Kyler's 3rd Birthday

Life can be hard when you are the youngest and with three big sisters, but this little guy is a good sport. Kyler has grown quite accustomed to being showered with kisses and hugs. As his third birthday approached, his big sisters spent a lot of time planning out his special day.

The girls made birthday cards, picked out presents, and helped design Kyler's special birthday cake. He practiced holding up three fingers.

Kyler was thrilled to have a train cake. Aubrie loved decorating it for him (with mom's help).

As Kyler's birthday falls just before Christmas, he had been out of practice in receiving presents. As he opened his gifts, out of instinct, he would hand them over to a sister or mommy and say, "here you go. This is yorsu." When he finally realized that all the presents were for him, he started dancing with excitement and said, "these are all mine?!" He especially enjoyed his new 'boy' costumes ... he actually chose to wear this "robot costume" to the science museum later that night when we went to see the dinosaurs.

He also loved the Spiderman costume and playing along with his sisters as they tried on the Spidey mask.

Kyler's new superhero costumes came just in time as he started to get into the karate chop stage -- as you can see from his "ninja stance," as he calls it.

Although he is all boy, he also has a very cuddly teddy-bear style about him.  He loves to interact with people and give them high five's and knuckles. He loves to be a charmer.

Here's to you Ky-boy -- a true blessing in our lives.

Thanksgiving in Indiana

Although Teyah would tell you we drove to "India" for Thanksgiving, we actually ventured to Indiana where my little brother recently relocated.

Our kids enjoyed a nice dose of grandma and Lauren time since they both joined us there as well.

This picture captures one of the few times Ellie wasn't toting around her baby cousin Amelie. The kids also loved playing with the turkey leg.

Kyler loved playing with his 'twin' cousin Liam. We enjoyed seeing these two play their first ever football game against each other in the backyard. These boys are just six months apart and seeing them together makes us realize how much they look alike!

And true to our family's Thanksgiving gatherings, the kids shared the stomach flu. I think this made at least three in a row of someone losing their guts. Fortunately, it seemed to be a relatively tame bug.

Halloween

Halloween week kicked off with some pumpkin carving. After weeks of careful thought, we finally found the perfect costumes for everyone.

Ellie dressed as a hula girl, Teyah as Mulan, Kyler as a 'worker' (aka builder), and Aubrie as an Olympic gymnast.

This was the pre-trick-or-treating outfit without his 'worker boots' and with his pj's underneath. This outfit was a good fit for him because he has a fascination with 'workers.'

This cute girl had to winter up her hula girl outfit.

Apparently, our fun pumpkin -- that the girls completely designed -- is posing as a gymnast too!

This Mulan is beautiful!

We had so much fun trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood this year! The weather was decent and the new houses, routes, and friends were fun.

Dave has a tradition of wearing the most bold costumes. I think this year topped all of them. He had to pose with the other four Mitt Romneys at the church trunk-or-treat party, since Big Bird was a tool for political fodder this year.

Pirate Play

Enjoy one of the many plays that takes place at our house.  This one is a classic about a pirate who has a change of heart through the power of song. If you get past the first 30 seconds, it will be worth it. At about 2 minutes, it picks up and gets better and better from there!

While I'm doing dishes...

While packing school lunches, acting as the kids' bus driver (as Kyler calls me), and doing dishes...I received picture text messages from Dave of his "work trip" in Orlando. I wasn't impressed.

 I 

I told him that is disgusting and to stop showing off because it doesn't impress me...

Double gross.  After receiving these three text messages in a row, I replied: "Enough! I'm never touching your hands again." I never thought he was the type to be so 'manly.' He proved me wrong, but I still wasn't impressed. Eeew. I can't think of anything worse than spiders and snakes. I would rather be doing dishes.

The 2012 Summer Video

Enjoy some of our favorite memories from the summer.  How many states did we pass through this summer?...15!

First Day of School

These four kids all started school this year with all new teachers (this only happens every other year in our multi-grade school).

What cute kids!

My three crazy girls all get to ride the bus together now!

Excited for school! 

Walking towards big change.

OK mom, enough pictures!!


Teyah started all-day kindergarten! Deciding whether to start her and where to start her has probably been my most difficult parenting decision yet. I know that sounds silly, but it was just so hard! I think I asked advice from every person I came into contact with in the past six months!

 I think we've made a good decision, because she's doing fabulous and loving every minute of school!

Her awesome teacher is Mrs. Franzen, who has taught Ellie the past two years and Aubrie one year before that! We know Mrs. Franzen well and love her to pieces.

This gorgeous girl started 2nd grade on a new team (grades 2-3).


Ellie loves her first-time teacher Miss Tobias so far because she is lots of fun.


Love this girl!

Kyler started his first year of Joy School! Because he has a November birthday, he's ready for preschool but is technically not old enough. So, going to Joy School one day a week has been a perfect fit for both of us. This picture is not very Kyler-like because he's usually always smiling!

How is this girl already a fourth grader?

Time just goes way too fast! Fourth grade has been a bit of a transition for her, but we all love, love, love her teacher Mrs. Bovee.

Apparently, in fourth grade, it's already not appropriate to take a picture with your teacher!

Welcome home sisters!! We've missed you! It sure is quiet around our house with only one kid at home during the day! It's been a long time since that happened.

Our Midwestern Paradise

Our tradition for the past five years has been to vacation to our mid-western paradise, the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. So we concluded our southern trip, with a couple nights staying at our favorite place in the world. Over the years, some things have changed within the hotel, but the magic is still there. Somehow, this little town on the shores of Lake Michigan seems to give us our beach fix for the year.

Our kids were ready to have some fun at the beach.

We found this fun turtle sculpture.

The kids loved hitting the waves in the raft.

The waves this year were actually pretty decent and definitely "boogie board-able".

After cleaning off in the lake, it was time to get dirty.

Four little bodies in a sand pit ...what is next?

Daddy worked hard to make sure everyone would get a nice sand bath.

Before long, these little bodies disappeared and just little heads floated on the sand. I love this pic because it seems to capture the uninhibited emotion.

The finished product. As you can see, our more sensory-affected child started to lose patience!

Daddy did let these beach creatures out ... eventually.

As per tradition, Kyler enjoyed some flying.


Oh, how I love this little beach ... and hate leaving it.

For some reason, we always go to Sheboygan at the very end of the summer. It seems to give us a morale boost -- feeling like we squeezed every bit out of summer and can then start school and face the onset of fall.