Weekend With Friends

This past weekend, our good friends the Lloyds, came to town for a visit.  They moved to Chicago at the end of the summer and we were all sad to see them go.  It was a great weekend spending time with them (and lots of other friends!)  The pictures I have aren't the greatest quality, but they do the job!
We all decided to go to Saturday night church service and stayed behind afterwards in the cafe area to let the kids run, play and have some dinner (a perk of being friends with the pastors).

Terrible picture...but this is just 5 families represented!  We have a lot of kids between us!

The 4 "Big" boys are back together!
Soren, Brennan, Camden & Ethan

This is why we have to get together at the church instead of someones house!  So.Many.Kids!

Nora and Mayleigh!

Megan, Me, Erin, Jessica and Callynn (Emily left before we got the picture :( )

Kids were obsessed with playing Ring Around the Rosie

Sunday morning, we went to the Talty's for some more play time.  It was a loud house full of kids!

The girls (minus Atley) having some snack!

Callynn was LOVING holding baby Atley!

Ethan and Brennan are pretty fierce here!

Mayleigh had to love on Atley some too!

2014 Basketball

Ethan has finished his 2nd basketball season.  He really enjoys playing and he is so fun to watch!  He has improved a lot since last year.  He made several baskets this year and has gotten good at dribbling up and down the court.  He's quite the little athlete and is always ready to move on to the next sport after one has finished. (First baseball, then basketball and now golf.)  Here are a few pictures from his last game and a short video from his season!

 

The team after getting their trophies

Ethan's #1 fan ;).

Showing off his trophy

Stay tuned for golf edition :).

Halloween

Finally getting to my Halloween post!  We had our good friend's, the Koskinens over to trick or treat with us and everyone had a great time.  It was a COLD evening, so Emily and I stayed at the house with the babies while the dads took the "big kids".  They made their way around the neighborhood and came back with buckets full of candy and goodies!  Here are some pictures from our night.

Trick or Treat Gang

A muscular Luke Skywalker, striking a pose!
(We had to put his coat under his costume)

Pink and Black Kitty

Ethan and Nora

Atley was a cozy skeleton :)

Olen and Atley in their matching costumes

Running down the sidewalk

Ethan is excited about their first stop!

Trick or Treat

These cute trick or treaters came to my door too!

Atley at One Month

Atley is 1 month old today!  The days flew by, that's for sure!!  There's some kind of weird phenomenon when a baby arrives...I feel like Atley has been with us forever, but at the same time, it feels like yesterday we were waiting in that hospital room for her to make an appearance.  At least, that's my take ;).

She is a good, content baby!  And she's staying awake quite a bit more now, but is still so cuddly and sweet.  In fact, as I type this, she is conked out on my chest and I'm smelling the sweet smell of a clean baby head (it's ok to be jealous)!
We are working on a schedule (I like schedules).  She is good about eating about every 3 hours during the day.  We put her to bed between 10 and 10:30 right now and she generally sleeps until about 3am, is ready to eat, and then sleeps again until around 6 or 7.  Not too bad!

She is gaining weight like a champ!  According to the bathroom scale, she weighs 10 lbs.  She was weighed at the hospital on Tuesday and was 9 lbs 10 oz.
She is loved by her big brother and sister.  They want to hold her and kiss her any chance they can get!  And Nora loves to help with diaper changes by getting a new diaper and the wipes for me.

Our little Atley Jane is the perfect addition to our family and we are so blessed to be her parents!  Happy 1 month sweet girl!  We love you!

Click here to see Miss Nora at 1 month.

3 Years Old

Nora turned 3 yesterday.  It doesn't seem possible that 3 years ago we brought home our (1st) sweet bundle of pink.  She is full of life, energy and...orneriness!!
Some things about Nora at age 3:

• She is right at 3 feet tall and weighs 32 pounds.
• She is super sweet (most of the time).
• She loves giving hugs and kisses.
• She loves playing with the big kids and trying to keep up- especially outside.
• She talks non-stop and says the funniest things (none of which I can think of right now).
• She can spell her name and write an N, O & A (still working on the R).
• She also recognizes several letters and numbers (though, not all).
• Her favorite foods are pizza, pasta (of any kind) and "snack" (I just asked her what her favorite food was and she said snack).
• She loves her baby sister and is very helpful :).
• She and Ethan can get a long and play so nicely one minute and the next be fighting like siblings do best ;).  They can also get into trouble together!
• She is very strong willed and definitely has a mind of her own (which, I'm sure, will be a strength one of these days).
• She has very nice manners and always says "thank you" and most of the time says "please".
• With the above being said...she isn't afraid to ask for whatever it is she thinks she wants/needs, and then not stop asking when she doesn't hear the answer she wants to hear.
• We love her with all our hearts and can't wait to see what God has planned for her and her big personality!

Happy 3rd Birthday Nora Diane!

Here are a few pictures from birthday morning!

Birthday donut!

Big 3!

Presents under the bed (a tradition from my childhood).

Ethan is an eager helper

All 3 kids, ready for church.

Silly Nora, wearing her "party dress" to church on her birthday!

Weenie Roast Birthday Party

Yesterday we celebrated 2 very special people in my life!  Nora and Jared share a birthday and we hosted a weenie roast in our backyard.  The weather was amazing for this time of year (almost hot, in the sun)!  We had a great time and I would call it a success :)!  Enjoy some pictures of our afternoon celebrating Nora and Jared.

The activity/party favor for the kids was pumpkin decorating.  Nora thoroughly enjoyed it :).  Her pumpkin has about 30 googly eyes!

Birthday girl decorating her pumpkin

The other kids decorating

Fun group of kids!

Present time.  There are always lots of eager helpers for this time during a party!

Working on the tape...

Check out the helpers ;)

Happy girl...who looks SO grown up in this picture.

The fire was great for our hot dogs and s'mores!  Good job, Jared!!

Singing and cupcake time!

3 candles for the 3 year old!

We love you sweet Nora!

Jared gets candles too...just happens to be more than 3.

Couldn't leave Alex out.  His birthday is tomorrow, so he got a candle too!

Atley enjoyed being outside

Such a fun party!

Birthday kids making some s'mores!

Happy Birthday banner

Loving the s'mores!

Such a great afternoon!  So happy to have such wonderful friends and family to help us celebrate!!  Happy Birthday Jared and Nora!  You are loved :).