October 2016

October was full of fall events, but still felt like summer - crazy (but we'll take it as long as it lasts)!  If makes life easier getting kids in and out of the car, enjoying time outside and checking items of the exterior remodeling lists at the Memphis house for sure.  We started off and ended the month with Birthday parties - Wesson's on the 1st and Kalum's on the 30th!  It's hard to believe it has been a year since Wesson was born, what a difference a year makes in life.  While I loved my little newborn babies, a one-year-old is just so much fun to see each day, always learning and exploring.  And watching the kids start to interact more with each other is very cool to see.  Samara and Kalum both had pumpkin patch field trips with their schools, Jeff took a day off to work to go to Vala's with the kindergartners and I went to Kalum's trip with him.  We had family photos this month, with our 6, 4 and 1 year old kiddos - it had it's moments as you might have guessed, but we got some great pics of the kids and our family.  As for the Memphis house, see photos below...we are to the paint phase so I've taken a couple Saturdays to come help cut in the trim paint while the kids went to Grandpa and Grandma Derby's house.  Jeff is working so hard and burning the candle at both ends, which is exhausting.  I can only do so much to physically assist, so when there is a job I can do, I want to help move the project along!  Whether it's finalizing paint colors, running errands, finding light fixtures, etc.  It's really starting to look like a house and by next month we'll be finalizing finishes and talking about getting it on the market!  So, we'll just hope the weather holds out a little longer for us!
Samara's Moments for the Month:

• We had Samara's first "real" school parent-teacher conference this month!  As expected, she's sweet at school and bright. Her teacher is excited that she might be one of her early readers. :)  Both of my kids save their worst behavior for at home (thankfully I guess).  When I told the teacher she tends to be bossy at home, she was like, "Oh, I've never seen a bossy Samara.  And by this time of the year I'm starting to see the REAL side of some of the kids."  Samara was thrilled to hear all about her good report when she got home. "What else did she say?" "And what else?"  Too funny, so humble girl.  We are so glad that we waited that year to send her!  She's just much more confident and ready than she probably would have been last year.  Not to mention the year she got to be at home spending more time with her brothers, she's gone so much of the week this year!  I try not to pack her evenings and weekends with errands and activities because she just wants some time to play around at home.
• Dental cleaning appointments this month.  She went second, no objections because had new highlights magazine with hidden pictures in hand (I may have planned that...)  She didn't love the flouride because teeth felt sticky, but no cavities!  They showed her how to really brush those 6 year molars since three are in now.
• She really seems to love learning new things at school!  She can count beyond 100, can count to 100 by 5's and is getting closer to being able to do the same by 2's.  She gets so excited when she spots her sight words in books, on signs, etc.  She read her first book and I only helped with one word, "Happy Halloween, Mittens" about a cat helping her owner decorate for Halloween.
• She also loves being silly and getting a laugh from the crowd!  Whether it's her brothers, a friend or at dance class.  She gets a little crazy sometimes trying to get the laugh! 

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Is really enjoying preschool and got to go on his first field trip!  They went to Bloom Where You're Planted Pumpkin Patch in Avoca, IA.  He liked the wagon ride, climbing on hay bales, corn box (think sand box, but with corn) and choosing a baby pumpkin.  he really interacted in the group session learning about pumpkins and prayed sincerely before snack.  His best bud at school is Nathan.  He really does well in school and a couple people have told me he seems to have matured already since starting preschool.
• "I'm going first!" was his declaration before we even arrived at the dentist and he followed through jumping right into the chair when we got there.  No cavities!
• He had a fun DinoTrux 4th Birthday Party this month!  He got to open a couple gifts early including the mini dinotrux toys for the cake deocrations, a shirt to wear for the party and a special plate for dinner.   He was able to celebrate on his actual birthday with family over for dinner.  Grandparents, Poppy and Great Grandma, Buelts, Kleinschmits and Nathan from preschool and his family.  The kids played and played, mainly ate pizza and cheetos for dinner, opened gifts (lots of DinoTrux, Star Wars and cars) and had cake.  He was so cute wearing his new baseball cap the rest of the party.  He wore his new shirt to bed and had to have one of the new trux in his bed for that night! 

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• He started walking around like crazy on the eve of his birthday, so ready to be one year old!  He can stop, change directions, etc.  He walked from the kitchen all the way to the living room and was so happy, giggling away the whole time!
• October 1st - his first birthday!  We had a Husker football birthday party with family to celebrate.  He liked showing off his walking skills, eating some frosting and opening a few of his gifts.
• October 9th - What a difference a week makes!  He was walking last weekend, but now is almost running, can stop to pick something up and stand up without holding on to anything.  They moved him up to the "walker" room for MOPS and Sunday school.  Bye bye nursery, slow down little guy!
• Mid month - he started clicking his tongue.  Also figured out how to push sound buttons on books and toys - over and over again of course! And he smiles each and every time.
• Oct 20th - Since last week he slept 7AM-7PM every night except one when I was able to rock him from 3:30-4AM and then lay him back down.  Might have been due to his 8th tooth coming in the next day.  Nursing him just once per day in the evening, soon will change to sippee cup of milk and snack at bedtime.
• He had some of the basic signs down, but by the end of the month, he started picking up multiple signs in one day!  Ball and Book were October 30th's new signing words.  It was cool to watch him realize that he could "talk" and I knew what he was saying.
• Halloween night - Signed "milk" at bedtime for the last time.  He hasn't done it since, so I guess he decided if he is going to be a one year old, then he's done with that baby stuff. ;)  Hey, if you're happy (and sleeping all night), I'm happy (and sleeping all night), buddy!

Link to the October pics is below, you can click on it or copy/paste into your web browser.

https://goo.gl/photos/Sw8mzNbZGaMD5jxG8

The next post will be November, wow, 2016 is almost over!  Hope you take a moment to count your blessings, we are truly blessed.

September 2016

September meant the start of Fall activities such as dance, MOPS, preschool for Kalum and Husker football games (not attending, but watching when possible) and some more dedicated scheduled time to remodeling work.  We are to priming stage on the walls, wood trim is being prepped so it can be spray painted, finishing up outside projects and the list goes on!  We made a Sunday afternoon quick trip to a small, local pumpkin patch and took Labor Day to go to the State Fair with the Pennell family.  We also celebrated Poppy's 93rd (Wow!) birthday this month at Pennell's with a family dinner and dessert.

