Summer Lovin'....had me a blast!

With summer officially behind us and a new school year in full swing, I thought it was time to take a peek back at the fun things we did this summer.  Each day this week, I'm going to (try to) post about all the adventures we had...starting with bowling.

My sister clued me in to a wonderful program called "Kids Bowl Free" (it's a website -- look it up!)  Now I am not a world-class bowler by ANY stretch of the imagination.  In fact, I think that at least one of the kids beat me each time we played this summer; I think on one occasion they ALL beat me.  (Hanging my head in shame.)  Oh well -- God blessed me in other areas!  Back to "Kids Bowl Free"...

This WONDERFUL program provides 2 free games of bowling EVERY DAY during the program (ours started running in May and I think it might run through Labor Day).  Shoe rental was not included, but that's okay --  you could buy a pass to cover their shoe rental cost.  I ALSO purchased a family pass allowing up to four adults to bowl 2 free games each day -- this was well worth the $25 I spent on it. 

All three of the big kids LOVED bowling.  We went at least once a week at Sempeck's Bowling Alley, and were often joined by my sister and her boys, or my mom (who happens to be a rock-star bowler).  And Easton was a trooper -- he hung out in the stroller and watched.  When we started bowling he couldn't walk, but now he can and he'll be joining his older sibs next year when we participate again.

Here's a few shots from bowling...

On the very last day of summer before school started, I asked the kids what they wanted to do....BOWLING!  So we headed to Sempeck's Bowling Alley for one last hurrah.  This time we splurged (thanks daddy!) and enjoyed lunch, too.  They were SO excited by this very special treat!

This was a WONDERFUL summer activity that we all enjoyed doing.  I can't say enough good things about it or about Sempeck's Bowling Alley.  I know the kids will always have great memories of this!

And they're off...

...to school, that is!!  With barely over two months of summer vacation (thanks to Mother Nature's unrelenting winter), we officially have two kids in school.  It is so hard to believe that Samantha is old enough to be a second grader and Hudson is a kindergartener.  Let me tell you about their first day...

It started out with cinnamon bun pancakes (which, by the way, if you have never had...well, you simply must -- email me for the recipe) and scrambled eggs.  This breakfast was by request, so they were VERY excited.  Following breakfast we, of course, had to take a few pictures (okay, maybe 18)...

 Samantha is a pro at this by now -- can you believe how TALL this child is getting?  She's surely going to pass me up in the 4th or 5th grade, I think!

 She's a knockout, my 2ND GRADER, and smarter and sweeter than most.  And she LOVES that backpack.  It was like love at first sight...seriously.  Shopping for her school supplies, and backpack in particular, was like taking a trip back in time to when I was her age and counted down the days for school supply shopping! 

Wow, look at that big guy!  I can hardly believe this one is in KINDERGARTEN!!  He was admittedly nervous about going, but also so very excited.  He couldn't wait to see his teacher (who was also Samantha's kindergarten teacher), but I think he was a little apprehensive, too.

Hudson was also quite proud of his backpack, even though he could have cared less about it when we picked it out.  But now he LOVES it.  He was very excited to wear it and take care of it.

Samantha was very sweet to her brother.  Sensing that he was nervous and not sure about this whole kindergarten thing, she reassured him that she was really just down the hall and there for him even if he couldn't see her.  She also told him she'd come get him after school to bring him to our meeting place.  His teacher, of course, took care of getting them to it, so when she came to find him and couldn't, she "got SO worried, mom!".  It was quite sweet, especially considering the level of fighting that these two can reach.

Wow.  At one time, I was counting down the days until Hudson went to school because he was such a strong-willed little guy (and he still is, but we all know how to manage it now).  Now, he has turned into a sweet, compassionate, generous and patient boy.  I was really sad to see him go to school.  We've come a long ways, little man.  How I love this child!

This one...well, she is going to be off to college before we know it.  I know, I know.  It's only 2nd grade.  But 2 years ago it was only Kindergarten, and in 10 years, she will be starting her senior year in high school.  SLOW DOWN, I SAY!  How I love this child!

So after pictures, it was time to head to school.  You'd think these two have been doing this forever...

Oh Hudson and his backpack -- it's almost as big as he is!  As my aunt said...is Hudson wearing the backpack, or is the backpack wearing Hudson?  I love it!

It's time find their teachers.  First up is Samantha.  You'd think she'd done this a time or two before -- there was a quick hug (and I do mean quick) before she waved goodbye and said hello to her teacher...

This is Mrs. Lombardo.  Samantha was SO excited to be assigned to her room.  She seems so sweet.

One down, one to go.... it was time to find Mrs. Stine, Hudson's Kindergarten teacher.  We LOVE this teacher.  She is amazing and incredibly talented.  I couldn't dream up a better kindergarten teacher than this one.  And Hudson was very VERY excited to learn he'd be in her room...Can you tell?

This was the best smile he had for pictures (which, I knew, was because he was so nervous).  When he saw Mrs. Stine, though, he was on top of the world and not nervous anymore!  His great big smile was back again!  He gave me a hug and a kiss and told me good-bye, then proceeded to wait in line in the sweltering (and I do mean sweltering) heat.  (For the record, yesterday was the hottest day in Omaha in more than 2 years.  Yuck.)

