Marshall is 6 years old today!
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| He was thrilled to find a Snoopy cake. |
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| This year, he is very much into Power Rangers. |
And A Look Back...
5 years old
4 years old
3 years old
2 years old
1 year old
March 15, 2010
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Happy Birthday Marshall
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Changes
I've been thinking a lot lately about how quickly things are changing at this stage of my life.
In the past 12 1/2 years, I have gotten married, had 3 children, started a new job, and lived in 4 different houses in 3 different cities. It's kind of crazy! There have been many highs and lows along the way and we have learned so much.
I remember the days of being absolutely exhausted from being up all night with a newborn, and then having a needy toddler wanting all of my attention. I remember watching other moms at the park read a book while their children played, and longing for the day when I didn't have to push 2 kids on the swings, while also wearing one in the baby carrier. It seemed like the day would never come where I could actually stop and look at something in a store, without gently moving the shopping cart back and forth to keep the baby happy. I looked forward to changing my last diaper, and having kids old enough that we didn't need to rush home for nap time everyday.
And, it is nice, and I am very happy with my life now. I love this stage. But, I also miss that one. Sometimes I let myself get so caught up in what is going to happen next, that I actually miss out a little on what is happening now. My boys are older now, and they don't need me as much, and that makes me a little sad. They don't need me to brush their teeth, give them a bath, make their breakfast, push them on the swing, or even make their bed. It's nice, but it's different and new for me.
Now, we can go to the zoo and the mall without a stroller, we can stay out all day, and we can go on rides together. Brady likes to play board games, football, and basketball with me. Logan likes board games too, but he also likes adventure and excitement with me. Marshall loves to pretend and he knows that I'll always play along.
They all find special ways to make me feel special too. Brady usually goes out of his way to set up for school, help a brother with school, or clean something up. Logan will usually bring me a blanket or give a great back massage. And Marshall always tells me how much he likes me and gives hugs and kisses. They are each so different and so special.
Doing school at home and having the boys home so much has been wonderful for our relationships. They have grown so close to each other, and I feel like I know them so much better than I did a few years ago. These years go by so quickly, and it means so much to me that our relationships stay strong.
Things will continue to move forward and change. Brady will be in middle school next year, and that will mean some big changes. Logan is nearing his last year in single digits for age, Marshall will be 6 years old next week, and Peter and I will soon be celebrating 13 years of marriage (and 17 years together - roughly 1/2 our lives already).
God has been so good to us so far, and I am so excited to see what great things he has for us next! I am cherishing these days with my children, because I know there won't be children in this house forever.
In the past 12 1/2 years, I have gotten married, had 3 children, started a new job, and lived in 4 different houses in 3 different cities. It's kind of crazy! There have been many highs and lows along the way and we have learned so much.
I remember the days of being absolutely exhausted from being up all night with a newborn, and then having a needy toddler wanting all of my attention. I remember watching other moms at the park read a book while their children played, and longing for the day when I didn't have to push 2 kids on the swings, while also wearing one in the baby carrier. It seemed like the day would never come where I could actually stop and look at something in a store, without gently moving the shopping cart back and forth to keep the baby happy. I looked forward to changing my last diaper, and having kids old enough that we didn't need to rush home for nap time everyday.
And, it is nice, and I am very happy with my life now. I love this stage. But, I also miss that one. Sometimes I let myself get so caught up in what is going to happen next, that I actually miss out a little on what is happening now. My boys are older now, and they don't need me as much, and that makes me a little sad. They don't need me to brush their teeth, give them a bath, make their breakfast, push them on the swing, or even make their bed. It's nice, but it's different and new for me.
Now, we can go to the zoo and the mall without a stroller, we can stay out all day, and we can go on rides together. Brady likes to play board games, football, and basketball with me. Logan likes board games too, but he also likes adventure and excitement with me. Marshall loves to pretend and he knows that I'll always play along.
They all find special ways to make me feel special too. Brady usually goes out of his way to set up for school, help a brother with school, or clean something up. Logan will usually bring me a blanket or give a great back massage. And Marshall always tells me how much he likes me and gives hugs and kisses. They are each so different and so special.
Doing school at home and having the boys home so much has been wonderful for our relationships. They have grown so close to each other, and I feel like I know them so much better than I did a few years ago. These years go by so quickly, and it means so much to me that our relationships stay strong.
Things will continue to move forward and change. Brady will be in middle school next year, and that will mean some big changes. Logan is nearing his last year in single digits for age, Marshall will be 6 years old next week, and Peter and I will soon be celebrating 13 years of marriage (and 17 years together - roughly 1/2 our lives already).
God has been so good to us so far, and I am so excited to see what great things he has for us next! I am cherishing these days with my children, because I know there won't be children in this house forever.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
Thursday, February 11, 2016
It's been awhile...
Since I last posted, life has been busy. I have been struggling with some tough emotions, traveling longer than expected with my sister and best friend, and trying desperately to make time for all of the things I would like to have time for.