I was thinking back to how different this September has been than the last one.  Last year at this time we were hurriedly wrapping up the Boyd Street house before baby #3 would join our family.  We were bringing two kids out to the house with us to watch a movie on the laptop while we painted and did other final finish work.  I was still working for NARI and trying to get everything possible done ahead of time.  So...this year we are still working to complete a project in the fall, but at least I'm not climbing up and down a step stool with a big baby belly or crouching down to switch plate covers while hoping I won't break my water on the newly installed laminate floors!  I've got three healthy, beautiful kids who I get to spend more quality time with, whether that is coloring a picture, going to the park, playing dinosaurs or legos or reading some books.  Samara and Kalum are thriving at their respective schools so far and Wesson is learning new things every day.  Jeff continues to keep up an amazing work ethic and does so well at his job and side business, while being a great daddy to the kids when he is home.  We know that the coming weeks will get more full of remodeling work in order to wrap up the Memphis project this fall, so we just try to make the family time moments count whenever we can!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Apparently girls start thinking about their lives way earlier than necessary... At dinner Samara asked me to name off some names because she didn't know what she would want to name her kids when has them.  Before I could even say that was a little preemptive, she blurted out, "Ashland!  Can someone be named Ashland?!"  Jeff and I confirmed that they could be.  "Mom, write that down so when I have kids I can remember it!"  Ok, will do girlie. ;)
• She likes kindergarten and says it's so much better than preschool (because you get three recesses).  She is making new friends, boys and girls, and still loves giving things to others.  She shares her reward treats for good behavior at school with the friends she sits by on the bus.
• September meant the start up of dance for Samara.  She opted to stick with dance this year, so we'll see if she decides to pursue other interests or if she decides to continue on.  She actually does really well, remembering dance moves, has good positioning and coordination.
• Ended up in tears after just a couple laps of school fundraiser event. I think that running was harder than she thought, her ego got hurt when people passed by her and it was Friday after a long full week of school. All together a recipe for sobbing disaster... Got her to walk a lap with her teacher then Kalum and I walked a lap with her whole another mom watched Wesson in stroller. She was so disappointed she didn't get enough laps so her class could win. After crying and ranting over everything after school into evening, she had some alone time in her tom then dinner. Early to bed tonight I think. 
• By the end of the month, she was on to another name topic.  She wants her name to be "Diamond" now.  She says it's not because of a book they read at school about a girl who wanted to change her name...hmm.  I said we chose her name and I would probably stick with Samara.  Eventually this led to her saying she could just name her kids (in this order) Diamond, Treasure and Chase (the 3rd being a boy).  Oh that will be interesting!

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• First day of preschool!  Slightly hesitant walking in the door, but found his cubby, mailed his name and went off to circle time toting his dinosaur show and tell! Had a great time and rattled off all the activities he did when we got in the van on way home. "They have lots of fun things for kids to do there!"  He said. He forgot to tell them dinosaurs aren't alive anymore, but he will tell them next class he said. 
• Our conversation one day...
• Me: "It's nice outside today!  I'm going to open some windows to let some air in."
• Kalum: "but Samara's not outside."
• Me: "(laughing) "Oh I see.  "samara in".  I'm going to let some cool AIR in the house"
• Kalum: "oh ok."
• He tells me he had "a really fun day at preschool" each time he gets in the car.  Then he recounts all the activities, coloring or painting, legos and blocks, listening to a story, singing songs, etc.  He knows the words to "God is bigger than the boogie man" theme song for the year.
• First MOPS meeting of the year means MOPPETS class for Kalum (last year this did not go well most weeks).  He did well this time!  Only slight hesitation when we arrived at his room, but then he had a great time - watched a short movie, playground, snack, puzzles and a rainbow craft.  He loves to do projects/crafts and was so proud to show it to me at pickup!
• We got to go to the Moms Night at his preschool.  I never got to go to Samara's because I had work meetings for two of them and then Wesson was born the day of her last one.  A simple night with a craft, snack and watching a veggie tales, but he was so cute, asking me to sit with him on the floor for the video. Quality time.
• Following the MOPS meeting, he seems to be over the crying at Sunday school drop-off as well (thankfully)!  This has been a long behavior issue over the last couple years, so we are very glad that he's matured beyond it, whether it took preschool to do so or whatever!

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• Started off his 11th month with a tumble down our short set of stairs.  He was in the living room and followed me towards the green room downstairs.  I said two words to the kids and then turned to see him roll down.  Poor baby (insert guilty mom face here)!  Thought he might get a bruise by his eye, but ended up okay.  He wanted to cuddle briefly then back to life as usual.  I don't think he learned from it because he was back to standing on the top step later that evening!
• Planned a Derby cousin photo shoot when everyone would be in town.  Wesson had a rough day there!  Amazingly we did get one photo of all 7 kids looking pleasantly at the camera.  Then he cried and screamed and crawled away - no matter what we did!  
• Early in the month - 6th tooth coming in, 7th started right after that one was in.
• Sept 10th - officially packed up all the bottles!  I haven't used them in a month or so, so it was time.  I'm still able to nurse him in the morning, late afternoon and bedtime (and he's usually up once at night).  Going to try and give a full cup of milk at bedtime to see if he'll sleep all the way through the night.  It's time.
• Milestones mid-month -can "bump bump" down the stairs on his rump all by himself (still need to stay close though, sometimes he leans just a little too far forward!), babbles all the time with different sounds - what will be his first official words besides mama and dada that he does now?  He can walk along anything and will go on own between things that are close.  Can take about 6 steps independently and is SO proud of himself when he does.  Claps his hands whenever you say, "Yay".  Won't eat bread anymore for some reason.  But will eat all meat-chicken, lunchmeat, tuna, etc.  His hair is getting crazy long and needs another trim badly!  No bald babies in our house. :)
• If Kalum does something Wesson doesn't like (i.e. taking a toy, block his path, etc), Wesson will grab onto him and bonk his head on Kalum.  Or he'll scream right back if Kalum is making a loud noise about Wesson getting too close to his latest duplo creation.
• First MOPS of the year for Wesson as well - only got upset at drop-off.  he cuddled with a mom for almost an hour of mops, so no nap, but got in some cuddles, sweet boy.
• Figured out covering his own eyes to play peekaboo.  Also when he wants to play he'll push your face away and lean away with a huge smile like he's hiding.
• End of the month milestones - Can walk across the room now.  Typically still crawls because it's faster, but getting more and more daring.  Smiled hugely after some successful walking.  Says "ba" for ball (as in ba ba ba when he bounces the ball on his lips repeatedly, but always ba for ball).  Points at anything he finds interesting now, you an ask milk, eat or sleep and he'll sign what he wants.  First animal sound is a opening and closing his mouth for a fish.

October is next up - how can that be, fall is very officially here!

Link to view September photos (click or copy/paste this link into search, then click on first image in the album and you can view with photo labels):

