It's Summer!...An Update on Us

Life has been busy! Today is the first day of June, and although it was a chilly, cloudy day with jackets and jeans, it feels like summer is around the corner as our school year activities are coming to a close! :)

Keira has one week of dance left, and AWANA has now finished for the school year. So- after this week we will only have one schedule activity in the evenings each week!!! That is alot better than the 4-5 that we have had this school year. I am looking forward to some down time where we can enjoy the girls, take lots of evening walks and bike rides, and just get to enjoy some quality time OUTSIDE!! :)

I just looked back, and it was January when I last blogged...so, here is a quick rundown of the past six months.

Keira: Keira got to experience lots of firsts in the past six months! We were SUPER blessed, and given free tickets to both the circus, and the figure skating championships this winter. Keira loved all the animals at the circus, and it was fun to just do something as the two of us.

The figure skating was a hit as well, as Keira thought they all looked like princesses. We got to go there with a group from Southview.

Keira is now 4.5 and her favorite activities currently are to ride her Barbie Jeep and to "play with the boys" in the neighborhood. They all play water guns, and chase each other in their battery-operated cars. Its great fun! We got a steal on her jeep this spring on Craigslist....and she LOVES to drive it all over the open lots around us. She usually has a passenger that looks like a bobble head doll, and goes by the name of Lainey. :)

We are preparing for Keira's first dance recital a week from tomorrow. Keira has three songs, and she likes the singing part more than the dancing part...but she loves the dressing up, and time with friends. We are SOO blessed to have found a christian dance studio. I have enjoyed becoming friends with the other moms, and Keira has enjoyed being apart of a class. She also loves that her "best friend Lauren" gets to be in the same class!

At her last doctors appt (4 year check up) she was 34 lbs and 42 inches tall...and mini Austin for sure! She is still in the 10% for weight, and 90% for height.

Lainey: She is now 17 months old. Wow, we have our hands full with her! She is a spitfire...who is absolutely adorable and a terror all at the same time. We love her to pieces, but she is ornery! She eats as much as Austin or I do at every meal, and then eats plenty of snacks throughout the day. Our grocery bill has definitely gone up since she started eating! Her favorite food is a banana that she eats whole...and it is usually 3 or more a day. We buy at least three large bunches a week, and just call her our little monkey! :)

She does a great job of keeping up with big sister Keira too. She LOVES to be outside AT ALL TIMES. She plays on her little ATV, sandbox, or whatever the big kids are doing. She not only walks, but runs quite well anymore! :) I think God was gracious by letting her take awhile to walk, as now I can hardly keep up with her.

Just within the past month, she has really started talking alot. She now repeats almost anything you say. She can say "Hi, Bye, Thankyou, Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Papa, Puppy, Eat, More, Down, Bite, Hungry, and just this week added 'Keira' to the list". It is amazing...once she started talking it has just taken off.

Despite her feisty side she is quite the lover too. She will come toddling up to me, hold up her arms, and say, "Mom". When I pick her up, she will just scrunch up her shoulders, lay her head on my chest and hum happily. If that doesn't melt my mommy heart, I don't know what would!

At her last doctor appt,  (16 months) she was weighing in 18 lbs, and her length was 29 inches. She was not even on the charts for weight, and in the 10% for height. Maybe I will get one who looks like me!! Her hair is lightening up a lot as well, so I think we will have a little blondie on our hands! :)

Austin: He has been keeping very busy with work (which is good!). He has also kept busy with church by being involved with door to door evangelism, and has been building friendships with some of the younger guys, and some of the older guys as well. He has taken up golfing/ biking with one of the newer guys who is a bit older and can be a mentor to him. I think it is a great thing for him!!! :)


We are now hosting the 20's small group every week at our house, and love it! It has been fun to get to interact with the college age people more and be a blessing to them. PLUS the study is great!

Ellie: I have been extremely busy with work. I have definitely been learning patience, which is a good lesson for me to learn, although I do not enjoy it. ;)

 I have also been trying to slow down on organized activities, so I can enjoy the girls and just doing things with them. We love our days at home together!!! We usually go out and about to do something (grocery shopping, childrens museum, etc), but I have found that I usually like to go with just us, or one other family...that way it is not so chaotic and I can get to play with them more without just doing damage control. One day I went to the OCM without another mom, and it was fun to just play with them and focus just on how they do things! Its those little smiles and their new experiences that are such a joy to see! :)

I have also found a new way of cooking! A friend and I  have been doing some freezer cooking, where we will buy ingredients for 12 or so meals, and then put them all together one evening. They are usually all crockpot or grill ready meals. It is nice to have it all done in one lump time, and a ready made menu! We like to do "dump" recipes, where you put together all the raw ingredients, and then freeze. When you are ready to use, you just thaw it out and grill, or stick it in the crockpot in the morning, and "VOILA!" dinner is hot and ready when I walk in the door. I definitely love this way of cooking, and hope to continue to do it. Plus- when you do it with one other person, it is a ready made girls night as well...without spending any extra $$ ;).

