Just a few shots of the children when we got home from church...just felt like taking them...

a random friday night

don't you just love how just a random night can turn into something so special for your kiddos? We were outside playing and grilling out and were about to go in when Mike and I started chatting about some things while the kids were cleaning up. Next thing I knew, I heard water spraying against the house...something we had just told them not to do. We both lean our heads down the side of the house and Ryan and Kaitlyn are gathered together so quietly....so that we can't hear anything and conspiratorially turning on and off the water...on and off the water. Mike and I quickly pull our heads back out of sight and chuckle. They were being so sweet and so quiet and trying so hard to play and not have us notice...hahaha

Really, what does a little water hurt? So, we let them play "unnoticed" for a while before they finally caught us spying. It was so cute...they were so startled that we were watching them they were not sure whether to say sorry or ask for some help with turning the hose off. We gave in and started spraying them ourselves...which they, of course, thought was hilarious.

What a sweet, unexpected moment. Love nights like these!!

Kaitlyn didn't have a chance...Ryan was SOAKING her!!

He. Loved. It!

Pictures by Kellen Jacob Photography

Remind me the next time that I want to get pictures of the kids, and be in some myself, that taking pictures at 8 months pregnant is not a good look for me. :)

I think Mike and the kids look great though!

So, here are some pictures we had taken the last week of August by the same photographer who took these pictures in November 2010.

I love these 2 pictures the best...

My unbelievably handsome sweet boys...I love them so much!!

All "3" of my munchkins present and accounted for...

Cannot believe how fast they are growing up. This time next year we will have another one almost to the walking stage...really, really, hard to believe...

Wishes...

I wish that I could say the first morning of school was a huge success...

• That the morning went well
• There was no yelling or screaming
• Both children calmly helped me all morning long
• I didn't have to discipline or use sharp words with either child
• The drive was pleasant and laid back - we sang songs and talked
• Pictures were taken and both children smiled beautifully

Unfortunately, I can't really say that ANY of these things happened.

Our morning started off early, as usual. 6:05am I had a little person standing at my bedside asking to watch a show. This is a normal thing, so nothing different so far. 15 minutes into said show I was again awoken to be told that the show was going off and a certain little someone does not like commercials. (I mean, I love Noggin, but they have totally spoiled him with channels that do show commercials. He is crazy about complaining about NOT wanting to watch them. Very impatient...we are working on that!) At this point I hear our other little one start crying. Now this, this is unusual. She usually doesn't wake up until 7am and even then you may not know she is awake because she sits and reads for a while by herself. So, it is only 6:20 and both children are awake and complaining. I get out of bed knowing I need to hurry and get dressed because I need to fix lunches and I found out late last night that we had some people coming to our house today while I was out. So, I had to put up a few last minute things from being out of town last week that had been left out and vacuum the floors. No big deal...I can do all of that...I have 2 hours...yeah, well, at about 7am it hits me that...Oh. My. Goodness...I forgot Kaitlyn has her 15 month doctors appointment this morning at 8am. This leaves me with only 30 remaining minutes to get EVERYTHING done. (did I mention that I am by myself because Mike is out of town!!!)

It was a CRAZY, HECTIC morning and I am sorry to say that the children saw most of this stress first hand. I am guilty of speaking sharp, LOUD, words, not showing patience or even kindness when I really think about it, hurrying them to the point of craziness, and then continuing to show this horrible attitude the whole way in the car. I am ashamed for acting this way and wish that I could undo this awful, terrible morning and fill it with homemade pancakes, hugs and kisses, time to pick out their outfits and put them one myself without throwing something at them and asking them to do what they can themselves, putting a little something special into a lunchbox, talking and laughing on the way to school, and taking some nice, laid back (all-the-time-in-the-world) pictures when we arrived at school. Maybe Friday will be a better day. A more laid back day. A kinder day.

