Our New Old House

After a crazy summer and a Fall that is equally different with Jordan beginning a new job/career, every day in this old house made new is a blessing. A big ole reminder that God is the one who sees me. All else that has happened is just to much to tell...and we'll never forget. 

Aaron gets Frosted Flakes for Christmas (2013)

After School Moment

I've known for a while (like years) that things go better when I am ready in the morning. But this one...this one has taken a while (like years) to get down. It's the afternoon moment. This year I am finally cheating the job to be home by 3:30 pm. There will always be an extra hour of work to do. There will not always be boys waiting for me at home. So this year I have a snack ready and a smile to great them when they get home. On the off day that I can't be home by 3:30 pm I have a snack all ready made with their names on it. Our entire evening goes way better when that one little half hour between 3:30 and 4 pm is met with an attentive Mom and a simple snack. (For Noah's sake I wished I'd learned this sooner, Aaron however will luck out.)

A Morning Moment

Okay so it's not the best picture. I even think it's blurry. The problem is that my boys will only endure approximately 2 re-takes and then we are done, done, done. So I get what I take. The hour between 7 and 8:00 am is one of my favorite and most important times of the day.  I have learned that being ready for them and engaged in what they need for that hour has made all the difference for beginning the day well.

(While my cuddlers are pictured here, my non-cuddler is about to ask for a smoothie or a gazillion eggs and bacon, or a bowl of cereal, or all of the above! Sometimes cooking is the equivalent of cuddling.)

Noah Turns 10

Noah turned 10 years old in November. Ten. Seriously where does the time go? 

November also happened to be the MOST BUSY month of our year as we moved into our new facility. Thus, I am posting his birthday in January! Where does the time go?! Did I say that already?

I gave him the choice between a party or an overnight fun time with Colby Mooney. 

He chose the overnight fun time with friend.

This is is Colby and Noah eating his birthday dinner choice: spaghetti tacos. 

Yep. Turns out everyone liked them. Well...I didn't try it, really spaghetti in a taco? Who eats that? Boys do. I have not made it again...yet. 

This is a Kendama. He really wanted one. Thanks Colby!

He also really wanted a BMX bike...even if that was all he got. 

So that is all he got. 

On an unexpected note, when I took him to pick out a birthday cake, he chose a frozen

chocolate turtle cake/pie dessert. It was great, and not what I thought he'd want! 

Until next year kiddo...

Happy Birthday Zach #8

This was supposed to post WAY sooner than January 2014, but what is the old saying, better late than never! Zach had a great birthday way back in September 2013. He as always was happy and excited to get all his gifts. His big request this year was the bow and arrows and that is what he got!

Aaron Turns Five!

My baby is 5!

Aaron's birthday celebration began yesterday (Saturday) with his birthday breakfast and birthday stroll. Yes, he wanted a stroll and so I gave it to him, he even told me where to go! Since his birthday landed on a Sunday this year we couldn't do birthday breakfast on his birthday. His birthday breakfast request was french toast.

We finished celebrating his birthday on Sunday with his party! And what a happy boy! If only I could have the happy/fun gene that he was given! Seriously, this is the child that must have gotten ALL of Jordan & I's recessive genes!! 

Birthday lunch was "crunchy tacos" as he likes to call them and Grandma Goossen so graciously brought ALL the fixin's for that! Grandma Nyla provided the ice cream. I don't know if it could be a birthday party with out ice cream!? (Especially in the case of Aaron!) Oh and "crunchy tacos" means that we ate them in the hard corn shells from a box--his fav. 

Later that evening we had hamburgers for birthday dinner. And that pretty much makes up the entirety of Aaron's favorite meals. Crunchy Tacos. Hamburgers. If we never ate anything else he would be unfazed. If I mention steak for dinner, he frowns and sighs, "I don't like steak." (Ya, I can't wait to let him know how many steaks he snubbed when he is like 18!) 

It was a fun party and he was delightful all day. After it was over, later in the afternoon, sitting at the table finishing up some cake scraps, he looked over at me and said, "I can't believe it was my birthday today" with a sigh of complete satisfaction. 

The Brothers Three looking at Grandmas and not at me!

This kid could give the toddler Joshua Clare "Connect Four" excitement a run for his money!

We picked out our cake from the book at Wal-Mart. Yes, this Super Mom has her limits, no cake making this year. We had a fun time choosing it together and he was very excited about it!

Even now as I type, I can see Aaron, playing with his Spider Man birthday balloon, being totally hysterical as he looks at himself in the mirror. He is Wiggling and spinning the balloon above his head. He is such a joy to our family. I am so thankful I listened to that still small voice telling me, your family isn't done...I have one more for you, and what a one he turned out be.