Jack's 4th Birthday

Jack turned 4 on March 31st. This year for Jack's birthday we did a costume party! It was so much fun!! It was a surprise to him that everyone would be dressed up. His face when he walked in was priceless! He couldn't believe that most everyone was there dressed in costumes! Here are a some of the great costumes.

Captain Jack Sparrow - blowing out his birthday candles!

Amelia peaking thru a Bob the Builder cut out.

Billy - a hunter & Me as "Spider-girl"

Jana - Princess Leia & Tony - Darth Vader

Aunt Abbi - Poison Ivy & Jack

Uncle Jon - Clark Kent & Jack

Uncle Nate - Batman & Aunt Nicki - Batwoman

Cousin Lilah - Underdog!

Grandpa Denny - Bob the Builder & Grandma Barb - Princess Leia

Grandpa Dennis - Noah (or Evan Almighty)

Evelyn 2 Months Old

We hit the 2-month mark last week. Miss Evelyn is doing very well. I've decided she just sleeps, eats, and grows. But I think that's the idea. I weighed her the first of the month and she was just over 10 lbs. I'm still waiting for a more smiley baby -- they are very hard to come by. She did smile a couple times last night when I was singing to her. Not that she's grumpy, she's actually usually pretty content. It's just the smiles are not forthcoming.

This past weekend she started sleeping 8 hrs at night - which is awesome. Unfortunately, it's from like 9:30-5:30 -- and mama doesn't want to get up at 5:30, but we'll work on getting it later. I'm just pleased that she's a sleeper!

Happy Easter!

Family picture. We tried to color coordinate with the lavender and green.

I love this photo of Billy & Amelia!

And a great photo of Jack & Billy

He has risen! He has risen indeed! Happy Easter to you and your family! We had a wonderful church service at Northbranch - our home church in Ankeny. "The Greatest Comeback Ever!" was the sermon title. We heard some moving testimonies from people at our church about how Jesus has helped them overcome trials in their life. We then spent the afternoon at my parents house -- with all of my mom's extended family. It was a houseful - but totally great. We also celebrated my Grandma's 80th birthday.

Superheroes

Like most boys his age, Jack really likes Superheroes. He's also really into Star Wars, Pirates, Transformers... you get the idea. He's a boy and likes boy things, especially dressing up like any one of these characters. Which is why I've decided to do a costume party for his 4th birthday coming up this weekend. I can't wait to see the look on his face when all his family and friends are dressed as his favorite characters!

Anyway, I had to share this small bit. The other day he and Ellie were playing -- maybe house or something similar -- I overheard him say to her, very matter of factually, "Ellie, you can call me Clark Kent."

Then the next day he told me, "Mom, you can call me SuperMan." So I guess he really is SuperMan because he goes by both names.

Dancing Video

I've been having problems getting my videos to download on here ... so I missed getting this on a few months back (you can tell by the Christmas tree it was back in December). I'm using YouTube now, so I'll have more to post as I find the old ones and get new ones.

This is the kids doing what we did almost all the winter - dance in the living room. They like watching their reflection in the tv screen. Hilarious!

Amelia's ABCs

Here is a cute video of Amelia singing her ABCs. She is such a talker - we have to be very careful because she'll repeat anything perfectly!

Booger!

Okay, so this is kind of mean, and some day she'll hate me. But I have to record the huge booger that came out of Evelyn's nose when she sneezed the other day. This baby has been full of boogers since birth. More than any of the other kids. But this one happened to stick around - so I got a shot of it. Gross!

Second Tooth

Ellie's second bottom tooth quickly followed the first. The Tooth Fairy came again - and left quarters & dimes. She needs to go to the bank to get more quarters.

Bath time

Amelia getting doused by Jack - and loving it!

Bubble chin

Bath photos are so fun -- the kids are happy and clean. The best way to enjoy kids.

Hair Braids

Here are the before and after shots of getting my hair braided down in Mexico. After I took it out, it felt like a poodle. That soft, really tight curly hair of a poodle. It was pretty coo, but I look like I'm going for a righteous 80's look.

Fun photos

Here are some photos that Abbi took the day of the baptism (I can't take credit for these great shots!). Treasures - all of them.

Get that monkey off your back!

Captain Jack -- arrgh!

Wow, we look pretty good for running after four kids!

