Big Kid Love

These little girls sure love having their big siblings around!

Brother/Teacher/Friend

I caught this sweet moment on camera one morning :-).

Meeting the Siblings

To say that the kids were excited to meet Britta would be an understatement.  They were soooo anxious to get down to the hospital once they heard she had been born.  (But, since she was born later in the morning, they had to wait until after naps to come.  Which, was good bc I was EXTREMELY tired and needed to rest up before they all invaded :-).)  

The big moment did arrive at last and they were all so thrilled to meet and hold their newest sister!

Miss Kari-belle and Britta-bear

Juliana is behind Christian--they all just couldn't get close enough!

So excited!!

Looking up at Daddy--love this!!  Cubby actually didn't really get to hold her until that afternoon bc between the nurses checking her over and  Britta nursing, Cubby had to go home around noon to help Grandma with lunch and naptime.

They came back the next morning too and the love continued :-).

 Does Christian mind having ANOTHER sister?  Not one bit!  (At least not until they're all teenagers, maybe...)  He is beyond sweet with Britta and I love watching him care for her!

Christian's an old pro at baby holding.
Baby in one arm, binkie in the other.  Feet up and watching some TV.
He's going to be an awesome dad one day!

Three weeks later and the novelty of Britta still hasn't worn off!  All of the children continue to ask if they can hold her, kiss her, and love her :-).

Big Sister, Little Sister

One afternoon, Emily sat down with Juliana and started reading and playing quiet little games with her.  It was so sweet and melted my heart to see them bonding.  Emily has a special talent when it comes to playing with younger kiddos.  (My mom and sister also have this gift.)  She just knows how to play and relate to them on their level.  I continue to be grateful for my big girl!

Last Hurrahs

 Before school started back up again, (mid-August, mind you, MUCH too early for my liking), we had a few fun last outings :-).

My mom and Grandma took us out for lunch one day at the kids' favorite haunt, Summer Kitchen.  Always a good time.

Since it rained almost every day the week before school started, the pool was out and so I took the kiddos to Bounce U to burn off some energy.

 They had the most fun in this area-type house where there were four platforms and you swung a giant medicine ball around trying to knock one of your fellow opponents off of their pedestal/platform.  I was really impressed with how my children were courteous of not only each other, but of the other children waiting their turns and if one of them had been up for a while, they would hop down and call to either one of their siblings, or another child who was waiting.  And, both big kids helped Juliana so she could participate in the fun as well.  It was a Proud Mama Moment :-).

 Another day we went over to the library for (their last) Science Day.  They got to blow up a balloon using a plastic bottle with baking soda and vinegar (?)--I can't recall the liquid off-hand right now.  Then, we all went outside where we got to watch a soda volcano.  (Release Mentos candy into diet soda and you get a geyser.  The kids all loved watching it (even though Kari thought it was loud and covered her ears :-).)

 And finally, they all got to spend some quality time together just being creative and silly.  Emily was very good at making Minecraft costumes for Christian and Kari one afternoon.

The summer can be a challenge with everyone at home.  Lots of togetherness is good, but there's a lot of refereeing on my part to keep the peace between multiple children who all have strong personalities and opinions.  Still, school time always seems to sneak up too quickly once July ends and it's always just a little bittersweet starting up school and our busy routines again.  Another wonderful summer come and gone, during the Golden Age of my kiddos' childhoods :-).

My Lovelies

I love how these pictures capture my children's personalities!

It's a....

Another GIRL!  Yup, to say that I was surprised would be an understatement.  I mean, this was the first time I had ever been wrong about what gender our baby has been!  Mostly bc my other three girls' pregnancies have been exactly alike and this one has been more like my pregnancy with Christian. Soooo strange (to be wrong and all--ha!).

That being said, we are very happy that this little girl is healthy and growing right on track!

We (okay, I) was concerned with how Christian would take this news.  FOUR sisters?  I mean, c'mon, what little boy wouldn't be just a tad scared of having four sisters around and no brother to back him up?  Yes, I was worried with how he would take the news.

We had planned on having my mom and Harvey over for dessert (it was Cubby's birthday, after all).  I was going to make a cake with either pink or blue in the middle and then frost the outside so that when we cut into it, everyone could see whether we were having a boy or girl.  Ah, my perfect plan.

