Baby Three is on his/her way!

 Jack is thrilled to become a big brother this summer!

When the baby is born, he will be 2 1/2 years old.

 Quinn is really excited to be able to have another younger sibling!

He will be a little over four years old when the baby is born.

 

 Yep, it's been confirmed, theirs just one in there!

 

4+1=5

 

 

Our family is super excited to be adding one more to the mix!  I am starting to feel like three children is going to be the number that completes our family!  Steve and I went to the first appointment last Friday, 11/22/2013 and we felt so blessed and happy to see the first picture of our third child, healthy as can be! The official due date is: June 25, 2014. I think it'll be a lot of fun to have a summer birthday around here, as both boys are in the center of winter! 

Fun with friends

I love watching my big preschooler interact more and more with his friends! 

Jack is happy

The kid's got his puppy, his cereal and his Sunday morning comics. Life is good for Jack.

The boys 'Finding Nemo' themed room

I know Quinn told me that he was not afraid of the shark, but I still hid him in

the corner by the bookshelf!  They only have to see him if they want to! 

Autumn Activities

 The boys and I made pumpkin pie spice play doh today. It smelled awesome,

and the boys enjoyed getting out the Halloween cookie cutters and digging in!

 I had to keep a close eye on this one, to discourage him from eating the play doh.

I love to watch them play side by side.

Hope you're having a good Autumn season, too!

31 Candles...

 

Steve surprised me with a lovely birthday dinner at Vino in the Valley.

Pictured here (from front left and back):

 

Amanda, Jan, Quinn, Laurie, Steve, Dad, Stan, Jack

 

Right side:

 

Mom, Me, Pete and Nick

 

 We were able to bring the homemade birthday cake that

Steve and the boys made!

 Yum!



What our days have been filled with...

1. Last minute trips to the park.

 

Yesterday I picked Quinn up from preschool, and I realized  in another week or two, the flip flops and tee shirts will probably be packed away for another season. We need to seize the day and enjoy this beautiful weather that the Lord has blessed us with today! 

 

We grabbed Subway sandwiches and made it a picnic too.

 

2. Art  

 

We have enjoyed getting our paints and crafts out more and more lately...

3. Puzzles

 

 I love the boys' current ages. They are such wonderful students, and at this

 age they really do want to learn! 

 

Learning to put together a puzzle, while also learning a little geography

is such fun for a 3 1/2 year old!

4.  And walks are always a must when the weather cooperates. 

5. Interior Design

 

 Steve and I decided to 're do' the boy's room. Let me reword that sentence, I decided to 're do' the boy's room. It was looking a little too 'babyish', and we wanted it to look like a 'big boy's' room. I think we succeeded. We will be putting up 'Finding Nemo' wall decals and a new curtain soon. Still trying to decide how to spruce up the dresser!

 

6. House repairs

 

 My parents (and brother) came over to help install two more windows.

Now we have four brand new windows - they look and work great!

 This is about the most fun that a little boy can have!

7. Fall preparations  

 

We have enjoyed all the Halloween decorations and costumes up at Menard's!

8. Enjoying our days outside

 

 Tucker is such fun for Jack to play with!

9. Becoming such good friends

 

 Old school teeter totter! (see saw). Quinn called it a tater totter the entire day. No matter how many times I tried to teach him the correct name!

10.  Inside 'play' 

 

Jack loves match box cars right now!

11. Dentist Appointments

 

And a trip to the dentist to round out the post...!  

Jack is 20 months old!

 My little Jack.

 Giving 'Scarecrow Sam' a ride on the lawn mower.

Jack and I have been having a lot of fun enjoying our one-on-one time together, when Quinn is at preschool.  Just today, I put him in my 'back pack' carrier device, and he came along for the ride when I mowed the yard. Just like his big brother, Jack is also obsessed with lawn mowers!  Around here, we use lawn mowers in lieu of strollers, to give our dolls scarecrows rides in! Some things are just a tad different when you're in a house with only boys!  

The three guys

Quinn - 3 1/2 & Jack 1 1/2

9/08/13 

Quinn's first day of preschool

 Daddy and Quinn

First day of Preschool - 9/10/13

 Mommy and Quinn

 Quinn is showing me that he's three!

The first day of preschool went fantastic. I am so thrilled for Quinn!

 

My heart was racing as I propped Jack up on my hip, and tightened my grip on Quinn's hand.  We walked into school/church, and I felt like it was my first day instead of his!  (I had butterflies in my stomach!)  We walked into his room and found his 'star picture' that his teacher had taken a few weeks back, during the orientation.  In it, he had a scowl on his face. (Orientation hadn't gone well.) 

 

Quinn put his 'grumpy' picture into the basket for check in.  After that, I wasn't sure how long I should 'linger' around for!  There were some parents hanging around with their kiddos, but not everyone.  As I was trying to figure it out, Quinn looked up at me and very confidently said: 'Mom, It's time for you to go now.' Wow!  How proud am I, of this confident, well adjusted little boy of mine?!  A quick hug and kiss, and out the door I went.  Feeling a little strange leaving without one of my boys.  Two hours later, I was at the school early, to make sure Quinn didn't have to wait around for mommy to pick him up.  I was able to watch him step out of his classroom, and into the hallway to grab his Buzz Light year back pack, and then we went back into his room. (It was fun, because he didn't see me there!)  A little while later, his teacher walked out, with all twelve little students trailing behind her like little ducklings.  Quinn told me later, they were supposed to form a 'choo choo train'!  He was the caboose!  I am so proud of him, and happy for his first day success! 

Five years of marriage... letter to my husband (9/06/2013)

Dear Steve,

Here we are, five years of wedded bliss and two adorable little boys later...  What a fun ride it has been with you, since we both said 'I DO' on September 6, 2008!

I sometimes wonder, what does God have written for us in the next chapters of our lives?  I am so glad that we don't know, as the mystery keeps life fun and exciting!  And that's just how I sum up what life with you is like: fun and exciting! I do know, that I am so thankful for the importance we both place in our relationship with our Savior, Jesus, and all the blessings that shower down on us through our faith in Him. 



We know that through life's ups and downs that accompanies all human existence, we are not an exception, as we live in a fallen and sinful world.  Yet, through the good and the bad, the easy days and the hard days, we will have JOY in our hearts ALWAYS!  Joy, because we place our hope in the Lord, regardless of our circumstances. We have joy in our hearts because we are always there for each other, no matter what circumstances or emotions we might be facing!

 

This joy is reflected in you and I, my love. It is being passed down to our sons, as the legacy we will someday leave behind.  Steve, I am truly honored to be called your wife, and to have the privilege to raise our sons with you!

 

 

I feel that this is right where you and I are meant to be.  We are joyfully, teaching and instructing our sons to respect marriage and families, and to understand the importance of both.  To have a kind and gentle heart.  To respect life and others.  To be courageous and stand firm in their convictions.  To grow in the Christian faith and joyfully look forward to our heavenly reward, when we can see Jesus, face to face.

 

Celebrating two years of marriage. 9/06/2010

Welcoming our second son, Jack Steven on 1/11/2012

I remember that our wedding song we chose for our soloist to sing was called, 'Household of Faith.' Do you vaguely remember it, as I do?  We will have to pull out our old wedding video to remind ourselves of the words!  Yet, what a beautiful foreshadow the title alone is, for our present day lives. Truly, this is not a coincidence as God is the great orchestrator of our lives! 

 

 

I am thrilled to be celebrating five years of marriage with you, Steve! As we say often to each other, it just keeps getting better and better!  I have never been more in love with you then I am right now.

 

All my Love,

Gret