Where did summer go?

and all my time? The summer has just flown by for us. I thought for sure I would have more time to get on here then I have. I did have some spare time but I just chose to use it for other things. Documenting our summer just wasn't high up on the list. I mostly just wanted to chill with friends and family and snuggle my newborn. I have been busy and content with those things. Sometimes it's just better to live life then to write it all down. (gasp! can you believe I just said that?)

While the temperature says it is still summer the date would indicate that our summer {break} is just about over. After being gone all summer back home in WI we arrived at our temporary home (until December) early Monday morning. We had a wonderful summer being back in our home church visiting with everyone. Now it's back to the grind. We start school this coming Monday...ready or not! :) No, we really are looking forward to getting back into a routine and seeing what is in store for our family this semester.

Since I don't have time to give every detail of our summer I think I will briefly (and maybe randomly) summarize some thoughts and events:

~We spent a week visiting my family out east. What a blessing to be with my brother and sister and their families. The last time we saw each other was when my mom passed away, so it was so nice just to visit for fun.

~Traveling with a newborn is much harder then I thought. It took us 3 hours longer then it should have when we drove out east. And it was WICKED hot! And we don't have air conditioning. So, 11 hours in a car with no air AND a newborn...yeah! But it was totally worth it to see my family.

~We got stuck in Chicago (on out way back from PA) for 2 hours when we had been traveling all night. There was flooding in the city and they had shut down a main road. We had been planning to stop as soon as we got through the city so I could nurse Kaitlyn. We tried going through side streets (thankful for a GPS....although it doesn't warn you when going through bad parts...yikes!) and everything was backed up. I have never been more thankful for a breast pump. :) I ended up having to pump and give her a bottle because we couldn't stop. Thankfully she took the bottle because it was the first time.
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~We put over 3,000 miles on our van this summer! :)

~I didn't get as many books read this summer as I wanted.

~I got hooked on a few (dumb) T.V. shows during some of my late night feedings with Kaitlyn. I probably should have been reading instead.

~I got my hair cut...really short...after having a big argument (total misunderstanding between us, which was resolved quickly) with my husband. I regretted cutting it. I think the moral of the story for me was, never get your hair cut after an argument with your hubby. :) I am starting to like my hair now but it has taken me a few weeks. Maybe when/if I feel brave I will post a picture.

~We stayed in 3 different homes with 3 different families this summer which was a blessing, but at the same time was also stressful. I am so thankful for how God provided for us. I am also thankful to be back in our own space now. It was hard for me not to really have any alone/private time with my husband this summer...especially after having a baby.

~We saw God provide in amazing ways this summer! One way, (which may sound silly) was the amount of strawberries we had. Our kids LOVE strawberries. Well, for a few weeks there we had person after person bring strawberries to us. I just had to laugh and thank God for how He cares about even the little details. We had a feast of strawberries every day. We got to share with our kids how God cares about even little things, and how He delights in the details. What a good God we have because He certainly didn't have to do that for us and yet He did. :)

~We had to have our car fixed 2 times while back in WI. God provided every penny (like over $600) we needed through other people. The cool thing is, He provided it right before the car broke down. So we knew exactly what the money was supposed to be used for. :)

~I feel so blessed by our home church. Bill and I left there every Sunday just in awe at how good God is. When you can walk away every Sunday feeling encouraged in the Word and by other believers now that is a good thing!

~My friends threw me a beautiful baby shower after Kaitlyn's birth. I have so many diapers for her I won't need to buy any for a long time. :)

~The boys participated in t-ball this summer for the first time and LOVED it. Oh and Bill was the head coach of their team. Hee hee. I never thought he would do something like that, but he did a good job.

~Anna, Ryan, and James took swim lessons.

~I got to do a few photo sessions for friends this summer (but not as many as I had planned to or wanted to...there just wasn't time). I get nervous every time I take pictures for someone, so I spend time in prayer before each session. I want to be a blessing to others and I can't do that on my own. I LOVE taking pictures for other people, it gives me great joy.

~I am praying about taking that love of photographing others and turning it into something more. I have spent the last year and a half getting experience. I am scared and excited but mostly scared. I don't know if I am good enough to jump in and start a small (very very small on the side) business. I am seeking wisdom from the Lord before I make any final decisions.

~We started potty training Claire. It is going better then I thought. We are on day 4 now and she hasn't had any accidents in the last 2 days. She seems to have "got" it. She tells us when she needs to go. I am amazed. It would be so wonderful to only have 1 in diapers.

I am sure there are more things that I could include but I am going to wrap this up. Pictures from the summer coming soon.

Until later!

