Mini-Getaway

We pulled a last minute mini-getaway to Maple Grove this weekend.  My cousin Jody and her family were traveling from Minot to have a little fun before her almost 6 year old twins start Kindergarten!  They are also expecting a baby BOY in November so they had some shopping to do :).  We were lucky enough to spend one night at the hotel with them.  It went by so fast, it was a blur!  Wish we could've had some more time!

Olivia got to hold squirmy little Eden for a bit.  These girls are going to be great big sisters!

 The big attraction was the water park.  This was our first indoor water park experience!  Here you can see the boys checking it out.  They were mostly just interested in being Michael Phelps with their new goggles!

The dads and the kids!

The little kiddie pool was the best bet for us.  The little slides were just right and the temp was good.

Bennett took a quick liking to Violet and followed her all around.

Practicing floats!

Daddy and Eden

 Bennett showing off his muscles.

After a good swim and dinner the kids had fun running around out tiny hotel room and playing on the bunk beds.  In the morning, we had breakfast and another stop at the water park before heading out to shop a little and have a yummy lunch all together at PF Chang's.  Thanks to the Demars' for letting us join them for a day f their vacation!  We cant wait to make a trip to Minot to meet their new little guy (who is going to have the cutest name!).

Soccer Camp

We were so thankful to have our swimming lessons over with last week that I didn't even realize soccer was starting so soon.  We signed up for these summer activities forever ago, so they snuck up on me when it was time!

Logan really likes soccer and John and I like that he has taken to it.  This Parks & Rec camp was really well done with some great coaches.

That's Logan, looking all pro-soccer in his shin socks and green soccer shirt.

Of course Logan is very methodical and by-the-book.

He does so well listening to the directions and then repeating the drill.

Today was great because they played a game for most of their last session.

Water break.

iPhone break.

Poor Bennett came along and just waited and watched with me.  Next year you can do it all, too, buddy.

Eden was awesome and enjoyed all the activity too.

Getting ready for their game!

Logan's first post: goalie.

(Is that soccer-talk? "Post"? - I have not idea.  I'm not athletic, okay?)

Super ready.

He had a couple good saves and even remembered he could use his hands as goalie.

And he scored a goal!  Way to go!  He had fun and that's all that matters.  Although he did remind me several times that his team won 6-0.  Yikes.  The kids all got awards at the end of the week and it was great.

Bennett...what can I say?

FIVE Months!

I keep saying it, but I can't believe it.  Eden is five months old today!  On this day, Eden gave me the most precious of gifts: the most GIANT blow-out I have ever experienced.  This was not what I expected my my daughter.  Let me tell you, this girl seriously knows how to poop.  Today's blow-out (which was documented, but I'll save you the gross photo) was up-to-the-armpits poop in her car seat which required disassembling of the car seat for washing.  Actually, make that "stain-treating and soaking".  Yuck.  Way to go, my lady.  ;)  

That episode required a bath, so she has her fuzzy post-bath hair here.

Anyway, there are a lot cuter things she does at five months than dirty her diapers.  

Like chat with us all day long.  She loves to her herself and she is not to be outdone by her brothers!  Bennett has started covering his ears sometimes when she is talking because its so LOUD!  She has learned that to be heard in this family, you have to belt it out.  She also continues to sing herself to sleep.  Its often our cue that she is ready to sleep.

She also loves to giggle!  We have learned her tickle spots so we usually have a little giggle fest before changing into pjs.  She also laughs at her brothers when they do...well, anything.  She just thinks they are the funniest!

Eden is super strong and tries to sit up on her own, but can't quite do it.  She is constantly kicking her legs like a wild woman and flailing her arms.  She can now firmly grab onto something when she wants to and loves to play with toys.  We try to always have something for her to hold and play with.  The boys, as you can imagine, are great at giving her toys (sometimes appropriate: soft bunnies, her blankie, a rattle, a small ball; sometimes inappropriate: playmobile tiny pieces, bouncy balls, McQueen...).

Exhibit A: when I said I would take a photo of Eden with her Zebra, the boys took the liberty of crowding her with like seven other toys, as well!

Eden has also taken to her jumperoo and likes to spend some time in there.  She loves playing on the floor and loves tummy time too.  She now rolls over front to back and back to front, so she has made her way across the play room a couple times.  I am not ready for her to have any mobility yet, but I know its coming soon!

 

She is usually sleeping on her tummy these days and I think she sleeps more soundly.  She also still LOVES to be swaddled.  In fact, I need to find some swaddle wraps that come in larger sizes because she sleeps better when she is swaddled.

And because her brother really can't get enough of her...

a few pics of them all together.

This is one great life.  Look at the blessings!

Happy 5th month, Eden!  Can't wait for the rest...

Summer Days

Honestly, there have been days this summer when its been too hot to be out...

 but not if you have a pool!

This was the perfect day for the pool.  Too hot if you're not in the water, but just cool enough for some water straight from the hose.

Bennett doesn't look too thrilled.  Hmmm...must be lunch time!

Nana

Thank goodness for my mom (better known as Nana in these parts) because she has been helping out with our crazy schedule/life/kids a lot lately.

She even had some one on one time with Eden a couple days when we took the boys to swimming lessons.

Many thanks to my mom for her many trips over!

Our daughter

John and I marvel at our family of five.  We love our crazy little family and we are so grateful God gave us Eden to complete "us"!  She really is the best baby and the cutest little girl that ever lived (we're the parents, so we can say that).  ;) 

She doesn't often get to sleep long during the day...somehow she always wakes up.  Can you imagine why?

But here she just got to sleep, so I just sat and watched her...

and remembered what a miracle babies are and how they are tiny for such a short time.

College Friends

I'm not good at keeping in touch but I had so much fun seeing my college friends at Stacey's wedding in June and again in St. Paul in July.  My friend Gaby (far right) was home from Singapore where she lives with her husband and two children.  I was so glad Sarah took the initiative for us to all get together!

We have so many fun memories from CSB together and no one seems to have changed much on the outside - though we have all changed a lot in other way: moving, getting married, becoming moms, working...its fun to hear everyone's unique journey.  Its been nine years since we graduated and we're hoping to see each other more frequently in the next nine years.  :)