Torrance's favorite time of day.

Torrance's favorite time of day is when the 'big' kids get home.

She squeals.

And I mean squeals when she sees them.

Especially her Bo-bo.

I love watching them together.

Tori basically attacks Lauren for awhile and they both just giggle and giggle.

Its so fun having them 9 years apart.

It makes them the cutest friends.

And helps me out SO much!

And in my book there is nothing better than watching your kids love each other.

Freckles

At some point this summer we got a pet.

We didn't choose him, he chose us.

And apparently he has chosen some other families in our neighborhood too!

We named him 'Freckles'.

I hear another family calls him 'Morris'.

He is totally the nicest cat. So sweet and cuddly.

Contessa is in love with him.

She wants him to live in our house.

He did get in our house once...but was quickly removed!

When he comes around all other action stops.

You'd think they'd never seen a cat before!

And Torrance basically just wants to maul him to death.

Thanks for making us so happy 'Freckles' but no, you cant live in our house!

Fun with Gma & Gpa & Cousins!

A few weeks ago Grandpa decided he wanted to take all the 'big' kids

on a day of fun to see the Icubs play, try some mini-golf and out to eat.

Grandma decided it might be wise for her to tag along.

Very wise!

These 5 were completely spoiled ALL DAY LONG.

And loved every second of it.

It is rumored that they tried to make Grandpa go broke

with all the snacks they consumed at the ball game!

I love Lauren's form!

Thanks for such a fun day Grandpa & Grandma!

sad discovery

We headed over to Gladbrook for some kayaking and fun tonight.

Really trying to make the most of what is left of this amazing weather.

Tori of course stayed on shore with me...but she doesnt really stay with me.

She is going to be trouble I tell you. T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Throwing stuff off the dock might have been their favorite part.

When we first arrived we discovered that our usual spot to put the kayaks in was closed. As was the beach. There were trees down everywhere. But it looked it needed some clean up work and then would be fine.

So after kayaking from a different point we went to our favorite spot.

We come here all the time. We take family pictures here.

And my brothers and I had countless evenings spent here with my parents growing up.

It is so amazing and special to us.

The waterfall is so fun and the creek.

But tonight we found this...

no waterfall...trees down everywhere.

Here's the most evidence that things are different...you can see the sky.

Before it was completely a roof of trees.

And this was when I literally started crying.

The path back to the BEST hiking and rock throwing was closed.

Truly, truly it will be YEARS before the park recovers.

Like 20 years or more.

I was so sad. The kids were sad.

Jordan and I both said that the next time we go back our kids could be

too old to remember the fun we had here and the amazing place this was.

The sheer number of huge mature tress that were lost in the storm is just heart breaking.

Here the kids are expressing their disappointment.

Good-bye for now Union Grove State Park.

We hope you recover quickly.

ditto

Sullivan, 'Mommy, sometimes when I'm at school, I think about you and I get sad. But then I just go play with my friends and I feel better."

Ditto buddy. Ditto.

my lunch date

Its ok, you can be jealous.

How is Kindergarten going?

Sullivan, 'well mommy, I'm going to tell you this, two girls have told me I was cute this week. So now I have four girl friends! Its a lot of work. But dont worry, I havent kissed any of them...yet.'

Um.....

Joshua

Seriously, he really is this cute!

And are you kidding me with these curls?

Weekend Recap

Since its Tuesday and Im doing my weekend recap I guess Im a little behind on blogging.

Really does life ever slow down?

Anyway, we invaded Joe and Amy's place this weekend to celebrate a certain little boy who turned TWO!!! Hard to believe.

And really he's about the cutest thing in the world. And so very sweet.

Little Hudson was also one of the main attractions.

We finally got to meet him at 7 weeks.

Lauren could not put the poor child down.

If he was sleeping in his bed she was asking, 'When is he going to get up?' repeatedly.

She loves babies...got a little of her daddy & grandma Cindy in her!

I kind of enjoyed the snuggle time too.

(And what is going on with my hair here?!)

She was just cute.

These two together were quite the pair.

They should never be trusted together I know that much!

And speaking of trust.

Dont trust this guy if you leave your house for the weekend.

We went to check out the Curren's new place & Jordan left some scary messages for the kids all having to do with 'Old Man Zenor'.

Im sorry Brad! I hope you've been sleeping ok!

Thanks for a great weekend Joe & Amy!

Celebrate

Today my dad would have been 65.

I have lots of thoughts in my head about what this day would have been like if he were here.

About how we would have celebrated him.

What kind of party would we have had? My dad loved birthdays...especially his kids' and his own!

Would we have thrown a surprise party with all our family and friends? My dad loved nothing more than being surrounded by his family and friends.

Would he have gloated that he just gets better with every year? He loved to gloat. Modesty was not one of his strong points.

