Closing Sept #2

Oh baby (32 Weeks)...

 Momma's Big Babies...

Closing September

Chad:  This is an email that Mommy got from my teacher.

He is doing so well academically, with his attention, and with getting along with others! He is just the model student!

I continue to enjoy school and love teaching my family all of the things that I am learning.

Kaylee:  I am growing so quickly.  I have a baby under her arm or in a stroller most of the day.  I continue to love to draw and color.  Pictures from church are always finished at home.  School time is a favorite from me.  I wow my Daddy with the verses and Bible stories that I can quote.  I enjoy helping Mommy put the flannelgraph pictures of the stories on the board.  Mommy raves about how well I write my letters and numbers.  Today I brought Mommy this picture of a dolphin.  I drew it all by myself without a picture to help.

Cole:  I am not feeling well but yet I am as sweet as can be.  My two top molars are coming in and causing me grief.  Hopefully they will come in soon and I will be back to my ornery self!  A few days ago Daddy captured me following Mommy's example - reading the paper.

Baby:  7 1/2 weeks until my arrival date.  Which sibling will I most resemble?  Which sibling will I most act like?  Only time will tell.

Canning and Super Heros

It has been a crazy last few weeks.  Between canning, cooking, cleaning, and life...wow!  I canned 21 quarts and 10 pints of potatoes two weeks ago.  Then this past week and weekend, we canned the equivalent of 69 quarts of applesauce.  I was really hoping for more applesauce but am thankful for what we got.  There are still more apples on the tree and if the weather decides to stay "summer" we might still have more. 

Praise God that Michael's parents came over to help.  Kyra and I did sauce while Steve watched the kids.  We all agreed that Steve had the harder job since he had to watch Cole!  We are hopefully for a slow down now that that big project is done. 

Cole likes to wear Kaylee sandals. 

Grams made the kids capes for Christmas.  They have become a daily part of dress-up.

Shaving Papa

While we were on our cruise last year, Kaylee helped Papa shave.  June 28, 2009

Over Labor Day she wanted to help again. 

More Labor Day Pictures

More pictures from Labor Weekend:

This morning while Skypeing Grams:

Grams:  Hi, Coley

Cole:  Hi sweetheart (with the normal ornery look)

Cole loves to ride the tractor with Papa

I think this is a great picture of Dad.  Thought I better hold on it since he isn't doing anything crazy and is smiling!

While home, we toured the new jail that Papa has been working so hard on.  We figured we better see it now or would never have the opportunity.  It created a lot of questions from the kids.

Cole loves to play with Uncle Heath's toys when at Gramps and Papa's.



Slipping-By September

Seriously, could this year go by any faster?  Here we are almost halfway through September. 

Cole:  "Ah, man!"  This is my big comment for everything.  With my sister around most of the time, I really like to play dolls with her.  I put on her sandals and push around the baby stroller.  Sadly for Kaylee, I don't play babies the way she would like.  I am using the potty by myself now which is a big blessing to Mommy.  As I flush the toilet, I say "Bye-bye pee-pee.  I see oo lader."  I am working on putting my carseat on by myself.  Mommy gets really excited when I kiss her cheek so I say, "other side" and then go back and forth between cheeks.  I had so much fun helping Papa pick and pull the green beans. 

Kaylee:  I have three babies to teach and take care of.  This is a responsibility that I don't take lightly.  Sometimes the babies' daddy has them (I haven't announced who this is) and I ask my Mommy to watch them as well.  I feed and rock the babies.  My babies have trouble when I leave them.  Papa and I have created the tradition of making jello with marshmellows.  Papa said that the directions read, "Have one 3-year-old girl help."  I am three!

Chad:  I bounce out of bed each morning excited to go to school.  Instead of giving paragraphs of info about my day, I give random accounts when everyone least expects it.  At school we have a penny system.  I haven't lost any of my pennies.  I am very proud of this and enjoy getting to use my pennies to shop at my teacher's store. 

Baby:  Move...poke...push...kick...all day and night long.  Just as the ultrasound tech confirmed several weeks ago, I do not hold still.  My family is counting down the weeks to meet me.  Of course Mommy is most excited!  10 1/2 weeks to my due date!

Parents:  Michael is getting closer to the big bike ride in October.  He did a "practice" ride of 100 miles today in a race about an hour away.  We have joined a new Community Group at church.  After leading a group most of the last 10 years, we are taking a break and have moved to a new group.  We had our first get together this week and are looking forward to seeing what the time together will bring as we grow spiritual with this group of adults.  Mommy canned 21 quarts and 10 pints of potatoes (thanks to Uncle Heath's garden).  She is gearing up for applesauce in a week.  Not really sure what to expect but very hopeful.  The deer have eaten all of the apples off the ground but  hopefully will leave the ones on the tree alone.  We hosted the 3rd annual neighborhood get together last night.  We enjoyed the time of food and fellowship with those living near us. 

Think that about brings you up to date!

Cousin Kenzie

We finally got to love on our new cousin Kenzie.  To say that the kids loved holding her was an understatement.  Kaylee didn't want to leave her side and asked to hold her a lot.  Kenzie is a wonderful baby and just a joy to cuddle with.  The kids look forward to the next time that they get to see her. 

Of course, I couldn't get enough holding time in.  I never thought that I would have to fight off my brother to hold a 2 1/2 week old baby!  I tried the you-can-hold-her-all-of-the-time speech but it didn't convince this proud daddy!

Cousins have meant the world to me and were such a vital part of my growing up.  It thrills me to see the relationships that our kids are already forming.  Thanksgiving and Christmas will be fun!!!