Football

We went to the Homecoming game last night. Jordan's name was drawn and he had the chance to win us a new car if he could throw a Nerf football through the car window from 30 yards. We did not come home with a new car.

Then he had the chance to win an XBox if he could make it from 15 yards. We did not come home with an XBox.

Then he had the chance to win an XM Satellite Radio if he could make it from 5 yards. We came home with the radio. I of course am thrilled that we can now listen to EVERY sporting event possible.

Seriously, we couldnt have won the car?!?!? :)

This is what the kids do during the games. They bring their cars and trucks and play in the dirt. Next year they might have to actually watch the game though because we are getting an all weather track.


Lauren and Avery with cousin Shelby.


Football heads...

random

Jordan was gone at a conference all week and on Thursday the little two and I packed up and headed to DSM to stay with him. We had a lot of fun in the pool but no opportunities to take any pictures.

We tried to do a photo session outside our restaurant but of course Sully wanted nothing to do with Avery.


Jordan has been having some issues with one of his eyes. He went back to the eye dr. on Friday afternoon and had the eye dialated again - he was having fun freaking me out with this scary look.


We had a Praying Mantis on our window all day on Friday. The kids had a lot of fun watching it.

See ya in December

Sullivan had a therapy appointment at EDI this morning. He has not been there in 4 weeks. The last time we were there he was taking occasional steps on his own. I was nervous about this appointment and I have been praying about it alot. Our therapist, Jamie, has caused us a great deal of anxiety and is kind of pessimistic. I prayed that she would be encouraging today even if she had negative things to say about Sully. Then last night I realized that was crazy. I needed to just pray that there would be no negative things to say! I tend to ask God for less than I really want. I think I rationalize that I wont be as dissapointed if He has other plans. (I'm working on that!)

Anyway, Jamie walked into the waiting room to call us and Sully walked over to her (a miracle in itself because he is not her biggest fan). Jamie was SO excited. She was clapping and praising him like mad. He walked all around the gym at therapy and showed off everything he had. Jamie had tears in her eyes when she said, "These are the days that I love my job. When I see a child who I had worries about completely erase those worries in a single session." Of course that made me cry and the session was pretty much over at that point.

Sully is stil turning out his right foot quite a bit and so we are going to go back in December so she can see how he is doing with that. She only wants him to wear his braces for half of each day. She doesnt want him dependent on them. She said hopefully by December he wont need them. All GREAT news.

I'm so elated today. And so thankful that I have a God who can answer my prayers beyond my wildest imagination.


I dont think I have ever posted a picture of Sully's braced. You cant see them the best but this will have to do...

What I love about being a mom...today

The challenge has been extended.
I was challenged to come up with my top 100 things I love about being a mom - at least the top 100 reasons for today. It took me exactly 17 minutes. Your turn. Warning - it will make you cry.