What they thought

It was love at first sight!

I can honestly say that this moment was one of the most amazing moments I have experienced in my lifetime. 2 hours after Kaitlyn was born, Bill ran over to his parents house and picked up the kids to bring them to meet their new sister. Even though it was their bedtime we just knew we couldn't wait until the morning to introduce them to her.

I don't think I could ever forget the moment they all came through the door bursting with energy and excitement. It's really hard to find the words to describe the joy I felt in introducing them to their new sister. To see their faces and how they accepted them into our family is indescribable. The oohs and awes and the can I see her tiny fingers and toes, were just precious. I am so thankful for all 5 of my blessings! My heart was was just bursting with gratefulness. My kiddos are so blessed to have one another. I am blessed to be their mama!

I keep wondering when the "honeymoon" will end, but every day the first thing the kids ask when they get up is "where is baby Kaitlyn? or "can I hold her."...even after 2 weeks. :)

We are so blessed. God is good!

Nighttime routine

I love nighttime
when the house settles down
teeth have been brushed
we say our prayers
and kiss the little ones
and then quietness begins
I pull out the books
listening ears
excited eyes
where will this page take us

traveling back in time
Anna and I are captured
by a little girl the age of mine
neither of us want to stop
but alas the clock says we must
it's time to sleep
I'm so thankful for
the quietness in our routine
books that build character
the time of sweet fellowship
that bonds us together
what a blessing!

The things I miss

Just to name a few:

My happy yellow Kitchen in our little brown house

Walking down town Port

and feeding the ducks

being able to walk to the library

Having sidewalks to walk on

our favorite parks and playgrounds

Easy access to the beach

Homeschooling

Being able to pick up and go with a friend to do something fun and educational

Family

girls nights and coffee dates with best friends

Getting together with those we love to celebrate:

holidays

babies

birthdays

and just life

Much has changed over the last year. I wouldn't change what God is doing and the exciting journey He has us on now, but it doesn't change the fact that there are things...mostly people that I miss like crazy back home. I'm thankful for what we have waiting for us when we go back home to visit.

It's a...

baby!

No really, just watch the video and see for yourself what this tie breaker baby probably is. :)

After I turned the camera off he finished looking at everything he needed to see, then he went back to try and get a better view of what the gender is. On the second time looking he felt more sure that it was a girl.

I will be going back in soon for another ultrasound, so we will take another peek. But I feel pretty sure at this point that PINK is in the near future. :)

A secret of the best variety

We have a secret. Any guesses?

I love having a secret...knowing something that no one else does, especially when it's the good kind of secret. :) It's a secret that can only be kept for so long before it becomes obvious. Was that a big enough hint? Actually, at this point it probably isn't much of a secret. I'm pretty sure most of you have heard either by us in person or by word of mouth. But we did keep it quiet for about 12 weeks. :)

The Lord has decided to add one more person to our family, set to arrive sometime in June 2010. Surprised? Well, so were we. :) I guess it's true what they say...you shouldn't get rid of all your baby things. Ha! When you least expect it God decides to do something big. While we were taken by surprise, God obviously wasn't. We are humbled at His gift and thankful that He is working out His plan in our lives. It's exciting because you just never know what He might decide to do. :)

Day at the beach

We happened to pick the best day to go to the beach. It was warm but not too hot, and just enough sun out that it wasn't miserable. Perfect for taking pictures too. :) I am pretty sure this was the highlight of our time together. Hang on because I have a load of pictures from that day.

The water was cold so I didn't bring the kiddos swimsuits. I didn't plan on them wanting to go in...silly me. :) They loved the water and could care less that it was like ice!

Gavyn and Gregg

Claire playing with her piggies in the sand.

So interested in everything.

Laughing and enjoying themselves.

Oh I LOVE this one of my brother Matt. He really is such a cool guy...and very funny too. I love how you can see everything that is going on around him through his glasses.

Claire's and my sand covered feet. :) I also painted Claire's nails for the first time!

This was Claire's first time at the beach, and she LOVED it!

My dad. This pretty much sums up his time with us....laughing and taking it all in. He told me that he just enjoyed watching us all interact. He is such a great Papa and Dad.

Anna and her mud/sand balls.

Gage enjoyed his time in the sand...so concentrated.

Showing Papa something.

Aunt Dana and Claire.

James burying Anna.

Sweet Gavie girl, covered in sand.

My love.

Matt and Dana walking on the beach.

Our time on the beach ended as storm clouds rolled in. The sky may have been dark, but it certainly didn't dampen the mood of our time together. 3 years is much too long to go without seeing each other. We must do this again soon.