I did it.  I sent my first born to preschool this week.  I didn’t even cry  =)She was ecstatic to say the least.  She packed her bag the night before she was so excited.  I tried not to think about it.

She was very patient with mom as I took picture after picture.  Her brother and sister complained quite a bit about the sun though.  I told them to suck it up, my baby was starting preschool =)She got a little apprehensive when she approached her classroom, but her teacher is so sweet and got her started right away on a project which helped the transition a bit.  By the end of the day, she wanted to know why she only gets to go 2 days a week instead of 3 days.  I guess that means she had fun. To celebrate how big she is getting, she got to choose the activities for the evening.  She chose Chinese food for dinner.  I even offered Chuck E Cheese, but she was set on Chinese food.  A girl after my own heart.And of course, the night wouldn’t be a true celebration if we didn’t stop for some ice cream!The whole family enjoyed Avery’s final choice for our evening activity.Happy first day of preschool sweet girl!!  We love you and are so excited for you as you step into this new phase of life!

I sit here writing and am at a loss for words that will adequately describe the past week.  Pine Cove Family Camp is amazing and so many amazing things happen during the week that it may take me two posts to fully describe them.   =) If you want to see all the pics from the week, click here

We left last Sunday right after church and drove into camp around 3:30pm.  As you can see, the little man drove us into camp this year =)
Once we got into camp, the fun didn’t stop.  Avery was a “Wild Kid” this year, Elliana was a “June Bug”, and Justus was a “Rollie Pollie” which meant Elliana and Justus both still got naps in their class while Avery got to do fun things like have water balloon fights, shaving cream wars, swimming contests, and pony rides during naps.  All three of them love their classes.  In fact, Brent and I had a plan to take the kids out on individual dates throughout the week.  We’ll just say it took some convincing to get the kids to leave their class to go out with mommy and daddy!

I don’t have any pictures of our dates with the kids.  So wish I did!  But on Monday, we took Elliana out on the boat and she rode the water rocket.  You sit on it and hang on for dear life while the boat tries to throw you in the water.  Every time a wave hit the water rocket, Elliana yelled “yeehaw”.  She loved it!  I took Avery out on the boat to do the same thing on Friday.  I think she giggled through the entire thing =)  REALLY really wish I had both experiences on video!

Brent and I also got a few dates throughout the week.  A breakfast trail ride, a morning water ski outing, and 2 dinner dates.  I think that’s one of the things I love about Pine Cove.  It provides amazing family activities as well as amazing couple activites and amazing kids programs.    Everyone in the family gets to have fun without mommy and daddy feeling like they are working overtime to take care of everyone!So because I can’t really put into words the amazing week of vacation, I put together the video below that somewhat captures our week.  I know its long, but I’m sure the grandparents will be as excited about it as I am =) If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, you should skip ahead to about 3 min. & 40 seconds  and catch a glimpse of the kids’ musical debut.  I’ll just say Elliana learned to use her hips that way from her father.  =)  Hope you enjoy!

I come to write to our 2nd child, and I could fill up an entire page and feel like I still haven’t described her just right.  Elliana is the most tender-hearted child and loves to take care of her babies and stuffed animals and her brother, but she is also pretty strong and if you get in her way while she is doing any of the previously mentioned things, watch out.  Especially if she thinks Justus is in trouble or about to get hurt.  If little brother is anywhere close to being in danger, Elliana becomes a mama bear ready to do anything necessary, even pick the little guy up by his neck, to save him.

Els also is extremely creative and loves to live life outside of the box.  She always has a story to tell and a smile on her lips.   She can make even the most serious person smile or laugh, and her eyes can light up an entire room.  She doesn’t like to be the center of attention like Avery does; she would rather play with all the good toys while everyone else is worried about getting attention.  Most of the time, we say she has her own little universe that seems way more fun than the one most of us live in!  Life is a party for Elliana and wherever Elliana goes, she takes that party with her.

This summer, I have seen her grow up so much.  She went from not liking the water to doing tricks going down the slides.  She began the summer scared to try to swim in the deep end and now is swimming all over the deep end with just a noodle.  She has mastered riding the bike, even with all the uneven sidewalks around here!  She is also incredibly independent and prefers to do most things on her own.  She likes to wear clothes inside out or backwards because she likes the pockets that go on your bottom to be in front so she can put “treasures” in them.