1. I love chubby babies
2. I love watching Lauren and Avery play dolls together.
3. I love watching Sullivan play with cars and have demolition derbies
4. I love watching my husband peer over a baby’s crib in awe of his child
5. I love watching Jordan dance with his baby girls
6. I love Lauren Elaine
7. I love Avery Elizabeth
8. I love Sullivan Joseph
9. I love the children we hope to be blessed with in the future
10. I love being pregnant and having Jordan wait on me.
11. I love feeling a baby kick inside me
12. I love watching my kids meet a new sibling
13. I love watching my parents and in-laws holding a new grandchild
14. I love when Avery says, for the 100th time in a day, Mommy, WATCH THIS!
15. I love when Avery says, Mommy, I like you.
16. I love how Lauren wants everything to be beautiful and organized.
17. I love playing in the yard with my kids.
18. I love jumping in leaves with my kids.
19. I love watching Lauren trying so hard to get the steps in dance class.
20. I love when Lauren hugs me after nailing a verse in Awana.
21. I love it that Lauren is confident and loving
22. I love that Lauren loves school and learning
23. I love reading books to children.
24. I love it when my kids ASK me to read to them.
25. I love hearing Avery sing her Jesus Loves Me/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star rendition
26. I love when Sully says, TOUCHDOWN!
27. I love when Sully hugs me and pats my back.
28. I love Sully in the morning – so loving and happy
29. I love Avery at bedtime – so loving and naughty!
30. I love Lauren after school – so full of her day
31. I love watching my kids rough house with their uncles
32. I love how Lauren loves clothes
33. I love how Avery loves shoes
34. I love how Sully loves wheels and motors!
35. I love smelling my kids after bath time.
36. I love watching my kids sleep
37. I love Mother’s Day
38. I love breakfast in bed – and when 3 kids get in bed with me to help me eat my breakfast in bed.
39. I love when all my kids nap on Sunday afternoons
40. I love weekends away with my kids daddy.
41. I love coming home after weekends away.
42. I love talking with my kids about Jesus.
43. I love talking to Jesus about my kids.
44. I love imagining with Jordan what our kids will be someday.
45. I love wondering what great exploits they will do for Christ.
46. I love how completely different my kids are
47. I love imagining how future kids will fit into this wild house!
48. I love sharing stories about our kids with my friends.
49. I love to blog about my kids.
50. I love how Lauren used to say, “di do”, for Thank you .
51. I love how Sully says thank you EXACTLY like Lauren used to.
52. I love going to the library with my kids.
53. I love telling my kids about their Papa Richard
54. I love it when we ask the kids, what we should pray for and Avery says, Pray for Papa Richard.
55. I love watching my kids with their GREAT grandparents.
56. I love birthday parties!
57. I love waking my kids up on their birthday and telling them about the day they were born.
58. I love it how Lauren always wants to know about when she was a baby.
59. I love how Avery wants to be big like Lauren
60. I love how it that Sullivan is so proud that he can walk.
61. I love it that God has answered prayers about my children.
62. I love being called mommy.
63. I love the name daddy
64. I love each of my kids laughs.
65. I love it when Sully tries to show off.
66. I love it when Avery moves furniture around so she can jump off it.
67. I love it that Avery was potty-trained in a snap.
68. I love it when Lauren asks if we can cuddle on the couch.
69. I love looking at pictures of my kids.
70. I love watching family home movies with my kids
71. I love reading bible stories
72. I love decorating for Christmas with my kids.
73. I love dropping my kids off at Sunday school
74. I love seeing my kids do something kind for one another
75. I love knowing that there are 3 people in this world who depend on me for just about everything.
76. I love baby clothes
77. I love the smell of baby lotion
78. I love the smell of a newborns soft head
79. I love being in the hospital after having a baby.
80. I love bringing a new baby home.
81. I love family pictures
82. I love it that Lauren loves Fall and loves Fall decorations
83. I love it how Lauren always notices the little things
84. I love Avery’s excitement and zest for life
85. I love Sully’s calm cool attitude
86. I love when Sully goes up and gives Lauren a hug.
87. I love it when Sully pulls Avery’s hair.
88. I love well baby check ups.
89. I love homemade birthday cards
90. I love when Lauren says, lets make something for my great grandmas today
91. I love it that Lauren cannot lie
92. I love it that Avery is mischevious
93. I love it that Sully is obsessed with being outside.
94. I love when Sully says, uh-oh
95. I love when Avery says, ‘actually’
96. I love baking with my girls
97. I love cold nights when we have to snuggle
98. I love singing with my kids
99. I love dancing with my kids.
100. I love that my girls know that fairy tales end, “happily ever after, BUT not without a lot of hard work.”

Olivia

My niece Oliva (Livvie) turns 14 this week. We celebrated her birthday this weekend. I cant believe she is 14. It seems like yesterday that she was the cute LITTLE flowergirl in my wedding.
Livvie is so eternally sweet and fun. We love how much our girls look up to her.

We love you Livvie!!!

Mess

For some reason every time we have dessert - this happens...I blame Nick.

Uncles

My kids are so blessed to have so many fun Uncles and Aunts. They enjoy every minute we are with them.
This weekend Joe and Amy and Nick and Stacie all came home. It was a weekend of fun and games and a lot of noise that my dad would have so loved.