https://goo.gl/photos/xFTwZpvbqHkcoUje7

August 2016

August was a great month!  Some fun family events, last days of summer, the start of Gretna's school year and for DRG - The exterior of the house at Memphis is seeing progress along with drywall getting done inside and the garage at Eagle house got new siding.  I think the moments and milestones below and the photos really cover the events of the month - it went so quickly and we had to pack in all the of the things I promised Samara we would do before school started.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Gifts - We may have discovered her love language - gifts.  She is always wanting to give gifts, money or artwork to people because they are doing a great job, they are her friend or any other reason.  It truly makes her heart happy to give.
• Morrill Hall - she was okay with all the bones and taxidermy.  The dinosaurs that they had made to look lifelike got to her though.  The eyes of the pterodactyl, ostrich like dinosaur and the T. Rex type carnivore were too much!  I had to hold her and carry her out of the room.
• Mid August Jeff found a toad and a small gardener snake for her to keep as pets.  She loves having them, holds them at every chance she gets and helps Daddy catch crickets to feed them. Mommy is hands off on these pets.
• She saw an ad for some Skechers brand shoes on TV that she wanted to have for the new school year.  We got some shoes at Target that were apparently close enough, she was so happy with them and said it felt like you are walking on little trampolines (which is what the ad showed I guess).  She was so excited about them and calls them her Skechers.
• I drove her to school her first day and got to walk her into her classroom.  For the trip home, she got to ride the bus and when she jumped off the bus, she said her day was "Awesome awesome awesome!"  She seemed to love every part of it, start to finish.  She had friends already (though she didn't remember their names yet).  And she also relayed to all of us the classroom rules.  She said there was one part she didn't like about kindergarten: "There was one part of kindergarten I don't like.  Whoever is listening gets to be a helper."  The teacher chooses from that are being most quiet it sounds like.  Day Two she got all the way to purple on the behavior scale, so she got a sucker.  She was so very proud of herself!  I'm so proud of her for taking this new experience in stride, making friends and being excited about learning new things.
• She went to a Build-A-Bear party for a friend.  All the other girls chose to make hot pink bears with little dresses.  She chose a soft, tan bunny and didn't want an outfit because "bunnies don't wear clothes".  On the little birth certificate, she named the bunny, "Mud".  Of so individual my Samara, love it!  She later that day renamed the bunny "Honey Bunny" (with the last name Mud), after a bunny we caught and released last summer.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Beginning of August he seemed to really take to coloring, and doing it well, within the lines!  He requests constant affirmation of how good he's doing. "Mom, isn't the dinosaur tail looking great?"  This new passion also involves coloring on other things, the table, wall and himself - we'll have to focus his efforts more I think.
• One morning he opened the bathroom door while I was taking a shower in the morning, but then went away.  I assumed he went back to his bedroom to wait for his alarm clock to turn green (wake up time).  I come out of the shower brushing my teeth to get dressed and he jumps up from under my bed covers and says, "Boo!"  I jumped for sure!  he got his reaction and was so proud that he was quiet while he waited (that is usually his downfall during hide and seek games).
• Even though he declares himself a big kid, he still climbs up in my lap when he sees it open.  Also, every once in a while he says, "I just love you Mom."  And then continues playing or reading a book, etc. 
• He was so excited to see the dinosaur bones at Morrill Hall!  He liked them all, except the leg bone of the T. Rex by the full size stegosaurus was a little much.  He wouldn't get too close for a picture.  I totally get it, Mommy had to "put her brave on" as I'm not a fan of big skeletons or lifelike creatures either as a grown up (forget about it as a kid!!)
• Once Kindergarten started, Kalum asked quite a few times where Samara was or when we were going to get her.  He was so disappointed on the second day of school when we walked to the bus stop and then she just got on the bus and he rode his bike home with me and Wesson in the stroller.  The first Monday of school, Mom spent two hours playing Legos (duplos) with Kalum.  We made At-At Walkers galore, but this cannot go on for days on end, we must find another activity!
• Late August he got to meet preschool teacher, Mrs. DeVries, at his home visit.  He warned up pretty quickly (and we tried to have Samara not overtake the conversation).  He was so excited that she left him his own school bag and bible with his name on it and...homework!  He wanted to start right then, but we were able to persuade him that waiting until the next morning would be better.  Hope he maintains this enthusiasm for school work! :)
• Talking with Kalum about what he'll do when he's a grown up... Apparently his future includes finding a wife wherever she wants to meet him, being a daddy, working on houses to make enough money for his 14 kids, he'll live in Omaha (kind of by JJ's house), we can have him over for lunch sometimes, going to big church and when his monster truck gets rusty he'll take it to Midas.
• By the end of the month, he's writing his name on all artwork.  He gets all the letters in the right order, just some of the letters are upside down.

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• At the beginning of the month he had a Wednesday where his voice was kind of raspy and he was a little more whiny than usual, even took two naps.  Thursday he slept in until 9AM then was even more clingy.  Fell asleep on Mommy for two naps, was able to put him into his crib for the second.  Woke up after later nap and had fever and shakes.  He threw up four times in a row (of course, after cleaning him up each time) and sipped some water.  His fever only got up to 99-100 each day, except right before he threw up.  He started pulling on his ear and whining if we touched it on Sunday.  Off to Dr on Monday and definitely a left ear infection.  Such different symptoms than the other two kids when they had ear infections!
• Will sort through a stack of board books to find his current favorites - Baby faces peekaboo book and plan book with textured pages.
• Aug 21st - showed him how to go down the stairs bump, bump on his rump and he actually gave it a try this time.  Would smile proudly after each bump!
• No longer a fan of peanut butter toast.  Loves grapes!  Even started saying "gway".  We know it doesn't necessarily mean grape, just a new sound. ;)  Likes sweet potatoes with peas and spinach and spaghetti sauce with noodles.  Pancakes, eggs and hash browns along with other finger foods.
• August 23rd - Wesson walks!  He can stand for a bit then take a few steps.  Then goes down to crawling again.  Also likes to walk with dinosaur walker toy and crawl around pushing toy cars around.
• Aug 25th - got a cold that he recovered from quickly, just a couple rough nights of waking up.
• Tooth #5 is in! Aug 26th, a couple more rough nights and crabbier days.
• By the end of the month, he gives Mommy a hug upon request!  Melt my heart little guy.  Now just trying to get him to hug other people, say Daddy maybe?!

Here's the link to view the photos from August!:
https://goo.gl/photos/YGtxzLuP8ES6JAwo6

September will bring the start of fall, preschool, MOPS and more DRG progress!

July 2016

Summer has been lots of fun, with lots of activities each week!  The first weekend of the month we finished the get together with friends from MNHS with a kids-free dinner.  Then it was 4th of July- watching some of the neighborhood fireworks and heading out to IronHorse to see their show.  In the end, only Jeff and my Dad were outside with the big kids watching them, and even the kids ended up in the van with me, Gemma and Wesson.  We got to add another nephew to the family on July 6th - Caleb Douglas Homberg - Congrats Aaron and Michelle! We look forward to meeting him whenever we might be able to get to OK or when they brave the trip up here.  

We celebrated Samara's 6th birthday with family and four of her friends on Sunday the 10th.  She wanted a Princess part this year, which included a princess Barbie dress cake and sandwiches with boxed mac 'n cheese for dinner (all her picks).  She loved having everyone over and it was a full house for a couple hours for sure.  

Our staycation was this month and it was a fun weekend for everyone in the family!  We started off the "trip" with a StormChasers game on Thursday evening (NARI event that I used to plan.  It was weird to just attend, but the tailgate was great!  Our seats were sunny and the kids basically just ran up and down the stairs, but got to experience cotton candy (Kalum liked it, Samara was greatly disappointed with it) and we all shared some ice cream.  The next day we spent the day at the zoo and it was like 70 degrees and misty/rainy most of the day, not your typical Friday in July at the zoo!  We got to see the new African exhibit including giraffes, elephants and all.  We had early dinner on the way home at Red Robin, with promised dessert first.  We shared their donuts and Samara also had some ice cream and Jeff and I shared an oreo shake.  Then we enjoyed dinner as well and the kids actually ate some dinner.  We rented Kung Fu Panda 3 on the way home and had a family movie night, a good show, with typical humor to the other two in the series.  Saturday morning we called CoCo Keys where we had a reservation for that night.  In calling we found out their water park is down for the weekend for maintenance - what?!?!  So, we had to find alternatives, and quickly, as the kids were getting disappointed that their hotel night and swimming weren't going to happen... Instead we went to see The Secret Life of Pets at 10AM, stopped home for lunch and went to the Zorinsky Water Park for the afternoon.  The big kids loved the swimming and kids slides!  Wesson thought the water was not warm enough and cried if even a toe touched the water, so he and I hung out on a lawn chair for most of the time.  Jeff and Samara braved the water slide (she was just about tall enough and they let her go) and loved it!  I went once as well, and Samara "coached" me all the way up the stairs on how to go on the slide. ;)  Kalum was too short and couldn't go, he was really upset and we had to deal with the meltdown over it several times.  We got pizza from Little Caesar's on the way home.  Everyone was definitely tired after the full day.  Sunday we relaxed at home, then went to the Children's Museum.  This was our first time there and the kids had really wanted to go.  Afterwards we stopped at the slides downtown, which was a hit, then at McD's as a finish to our staycation.  So, fun had by all, and we enjoyed the 10 minute drive home as opposed to hours on a typical driving vacation!

