couple more hours) and this is P and mommy time. I feed him, and then we snuggle in bed, smile, talk, and play. It is such precious time. With three under three, I cherish the individual time I get with each one.

Changes in month two:

• smiling and talking a lot more
• sleeping 11:00pm-6:30am
• nursing every 3-31/2 hours during the day
• can be put in bed awake and will go to sleep on his own for naps (most of the time :)
• baby acne still sticking around
• when laying on tummy, he will pick his head up and move it from side to side
• still in 0-3 clothes, but a few things are getting too small and we have passed them on to his buddy Ty
• staying awake for longer periods of time during the day
• Still loves his swing and bouncy seat
• loves being outside
  
• becoming more attached to a passy

(don't mind the yelling from his little sis in the background)

Smiling for the camera

All the pictures and video wore him out

Dedication

**Update on Sleep...both girls are asleep and it is 9:20...it has been a LONG time since this has happened!!!! This round goes to the parents!!!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is
old he will not turn from it. Proverb 22:6

Yesterday we had the privilege of dedicating Parker to the Lord. We agree to raise our children in the things of the Lord and understand that they are a gift from Him. The dedication is when we declare this publicly among family and friends. The day was extra special because were able to share it with our best friends who were dedicating their little boy, Ty, to the Lord also. We all went back to our house and had a wonderful barbecue with 70 of our closest family and friends.

Family Photo
But as for me and my household, we will
serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15


Ben, Rebekah, and Ty

Group Shot


Best Friends


The boys - These three boys were born within 11 days of each other.
It was so fun seeing them together.

Ty, Gabe, and Parker

Our children

Kisses for Parker


Our Boys!!!

Eva showing some love to Ty and "B"

The day proved to be too much for Eva who fell asleep eating her macaroni and cheese at 6:45pm (we put her to bed and she slept until 8:00 this morning)

It's Official...

I am out of shape...

Sunday, Chris and I went out bike riding. This morning Rebekah and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 5:30AM for a ride. A time of day that I am accustomed to seeing these days, but I am usually nursing my sweet baby boy and then going back to sleep. Not today...we hit the pavement by 5:40 for a few mile ride.

Side note: I feel great...all the kids have had a bath and are mostly dressed, all the beds have been stripped and have clean sheets, laundry is going and I am showered and my hair is done...all before 9am. What a way to start the day. We plan on doing this every morning. A big thank you to our husbands who may have to get up for a crying baby while we go out. Although today, both babies and husbands slept the whole time we were gone :). P slept from 11:00 until 6:45am...almost 8 hours...how awesome is that? I was out of the shower and hair was done before he got up to nurse.

Why this sudden obsession with riding you ask????



In just three short months Rebekah and I will be participating in an eight mile mountain bike race called the Slush cup. It is a short version of the Ice Man Race that our boys did last year (and will again this year- their race is 28 miles). Remember THIS post from last years race. I am sure you are thinking 8 miles...that does not seem so bad, but when you are racing in November in Traverse City on two track trails and continuously climbing HUGE hills layered with sand, mud, tree roots and possibly snow, it is more work than one would think. A quote from the Iceman site...

"the Meijer Slush Cup course follows the Vasa 10 Kilometer trail out,
around and back. The Meijer Slush Cup course has moderate climbs,
some screamer downhills, and is all on forest two track roads."

My goal...finish the race (without dying), even if I have to walk my bike up the hills, which will most likely happen more than once. I look forward to the challenge and hoping I can meet it. So let the training begin!!!!

Sleep VS. No Sleep

Sleep (Parker) VS. No Sleep (the girls)

Round 1

Parker gets his final feeding for the night at 10:30, is put in his crib and sleeps until 6:30 this morning...7 1/2 hours of sleep straight (now if I only went to bed at 11 we would be all set :)

Vs.


The girls who were put to bed at 8:30 and at 11:15pm finally gave in to sleep.

PARKER WINS THIS ROUND!!!

Round 2

Parker is put in his crib awake and within 5-7 min is asleep (after some fussing)

Vs.

The girls who are put in their beds and can't seem to stay in them, if their lives depended on it take HOURS to go to sleep these days. Yesterday they had a very short nap, so I thought "good, it will be an easy night for bed" WRONG...3 hours later they finally are asleep.

PARKER WINS THIS ROUND!

ROUND 3

Parents
- trying every technique in the book

VS.

kids - staying up way to late and getting out of their beds

Kids WIN...

Why is it that our 7 week old little boy is sleeping better than his big sisters (3 1/2 and 1 1/2) There have been a lot of changes in our house in the last few months that have disrupted their sleep...moving into a big bed (Eva), the girls moving into the same room, staying light outside until 9:30, Parker being born, and three days ago saying bye bye to the passy. Eva was very attached to her "baba" and Melia has been wanting and trying to use one since P was born. Three days ago we said enough with the passy. Nap time without the passy has been great. Nighttime has been a little more challenging. We have found that the passy was the catilaist for calming Eva at night. Without it she just can't seem to relax in her bed. Over the last few weeks we have tried NUMEROUS things...taking toys when they get out of bed, sitting outside their door, spankings, talking and reasoning with them, putting them in different rooms, laying with them, and last nights technique, letting them play in their room until the ware themselves out (did not work, just in case your wondering)...nothing seems to work. We are frustrated and they are frustrated...it has to get better...RIGHT??? We will find what works and nights without the passy will get better, but in the meantime, if I am completely honest, it makes me feel like a failure as a parent. Last night we tried to play a game with friends (we did finish), but not without A LOT of interruptions because it took the girls so long to go to sleep...In and out of their beds, coming downstairs, playing with toys...All I could say was thanks for being so understanding and patient, while on the inside I am feeling completely embarressed, becasue we can't control our kids. In time we will re-gain control and tackle this bed time chaos. I have to keep reminding myself that there have been many changes and we are just finding a new normal around here. We have a good bedtime routine, we just need to stick with it and in time things will calm back down.

So right now P is winning the Sleep VS. No sleep fight...stay tuned for round 4.