See -- there's that wonderful smile.  Be still my heart.  I know he'll do great in school -- he's an awesome kid!

And there he goes....waving goodbye to me, smiling, as the line starts to head inside.  Wow. How did it go so fast?

Okay, they're gone....and I promptly turn around and cry all the way back to the car.  I'm sure Hunter and Easton thought I'd lost my mind. 

At the end of the day, they came bouncing (seriously, bouncing) through the front door so excited to tell me all about the first day.  Hudson gave me a huge hug and told me he had a great day and couldn't wait to go back tomorrow.  And Samantha declared that she has the best 2nd grade teacher at Ackerman.  "She's AWESOME, mom!"  It was quite the day.  Here's to another year -- and not blinking.  Because if I blink, it will all be over.


 

It's a wrap...

Samantha's first season as a soccer queen is officially a wrap.  It was amazing to see how much she improved from her first game, when she'd barely touched a ball, to the end of the season when she was able to look at the field as a whole, cut angles across the field to take the ball away from opponents, and block goals, not to mention the game where she scored nine...yes 9!... goals!  She is a speed-demon, and intense on the field.  And, perhaps most important, SHE HAD FUN!  

Here's a few pictures of her in action on the field (where we've been told she reminds some of her mommy and uncle when they played soccer a millennium ago...literally.)

(That's my girl...taking the ball away from the opponent in the picture above...way to go!)

And finally, here's a picture of her with her entire team -- all eight girls!  Go Shooters!

Easton's New 'Do

{Sniffle}  I'll try to be strong.  I've given my {sniffle} very {tear} last {tear} FIRST HAIRCUT {wiping tears away}.  My baby isn't a baby anymore -- he really looks like a little boy.

On Saturday, we took our baby from "baby" ....

to "little" boy...

I know, Easton, I know -- it's quite the milestone and I know I wasn't entirely ready for it, either, little man!

That's better!  Look at those beautiful baby blues!



Who do YOU think he looks like?

Wordless Wednesday

I'll confess...I was going through pictures on the computer, and found these from a year ago.  At the time, I was fuming inside.  But Hunter was SOOO proud of himself for using his truck to "work".  And work he did....that child completely cleaned up this mess by himself (using, of course, the dump truck to dump it into the trash can.)  Hey, whatever works, kid!  Enjoy!

'Tis the Season for...BIRTHDAYS!

In our home, April should be dubbed the birthday month.  It starts on April 7th with Samantha's Birthday (which she shares with her Great Great Aunt Bobbie and Great Aunt Carol), and continues on April 8th with my mom's birthday and April 10th with Easton's birthday.  (I know there are others with April birthdays that I haven't mentioned -- happy birthday to you, too!)

On Saturday, we welcomed most of our family into our home to celebrate Easton's 1st birthday and Samantha's 7th birthday, and the next day we welcomed Samantha's friends .... let me catch you up...

Samantha...Lucky #7

Samantha had a few of her friends over for a beach party!  Thye made flip flops (using fabric and fleece), had hula hoop and limbo contests, enjoyed smoothies and beach cupcakes, and had SO MUCH fun!  Samantha, we have learned, is quite the hula-hooper!  She can go for a good 10 minutes (at least!) and she can even hula hoop with TWO hoops!  What a girl!

And here's a picture of Samantha at the family party the day before...dream big, sweetie!  You are AMAZING and beautiful and we're so proud of you!

Easton's 1st birthday...

First birthdays are so much fun!  And I for one cannot believe how fast this year has gone!  Just one year ago, Easton looked like this...

And now...

What a happy, delightful, curious, sweet boy Easton is becoming!  Few will be surprised that one of his favorite things to do is drive his brothers' tractors around making tractor noises.  (Funny how they know how to make that sound!)  He also loves to be outside (surprise surprise!) and play with Samantha's soccer ball!  He is easily entertained, and absolutely adores his big brothers and big sister!  They were lots of help when opened his presents this weekend...

(In true older sibiling fashion, they pretty much opened his presents for him, and then let him play!)

And what first birthday would be complete without a cake to smash?

I'm going to call this picture... "Chronicles of a Baby's First Cake Tasting"...

He looked like a smurf at the end, but he LOVED it!

We hope you're all having a wonderful spring and enjoying the beautiful weather!  We also hope you enjoy watching with us as our kids grow up.  When we have crazy days (and with four young kids, these are pretty frequent), I remind myself that someday I will miss this.

God has blessed us with four amazing beautiful healthy children, and we take the job of raising them very seriously.  But we have lots of support, encouragement, help and prayers from all of you, and we thank you for that.  Your prayers and your presence continue to shape our children!

Tune in tomorrow for a peek back at our Easter festivities!

All our love!

Good Friday a year ago...

It is hard to believe that on Good Friday last year, that our life went from this...

to this...

and then this...

Even though the dates will probably never line up, Good Friday (already a very special day in our home) will ALWAYS be EXTRA-special.... we're so excited to celebrate two very special birthdays in our house over the next week, and several family birthdays outside of the house, too.  

Hope you have a very BLESSED Easter.  As Hunter so eloquently said yesterday, "And then HE rose!"  And that is DEFINITELY something we are eternally thankful for.