I got to take part in a women's bible study at church for 7 weeks this summer.  It was on Monday evenings and I really enjoyed the time with other women discussing the power of prayer and being a warrior in your spiritual life.  A different "ladies night" for me was going with Mom and Courtney to UNL to attend a Lincoln Modern Quilt Guild event to hear a textile designer give a lecture.  It was interesting, and got me thinking about getting quilting and creativity back into my schedule.  I'm hoping when school starts I'll have more routine happening each day and maybe that will happen!  Last mom-only thing this month was the MOPS Steering Retreat, since I'm going to have a role this year after taking last year off.  We had a Friday night dinner at the coordinator's home and then Saturday morning was a session to talk about the plans for the year by each person on the committee.  I'm the Publicity Coordinator this year, so I'll handle the social media, directory and a few other areas.  I look forward to serving again and being part of the team of ladies heading up this great group for moms.

On the 30th we went down to Lincoln in the evening to see my Mom get inducted into the Nebraska State Quilt Guild Hall of Fame!  She didn't know she was being inducted or that we were all going to show up, so it was a fun surprise.  It was wonderful to see her recognized for all of the hard work and commitment she puts into what she does and the groups she is involved with.  Way to go, Mom!  We celebrated afterwords with some ice cream at McD's (well, Mom stayed for the rest of her weekend, the rest of us just had the dessert).

As for Derby Remodeling Group updates - Memphis house and Eagle house are both moving along!  Check out the pictures for some visuals.  Memphis has been a lot of follow-up work after the basement, grading, grass seed, etc.  Interior work has been more electrical and plumbing.  Eagle has been exterior work on the garage- new siding and the house-shutters, front porch (CPTO has taken on the bulk of the work here for now, in order to allow for progress in Memphis.)  So, Jeff's been busy to say the least, not to mention also having to mow these lawns and the Fir St house in Ashland, but also coordinating any subs, material purchases and maintaining all his work at NIFCO.  Discussions have taken place that after these two homes, a DRG, LLC hiatus will be in order - the kids just grow up too quickly as it is!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• She turned SIX this month!  She is a spunky, bright girl who is outgoing and an animated storyteller.  Definitely a first born, considers herself a 2nd mommy to her brothers (whether they like it or not) and lets others know if they are doing something against the rules.  
• She chooses her own clothes each day.  One day she chose some shorts that didn't really coordinate with the top she selected.  I said something like, maybe we can choose some other shorts that go with that shirt better.  She responds with, "well they still look cute on me", and went downstairs.  Keep that confidence girl!!
• Jeff took Samara on her first Daddy-Daughter date the Friday of her Birthday weekend.  She got to choose dinner and immediately said, Chick-fil-A!  After that, Daddy surprised her with a trip to the pet store to select a Beta fish, which she said she wanted to have.  They picked one out and a tank, etc.  "Beta" as she named him, lives in her room for now.
• She was so relieved to find out that she had no shots and no blood draw at her 6 year checkup appointment!  I could see her demeanor and face change when the nurse said, "no ouches today!".  43 lbs - 39%, 46.25" - 69%, BMI 18%, Bp 103/67
• She caught two caterpillars in her new bug cage from her birthday.  Both made a chrysalis within a few days!  Then butterfly #1 about a week later.  She was thrilled that she got to let it go on her hand.  Butterfly #2 was just a couple days later.  A very cool summer experience for the bug and small animal lover!

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• We plan to register the two older kids in Awanas (Wednesday night kids ministry at church).  I say Samara will be in Sparks and Kalum will be in Cubbies.  He was dismayed!  I explained that it wasn't a cubby like a place to store stuff, it was cubby like a bear cub.  He was much happier then about taking part!
• One afternoon Kalum is playing downstairs and comes up to the kitchen with blood all over his fingers, so washed his hands and saw no new wounds - where is this coming from?. I'm thinking.  Then saw his nostril was all covered in red as well, so washed it off and talked to him about not picking our nose.  He said, "I didn't pick my nose.  I was trying to get the skittle back out."  I ask, "was it a red skittle?"  Yes.  I him blow his nose a few times, hoping a skittle will come out, but no such luck.  Maybe this skittle is dissolving?, I thought.  "Let's go downstairs to see if there's red anywhere else." I say, dreading the possibility of taking him to the urgent care to get out a skittle.  We get downstairs and "Here's the skittle!" Kalum says triumphantly, holding up a clear sphere.  Sigh.  At least he didn't shove it TOO far up there, not Dr needed.
• When he was supposed to be getting dressed one morning, I come upstairs to see that he has dumped ALL the clothes out of ALL his drawers onto the floor in a huge pile.  He said he was looking for his other dinosaur toy (apparently it jumped into one of his drawers and buried himself?).  I said he needed to start putting it all back where it goes, our house has a mantra - if you make a mess, you clean it up.  So, he complains when having to pick up the mess that "Grandma got me too much clothes!"  I told him I could make them all go back to Grandma's very easily...he decided to put them away.
• One day I was explaining that "this part of your arm is called your forearm". Pause from Kalum.  "Is this my seven arm then?" pointing to his bicep. lol, three year olds are so funny sometimes!
• Sunday school - most days he still wants to sit in the room by the door for about 15 minutes and warm up.  Then he plays and enjoys the whole morning.  Told one of his teachers one morning that "he's a funny guy", meaning he thinks of himself as humorous. Ha!
• Kalum got stung by bees or something out at my parents house at the end of the month.  Poor kid, it definitely scared him and he thought they were eating him (per Samara's recount of the event since they were out looking for golf balls in the tall grass by my parents' yard).  Gemma made a benedryl run as his face and hand were quite swollen.  He slept well and by morning looked much better.  May have a slight, understandable aversion to bees in coming weeks and months possibly though. 
• After a trip to the Memphis house, I had him take off his shorts because the back seat was really dirty from his sitting in the dirt.  As we are driving away, he is insisting that he gets to put his shorts back on.  I say, that is not possible, we are driving.  He complains on.  Finally I say, "Why do you need your shorts back on?".  Kalum- "So I don't freak all the people out on the road!!"  I could only laugh.  Then explain that no one can see his underwear and there wouldn't be any freaking out.

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• He slept through his first fireworks display because in the van with Mommy and Gemma.  He didn't even wake up when Kalum and Samara joined us inside the van.  Daddy and Papa finished watching the IronHorse display outside on the cool, misty night.
• July 7th - 3rd tooth is in
• July 8th - started crawling and signing "Daddy"
• July 12th - now crawling and pulling up on some furniture - getting more efficient at getting to his desired location!
• 9 month check-up - 22 lbs-68%, 29.75"-87%, 46cm head circumference-66%, had to get 2 shots but did well-a little more sleepy and crabby that evening
• July 16th - climbing stair unassisted all the way to the top (now we'll have to work on safe decent!)
• July 20th - can walk along a flat surface now like a wall or closed door.  Also LOVES doors - open, shut, open, shut, repeat until Mommy is sure he's going to pinch his fingers and makes him stop
• Milesstones at end of month - likes to feed himself-pb toast, fruit, whole milk from sippee cup, making lots of noises and sounds, says mamamama (maybe meaning Mama, not sure yet), objects loudly if you take away a toy he's playing with, can climb up stairs pretty quickly!, always wants to get in the bathroom and uses toilet to stand up so we have to keep the bathroom door shut-yuck!

