Spring Break 2014

Spring Break 2014 has come and gone. 

Merit and Willem had a well NEEDED break from school! 

The weather was beautiful. The break started off great. 

Hazel and Oren (princess and Super Man) loved having the big kids home.

My highlight of the week were the bike rides I took with the big boys.

We did lots and lots of yard clean up.

Friday morning we headed to Seattle.

At our hotel before the game

Hazel and Ema at the Mariners Game

Matt and Merit

a bunch of our gang

Saturday mid day we spent some time at the Aquarium.

Reise, Hazel and Morgan are pictured above

Hazel LOVES Morgan. 

She told me she was excited for the baseball game (Seattle trip) because Morgan, Ema and Uncle Matt would be there.

I have a tough time leaving home. Oren sleeps so good in his crib and loves his crib.

Road trips and mini vacations are refreshing, but can be stressful. Sometimes I feel like I am playing catch up for days once we get home. We have had bumps in the road lately and this house is a disaster. 

Oren and Hazel are occupied... I better get to work. 

My to do list is really long this week. 

I love these longer days and all of this SUNSHINE! 

Birthday Goodness

My birthday was fun! Yesterday morning I was unloading the dishwasher when Willem said "You shouldn't be doing that! It is your birthday." He then took over... I knew at that point the day was off to a good start! 

The weather was GORGEOUS! :)

We had lunch with Phil (he was passing through town for work). We ate outside at Taco Del Mar. Had a yummy lunch and some good laughs and then he was back on the road. 

We just hung out here yesterday evening. It was so nice. The kids were really excited about the cake that Hazel picked out for me! :) 

Oren had to watch us eat our cake. 

He is the healthiest eating 10 month old we have ever had in this house. We threw some green beans on his tray and he was good to go. I am kidding. He got a Gerber cookie, so he did have a treat. 

Merit being dramatic. 

Love these kids.

Willem loves fire. Can you see it in his eyes? 

My girl! 

Me, very excited on my 29th birthday ;)

pure sweetness

love

It was a great day.

So many messages from friends, cards and gifts in the mail, love from my family! 

The weather was so warm and nice... Hazel spent the afternoon and evening topless and why not... she is four, we live in the country and she is pretty excited about soaking up this warm spring weather! 

Making choices and living them out, enjoying TIME

My heart is heavy for my sister Lesha and her husband Rob today. Rob's dad is very sick. It is all very sudden. Lesha and Rob have already had a challenging 2014. Lesha got her ICD earlier this year, but the first time around it was not a success. She had to have two surgeries over a 24 hour period. There was uncertainty and concern and lots and lots of praying. She is doing a lot better now. I imagine that having this device is a big adjustment. And there are medications too. My sisters are so brave for just moving forward. Doing what they need to do for their health and then being moms, wives, sisters,aunts, daughters, friends... and finding JOY in life.

Now Rob and Lesha are at Rob's dad's side processing the fact that his cancer has really spread. They are making decisions regarding his health. They are trying to be a comfort and happiness for him right now. Their kids are on spring break but can't be with them at this moment. I am reminded often that life is short and that we really have to enjoy the time we have.

I want to be kind and giving, forgiving and I want to show grace.
Life can be so busy, a little frustrating, disappointing at times, demanding but there is so much good too. And if we focus on "the good" we kind of share that good.

Oren is really great about sharing the good stuff! 

Spring Break is JUST around the corner.

I will be happy to have all four of these kids at home.

Baseball, Weekend Fun!

These 4, I adore! 

It was so fun to camp with them this weekend.

Vance, Merit, Willem and Hazel left Friday at about 4:00 for Yakima. I stayed back with Oren who had a fever and was not feeling great. Oren and I had a quiet, relaxing 24 hours together. By 3:00 Saturday afternoon Oren seemed like himself so the two of us made the trip to Yakima. We had the opportunity to view some great baseball this weekend. And the time with family and friends is sweet. Lots of laughter by the campfire and making memories is fun.

Merit pitching, Carter at short stop

It's the weekend

Emerging Reader

Chunky thighs

He loves books, songs and rhymes.

I love this age.

He is ten months now... he has more cuddles and love from his big sister! 

I love this!! 

footie pajamas, with the Nikes if we head outside or to the shop. :)

Oren and I are home while the rest of the family enjoys baseball today!! 

GOOOO Chiefs!! 

This little guy has been sick. No fever yet today however so I am praying he is on the mend. This is the first time he has ever been sick.

We got some rain yesterday and last night. Our lawn is really greening up. Spring really has sprung.

I have spinach and arugula planted. We do not go a day without eating spinach. I put it in smoothies, we have it in salads, egg dishes, on sandwiches, in wraps. I would love it if our spinach in the garden really took off. I am glad the weekend is here! 

I hope my little guy feels back to normal soon. It is so hard to see our babies sick.

Missing my mom, here it is March 25 again.

Mom at Target

I was just at Target yesterday. 

I have a lot of fun memories of shopping with her there. 

What I wouldn't give for one more day! 

My mom and my sis Lesha

Mom and Grandpa Ken

My mom went to heaven on March 25th and then a few of years later my Grandpa entered heaven's gates on that same date. It was a beautiful blessing to be able to speak very openly with both of them. My Grandpa Ken and my mom were really easy to be around. They had a lot of love, kindness and they both had Jesus in their hearts. I miss them both very much.