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| Baking Christmas cookies |
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| Family Christmas 12-23 |
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| Christmas |
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| They finally solved the Rubix cube! |
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| First time sledding this year |
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| Dressed up in their "armor" |
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| Sunshine in Florida |
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| With our unexpected extra time, we visited Magic Kingdom. |
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Catching Up
It would seem that I would have much more time to blog now that my boys are getting older. Unfortunately, since they are older, they often want to use the computer too. Either that, or I am busy with homeschool, errands, or taking a hot bath :).
Here are a few pictures to capture what we've been up to over the past month and a half.
So, in no particular order, here they are:
Here are a few pictures to capture what we've been up to over the past month and a half.
So, in no particular order, here they are:
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| Preparing for our first ever family White Elephant Party |
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| At the party |
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| Making Thanksgiving turkey crafts |
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| Fall basketball with Grandpa |
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| Halloween with Auntie Laura and Uncle Jason |
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| Our new Kitten, Stanley (3 months old) |
Monday, October 12, 2015
Big Fall Family Vacation
Just yesterday, we returned from our family's longest vacation yet! We had extra timeshare points this year, so we headed out on a big adventure. We left home on September 26th and returned on October 11, for a total of 15 nights and 16 days.
We started by going to New York to visit Niagara Falls. From there, we headed up into the Vermont mountains and stayed there for 3 nights. Next, we drove down to New Jersey and headed across the street to visit Times Square and Central Park. Then, it was onto Williamsburg, Virginia, for what was supposed to be 3 nights, but ended up being only one night, thanks to the hurricane.
Luckily, we were able to make a few changes, and arrive in Marco Island, FL a couple nights early. We spent 8 nights there, and finally worked our way back home, stopping in Kentucky to rest one night.
During the course of the trip, we were able to visit 26 different states (MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, PA, NY, NJ, OH, VT, NH, ME, MA, CT, MD, DE, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, KY, IA, MO, and RI), we also made it to Washington D.C., and boated across Canadian waters on our Maid of the Mist tour at Niagara Falls. We traveled 5,500 miles!
Peter has posted a lot of fun pictures on Facebook over the past 2 weeks, but I have some others that I will share here as well, or if you don't follow us on Facebook.
Of 300+ pictures I have from our trip, here are a few of the highlights.
Spending time with my family is the absolute best thing in the world!
We started by going to New York to visit Niagara Falls. From there, we headed up into the Vermont mountains and stayed there for 3 nights. Next, we drove down to New Jersey and headed across the street to visit Times Square and Central Park. Then, it was onto Williamsburg, Virginia, for what was supposed to be 3 nights, but ended up being only one night, thanks to the hurricane.
Luckily, we were able to make a few changes, and arrive in Marco Island, FL a couple nights early. We spent 8 nights there, and finally worked our way back home, stopping in Kentucky to rest one night.
During the course of the trip, we were able to visit 26 different states (MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, PA, NY, NJ, OH, VT, NH, ME, MA, CT, MD, DE, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, KY, IA, MO, and RI), we also made it to Washington D.C., and boated across Canadian waters on our Maid of the Mist tour at Niagara Falls. We traveled 5,500 miles!
Peter has posted a lot of fun pictures on Facebook over the past 2 weeks, but I have some others that I will share here as well, or if you don't follow us on Facebook.
Of 300+ pictures I have from our trip, here are a few of the highlights.
Spending time with my family is the absolute best thing in the world!
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| Niagara Falls |
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| Maid of the Mist boat ride at Niagara Falls |
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| First day in Vermont |
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| Riding the Green Mountain train in Vermont |
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| Times Square |
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| Central Park |
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| Hiding from the rain in Williamsburg, VA |
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| Tigertail Beach in Marco Island |
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| Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico |
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| Swimming in the pool at the resort |
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| Qwirkle on the screened porch at the resort |
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| At the Bird Gardens of Naples |
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| Playing in the ocean at Sanibel Island, FL |
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| Watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico |
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| Coffee and board games on the porch |
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| Floating in the pool |
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| Catching another sunset at the Naples Pier |
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| Naples Pier |
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| Riding scooters around a lake in Marco Island |
School Started (a month a half ago)
Well, I just realized that I never shared our first day of school pictures, so I will make a quick post to share them.
We started school on Monday, August 31 this year, because we knew we were going to be gone for 2 weeks on our family vacation and we didn't want to fall too far behind.
We started school on Monday, August 31 this year, because we knew we were going to be gone for 2 weeks on our family vacation and we didn't want to fall too far behind.
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| Logan's first day of 3rd grade |
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| Marshall's first day of Kindergarten |
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| Brady's first day of 5th grade |
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| Cinnamon rolls for breakfast |
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| Logan' writing his spelling words |
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| Recess at a nearby park |
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| Playing outside after school |
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| Brady and Logan working on making a map of MN together for Social Studies |
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| A typical school day |
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| Art time in the basement |
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| Marshall getting ready for his first bus ride to speech |
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| Marshall's first bus ride |
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