Elliana, your tenderness towards others, your excitement towards life, and your love of all things adventurous is something to be admired.  I thank God he put you in our family and pray that you will come to know Him and have a relationship with Him.  Your prayers lately have consisted of things such as “Jesus, help me not to be scared when a bear comes at me because I know that you are always with me and will protect me from getting eaten.” Although the prayer made your dad and I smile, I pray that this understanding and awareness of the goodness of Christ will never leave you.  You are our sunshine, and I’m so grateful you are a part of our family.  Thanks for pushing your older sister out of her box, for taking care of your younger brother, and, most of all, for just being you.  We love you!!

Here’s a short video of Elliana over the past couple of weeks. I think min 4-5 show her personality the best.   Enjoy =)

This summer I have watched my little girl turn into a big girl.  It seems like weekly Brent and I are looking at each other with our mouths hanging open saying “look at her.  She’s so big!”

Avery, this summer you have learned most of your letter sounds and how to sound out a few words.  You LOOOOOVE to sit and “do school”.  Partly because it is one on one time with mommy and you love the one on one time, but partly because of how God made you.  Anything where you can learn and figure out problems, you want to do it.  The girl just loves to learn and figure things out!

You also have a new passion for telling everyone about Jesus.  Usually after checking out at a store, you will grab my arm as we walk away from the cashier and say “mom, why didn’t you ask her if she knows Jesus? ” Most of the time its a bit convicting for  mommy!  You also recently had a bit of an argument with a neighbor kid about the fact that God made him and God made him perfect.  The neighbor kid wasn’t agreeing with you, but you stood your ground and were adamant about telling him about Jesus.  Later you said to me, “_____ knows who Jesus is but he doesn’t think God made him.  Can you talk to him tomorrow mom?  He needs to know.” I pray you always have this much of a passion for sharing truth with your friends.

One of your recent accomplishments was learning to ride your bike without training wheels!  We tried a few months ago, but we got distracted by a little brother who kept wanting to run into the street!  So last week, I took the training wheels off again and YOU TOOK OFF!  You didn’t need me to teach you or hold the bike or run after you; you just did it!  By the time daddy got home from work that night, you learned how to take off on the bike all by yourself and are now fearless.

I think Sports Camp is what put me over the edge this summer though.  Watching you look so big out on that soccer field all by yourself sent your mommy into tears.  You have had so much fun going every night and learning from your coaches.   Then, you’ll get in the car at the end of the night and have “grown-up” conversations with me…the ones that don’t require me to ask any questions, but to just sit and listen to you tell stories about your night and ask me about my night.

Avery, I don’t know what we would do without you in this family!  Thank you for being who God made you to be.  I love you more than you could ever imagine.

Here’s a little video about Avery over the past few weeks.  Enjoy =)

7 years ago, I’m pretty sure I didn’t know what love was all about.  I loved you as much as I knew how and was so ecstatic to walk down that aisle and become your wife.   Now, 7 years later, words can’t describe how much deeper my love has grown for you.  It seems like every season of life stretches me and opens my eyes to how amazing you are.    Thank you for loving the Lord, passionately following and obeying Him, leading this family, and for loving me.  I couldn’t ask for more in a husband.  Happy Anniversary!

Ten Reasons Why I Love my Hubby =)

1. He can talk me down from a tantrum with just a look of his eyes…you know the look that says, “I love you Kari, but really?”
2. He has this ability to sense when I need a break and comes in and always rescues me just in time
3. He seeks the Lord faithfully and diligently and gives credit to God when God begins to bless Him
4. He knows his faults and freely and honestly admits them
5. He makes me laugh…at myself and at life
6. He is the most patient man in the world!
7. He gets just as excited as I do when he gets to have quality alone time with one of the kids
8. He got teary eyed with me as we talked about how big Avery was getting
9. He can be trusted…with everything from decisions to secrets to faults to giving advice.  The man has discernment and wisdom and I trust him immensely
10. He understands that even though he had to remind me that today was our anniversary, I still love him tons =)

You’re the best husband, father, and best friend I could ever have.  Love you more than all the back rubs, days off, and clean houses in the world!  Happy Anniversary babe.