Well thats all for now folks...thanks for reading! :)

CELEBRATIONS!

Ok Friends...I am self admittedly the worst blogger on the planet!

I should just give up this whole thing, as I see it on my list and never rarely get to it.

However, WHEN I get to it, I love to do it...and I love to look back and see what I have written.

Lots has gone on since I last posted. I had visions of writing all sorts of different things, but since Blogger does have a data limit, I will keep it to the post important things that have been going on.

We are FINALLY getting back into the routine after moving. Our new house is starting to feel like home, and I am loving being able to meal plan, and have our own family routines again. It was so odd right after we moved in, as I felt like I should still have a 6 month old, not a 12 month old...as I almost felt like time stood still for 6 months while we were in transition. It honestly took me about two months to figure out which way was up, and figure life with two kids out again (I was SO spoiled with help from my MIL that I had kind of forgotten how it was with two!). So- we have slowed things down some, but are thoroughly enjoying game nights at home, and just sitting on the floor and playing toys with the girls. I know these days are numbered, so we are making a conscious effort to slow down, and spend quality time with the girls before they are all grown and too cool for mom and dad.

We enjoyed the holidays, spending time with both families. It was a bit different, as we had just gotten into our house so all our normal holiday memories were out of place, and we didn't quite feel at home in the new house yet. However, we had all the family around, and that is what made it great!! Keira got a Baby Alive doll that she LOVES and takes most places with us. Lainey was completely uninterested in anything, except spending time hamming it up for the grandparents. :)

Mommy with the girls at Christmas at Grandma Jane's House

Making a Pinterest Project on Christmas Eve after church, and before PJ stockings and driving to look at lights

Christmas Jammies!!

Right after the holidays we had barely taken a breath and we were in birthday mode (note to others:...if at all possible, avoid having kids at Christmas time! We have two birthdays within a month of Christmas. Every year seems chaotic, and now I am FINALLY realizing that this just might be the way it is. So- next year in an attempt to be prepared, I am just planning on STRESS from November- January. :) ). On serious note though- we have had a great time celebrating, but I am glad to have it all behind us for a bit.

Rora (2)and Lainey (1): BIRTHDAY girls...one year apart, exactly. 

Lainey turned the big ONE on December 31, 2012. It is crazy to think that her first year is already behind us!  She weighs in at 16 lbs 7 oz, and is not even on the growth chart for weight. She is only in the 3% for height, at 28.5 in long. She crawls like crazy, blabbers to tell you what she is thinking, and smacks her lips to blow a kiss when you say, "Love you!" She waves goodbye, LOVES to eat, and LOVES the water. If she hears the bath water running, she comes crawling at breakneck speeds from across the house to get in. She is a fish! This is my facebook post from on her birthday this year:

 "A year ago at this time I was in the hospital, well on my way to delivering our second, precious little girl. She was born at 7:36 am and weighed in at a petite 6 lbs 8 oz. She didn't have a name for over 24 hours as she came earlier than expected and we hadn't decided on one yet. In the end we named her Elaina Jane- which was not even on the list! :) this last year has been a whirlwind as we have lived in three different places, and have juggled life with two kids, jobs, etc. we are so thankful for this feisty little person God has given us- the fun with her is only beginning I imagine! ;)"

She is definitely a little spitfire, but she is just so much FUN!!! She is not walking yet, but getting close- as she has started standing on her own this week. She also jabbers like crazy, and does her best to keep up with big sister Keira at all times.


Keira turned FOUR today, on January 26, 2013. We had a great day going to brunch at my moms (and saying good bye to Faith who had to go back to Spokane), and then taking NAPS in the afternoon. Even I got one, wahoo! We then went out to Applebees for dinner (Keira's pick) with Austin's parents and then came to our house and played Princess Yahtze over icecream and cake. It was a nice relaxing day...exactly what we wanted to have to enjoy her. :) She is getting so big, and I can just see her graduating already, it will be here before we know it. She is so responsible and loves to help, with chores, Lainey, etc. She LOVES to do crafts, and can make something out of the most random supplies. She is not very outgoing, but more the wallflower, who fades into the background. She loves to be busy and active, but often times would prefer to stay home and play dolls or Barbies rather than going out. She LOVES to ride her bike and go on walks with the family.

In between the girls actual birthdays ( on January 12) we had a large, chaotic party with friends and family for both of the girls. It was a ladybug theme (per Keira's request), and was a ton of fun...although I was EXHAUSTED by the time the chaos was over. We had a pinata, and did a baked potato bar...which was a huge hit. :)

Wedding day!

 

 

Here are some random shots from the day!

Grabbing some lunch quick before the ceremony. :)

Keira LOVED being a flower girl!- 3. 5 years old

Lainey thought this poofy dress was over rated. ;) - 7 months old

Hair done! Headed to the ceremony site! :)

Austin and I finished off a long, fun day with some food and drinks in the Old Market with Charis and Nate.So thankful to add another couple to the family this day!