Watching football with Uncle Joe




Loving Uncle Nick


Nick and Avery doing some thumbwrestling

Poor Sully

Lauren thought this was hilarious to do to Sullivan. Jordan, not so much.

Quotes from Avery

1. Sunday morning Avery was lying in bed with us. No one was talking. Then Avery says, "You know what? I dont have a tail."

Hilarious

2. Monday morning Jordan goes into check on Avery. The first thing she says is, "Daddy, I want to have a big butt like mommy."

Not so hilarious!
We probed deeper and figured out that she was trying to say she wanted to grow up and be big. But I am still extremely offended.

more

Princess Margaret


Even dogs got into the spirit.

The girls being made official Ladies in Waiting...

Renaissance Fair

Im just getting around to posting pictures from the Renaissance Fair last weekend. The girls loved all the princesses and fairies run around. They had a blast. We took my mom, my niece Olivia and my mom's little sis, Deena.


The Troll was actually very scary.


Sullivan HATED the Troll.


This fairy gave the girls fairy dust and fairy crystals.


Silly singers.


My mom dancing with Friar Tuck!

Budding Friendship

Sully and Jalen are now at the age where they can start developing their life-long friendship. (ha!)
Actually their 'friendship' currently involves pushing, stealing toys, not sharing and some screaming at each other. Also, getting jealous of each other when Jalen is giving me kisses or Sully is sitting on Melanie's lap. There may be some fighting over girls in their future!

Sullivan

It amazes me how Sully can go along for a week or two at a time and we will see little change and then overnight its like we have a new kid. At the Renaissance Festival Sully refused to be carried or ride in the stroller, he wanted to walk and hold our hands. When we got to Joe's he was a walking fool. Walking everywhere without holding on. Today for the first time I would say that walking was close to being his primary mode of transportation. This is so huge! There have been times when I really never thought we would get here. Please continue to pray for increased strength and confidence for Sully. I am praising God for miracles tonight and of course - just as Sully is really moving - I cant hold on tight enough.

My beauties

Sometimes just looking at them makes my heart hurt.

Spartans and Cyclones

The kids looked so great getting ready to go to the Spartan game on Friday. Lauren is so proud to be a Spartan!








Jordan and his 'winning' smile after hearing the end of the game. He was VERY mean to all Iowa fans after the game. Calling and leaving mean messages to them all.


They are still really cute!

Everyone keeps asking me why I let Jordan dress them like this when I'm an Iowa fan. I can only say that since he is the best husband in the world, I let him get away with certain things!

Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend full of many fun things. Friday we went to the GNB tailgate before the football game. Saturday we went to the Renaissance Fair in Des Moines and then to Joe and Amy's apartment for awhile. Jordan of course loved listening to the ISU/IOWA game and hearing the win. Sunday we went to Jalen's first birthday party after church - hard to believe he can be one already!!!


Happy Birthday Jalen!

Impromtu

The kids and I were playing in the yard after school last night and we saw all these little girls going into the Y across the street. I remembered that Jordan had mentioned getting Avery into a tumbling class at the Y. So we quickly ran over and got her in the class. She was VERY excited. However, once we were actually in the class she wanted to sit by me rather than the other kids and she wanted nothing to do with waiting in line for her turn. But I think she did have fun and she told me she really wants to go back.
She cracks me up. Nothing is ever just easy and by the rules with Avery and I cant imagine her any other way! Compared to Avery, the other kids in the class were probably model students, but Avery was making all the parents laugh and smile. I know by Junior High I wont be enjoying this as much, but right now, she's 3 and I like having the class clown and mischief maker.

Freedom

Avery and Lauren always ask if they can play outside without me. I rarely say yes - our street is too busy and Avery is too adventureous!

Yesterday I let them and I looked out the window every other minute. This is what I found...so sweet.

Cool Weather!

Few things make me happier than the smell of fall in the air. Today was one of those days!
I love these pictures of Sully and Lauren, I love that we had to wear coats outside tonight!

Weekend

Avery and I talking - I think we were trying to decide if we were going golfing or not.


Lauren being Lauren.


Golf doesn't move quite fast enough for Avery.