Weekend Wrap-up...

Another weekend for the books...

...camping...
...birthday celebrating...
...camping...
...painting...
...birthday celebrating...

The weekends are limited...they go way too fast...and we try to find as many memorable moments in each one that we can.  This past weekend we were able to squeeze in several!

Friday morning Elizabeth and Dan helped me set up the tent before Alex and Emily were home from school, so we could start our camping weekend as soon as they stepped off the school bus! 

Emily had skate club right after school...but they were so excited to get out there and took some of their pillows, games and sleeping bags to the tent as soon as we were home!

Ellie was super excited too...she could obviously feel it in the air!  She wasn't quite ready to sleep outside over night...but she enjoyed all the pre-campout festivities...the campfire, hot dogs, marshmallows, and playing in the tent!

The weather was perfect...we enjoyed the cooler night, swimming, listening to all the night time sounds, playing Bingo Bunch and Sorry and eating popcorn, staying up late chatting and looking up at the moon and stars...the kids begged to camp out the next night too...and so we did!

...and the beauty of being in nature...yet in your own backyard...is that not only are we greeted with a beautiful morning sunrise...but this little smile was waiting for me first thing...along with a nice cup of coffee!

We had so much fun...and look forward to when the whole family can camp out together...overnight...in the same tent! 

I think we were all a little tired from the campout...
{or wishing they were camping out...}

...but we drove up to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Saturday to help Daddy celebrate his birthday...
...and to our surprise it was a complete family affair!  Dan's not big on surprises...but so nice that they all stopped by to wish him a happy birthday and show how much we all appreciate what a great daddy/husband/grandson/son/brother/cousin/nephew/and uncle he is!  A generous, good guy who does what is right and looks out for his family!  Happy Birthday from the Fam!

After our second campout...we woke up Sunday {some of us woke up...I'm not sure I was completely awake, but I hit the ground running...} and got to work on taking our sunroom apart, painting, moving furniture...and of course making birthday cake and Rice Krispies treats {per the kids' request...and who made them by themselves!}

We are thrilled to be getting new carpet in this house we've lived in for nine years...raising three kids...two dogs {at one time} and two cats...and lots of passes through the family room, dining room, living room, up and down the stairs, spilled drinks...so we are painting the rest of the rooms before the carpet comes preparing to finish up some much needed work around here...{although it's really neverending}...but when Emily spotted one of the last few balloons drawn by Alex when he first started learning to write...behind one of the curtains...it reminds me just how quickly the time passes...

haha!  Seems just like yesterday when he drew on the walls...and now it's nine years later!  It was a little sad to paint over...{the last one was found in the family room in the corner behind the recliner!} but it was a fun memory and I think there are still a few of his masterpieces around the house!
I think when the new carpet is finally installed...maybe our thirteen year old furniture won't look as shabby!  But a fresh coat of paint always makes the room bright and fresh!

{Ellie putting her own decorating touches on the room!}

I think Dan is always finishing home improvements on his birthday...so why should this year be any different?!  He's a hard worker and enjoys it...and these guys are so happy to call this handyman Daddy!

Happy {37th}birthday...Happy weekend!
Looking forward to many happy more!

MOPS for {Life}

It's no secret that I am getting older...
I'm no longer considered mid-thirties...but am nearing my late thirties...{yikes!}

So when I see the new {young} moms joining a new year in MOPS this year...it's hard for me to imagine that eight years have passed since I first became a member of this awesome group for moms!  I joined MOPS when Emily was about nine months old and Alex was 2 1/2...and I am so thrilled to share this experience with Elizabeth too!  Alex and Emily have some good memories of their time in the Moppets classes and I can still remember their first friendships being formed there...as well as my own!

And even though I am beginning to feel like a veteran MOPS member...there is still so much to learn and gain from this group and how to become the best mom I can be...and learn how to better serve my family and God, to better fulfill this amazing role he has given me as a wife and mother!

Elizabeth and I had a fun time meeting these lovely moms...new and previous members...at the annual MOPS picnic to kickstart the new year!

 

If you ever feel like you're the only mom who ever fails at potty training, sleep training, getting your kids to eat healthy...or eat at all, keeping a clean house, having patience, keeping calm...just look at all these moms...

We have all been there!  And we all get through it somehow...and always find the time to enjoy the many reasons we are here in the first place...

...our precious children who call us Mommy...

These are the most amazing years...learning, exploring, sleep deprived days and it's hard to cherish them all...some days it's easier just to get through it!  I'm always reminded of the saying, "The days are long...but the years are short."  And now that Alex is ten and Emily is eight...and MOPS is just a memory for them now...I hold on to that quote to get me through some of those r.e.a.l.l.y long rough days and to remember to find that one little moment that might make me smile...
...because when I wake up tomorrow...