Google changed how you view the slideshow, so click the link below.  When the window opens up, click on the first image, you can then click through all the images using the arrows on the sides of each picture.  Any captions are to the upper right corner of pictures.

Click here to view the pictures for the month

June 2016

Summer officially begins!!  That means Samara's dance rehearsal/recital, some extra play dates, Summer U Jr. at church, get togethers with friends and, again, plenty of work to do on the reno houses.  Jeff got basement work done on Memphis house, a project he undertook himself to help his bottom line.  It was a lot of work, but seems like it will still be worth it!  Father's Day was Wesson's dedication at church then potluck lunch at our house.  Our house was full, but it's great to have family together to catch up.  We had a group of friends from high school in town this month, so we were able to get together for a play date as well as a dinner out with just the grown-ups to catch up (thanks to my parents for babysitting that night)!  
Courtney and I gave my Dad a gift of a Dad/daughter date night for a Birthday gift and we planned it for the end of the month.  We chose dinner at Sgt. Peffers, miniature golf followed by ice cream.  It was a fun, relaxing evening and Courtney beat us both at golf! 

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• One evening while getting ready for bed, I see Samara desperately digging in pockets of some denim shorts in the dirty clothes pile.  She is so mad that the two quarters that she put in her pocket got lost.  I try to explain that pockets aren't always the best place for keeping money.  When Jeff comes in the room, she hands him the shorts and he starts trying to dig through the pockets as well.  I then realize something once he is holding them up.  Well, the quarters aren't there because those are Wesson's denim shorts!  Jeff said he can't tell the difference (they do look about the same).  Samara found her actual shorts in the pile and there were the quarters in the pocket.  :)
• June 13th - First dance recital!  She wasn't sure about the dance rehearsal and was a little nervous.  (Said I hadn't prepared her for the fact that the stage would be a wood floor rather than tile like at the studio.  Sheesh, I thought I explained all the necessary things!)  But at the recital she did great and seemed to really enjoy it!  Dinner and oreo shake at Applebee's afterwords with grandparents and Courtney.  She LOVED the rose that Daddy brought for her after the show.  She put it in her room in a vase as soon as we got home.
• We put Samara in Summer U Jr. (VBS at our church) this summer for the first time from 6/20-24.  I was the lead teacher for her class of 13 five-year-olds, with a few 13 year old helpers. She liked the crafts, snacks, new friends made and the music and skits by teenagers helping with Summer U.  She was reenacting the Australian adventure theme with Kalum using lines from the skits.  (I wasn't allowed to watch them play though, or she'd stop.  So, I had to read or look at things on the counter and pretend not to listen). ;)
• Samara got a day to pick out fabric and sew with Gemma on her sewing machine and she really enjoyed the day learning to sew and with attention all on her, without her "three year old brother" as she said during the day to Gemma.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Kalum has been loving summer!  Riding bikes, playing with diggers in the dirt, running in the sprinklers, going to the park, etc.
• While running and jumping in the pool, self proclaimed a nickname while running down  the grass to the pool.  Samara ran down first and I was cheering for her with random silly names, including "SamaraNara Sauce".  Kalum yells "Go Kalum Kalum Sauce!"  He says he has two nicknames now, "Kalumus Palumus Decimus Meradeous" (Jeff's nickname for him from Gladiator movie) and the new one.
• Kalum was too young for actual Summer U, but he got to be in the room with kiddos his age and do some similar crafts.  He's pumped for next year when he gets to go to "real" Summer U.

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• Mid-month milestones - pincer grasp to pick up cereal puffs, can wave and give high fives.  Liked tuna as well as chopped chicken with his veggies, can get on hands and knees and rock then flops on tummy.  Loves to be held to walk around though-would go all day if you'd let him!  Top tooth coming in soon.
• One day started clapping randomly in morning.  Then by evening clapped every time ball went down slide on one of his toys.
• Wesson was dedicated at church on Father's Day.  He did well and we were so thankful to have family there to celebrate and join us in raising our kids right.
• Has only signed "more" for cheerios and puffs, and not all the time.  Daddy taught him to blow kisses so he does that most often for him.  Can go sitting to tummy, squirm to get a toy he wants, get on hands and knees, then back to sitting, but no actual crawling yet.
• June 29th - He crawled!!  He waited until Daddy was home, crawls three times, then he's done for the day.

As promised, here's June's parenting ah-ha! moment thanks to another Focus on the Family radio show... It is the parent's job to speak truth and the Holy Spirit brings conviction.  This allows you to work to understand the cause of the problem or issue, discuss and pray about it with your kids, not just bring light to the sin.  Once the heart issue is addressed, the behavior can work to correct itself and obedience will follow.  Parent's main job is not to be their kids' friend (which I knew), rather the primary role is to serve as a godly authority figure (good reminder).

May 2016

May was the last month of preschool, the final part of the dance year including recital, day to day summer fun, several family events and continuing to work on both houses.  Check out the pictures of the Memphis house and the work Jeff is progressing on there including entire new basement walls, major landscape work-mulching HUGE pile of trees and other interior work, along with the Eagle house, which will start getting more attention soon.  The Fir St. house is just sitting there for now as we wait for some information on the list setbacks from the Ashland Permits Office.  We took our van in for its first oil change - have we already had it six months?!  What a great choice for our family in this phase of life, though I was always opposed to being a minivan mom.  Nothing like a 3rd kid to change that mindset!

Samara had her last preschool field trip to Gifford Farms and Grandma Cheryl watched the boys for us.  She had her final dance practices and picture day.  She loved putting on her makeup and costumes!  We put her hair up in a bun, but will opt for a ponytail for recital as the bobby pins were too much for her to handle. ;)  

We got to help our nephew Noah celebrate his first birthday!  Courtney and I had fun doing some cake pop making the night before and then the kids loved the monster cake and seeing Noah open his gifts.  We watched Noah one day the following week (in case he'd been exposed to our kids fever/rash), and I cannot imagine having two babies at the same time or doing in-home daycare.  Though I'm sure you get a routine and it might get more manageable...maybe.

We made a day trip to North Loop, NE to attend Jeff's Aunt Sue's wedding on the 26th.  It was great to see family we don't see often like Jeff's cousins and their kids.  All the kids enjoyed playing together during the afternoon and at the reception.  Congrats to Sue and Ron, glad we could attend!  Another family get together was with Pennell's while Grandpa and Grandma were in town at Karre's.  We had a Memorial Day potluck dinner there and Grandpa and Grandma got to meet Wesson!