Dinner in Moses Lake with mom, Matt and Phil! 

My mom and dad

I shared recently on my blog that I found a card my mom had written me not long before she passed away. I hadn't seen the card in ten or so years! So finding it in a bin of college papers, report cards etc was a really special find. She had also sent me a picture of my family's home. There my mom is on her front porch with her beautiful flowers. Just a few days before she died, she told my sister Lesha that she was excited for spring and told her she wanted to sew some pillows for her bench on the front porch. It was shocking when she passed away just a few days later. Today, I feel like I could write a book. But, Hazel just hollered down to me that Oren has a dirty diaper. I need to swap out the laundry and need to see if I have all of the ingredients for a potato dish I am going to make tonight. Thinking of all of these "jobs" makes me think of my sweet mom too! She had five children. She was always busy. My dad was always working, so she had a lot on her plate. But she had time to laugh, be a fun mom and make memories with her family.

To imagine her in heaven with her sister, father, mother and father in law, grandson and many others... oh it makes my heart hurt and it is a comfort all at the same moment. So many things I do not understand and you know the older I get, I still don't understand. But I do know 

I had an incredible mom!! 

Life is short.

We never know when a loved one could be gone.

I treasure EVERY SINGLE day.

Family is a precious gift.

When we feel burdened, sad or lonely, God cares. He will carry our sadness.

We have hope in Him.

I miss my mom everyday, but oh do I miss her today.

Baseball, Baby Boy, Our Weekend

This baby is so sweet and happy. 

He is a little dream.

Squishy, chunky thighs... sweetness

We headed to Pasco on Friday for some baseball fun! 

Merit did great pitching. It is fun to see these guys back out on the field.

We'll hope to do better next tournament. Our boys seemed a little "rusty" -- 

It is great to watch these kids play and I think with more practice and after getting back into the "swing of things" ;), we'll do better.

Oren gets lots of snuggles from the fans! 

(Rita is holding him here)

And Hazel always checks in on him! And gives him a little kiss. :) 

Camping was really fun! We love the camping space we have. The kids 

brought their bikes. They played, biked around, had a ball!  Oren slept great in the porta crib. We were 

able to camp with baseball friends. The weather was a little windy, but otherwise nice.

We have a lot more baseball in our near future! Merit and Willem will play this spring! 

Life, sunny days, MARCH

Oh my goodness, I am not sure I should be blogging! We've got piles, laundry, toys, scattered homework...  

I LOVE seeing the sun! Yesterday it was beautiful!!And it is again today! Hazel helped me wash the car in her swimsuit yesterday afternoon! :) Today we had a fun brunch with friends at Kelly's and then I took some pictures at the school for PTA. Now, Hazel and Oren are napping and I just planted a few primroses.

School is going okay for the the boys. Merit feels like fifth grade is a lot of work, but his grades are fantastic. He puts a lot of pressure on himself whether it is school, sports or being a big brother and a good son. Willem is a math whiz! And he is doing well in reading but I feel like I have to sit on him to get him to read. SO, our book right now is Big Nate and we like it. He reads a couple of pages and then I read seven or eight pages. The last two nights Merit has read it to him. We will finish this one. The last three chapter books we started we didn't finish. He sort of loses interest or just does not want to read on his own.
Hazel is a dream. This girl has a very fun personality. She is SO helpful with Oren. I can't imagine a more helpful big sister! She is bossy at times -- but oh this girl! 
Oren is so content. Some nights he sleeps all night, many nights I just need to plug his binkie in a few times. Last night he slept all night long, whoot, whoot!  He is so, so sweet. I soak this guy up! 

Homework patrol, wife, mom, laundry queen, house cleaner, peace maker, baby rocker... I have a lot of jobs. ;)  I am trying to think of quick, healthy meals with us having baseball every day this week. I have a photo shoot this week and two assignments to complete for my college course as well.

And this weekend Merit has a baseball tournament!  

I am so thankful God gives me the energy for this! I have more energy now than I did five or ten years ago. Maybe because I have to, maybe it is my frame of mind -- either way I am thankful I have it.

Natasha and Reese are having a GIRL! I am so excited for them! 

Not this past weekend but the weekend before Matt and Phil came for a visit! 

It was great having them! 

Vance got a new hoop for the shop. Lots of basketball and baseball going on around here! 

Guesstures

I played this with my brothers when they were just a little older than Merit and Will!

When they would come to Moses Lake to visit, this game was a hit. I have memories of playing it with our mom too. Now, the uncles are playing it with the nephews.

March is a month of reflection. It is so full of new life and new beginnings, but because it is the month my mom passed away, it is a month of a big goodbye too. I let myself really think about her, I look at more pictures. I sometimes even get the old home movies out. I don't know why exactly, but I let myself be sad in March. I have so much to be thankful for. She was a wonderful mom and I had her for 25 years! But, my greatest sadness today is that she did not experience being a grandma here on earth. Some tell me that being a grandma is even better than being a parent. Those words are hard for me to hear. 

I think because I know that life is short, I am keenly aware that I need to soak up the blessings around me. God granted me a lot of patience. I love, love, love raising these kids. Sometimes I think I could have four more and sometimes I think that if I did, they'd never have clean underwear. ;)

sweetness