One thing I know is he would have been beaming all day. I would have hugged him like 65 times and we all would have remembered this day for years to come.

Happy Birthday Daddy.

I'll never be too old to stop missing my daddy.

We wish you were here to celebrate.

I hate how much I miss you...but I love knowing I'll see you again.

We are roasting some marshmallows in your honor tonight.

I'll try to make them 'perfect' just like you tried to teach me.

a couple extras!

We've had the privilege over the past few days to have a couple of extra kids under our care.

Thanks Troy & Amy for trusting us with your precious kids.

And no, it was not always this controlled!

couldn't have said it better myself

I saw this on a blog yesterday and its kind of my motto for life right now:

We used to want it all.

Now we just want to pee alone.

Can I get an amen?

The Kindergartener

Oh boy.

It hurt. I wont lie.

I cried.

This isnt something that gets easier with each child.

I felt my heart get really tight and my stomach lurch.

I wanted to grab him and race back home.

But he went. And he was excited.

After breakfast he told Jordan:

Well, my head wants to go...but my tummy doesn't.

FAVORITE QUOTE EVER!

Then he told me that he was 2 nervouses and 1 excited.

But when we got to the school he switched it and was 1 nervous and 2 exciteds

See...these conversations are why I almost drug him back home!

I MISS HIM!

We went to hang up his bag and he shares his cubbie with a girl.

Well she had her bag on his hook.

He whispers...'Should I move it?'

I told him that was fine. He said, 'Phew, that was close'

SEE He's Hysterical!

At this point there was no way I was going to get a decent smile.

So we went and found his teacher.

I said, are you ok buddy?

He looks at me and says, 'I need a hug'

ugh.

I gave him a huge hug and my tears started.

The sweet kid patted my cheek, whispered 'I love you' and turned to play with his buds.

ugh.

I have a feeling he's going to give me reassuring face pats a lot in life.

It felt SO good knowing he was going to be with some of his best preschool friends.

1st Grader.

Avery was nervous this morning.

Her excitement over the past couple days gave way to nerves this morning.

I was expecting this from her.

As Trina would say, 'She's got the worry-gene'.

But man, alive she looked adorable!

She was nervous about her new teacher.

She was nervous about kids she might not know.

She clung to my neck and whispered, 'Mommy, I see so many kids I dont know.'

She sounded scared.

And so I was crying.

But I turned and pointed out all the kids I knew by name and she spotted Brooklyn and we were good to go. But she turned and hugged me one more time and quietly whispered, 'Thank you mommy, I love you.'

Ugh.

Brooklyn & Avery

Stop it girls...just stop!

4th Grader

Oh Lauren.

Always the lover of school and anything with structure and routine.

She's had her outfit picked out for weeks.

She JUMPED out of bed this morning.

By far the most excited about this day.

We walked towards her room and I could see her eyeing my ginormous camera.

I said you're going to let me take your picture like I did the others in their classrooms right?

She hesitated.

I said please.

She said, 'Fine, but not next year.'

ugh.

4th grade is old.

I REMEMBER 4th grade! Lots about it in fact.

She only gave me one shot at this and it was blurry...but it will have to do.

Oh girl...stop. Please just stop maturing.

Lauren's 'funny' story for the day is this.

Today was not just the first day of school it was the first day she and Avery got to wear earrings other than the posts that you get when you first are pierced.

They have been anticipating this even more than the 1st day.

So I go to take Lauren's out this morning and it was really on there good.

She said, 'Uh, I feel weird.'

Next thing we both know...she is on her back laying on the floor blinking.

I had caught her thank goodness...but she seriously BLACKED OUT!

She recovered quickly and we finished the job.

A career in the medical field is not in Lauren's future!

The day is here!

And there goes my heart...just walking around outside my body.

Lauren, Avery & Sullivan,

Sending you out is never going to be easy.

Not in a million years.

I pray for this day all summer. I stew about it and I fret. I get sad and I get excited. I dread it and I long for it. I love schedules and learning. I love books and pencils. I love homework and early bedtimes. I love beginning of the day excitement and end of the day stories and hugs.

I have much anxiety about you leaving.

But I will send you out with great faith that Jesus is with you even when I am not.

I ask Him to keep you safe, to help you learn, to help you be kind and compassionate, respectful and fun loving. I ask Him to help you to not be scared, worried or sad.

I pray that you feel His hand on the smalls of your backs when

mine is at home wishing it were there.

I pray with faith that is spoken of here:

I John 5:15

'And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.'

He is there even when I am not.

And remember...just look to your right or your left...likely you will find a sibling and the great thing about siblings is...no matter how much you might annoy each other at home...out in the 'world' there is no one who will have your back more fiercely.

All my love my little arrows...

(Psalm 127:3-5)

Now go knock em' dead!