Alas, it was not to be.  Our ultrasound got moved to the afternoon rather than the morning which cut my cake making time short.  The cakes got made, but then stuck to the pan!!  Ugh.  Taking them out was a disaster and trying to frost it didn't help any either.  So, my grand plan for a cake reveal was foiled.  Or was it?

Back to Christian.  Since the news wasn't quite what he was hoping for, I didn't want to upset him in front of everyone.  So, I pulled him aside and quietly showed him the ultrasound pictures.  It was a tender moment and Christian showed great maturity.  I told him that Heavenly Father must have a plan for sending him another sister. A little teary-eyed, he wanted to know what that plan was, and I had to admit, that I didn't know, but there was one there.  I also told Christian that Heavenly Father must know that it takes a very special boy to take care of four sisters and that He must have great confidence in Christian.  And I believe it.  Not even five minutes later Christian was very happy and affectionate, kissing my tummy and saying, "hello" to his baby sister.  So sweet.  I wasn't kidding about him being a special boy!

So, dessert comes along and, before bringing it out, we tell everyone that Christian is going to tell everyone the baby's gender.  He delivered the news with great pride.  It was a wonderful moment.  But, we did underestimate how much Kari had wanted a brother...she was just a little upset.  {Sigh}  We can't win them all (as evidenced by my cake).

The "disaster" cake.  (Which, actually turned out to be quite tasty.)

  Cheers to adding more more beautiful little girl to our family!  (Heaven help us once those teenage years hit us though...)

New Hoop!

On the way back from Kansas City (back in October), I got a message from one of my brother's best friends (and second brother to us), Bryce, saying he had a surprise for us...it was a brand new basketball hoop!!!  Bryce works for Dick's Sporting Goods and someone had apparently bought the hoop online and didn't like it (??).  When he returned it, Dick's wasn't able to restock it since it was bought online.  So, the manager asked if anyone wanted a free basketball hoop!  Bryce remembered that I had been asking about one on facebook a month or so before and brought it over that afternoon!  And that's how we ended up with a $700 basketball hoop--for FREE.  A blessing?  You bet.

 A few weeks later the boys came over and helped Cubby dig a 4 ft hole and poured the cement for the hoop.  Then, the following weekend they came back for the hoop raising ceremony!  A big job, but the guys had fun.  (And we lucked out with good weather too!)

Juliana looks on--very serious stuff, indeed.

And it's up!

Slam dunk!

Sibling Rivalry

So, remember how Emily recently learned how to ride her bike (see here)? Well, about two weeks later, Christian decides he doesn't want to be left behind, and asks Daddy to take his training wheels off. One week later, he's riding it. He is very proud of himself; "I'm so excited I can ride a two-wheeler!!!"






Go Christian!!!

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Today is my sister, Erin's, birthday! We went over to my mom's and had a fabulous family dinner a la Chef Mom. Yummers. After dinner, it was time for presents and Erin was such a good sport about Emily and Christian just hovering over her, waiting for the next gift to be opened! They had each made her a little something--Emily made her a bookmark and a card. Christian had painted her a picture and also had helped with the card. Each of the children sure love their Auntie Erin!

Erin has a way with the kids--"playing" just comes naturally to her. Just like my mom. (A major gift I wish I'd inherited when Emily wants to play "puppies" and my lack-luster imagination just isn't cutting it for her!) She is always willing to come over if I need her. Often, it's with little notice and on her day off.

Erin is also a lot of fun. She has a great sense of style and man, is she funny! I almost always end up chuckling pretty hard when she's around. We're just under 2 yrs apart and so we grew up close friends, having Barbie marathons and fighting over whose socks belong to whom. I've been very blessed to have her as my sister.

Happy Birthday, Auntie Erin! We love you!

At Last, The "New" Room!

Okay, so I'm finally getting around to posting about the kids' new room! They've been sharing it since the beginning of August and, I must say, the transition has gone really well. They both love having the other to keep them company and they also enjoy the extra playtime that they get when they wake up bright and early!

Anyhow, here are some before and after shots of their room and how it turned out!

Before: A sweet little-girl's room

After: A fun room for two!