Friday, January 31, 2014

January

We're not behind on the blogging at all...

January was a full month. After all, we were getting ready for a little girl.


"Coffee" with mommy


Noah surrendered his life to the Lord. We were so proud!!


The big boys went out to play in the snow. Poor little Hunter was sick, so he had to stay inside. He came into the kitchen with his hat on and boots in hand. I told him he couldn't go out. He very dramatically threw his boots on the ground and then threw himself on the ground...


...but a movie will fix anything. (Seriously, a matter of minutes later.)


We have some sweet friends at church that have three boys all two years apart, just like us...they're just a few years older. They gave the boys these cute hats. They love them! And they look so cute in them too!


Fun in the snow...


Sooooo much snow...


We did have a little break from the freezing cold and the snow. Is there more chalk on the driveway or on John's pants?

Noah played basketball again this winter at church. He improved so much since last year. We were so proud of him. And he had so much fun!




January was crunch time to get ready for a sweet little girl. Some of my very sweet friends blessed us with a shower. After the shower, her closet was packed full of clothes in all sizes. I may not have to buy her clothes until she goes to high school.



Sweet Auntie Di had a pink and gray giraffe made for Piper since we picked a giraffe to be her lovey.


And, I was totally excited to get a pink cloth diaper!


Auntie Judy even got to come from Texas for the shower. We loved having her here! She picked up Money Magazine to look at it and the boys just snuggled up with her. 


She is a very brave woman! She let them help make oatmeal muffins.


John was very excited about flour on his finger, apparently...


Poor little Hunter was not feeling well. He had not slept well for a few nights. Turned out to be his first ear infection. He fell asleep in his high chair. That has never happened!


It didn't take long for him to start feeling better though! He was "helping" (a.k.a. watching) me paint frames for Piper's room.


Our sweet care group also blessed us with a huge cake and bag and bags of things for Piper. We are so thankful for all of our wonderful friends!


Amidst all the preparation for Piper, John broke his arm. It was a buckle fracture and not near the growth plate.


Getting his temporary cast at Urgent Care.


He was such a trooper! He held very still and did exactly what the nurses and doctors asked him to do. He picked a camo cast and quite proud of it!


Thankfully, it was his left arm. It only slowed him down a tad. He did milk it! He would ask if he could do something and follow it by "since I broke my arm." 


23 month picture (with wild hair)


Someone lost two teeth in a weeks time. He looked so cute! 

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

December

December was a very full and fun month! 

We went to a craft day at the church where the kids made gifts for friends and family. I helped with one of the stations, so Hunter sat in the stroller and watched for almost two hours. He was pretty good. Every once in a while I'd hand him a different toy or a snack. Finally, Auntie Di rescued him. The other boys visited the different stations with their friends and were also very good! (I really do have very well behaved children! They are such a blessing!)


Hunter hanging out with Remi at the church craft day

We had so much snow this winter. The boys really did enjoy playing in it...that is when it was actually warm enough to go outside.


In the snow fort with daddy (notice the neon colored gun). I think they may have used all the snow in the yard to make it.


Listening to the movie on the headphones like a big boy

We have seen quite a lot of wildlife out the back windows of our house. Mostly in the field behind us. There is a squirrel that lives in the tree behind us. He runs back and forth all the time between the walnut tree, where he gets the nuts, and the other tree where he lives. The boys call him their pet squirrel.


Squirrel watching


So cute!

I got to go to both John and Noah's class Christmas parties. Hunter tagged along to John's too.


Snack time!


Making an ornament


Noah's class decorated Mrs. Ruchte (They also painted Grinch faces on the boys and did Cindy Lou Who hair on the girls. It was pretty cute!)


Mrs. Ruchte sending the class off with a sweet Christmas blessing

One weekend, Greg took Noah and John to the farm for a little hunting. Hunter and I stayed home so we got invited to the Gilbert Christmas. We are so blessed to be adopted into such a great family. 


Hunter opening his present (Or watching someone else do it for him...he wasn't quite sure what to do at first. It didn't take him long to figure it out though!)

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home. It was nice to just relax and enjoy the boys. On Christmas Eve, we went to church and then to dinner. Christmas Day, the boys spent nearly the entire day like this...


...putting together Legos.

We did find time for a few other things too.


Reading the Christmas story


Enjoying a few presents.


"Helping Hunter."

The day after Christmas, we went to Poppy and MiMi's to celebrate. Auntie Judy and Uncle Harry were in Texas, so we FaceTimed them.


FaceTiming (notice John's hat he made from pipe cleaners.)


Showing Auntie Judy his new toy (which she got him)


FaceTiming Auntie Kim who also couldn't make it.

We also got to go visit my friend from junior high who was also home visiting her family for Christmas. She has two boys.


Boys! (Pardon Hunter's bare legs... He fell in some water outside.)


Eryn and I with the boys (minus one who was sleeping)

Then we were off to Grandpa and Grandma's to celebrate. Greg has a very large family and Christmas this year was the first time in 10 years that everyone had been together at the same time. We took lots of pictures. 

You know how it's hard to get a good picture with all the kids? Greg was the problem this time. He got a leg cramp as we were trying to take the picture. 


Silly daddy!


Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids


The whole family


John and Hunter wrestling Uncle Matt (I think he was trying to catch a little nap?? Not the right spot for that...)

Every year there is a pageant by the grandkids. This year, Noah was the drummer boy, Hunter was baby Jesus, and John was a lamb. They were all very cute!


The drummer boy


A fussy baby Jesus (Baby Jesus and Mary did ride in on a donkey.)


A zoned out lamb.


A night out for New Year's Eve.