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• May 5th - first time being sent home from school sick. :(  Teachers called and said she was pale and just not herself.  She fell asleep on the way home and went right to bed.  Fever got up to 103.7 before actual bedtime.  Gave her ibuprofen and she slept all night.  Fever came back but only about 100 on Friday, but seemed like her normal self.  After being in the sun a few spots showed up on her cheeks.  Apparently she got roseola, but since had it before as a baby, was really mild case.
• Lost her first tooth - FINALLY - after weeks of wiggling and refusing to yank it out.  5:30AM she came into our room saying, "Mom, I lost my tooth!"  Apparently while in bed she bonked her head on the wall when flopping back onto pillow when she realized tooth was still there.  She slapped her hand on her mouth and it must have bumped the last thread of root left.  She is so excited that she gets to show off the new space at dance class and Noah's party!
• May 9th - Said she was having a headache, which is totally not normal.  I looked in her mouth and saw first 6-year molar coming in.  Gave some ibuprofen at bedtime so she could sleep better.
• Some days she acts excited about how the school year is almost over.  The next day she is crying because there's only one day of lunch bunch left.  So - who knows who will be crying at her graduation more, me or her?!
• May 23rd - lost 2nd tooth!  She is super excited this time around.  We were in the living room and I said, just pull it out, it's so loose it might fall out by itself.  She popped it out in an instant after a week of having difficulty eating because it was so loose. Another 50 cents for her piggy bank from the tooth fairy.
• May 24th - Last Day of preschool.  She insisted on taking a sad and happy picture in the morning before we left.  She wanted to make wands for all of her teachers - so she crafted them from pipe cleaners, bead and curling ribbon and proudly handed them out to each teacher that morning.  They got to play water games and enjoy the last day with their friends.  That night was her graduation, where she (kind of) sang the songs and then got to have her name called to walk across stage.  I survived tear free, it helps to be trying to shush your 3 year old to keep the sentimentality down.  We went out for ice cream to celebrate afterwords at DQ.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• And Kalum also got sick this month, he actually brought it into the house.  He had a fever all week, ended Wednesday overnight.  Thursday the rash showed up...roseola is my "mom diagnosis" after seeing on Samara when she was younger.  Rash stayed through Sunday, but having been in the sun a couple days, it made it show up more.
• We had another successful home haircut mid-month!  Kalum decided he hates the hair clippers (as in, wiggling all over and covering his ears as soon as the buzzing starts), so I have to do almost the whole haircut with scissors.  At first I wasn't sure, but he was eager to show Samara when we got her from school, so I guess it was acceptable.  (or he wanted to tell her he got to watch a show and have a sucker. That is equally, if not more exciting than the new 'do I'm sure.)
• We have noticed that Kalum takes a bit longer to warm up to new people and places than Samara.  If something is not as expected, he resorts to not wanting to even go in the front door when we arrive.  Once reassured, he'll eventually come in and join, or we have to just leave him there and let him get comfortable on his own.

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• He typically doesn't cry at night once his tummy is full.  Early in the month he must have been teething again, because after changing, rocking and walking, finally gave him some medicine and after 20 minutes he was asleep again until morning.
• Roseola for Wesson as well, unfortunately!  It's hard because the virus is most contagious in two days before fever and that's the first symptom.  He had decreased appetite and longer naps, but a happy demeanor.
• May 9th - Stopped using the sleep sack and wrapping blankets this weekend.  He's getting too tall and seems to sleep just fine rolling all around in his bed. :)
• Figured out he can raise and lower a blanket over his face to play peekaboo.  He does the motion so fast though that you can barely say, "Where's Wesson?" and he's already uncovered his face and is laughing.
• Mid month - For past few weeks he has been waking at night between 12AM and 3AM.  Tonight I'm going back to a BabyWise technique, bump up a feeding to when I got to bed.  Hopefully he will make it all night, fingers crossed.  Okay - that did NOT turn out well.  He ate at 11PM then woke to eat at 3AM and wouldn't go back to sleep until 4:30AM!  Will try a couple more nights, but then nevermind on that process.  Maybe both my boys will eat once a night until 11 months. Sigh...
• Mid month - Ate some puffs today.  Actually got a couple in his mouth by himself.  Also started just mashing baby foods rather than puree.  He seems to be taking to that well this week.  Added cauliflower and green beans to his repertoire, chicken is next.
• May 22nd - His long locks were starting to grow over his eyes, so we had to go for the first haircut.  I sat him on the kitchen floor between my knees and clipped away with scissors.  He did well (but considering it was only the hair on top of his head, it was 5 minutes or less!)  Styled his hair with a faux hawk, it's the go-to style for baby boys with basically no hair on the sides of their head!
• Milestones by end of May - He can hold a bottle for entire feeding himself in your arms, likes to be held to stand, just started taking actual steps too while holding hands, kind of makes a "dada" sound, giggles crazily if Samara shakes a plastic bag near him.  Can get up onto knees from tummy and rock back and forth.  In a few days has really picked up speed walking while holding onto our hands.  Tries to get into crawling position from sitting-does a face plant.  It will not be long before he's on the go for sure!
• Schedule - Wakes to eat once a night around midnight usually.  Breakfast-nurse between 8-9AM, nap at ten for almost two hours, lunch at noon-baby food then nurse, nap at two for almost two hours, dinner at four-baby food then nurse, evening nap around 6 usually, up around 8-9PM to have 8oz pumped bottle or nurse, awake a bit then off to bed for the night.  He wakes once to eat and I've tried to change that, but not successful so far.  He wakes between 7-8AM, sometimes talks in crib then goes back to sleep on own for awhile.

Though there are moments where parenting young kids can be crazy and frustrating, I heard something this month to help me keep a long-term mindset.  Focus on the Family had a guest on the show addressing the topic and said this,  "Are you raising a child, or are you raising an adult?"  That makes so much sense to me!  We want to raise our kids so that they can be most prepared to go out into the world (school essentially for now, the real world later) and thrive from the love, life-modeling, beliefs and thought process we have instilled in them.  This convicts me to remember that each situation is not just the present issue, but a moment to teach my kids how to handle something similar down the road on their own.  This is not always through a consequence I lay out for them, but rather may be something that happens as a result of their choice and loving on them through it.  Anyway, just a parenting ah-ha! moment for me this month.  Let's see what June will bring. :)

April 2016

This month marked the beginning of my time as SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) rather than a WAHM (work at home mom)!  That's not to say that there is no work in being home with the kids, just now there's not my job piled on top of and in between every moment of being with the kids and keeping the home somewhat in order.  During some of this down time, I've been tackling organization and cleaning our house one closet per week.  With three bedrooms and five people, it was starting to feel a little cramped.  By doing some reorganization and minimizing in a few areas, it's getting better every week.

I also took some time to work on balancing our family budget - fun, fun, I know.  It became a challenge to see what we could remove, what we could scale back and who we could negotiate with to reduce our expenses.  I didn't really want to call and be "that person" insisting on a lower bill, but I changed my mindset and it was not that bad being polite but firm.  I realized we only have $X and there's no longer a cushion of my paycheck.  I didn't want companies taking more than they should and making it seem impossible for us to have a parent home with our kids.  So, changes with Cox, Verizon and health insurance made up the bulk of the changes, then there's the tightening of the extra purchases on a monthly basis.  I made quite a few calls to get everything accomplished, but it was worth it in the end, as we found a way to get our income to very closely match our outgo!

Besides all that exciting cleaning of closets and finance fixing, there was plenty of other things to fill the calendar!  We got to celebrate Easter with the Derby side along with our niece, Evelyn's, 2nd birthday, MoPS wrapped up for the year, Jeff took the kids out to the Fir and Memphis houses to take turns riding on the mower, we all had dental appointments (no cavities-yay!), the kids and I went out to Eagle house on a Friday afternoon to strip some painted wallpaper, then I went back out on the following day while Jeff's parents watched the kids.  Jeff continues to work on two houses simultaneously while keeping up with a busy schedule at work, and striving for the perfect balance of work and home.  There is, of course, no perfect balance, my suggestion was just to be fully present when you are home with the kids so that time is quality.