Since this blog serves as a baby book for the kiddos, I thought I would take a few posts and remind myself about each kid over the past few months.  I’ll start with the baby since he officially turned 16 months old this past week!  Its hard to believe he’s that big already! =)

Justus:     Some of your favorite things this summer are: Reading with your sister (who is actually starting to read…a little…but we’ll save that for her post =) )And having tea parties with the other sister
You have also started making this face right before you have to go to the bathroom.  You come find me, scrunch up your nose, and start sniffing.  I’ll ask you “do you need to go poo poo?”  and you’ll shake your head yes.  I have yet to put you on the potty to go though.  You middle sister did the same thing at 15 months and anyone who knows her knows how that has turned out for us.  So you still go in your diaper, but usually as soon as you are done, you go and bring me a diaper and continually say “biper, biper, biper”  over and over again until I’ll stop and change you.  Your sisters never cared if they were poopy, but you certainly do!You recently learned to climb up that bunk bed ladder.  Mommy was quite surprised when I walked in the room to find you on the top rung of the ladder.  15 months is too early to learn such things!   But your motto is “anything your sisters can do, you can do too.”  Which means you have figured out how to climb to the top bunk, up onto the trampoline, on top of the computer desk, onto the couch, into the car and car seat, and so much  more.  But you do it all with a smile.  Sometimes that smile makes it hard to discipline you!You also are quite the cuddle bug.  You LOOOVE your white blanket and just giggle with excitement whenever I say its time to go get it from your bed.  You have to have it over my left should before you’ll lay down your head and cuddle before bedtime. I need to take pictures of this one day!

Overall, you are just our happy go lucky, free spirited, rambunctious little boy whom we love whole-heartedly.   We couldn’t imagine life without you!  Happy 16 month birthday little man =)Here is a little video of our little man at 15 months old!  Its just a lot of him playing with the things he likes.  Enjoy =)

Our trip to the pool was canceled due to little man’s slight fever when he woke up from his nap. The next best thing to a pool? A bath tub of course.The girls wanted the tub really full so they could practice their swimming moves.  They decided little brother should just play with mom during this “swim”.Little man was not putting up with  being left out of all the fun.  After a brief conference, the girls decided he could join them on two conditions.

1. He had to pretend to be a mermaid
2. He couldn’t poop in the tub.  I’m happy to say, Justus makes an excellent mermaid and all gross substances stayed in his body.

Sometimes the one word that can melt this mommy’s heart the fastest is simply “momma”.

The hair fiasco turned out to be not so bad.  A few curls, a head band to hide the bald spots, and a big flower made my beautiful girl into a beautiful flower girl.They were excellent flower girls. They both made sure that the ENTIRE center aisle was covered in flowers for the bride to walk down.   We ended the evening with Elliana running up to me saying “Now I’m married!!!!!” as she jumped up and down with a big smile on her face.  I told her she couldn’t be married because she hadn’t finished college yet…brainwashing at its finest =)

My husband officiated the wedding so while 3 of our clan stood on stage, the little man and I hung out in the back row.  I have a niece 6 months older than Justus who sat back there with us.  She talked the whole time while the little man snuggled with me and I reflected on the differences between boys and girls.  At Justus’ age, my girls would have asked questions and commented through the whole wedding too.  Not this little man.  Just give him food and a lap and he doesn’t say a word.  Yes, having a boy as the third kid may have its advantages.  Boys may be more active but so far they seem to be quiet about it.  My ears like the quiet.

To see the rest of the pictures from the wedding, click here or watch the slide show below

3 days from now my girls are going to be flower girls for the very first time! See how cute they look in this picture…

After nap today, the youngest daughter came out looking like this.

Guess she found some scissors in her room

Should be some GREAT wedding pictures this weekend.

Any suggestions on how to make this flowergirlish?  And don’t worry. There will be pictures posted of the wedding.  I’m dying to see how we’re going to recover from this one!