Miss Evelyn Bernice

Jack, Ellie & Lilah

Amelia & Mommy

Evelyn's Baptism

Evelyn was baptized into Christ by Pastor Scott Rains on Sunday, March 15th. Her sponsors are Jon & Abbi Garling (my brother and his wife). My family came for the blessed event and we had a lunch following at our house. Our friends, Matt & Annelie came too. We are so blessed to have a loving and supporting church home, family & friends. This is our family's third baptism at our church -- Billy, Amelia, and now Evelyn.

Mexico Trip

One of my growing girls

Evelyn will be 5 weeks on Saturday -- and she's doing very well. She's a really good baby and was an angel on her first big trip. She doesn't really cry or get fussy. If she cries out it's because she's hungry or wants to be held and she can be soothed immediately. As you can see, she's starting to fill out a bit and getting a little face on her. I'm very anxious for the first smile. Momma needs some smiles!!

3 Weeks Tomorrow

Evelyn will be 3 weeks old tomorrow - and is excited to take her first airplane ride on Sunday! Hopefully she was born a traveler - because Mexico, here we come!

Ellie's Looses her 1st Tooth

Ellie lost her first tooth today. It started last week when she was eating a whole apple - she said it was hurting her tooth and didn't want to eat the rest. It was then that she realized it was wiggly. She was so excited - she immediately called everyone on my cell phone that she knew the speed dial number for. Today she came home from school with a small treasure chest and her tooth inside. She's anxious for the Tooth Fairy to come tonight, and already has her treasure under her pillow. Hmmm ... how much are teeth going for these days??

Two Weeks Old

Evelyn is two weeks old today -- it's gone very quickly, as always. She is adjusting quite nicely to life outside the womb. Week one was hospital time and then getting acquainted with our house. Week two she really settled into her routine - which is sleeping and then eating every 3 hours. I've got her sleeping in her bed now at night - so that has been a huge help with me getting better sleep. I'm still up 2-3 times a night to feed her for half hour, but I won't complain about that - since she does usually go right back to sleep.

Last night was my first show back. I was gone about 4 hours and Billy said that Evelyn took the bottle well - she downed 4 oz - so I guess! And then she had another 4 oz just before I got home. I have another show today, and I'll be gone longer, but luckily she's not picky with how she gets her milk.

She really is a sweet, cuddly little thing. She'd be happy be held all day. So if anyone is wanting to snuggle a baby, come on over!

Jack's Fresh Haircut

Jack is going to get his 4-year pictures taken next week - so it was high time we get a haircut. He was looking like a total scrub. His hair has changed so much in the past year. It's darker in color and the texture has changed too. He's no longer that little boy with wispy blonde hair. It's gotten a lot thicker and doesn't lay down nearly as nice anymore.

Random Photos

Sleepy baby - in her Bopee

Again, sleeping in her Bopee

Amelia having a snack. Silly grin!

Brother with Evelyn

She does open her eyes sometimes!

Jack enjoying a snowball to the face!

Recent Photos of Evelyn

Cuddling on the couch last night. Amelia was already in bed.

Raise your hand if you are sure that your family rocks!

"Baby!" Amelia loves baby and is very gentle with her.

We are home and getting settled in here. The other kids are adjusting well so far. Billy sensed that they just have all merged into their "new role" as siblings. They are being helpful and listening well, playing together nicely, etc. I think it's just a honeymoon phase. I'm sure all hell will break loose next week when the newness wears off, but maybe he's right. They all just see what they have to do to make our house click.

The first night was rough. We tried putting Evelyn down in her bassinet, but she easily woke up after a short while. I had had only two short bits of sleep in about 5 hrs and I was exhausted. Billy then got up with her and slept near her in the living room. We both were anxious to try something different last night. So we spoiled her a bit and she got to sleep in the living room in her Bopee pillow and in my arms. But we all got ample sleep and are the better for it. We'll slowly adjust her into the bassinet, but it might take a week or so.

Today we go to Ames to get her passport application submitted. Getting a picture is the most difficult task. Try getting a 5 day old to look straight at the camera with both eyes open! It should be quite a task at the photo shop today. I have some snapshots on my camera that hopefully will work too. But the regulations on size and color are very strict and we can't afford for the application to get rejected b/c of bad photos!