So, speaking of time together, we asked the kids what they wanted to do on a vacation this summer - responses included: staying at a hotel to swim, seeing the elephants at the zoo, eating dessert before dinner, and going on a water slide.  With that in mind, we decided this summer to take a "staycation" with the kids, doing some things around Omaha that we don't take time to do on a regular basis and staying at a hotel for a night or two.  This will take less time driving somewhere and the kids still can do all the things they enjoy - a true win-win!  Stay tuned for an update on how that goes, likely in July sometime. :)


Samara's Moments for the Month:

• We released our turtle and toad into the wild (since they were from the wild) at Zorinsky Lake.  Samara was all excited about letting them go to live free and in the wild until turtle ran right from the box to the water and jumped right in!  It was over so quickly.  Samara was sobbing.  Kalum "What treat are we going to get when we get home?"  So typical, on both accounts in an emotional situation.
• We had Samara's last preschool parent-teacher conference.  She is a joy to have per her teachers and they will be sad to see her leave.  But, she is totally ready for kindergarten and they enjoyed seeing her kind of lead the younger kids in her class and show them the way of the preschool world.
• After a temper tantrum while getting ready for school (where she was kicking the cold air return in her room), I discovered it was dented in.  I explained her consequences would likely be chores to earn money to replace it.  When Daddy got home and after dinner they got out her piggy bank to see how much money she already had towards the vent.  He was showing her how much money it would cost to buy and she was not happy that it was going to take so much of her money.  "I was just about to get rich!", she said dismayed.  Lesson learned - you break it, you buy it.
• Jeff put in "hillbilly" costume teeth and pretended that is what happened because he went to bed without brushing his teeth.  The kids were completely fooled and horrified that is what happened.  Samara was "sorry that they will look like that forever now" and Kalum said "you'll never be able to talk gooder again".  Jeff could barely keep a straight face!  Finally he told them they weren't his real teeth, but man, they were totally taken aback, covering their mouths in empathy.
• She was so excited that she figured it out today!  When Jeff got home she was jumping up and down telling him.  She also met a girl at the playground that will go to her kindergarten school, was icing on the cake!

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Breakfast topic one day: how Kalum would want to come visit me after he is a grown up.  "I will come see you, and eat with you, for breakfast, lunch and dinners!"  I'm sure you'll show up to eat after you've moved out buddy, no doubt!
• The kids are instructed to go upstairs and wash their hands.  Samara is at the sink watch hands and I look in to see Kalum taking his wet hands out of the toilet and he's giggling.  At the same time I'm thinking it, Samara says, "Kalum are you washing your hands in the TOILET?!"  He then proceeds to dry them off on Samara's bath towel.  That went straight to the hamper and he had an extra long hand-washing session in the sink.  Boys!  Seriously.  I never thought I needed to specify that he should not wash his hands in the sink.
• Samara so far as been the one to get Wesson giggling best so far, but one day in April, Kalum got his going as well.  Kalum was so excited that it was the first thing he told Samara when we picked her up from school.
• Growing up?  He has become more reasonable in recent days.  He still might start to throw a fit if something doesn't go his way, but you can reason with him and he adjusts fairly quickly.
• Loves hugs!!
• Playing cars and trucks and he told one truck to watch our for the big hole with "really fast sand". Haha - he meant quicksand!  
• Kalum's alphabet song right now... A B C D E F G H I K K Kalum N O P (then goes through the end)  Lol!  we made sure to get a video of that before he realizes the alphabet doesn't actually include his namesake. :)

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• 6 Months Old!!  Loves to hear clapping - grabs your hands so he can be part of the action.  Got a cold early in the month, started off slightly fussy and waking at night, then full blown cold symptoms.
• 6 month Check-Up: 19lbs 11oz (85%), 28" long (92%) and head circumference 44.5cm (71%)  He did well, even through the inevitable vaccines.
• First time swimming!  Jeff's family was in town from Iowa and they stayed at a hotel.  They invited us to join them to swim.  Wesson seemed to enjoy the water.
• He likes to eat baby food, even opens his mouth like a baby bird for fruit (pears, apples, baby cereal).  Veggies (sweet potatoes, avocados and peas so far) can take a little more coaxing.  
• If he gets mad he now says, "blah blah blah" loudly!  If he is done being in bed, wants to eat or to be picked up and you're taking too long.  He's usually flaps his arms while scolding us.
• By mid-month he discovered the joy of splashing in the baby bathtub!  As in...let's raise my arms and crash them into the water as hard as I can (should have worn my poncho to bathe him - will definitely consider it for next time!)
• Trying to find the best style for his locks on top of the head only - we pulled it up in a "man bun".  Jeff asked, "can we just cut his hair?"  So maybe the man bun is not the look we were seeking.
• First real ride in the shipping cart.  Loved riding in the cart like a big boy at HyVee!  Just sucked on his finger and watched the fluorescent-lit world go by.  I think we've reached the end of carrying him in the infant seat carrier, it's just too heavy (for Mom at least).  Jeff, however, just can't seem to stick his hip out enough to carry him with ease on his side. ;)

This month since I'm now not working, but for a few hours of training one week, I picked up my magazine from MoPS to read.  It so appropriately was on the topic of Embracing Rest.  One of the articles really made me think as it brought up the concept of "checking out" vs. actual rest.  And it didn't just mean getting more sleep at night, but rather, what makes your spirit feel more restful?  Time spent creating something, writing, reading, nature, exercise, etc.  Finding that thing for you personally and making space in your schedule.  Intentionally arranging this time in advance, on your weekly calendar, coordinating with spouse to make it happen.  The same week I heard a radio program about the importance of not putting yourself last as a mom.  The temptation is there to give your family your all and it is often easier to just let your me-time slip.  It is, however, so important to take time to refresh yourself and your spirit so your heart can overflow to others.  I had been praying that I would find the best use of my time at home with my kids full-time and God speaks to us if we listen.  It seems like this is how he has reached me in the past, by aligning messages from several places at the same time.  In reflection, I realized that watching TV after the kids are in bed at night might seem restful, but actually I'm just "checking out" and not lifting up my spirit.  A summer goal: set up time for actual rest time (maybe that's just a nap sometimes, creating or quilting) and daily quiet time with God.  I need to "be still" more often than constantly working on a to do list.  God has this under control so I don't need to feel like I have to. All. The. Time.  What can you plan into your calendar to allow your spirit some time to rest as we head into the summer months?

March 2016

March has been a continued month of adjustment to our new schedule, all for the best though!  

March 3rd was my final work event, the rescheduled Education Day.  Then on March 11th, we loaded up all the remaining NARI items in the basement and delivered them to the new NARI office.  That made it feel very final!  Going from working for NARI for 126 hours in January to 66 hours in February and then just 16 in March has been allowing me time to get caught up on some things around the house and really enjoy time with the kids even more.  the goal is to tackle one closet or area of the house a week, so I started with reorganizing the office so it is now our home/Derby Remodeling Group office.  Not having to pack in work during rest time (if that happens) and during the night, the kids have reaped the benefits of this with extended time at the park, more "yes" responses when they ask me to play with them and some fun "field trips".  The day after Easter we took a trip to the zoo with Auntie Courtney and Noah - it was a great day for the zoo!  Kalum and I went to the ReStore and shopped for some lights for the reno houses and hit the jackpot with 7 fixtures we needed.  The kids and I drove to Lincoln and had lunch with Jeff and his boss, Mark, one Wednesday.  The kids liked seeing where Daddy works and of course seeing Daddy and telling him what's new on their minds.  And they really enjoyed sharing with Mark (everything that has happened in their life - ever - with a series of "Guess what?" statements from Samara).