...this little Moppet will be off to school with her big brother and sister too!

And even when all the kids are grown and have kids of their own...mothering will always be part of my job...I will eventually have to graduate from this wonderful group called MOPS...but I will continue to value the friendships and beliefs that MOPS has given me for a lifetime...

MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

{First} love - All About Alex

It's hard to capture his true self...he doesn't hold still long enough for a picture...and if I beg and plead to get him to quickly flash his handsome smile...sometimes I'm still not quick enough...

but it's not hard to see that Alex is an amazing big brother...{first}born...mommy's boy...smart...energetic...thoughtful...creative...clever...funny...

{self portrait}

he is a great helper...a thinker...an inventer...a prankster...

{rattle 'snacks' ha!}

he has a love of sweets {probably inherited from his mother!}...including a love of sweet-smelling goodies-he does not enjoy shopping, unless it includes electronics or gadgets, tape and batteries, or the one place his momma can take him to savor all the marshmallow, grape, candy corn, lemon, or apple scents his nose can take...

he is a boy of few words...unless I am fortunate enough with the privilege of having him to myself where his thoughts sometimes become audible...
...as we are taking turns swinging Elizabeth, he wonders aloud and shares with me that one day he will bring his kids to {grandma's and grandpa's} house to play asking, "How old will I be when I get married?"  "I'm not sure, maybe 25," I say.  "Daddy and I got married when we were 24."  "How old will Ellie be when I get married?" he asks.  I had to count on my fingers for a second..."about 16."  {then I tell him I don't want him to grow up too fast...and it's hard for me to imagine that the time is really not too far off...sigh...}

he is a wonderful photographer {again...possibly an inherited trait from his mother!}...he may not enjoy being in the picture, but is always happy to take one...sometimes without even being asked.  "I thought this would be a good picture," he says and shows me the sweet smile he gets out of Ellie...

I could never find the right words to describe how incredibly sweet, kind and genuine you are Alex...how much I love you and enjoy watching you grow and learn, accomplish your goals, hearing your dreams, and even the chance to see your mistakes and watch you learn about life {first}hand...

I am so proud of you...and as much as I wish I could stop time for a year, a week, even for a day...

...I always look forward to what you will have in store and teach me tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday {our morning so far...}

{late night...early morning...school bus watching...

...horsey riding...

...mommy's lap...kitty snuggling...chalk drawing...}

Weekend Wrap-up...

We made it through the first week of the school year...yay!  One week down...how many more to go?! 

{Enough that we've already started our Disney countdown!  yippee!  We have not taken the kids before and I have never ever been...so I am so excited to meet Mickey!}

{make that 58 days now!}

Ellie and I look forward to the afternoons when we get to watch for the big yellow bus and greet Alex and Emily when they get home!  She lights up every time!

I love that we are surrounded by some very thoughtful, fun and caring neighbors who look out for one another...and treat the kids with popsicles when they get off the bus for surviving the first week at school!  What a great way to start the weekend!

The weekend was made even better with the beautiful weather and fall-like temperature...made me giddy for fall!  So I had to paint something...

A bright pop of yellow please!

And Fall is perfect for planting...time to dig up the old...and plant some new...

...and sitting around a campfire enjoying s'mores and playing in the backyard...

But this time of year also means that our schedule doesn't always allow for nice relaxing, leisure weekends...so we try and soak those up any chance we get!

Emily will start Skate Club this week which means at least three days at week at the ice rink...on top of homework and any other activities Alex will start!  Somehow we always make it work...but it also always leaves me with a little bit of anxiety rumbling around in my tummy!

She had a fun kickstart to club with one of her skating instructors hosting a picnic at her house with all the members and families!  She truly enjoys ice-skating and these are a great group of dedicated girls! 

I'm not a big fan of being in a lake...but Emily loved everything about it!  That's what I love about  her...no fear...energetic...and always willing to get in there and enjoy life!  {I really really need to take more cues from her!}

{Alex takes after his mother...even after much persuading that he would have fun out there...he decided not to join them...I think he may have been a little intimidated by all the girls too!}

He, Ellie, Dan and I were just fine to watch the fun from the dock...and eat!

And we repeatedly told Emily no to the rope swing...but guess what?

 {she got her way...and loved it!  yikes!}

It will be a busy year...but we are excited to see Emily improve and excel in what she loves!

But here's to a few more weekends of slow-paced family fun...

{these two were amazing playmates all weekend!  I admire how well Emily looks after Elizabeth...she takes such good care of her and enjoys being a big sister!  I enjoy having these weekends to spend at home and allowing for all three of the kids to just play and have fun together!}

...and maybe even a chance to sleep in... 

...okay...now I'm just dreaming!

Happy Monday!