This is where I need to go. This is what I need in my day.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering. That Doctor's appointment that we forgot about and were rushing around to get to that caused even more unnecessary stress on an already stressful day. Well, they had no power. So, we got there and they couldn't see us. We have to reschedule...REALLY??!!

Here are the few pictures I did get today...

and this is the only one I got of Kaitlyn...running off and laughing the whole time while Ryan tried to grab her. Kind of funny looking back. Very irritating at the time!!!

Labor Day at the Beach

Kaitlyn and Ryan spent over an hour on the porch dumping out water from a water bottle and laughing hysterically.

Oh, the things that keep them entertained

Our first day braving the waves

By the end of the week, Ryan was a PRO!

Ben surfing

Whoever heard of a pacifier on the beach?

Bo being so sweet to Kaitlyn

Pop and Kaitlyn

My kiddos

Ben-3, Ryan-3, Kaitlyn-1, Betsy-5, Bo-6

seriously, trying to get 5 children 6 and under to cooperate for a picture is near impossible.

This is the best one I got

Another take...

and another. You can see Ben is REALLY into this...hahaha

Our 2nd Annual Beach trip with the "B's" and my parents.

This was so much fun last year, that Brian and Beth asked all of us to do it again. It is such a special time to get together and have the cousins get tons of uninterrupted time together. They are all so close in age that they really do get along very well as their interest are all quite similar. Ryan doesn't know some of the things that Ben knows about because of Bo, but he certainly does a very good job of trying to get caught up on all the latest superheroes, jedi warriors, and Star Wars in general while he is visiting.

We were in SC for 10 days from beginning to end and at the beach for 5 1/2 of those. Just like last year, the 4 of us went down early on Tuesday to soak up some rays as a family before my parents came on Thursday night and the "B's" came on Friday after school let out.

Tuesday afternoon was spent exploring the beach since we haven't seen much of it since last year this time. Wednesday was spent in the same way with a break for lunch and nap and then out to the pool. Wednesday night we headed over to Sam's Corner in Garden City so that the children could partake in the timeless tradition that is the open-air arcade at the Garden City Pier. This is something that Brian and I did as children as well and something that you never forget while growing up. Mike and I were able to buy some fresh shrimp and have a nice meal that night in spite of the chaos that is our everyday life. :)

Thursday was again spent in the same manner with beach time, pool time, and nap time. We headed to Broadway at the Beach Thursday night to walk around and get some ice-cream. It was so fun. There was a huge playground that the children loved. Ryan met some fun playmates and had a ball running around and using up all that excess energy he tends to retain. Ryan got to stay up extra late Thursday night to help welcome Gigi and Pop to "The B Hive" and tell them all about what we had been up to.

Friday was more of the same only we now had 4 on 2 instead of even teams of 2 on 2. Makes life so much easier. The kids still only lasted 1.5 hours on the beach, but they wore themselves out and slept for 3 hours again. HEAVEN!!

Brian, Beth and all 3 children arrived in time for supper and the children went wild playing around. (they haven't seen each other since May) It is really fun to watch the 5 of them interact. :) Can't wait for it to happen more in the future.

Saturday was hectic with children up for 14 hours straight. There was a lot of beach time, pool time, movie time, under-the-house time, TV time, eating time, wrestling time, screaming time, and general enjoyment by everyone.

We were sad to leave on Sunday, but this 9 hour trip with our awful car rider is just something we wanted to go ahead and get started on!!! Whew, and she was in rare form for the way home. ugh...I just hope she gets better, but she is leaning towards getting worse. How am I ever going to do this with another one added in the mix.

Lord, help us all.

The Jump Jump has made a come back

Kaitlyn was loving the jump jump

Ryan jumped forever...he was so sweaty when the afternoon was finished!

Walker couldn't get enough

Taking a quick 5 second break!

Beth brought out the jump jump before we went on vacation. All of the kiddos had a BLAST!! They were WORN OUT when night time came around. I am thinking this might be a GREAT energy zapper this winter once Colin arrives!! :)