Summer traditions

Mike and I have this summer tradition, we like to take walks after supper. We've done this since we've been married! As the years have progressed we've added kids. But, logistically, it hasn't been too bad. We've just added more strollers. Last year we were even taking two strollers! But we haven't had to deviate our route or the length of the walk, till this year...

This year the kids are bigger, way too big to push up and down the big hills that we have around our house, but not so big that they can walk the whole way. So we decided to let the older two bike and walk the flat bike trail instead of the hilly walk around our neighborhood.

So off we go on our walk. We aren't too sure how far their little legs are going to be able to peddle, but we thought, when they start acting just a little tired, we'll turn around. Well, they just kept going! Like little energizer bunnies!

About 3 miles down the bike trail is a little town. We thought we would turn around 1/2 way there, but nope, they kept going. They made it all the way into town! We stopped at the local ice-cream shop and got some water and ice-cream. Then we started home.

They did start to get tired about 1/2 mile out of the little town. Mike and I were so worried that he was going to have to ride the bikes home, and I was going to push and over-burdened stroller full of kids. But they just drank some more water, which John said gave him LOTS of energy. And they made a game of racing each other home.

Mike and I could not believe it. A 4 and 5 year old did a 6 mile loop last night. And the 4 year old still has his training wheels on! John kept calling himself a "machine!" and Sofie was so excited that she did it.

This morning when we all got up, Mike and I were sore from keeping up with them on their bikes. But they haven't complained of sore muscles once. And Sofie even asked if we could go again tonight...

4th time around...

Well, as most of you have already guessed from the ticker I have at the top of this blog, we are pregnant again! Child #4, Lord willing, will be born in the beginning of December.
This 4th time around has been quite the roller coaster. We, unfortunately, had two miscarriages in a row before this child. And the 1st trimester this time has had some scary turns and tearful moments, but the Lord is so gracious and any problems seem to be ironing themselves out and we are hopeful for the future. So this child will be a true miracle baby for the Christmas time.
Anyway, as far as how I feel. Absolutely awful. Morning sickness seems to get worse with each child, and I've had the yucky complication of severe heartburn this time. But it's all worth it, and I'm thankful to be able to experience this all for the 4th time.
So there's the news! We're all excited!

Wordless Wednesday

Memorial Day Camping

This weekend was the "official" start to the camping season, though we did go just last weekend. We went to Pikes Peak State Park in Iowa with my parents, my brother Joe, and his wife Carrie. It was a pretty laid back weekend, but there was lots of fun with the 3 kids and the 3 dogs, plus good food, lots of good guitar music, and beautiful scenery.
Some of the highlights of the weekend was Sofie's complete fascination with Norman the Jack Russel Terrier. Norman was so agreeable. Sofie pushed and prodded him all over the place and he just let her, he didn't even try to ignore her. Notice all the pictures we had of Sofie, she had Norman firmly by her side.
John had great fun making everyone laugh. He wore his sword the entire weekend, plus rode his bike and helped make the many fires that we had. When Joe and Carrie took the kids and the dogs for a walk, John walked ahead of them all with his sword and protected them all from the "crocodiles".

Lastly Lilia charmed everyone's socks off. She was cute and engaging and only did her ear deafening scream a couple of times... One evening when I was changing her into her pajamas while my Mom was doing the dishes she kept saying, "Gramma, help! Gramma, help!!" It was very cute.

Anniversary

Well, Tuesday was Mike and my 8th Wedding Anniversary. 8 years ago we said our, "I do's" in my childhood church, in front of family and friends. Then we rode away on a Harley Davidson to spend our honeymoon in Disney World and Marco Island, FL. Let me tell you, it was definitely a highlight in my life.
So here's my man, who was kind enough to want to marry 8 years ago, with more highlights of my life. ( I would've posted wedding pictures but they were before digital camera's and I'm too lazy to go scan in the hardcopies.)

These pictures are the 1st days of each of our children's lives:

Sofie and Mike - I love this picture, because he was able to fall asleep with a BRAND newborn right beside him. I was not so... relaxed (read neurotically, tortuously uber parent) with this 1st one. I will tell you I couldn't go to sleep while he was sleeping with her because I was afraid FOR him that he would roll over and squish her.

Mike and John - Laaaa! The boy that we was secretly REALLY wanting.
Mike and Lilia - He was so excited about her. Being the 3rd time around all the fear and worry is mostly gone, and we were just able to enjoy the process. Or he was at least, I was having a c-section, but he was video taping and taking pictures. He was so interested in the actual c-section process. What a guy. :)

Poo-Poo

My baby, she's ready to be potty trained. She showing all the classic symptoms. She can say the word, "poo-poo," and "potty", she asks to be changed when she's dirty, and she's very interested in other people going to the bathroom. But, as probably a lot of 3rd children can attest, Mama's tired and potty training takes "some" effort. In the last few days Lilia has said a couple things that put the nail in the proverbial coffin that it is indeed time to potty train.

The other morning I was laying on my bed, doing some reading, when Lilia walks in, goes into my closet and shuts the door:

Mama (Me :) ) - "Lilia, what are you doing in there?"
Lilia - after a little pause - "Goin' poo-poo..."

Or a couple of afternoon ago I was resting on the couch (have I said I've been tired?) and Lilia had been napping but she was awake. She was wanting to be rescued from her crib. So she cried a little bit, yelled for me, yelled for Mike, but obviously nothing was working. So she yells in an enticing voice, "I POO-POO. Mama, I POO-POO" and only on a mother does such an enticement work. For I did get up and get her out of her crib....

The Maiden Voyage

Well, we had a very special weekend. We went on our 1st camping trip of the season, SO Fabulous. Plus, we took our camper on it's maiden voyage!

The weekend couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was in the low 70's and no rain. ( I guess it did sprinkle a little late Saturday night. But it didn't stick around) The new camper was a breeze to camp in. And the campground that we visited was beautiful. Our campsite was literally on the shores of the lake. Mike backed the camper to about 40 ft. from the lake. It was such a great trip!

John loved to show how much room was in the camper by running the length of it...
It was quite windy a lot of the time. Sofie had fun letting the picnic blanket fly in the wind.

The campground had a park to play at.
Lots of relaxing by the lake after playing so hard at the park.
There was plenty of time for strolls by the lake
The grass was a new complication in Lilia's life. I guess it wouldn't be any fun to walk through grass that was up to your knees.
We also got plenty of use out of the TV. Geesh, what would you do camping, with out a TV?