Monday, September 28, 2009

Life Update

Hey!

So it has been awhile since I have written about what is going on around here!! This post is going to be all over the place, but should catch you up!!

First, in mid August we found out that we are having a BABY BOY!! He is a Daniel and we are counting the days until we get to meet him...just under 100 I believe. We all went to the ultrasound and found out together, like we did with Abby, and it is such a sweet, sweet time. The kids are all SO excited, especially Lizzy Joy. She hugs, kisses, talks and sings to my belly. In fact, as I am typing right now she just ran up and said "I love you baby Daniel. I am sorry the fire alarms went off." (They went off on our floor during dinner.) And followed this with the ABC song, a big hug and a final, "I love you really much baby!" It is very sweet! They really all cannot wait to meet him!

Brent is well into his 3rd year hear at DTS. He is really enjoying his classes and so far has been keeping up. Man, does my man have a FULL plate!! He is a student, pharmacist, daddy to 4 (almost 5) and husband to one tired pregnant mama. He has been doing a great job balancing it all though and learning a ton in the process. We are proud of you Brent! You are a great daddy and husband!

And some of our biggest news right now is the we are moving!! It seems to be a trend when I am pregnant! :-) We recently found out that we would have to leave the Swiss in May, because of having our 5th baby. So, we decided to look this fall, because I think it is much easier to move pregnant than with a new baby!! And we found a place! There is a great park and a small little lake nearby for the family to play and fish! We are all excited. The details of how all of this has worked out have been quite amazing, from having the money we needed for a deposit given to us the day we needed it, to finding out that my doctor delivers at a hospital in our new location!! The Lord seems to be paving the way for us and we have asked to have Him "shut the door" if we are going in the wrong direction.

The house will provide double the space...but also will double the rent. This factor helped make a decision that Brent is going to take the spring semester off. We are going to move and have a baby and so we think this equals taking a little break! I think our winter months are going to be quite full!!

Drew has started 3rd grade and is really liking school! Although he is not sure that he loves that 3rd grade is a bit more work. He still LOVES to play baseball and swim...something he does a lot!! he is also a huge Boston Red Sox fan, and is looking forward to watching them play in the playoffs this fall.

Sam has started 1st grade and he too is really liking school! In fact, he said he might even like school better than summer break! I think he likes having the routine, and he really does love to learn! He too likes to play baseball and swim. Both of the boys are enjoying Awanas too.

The boys went to their last Texas Rangers game for the year last week. They had a special date with their daddy...


Lizzy has started pre-school this year and has had the blessing of going down the hall 2 days a week for a fun morning of playing and learning with some other pre-schoolers! She loves it and the family that is hosting!! She has become fast friends with a lovely little girl, Jessa who moved in this summer. It will be hard to leave our new friends, but we plan to visit lots!! Lizzy is also loving gymnastics and still loves collecting any and all kinds of bugs!


Abby has entered our Tiny Tots program at Jackson Elementary. This involves lots of playing, coloring, tickling and singing. She is jabbering up a storm and LOVES her family. She is still our shy little gal and sweet as ever. As I am typing, she is doing "seat drops" on our couch while watching an episode of "Dora", her FAVORITE. I mean she LOVES Dora!!

I am still the teacher of Jackson Elementary and spend most of my time; cooking, cleaning, teaching, singing, praying with or for my kiddos, organizing, driving, cooking, chasing, changing, correcting, loving, reading, dancing, cooking...did I mention cooking? We eat lunch at the dining hall a few days a week, but even so it seems like I am cooking or making a snack for someone nearly ALL day long with my 2 growing boys who have quite manly appetites!! Good thing I like to cook! :-) My plate is quite full, but I love what I do and love the children I have been given to love on and raise. They truly are a gift and the years are going by rather quickly!

The following are a few pictures from the beginning of the month on our first day of school...quite the "class" that I have this year! :-)




Our love to ya'll!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Our Trip North (Day II)

Our second day back in North Dakota was filled with some fun reunions! At lunch we were joined by the Snyder Family while staying at the Williamson's. It was so great to see this wonderful family again!! Our boys truly just love their kiddos. Unfortunately, our girls do not really know each other, otherwise I am sure that they would feel the same!!

Later on that night we headed over to our dear friends the Scribner's for a dinner and a super fun night of playing! All of our boys ended up taking on the dad's (Brent and Jay) in a game of kickball in the field across the street. It was another night the boys would have played forever had the sun not gone down and the day not come to an end.

Here is a picture of all of the boys eating dinner together...


And here is another with the girls too...


Traci, if you read this, I wish we had gotten a picture together!! And thank you for the yummy supper and fun time that we all had together!!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Our Trip North (Day I)

This past summer, we were blessed by our parents to be able to take a trip back to North and South Dakota. We spent one week in each state reconnecting with dear friends and family. We all had such a great time! Over the next few days/weeks I will share the events chronologically, so today I will start with our play time at University Park...

The boys were SO excited to see their friends, Colton and Jackson! They played for hours and would never have stopped if the sun had not gone down and the day come to an end. It was so neat to see how time and distance had not changed this special friendship.



Lizzy also was reacquainted with her (and My!) friend Jennifer. I remember that before we left for Texas she could not yet say her name, but once she did it was SO cute. Since we have been back in Texas, Lizzy has mentioned Jennifer often. She wanted to name the baby, if it was a girl (which He's a BOY!!), Jennifer after the one who pushed her in the swing at the park. Jen, if you read this, you have a friend for LIFE! ;-)


We had a nice picnic dinner that night as well. Michael surprised everybody and added Hot Wings to the picnic menu, because he knew they were a Jackson Boy favorite. So cool! And Jennifer made Special K bars, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! She even made them with double the chocolate, which if you ask me is the ONLY way to make them!! Lizzy agreed...


What a great, great night that was at the park!! It makes me miss you all so much...hopefully it won't be 2 years until we can do it again!! Thanks for everything!!