Charity was a BEAUTIFUL bride!!

Andrea did a great job playing hair stylist. :)

Aren't they adorable? We found matching dresses for them super cheap! It was fun to have TWO little girls all dressed up. :) 

Keira was using a package of Kleenex as her cell phone...she had a lot of logistics to coordinate that day!

Grandma Lea was a lifesaver that day!

We took pictures at Creighton after the wedding. So thankful for my Groom...6 years later!

Me and my girls in the dressing room.

Keira's hair in progress

Liz and I still needed a little work at this point to look presentable....

Our little family of Four!

Pre wedding festivities!!

Well- this is a blog post from about 3 months ago that never got published...but here is a recap of pre-wedding festivities before Charity's wedding!

Nick and Keira jamming out to the music on Olley the Trolley. We rode that around the Old Market on our way from rehearsal to dinner.

Aren't they the cutest?

Mani's and Pedi's!!! She LOVED it...and I know need to work more hours to support her habits. ;)

She loves Nick!

One of the Big Girls for the Pampering Night. :)

10:00 pm dinner= a late night for kiddos

My two princesses in there adorable outfits for rehearsal

Lainey was 7 months old when Charity got married!

My girly girl :)

Enjoying a ride on Ollie the Trollie with my honey!

All the girls at the pedicure salon- THANKS SO MUCH Lori!

A Week of Firsts!

This past week was a BUSY week, and I admit...as I was cruising around in my sweet Honda Odyssey, I had visions of the title "Soccer Mom" running through my head.

Keira is just at the age we are starting to get her in some activities- I have no idea how people with numerous children have their kids in more than one activity at the same time, one child in one activity seems busy to me! I told Austin that we will adjust, and just will need to realize there is no such thing as "time for ourselves". It's the end of life as we know it!!!

So- what were we busy with?

DANCE! Tuesday night Keira started her first dance class. She has been BEGGING to get into dance for at least a year, and we told her she had to be potty trained. The name of her academy is the Princess Academy of Dance (how cute is that?!) and is run by a Christian lady.

I went to pick Keira up after work, and she was all dressed for dance with her hair pulled back, her leotard on, and her pink tights and shoes poking out the bottom.  (Grandma Jane did a great job having her ready!). We drove to class, with Keira talking the whole way about how excited she was to be a ballerina. We got out of the van and she bounced up and down, while saying, "I am so excited to do dance with my friends!". After class she told me that she "danced to music about rainbows, and that she and her friend Lauren made lots of new friends." She also told me that "she didn't need tap shoes, because tap was hard...and she would be happy to just do ballet".

CUBBIES! Keira started cubbies for the 2nd year on Wednesday night. She seems to have grown up so much since last year, and was much more excited to wear her vest, and follow the "rules" of the classroom. Afterwards this is what she had to say, "James and Henry (two of the boys in her class) don't like princesses or castles! They only like trains, dragons, and kings. UGH" So- I am not sure what Biblical principles she learned, but she is definitely learning about gender differences. :)  Austin and I are teaching Sparkies this year, and the first night we had all girls! It was so calm and structured, we hardly knew what to do with ourselves. We are really looking forward to a good year, as we have a little more time to invest this year (with Austin being done with school, and me not being pregnant/ have a newborn).

MOPS! On Thursday morning I had my first Mops meeting for the year, and Keira went to "Moppets" or as she calls it "Little People School". She loved doing the craft, and told me about the Bible Story when I picked her up. I had told her that might be in class with Lauren, and she made a point to tell me "Mom, you were wrong. Lauren was NOT in my class". However, despite that, she seemed to have a great time, and enjoy the structured activities. I am looking forward to having some Mom time every other week, and getting to know the new moms in my group.

LAINEY! ....started crawling yesterday, and by today she is all over the house.(ust over 8 months old). As I predicted, she is much more "inquisitive" than Keira, and is already getting into all the cords, tiny Barbie shoes, etc. She will keep me on my toes! However- she is SO much happier now that she has finally figured out how to move.I can give her a bucket full of toys and she will be completely happy for at least an hour.

HOUSE!- We signed our loan lock in yesterday, so we will be in within 60 days or less for sure! It exciting to finally have an end date. Right now they are getting ready to stain and paint...trim got finished this week. I got to go pick out all the tile and flooring this week, by MYSELF as Austin was at work. I actually enjoyed it more, as I just worked with the interior designer and we came up with some really nice combos! Austin LOVED everything, so he decided it might work better for me to just go alone in the future :)

We finished the night last night by a MIDNIGHT run through downtown Omaha. It was the FIRST actual time I have ran since HS (it was a 5K). I was happy to 1) not walk and 2) finished in less than 30 minutes. I have decided I still don't think running is my thing...as I recover today. :) However- it was a fun atmosphere to be running the streets of downtown in the middle of the night!

Thanks for reading friends. :)