Jeff has been working on Monday and Wednesday nights and Saturdays on Derby Remodeling Group tasks and projects.  That allows some evenings to be home for dinner and with the kids before they head to bed.  I know it's hard to balance family and work life and I hope that we can maintain something that works for him and for the kids.  Being present is so important, but you can't be everywhere at once!  The kids love coming out to our project homes, so some trips out to Memphis and Eagle may be in order soon.

We did get to take a break from our routine to head to Grand Island on March 12-13th for our nieces Elizabeth's baptism and Leah's birthday party.  The kids loved the chance to eat at Raising Canes for dinner, stay at a hotel (swimming and breakfast donuts being the highlight of course) and seeing Kleinschmit's new house.  It was a relaxing trip and a chance to spend some time with Jeff's family.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• March 5th - Samara found her first AND second loose tooth today.  She was done eating teddy grahams and told me one of her teeth hurt.  I checked and sure enough bottom middle tooth was loose.  Then wiggled one next to it and it was too.  She is ecstatic to say the least.  She has been wiggling them, but warned us all that no one is to bump her chin or teeth because it would knock her loose teeth out to fast!  By middle of month, you can see the permanent tooth coming in, so should be out soon.
• She sometimes tells me how she is going to marry kids in her class she she gets older.  They had a church choir come sing to their class and she giggled as she told me how she "almost fell in love with one of the boys who was singing".  Good grief!! She didn't even talk to him, but, seriously, kid!
• March 18th - She went to kindergarten roundup and loved it.  They got to play on the playground, have snack, plant a flower seed and "be a kindergartner" for a couple hours.  She only seemed nervous when everyone was in the room waiting for the teachers to come pick up their classes.  She said it was loud so she didn't like that part.
• Same day as KG roundup, she can balance on her bike going downhill for a couple driveways!  Jeff removed the training wheels and pedals so she could get a feel for balancing.  She uses the handbrakes to keep it under control.  She's so proud and wants Daddy to put pedals back on so she can ride for real.
• After a family-friendly workout with Aunti Courtney at her gym, Samara informed me of all the moves they did during her workout and how much exercise she got.  Then she told me that I "could lose a few pounds" if I went to do workouts at the gym.  Gee, thanks kiddo!  I decided to take this as an insightful comment, not a directed suggestion.  Though I need to get some cardio and toning back in to my routine for sure.
• March 24th - Jeff put the pedals back on her bike and she basically has it down!  Ready for a bike ride around the block this next week.  She wanted me to video and so I got the camera, then she was super upset because she fell over while I was recording.  She wanted me to delete it.  After talking to the sobbing kid on way inside, I told her I thought she just might be feeling embarrassed that she fell and we could try again a bit later.  She had to cry a bit more on the couch inside.  After like 15 minutes (yes, occasional emotional drama, she's a girl!) she says, "I think you're right." I say, about what?  Sobbing all over again, "I do feel a bit embarrassed about falling."  We talked about trying again, learning to ride includes falling sometimes, etc. then she says she doesn't want me to delete the video.  That's my girl!
• Jeff is teaching her some basic Taekwondo moves and she is very interested in learning.  Kalum lasted much less time in the home-school taekwondo class than big sister.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• This month he all of a sudden started saying words rhyme with others.  We drive by a store, "is that another HyVee?", No, that is Super Saver.  Silence, then "that rhymes with light saber!"  
• After dinner I was trying to clean up and put leftover enchilada pan in fridge.  The lid has been on the counter but I had misplaced it somewhere.  I'm looking all over for several minutes thinking I'm going crazy.  Kalum walks into the kitchen and he hears me talking to myself saying, "where is the lid to this pan?!"  He says, "oh, it's in the living room."  Me- It is?!  Please show me.  "Right there under that table."  Well I never would have found it there!  At least he's old enough to tell me where he puts things now.  And no wonder I think I'm losing my mind sometimes!
• Thinks he's being sneaky when doing something naughty.  Has started hiding when doing something he thinks he'll get in trouble for.  (During bible study group he sneaked a brownie from counter and hid under the kitchen table to devour it.  When I asked what he was doing, he said "nothing" with a stuffed mouth and covered his mouth with his hand.)  Other times he'll tell us not to look (so he can do something he's been told not to do.)
• While swinging at the park one day after our weekend stay at Grand Island hotel, I said that the kids were getting so fast that pretty soon they were going to grow up and move away.  Samara said not to worry, she would like in a house close by so she could be my neighbor.  Kalum said, "I'm gonna live in a hotel when I get big so I can go swimming every day!"
• Loves the hidden picture pages in his kids magazine.  Finds that page first and sits there until he finds everything.  At least I know a way to entertain him if needed!
• He's been talking understandably for quite a while, but noticed he is talking even more lately.  Telling stories, recounting events, giving play by play.  As we walk into Menards, Wesson is in cart that Jeff is pushing, Samara riding on side with hand out for Kalum to hold, his other hand in mine. After grabbing Samara's hand, he says, "now we look like we're a family" ha!
• Said his favorite part of the zoo trip was the aquarium.  Probably not the bears, since this all took place in 5 minutes...While by the polar bears, Kalum wanders into the cave to view the bears and I have to chase him down, he then stomps in a muddy water puddle and we have to wipe him down with baby wipe, then looking at the sun bears, he decides to stick his head between the bars (I look over and try to get a picture before he gets unstuck - is that bad parenting to want an image to show your husband?)  ;)  I help him get unstuck (no photo opp, he kind of started to panic), then he starts to walk off with a family, thinking he's by me and I have to go after him as he starts to freak out. Oh boy!

Wesson's Milestones for the Month:

• Five Months old- can roll over to tummy, sit unassisted very briefly, still all smiles, happy to just roll around on the floor, grabbing his feet, stands in the exer-saucer, "talks" which is really quite loud-enough to make you think he's mad but he's just testing out his voice, he's been waking up to eat once at night this week even though his cold is almost gone.
• March 10th - Yesterday was kind of fussy, spit up quite a bit and lots of dirty diapers.  Today he seems in a better mood but has really bad diaper rash.  Trying extra baths, frequent changes and lots of diaper cream.  He even cries when you change his diaper and he usually loves having his diaper changed - poor baby!  
• March 11th - Started sucking on right pointer finger (upside down) instead of thumb.
• March 13th - First tooth! Came in during overnight trip to Grand Island
• Mid-March started on baby rice cereal with milk and added bananas - made disgusted face and possibly swallowed some.  Hoping he improves on the baby food route and eats more like his sister than his brother.
• Rolled back-tummy-back-tummy!  It ended up being a one-time thing and he didn't do that again this month, but soon enough I'm sure.
• March 26th - 2nd tooth is in!  Can see his new pearly whites when he smiles. :)  And he had homemade avocado baby food today, actually ate about a tablespoon.
• March 28th - First trip to the zoo!  Probably enjoyed the aquarium the most because it has interesting ceilings and tunnel he could see from car seat in stroller.  He did sit up for a while in stroller, but ended up falling asleep by the end of the visit.  Early to bed for him and siblings and not a peep was heard!
• By end of the month he finally ate 2 cubes of avocado baby food.  Now we can start on some more new foods next month.  
• He also has started shaking his head back and forth when laying down or in car seat.  He shakes it quickly from side-to-side then smiles like he just mastered a new trick! (self-taught)  This will likely not help the baby bald spot on the back of his head!

Now into April - Spring has sprung!!