Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

Merry Christmas!
2011 was a blessed year as we became a family of 5. I haven't kept up the blog, because there's just not enough time, and I didn't have a well-functioning laptop. We'll see, maybe I'll get back to my blog in 2012 with my new computer. Izzy is now 4 yrs, Clara has been 2 yrs since August, and Jack is 7.5 months. I have the very best husband (for me), and our children are our special treasures.

There are a few things I've learned this year about raising our children:

1. It's best to be flexible.
2. We hold our children with an OPEN hand, because they are ultimately God's children.
3. Hire cleaning ladies if you want to play with your children in a clean home.
4. You can become a coffee-drinker at 27 years old.
5. Have reasonable but high expectations-children love to rise to the challenge. They really are capable at such a young age of much more than people think.
6. Teach them the Word of God every day in catechisms, Bible verses, life lessons, songs in the car CD player, afternoon book reading, etc. Their minds are incredible sponges.
7. Even after you've kissed your kids goodnight TWICE and they want one more kiss, give it to them cheerfully, cause you just never know what tomorrow may bring.
8. Model a marriage that reflects the sacrificial love and joy of Christ. Make sure the kids know that your marriage comes first. Date nights, at least one per month, are essential!
9. Laugh instead of getting frustrated.
10. Remember, the kids are watching and listening to every reaction Mom makes.
11. Apologize to the kids when Mom has made a mistake or reacted wrongly.
12. Have fun in the everyday normal living.
13. Pray for these kids who've been entrusted into your care.
14. Schedules keep Mom (and kids) sane, but a dose of spontaneity is good for everyone.
15. Beware, parenting preschool age children is liable to be a season of life where Mom realizes all of her shortcomings. It's definitely a spi ritual growing time for kids AND for Mom.
16. Don't compare yourself to other moms. Be who God created you to be. You're the mom of your kids, and that is unique to only you!
17. Run really fast while pushing the grocery cart down the aisle and laugh wildly along with your kids. Who cares if everyone is watching. At least, you're enjoying the fleeting moments with your kids.
18. Don't worry, your kid will be potty trained for Kindergarten, and none of their peers will ask them when they became potty trained. Just when you think you have two kids out of diapers during the day, you realize you still have to wipe their behinds on the toilet. It will end... someday. :-)
19. Dance in the kitchen with your kids while cooking dinner.
20. Trust God.

My second favorite man... "JB" (as we call him from his longer nickname JackBoy) has captured my heart!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Apple Cider Donuts?!

So we have had hot summer temps until the temperature dropped 30+ degrees today!!! In honor of the low 60s for our high today, I called the apple orchard to see if they had anything going on today. We drove 1 hour, but had a fantastic time there!

Johnny Appleseed presentation that included a lot of lessons about God:

Hayride around the orchard and to the pig pen!

Apple cider donuts, apple cider, and dried apples!

Picking out some apples. We'll be making sauce tomorrow. :)


Haha:

The favorite part of our outting, the baby pigs:


My favorite part of the outting, watching (and eating) the cider donuts being made:

Picture courtesy Izzy:

What a fun time with my three kiddos at Windy Hill Orchard in York, SC!
And somehow they stayed awake on the drive home, so we all got good afternoon naps at home!!!
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Fam Vacation 2011!

We spent the beginning of September at Garden City Beach, just south of Myrtle Beach, SC. I love being with Justin and enjoying our kids together. Life is still busy with the kiddos on vacation, but being at the beach is such a fun way to end the summer before the structure of the school year!


One morning there was a storm at 6:30am, and Justin and the kids were out on their morning walk. (I was sleeping still. Hello, vacation.) Justin said he grabbed Clara in a football hold, Jack was in the backpack, and he had Izzy's hand in his trying to book it back to our condo. All three kids were giggling getting wet and running like crazy. Other than that day, we had great, sunny weather. We decided to go to the aquarium that day since the sand was blowing hard, even though the sun did come out.

The aquarium:


Justin had a class he had to go to online on Tuesday evening, so I took the kids on a beach walk that night:

We got to eat breakfast with Justin's grandma, Melissa:

Classic Clara--on the balcony nursing her baby:

Found the BEST restaurant after 4 years of going to Garden City. The Gulfstream has a wonderful deck overlooking the marina, and the food was out of this world! I had the best tilapia I've ever had, and Justin loved his tuna.

I figured you need to see what Clara did almost the whole time she was awake on the beach: EAT.
Jack really liked the sand and water when the waves would come up to our feet:

Last night in G.C.:

The last morning, Justin woke Izzy at 5:45am to go fishing off the pier before we packed up and left at 10am.
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August ends...

One evening, we were waiting for Justin to come home from work, and I caught a few shots...

Lucy, named by Izzy:

My butterfly bush:



My cuties.
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Monday, August 29, 2011

Can't forget an update on MY BOY!

Jack at 3.5 months

I think he's about 17 lbs!




I think he's pretty awesome!
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A snapshot of the month so far

Aunt Tess stayed for a fun few days after Clara's b-day party!

After she left, we met friends in Blakeney to play in the fountains and eat lunch.


We said goodbye to Clemson freshman, Hannah:

I went to Angie's baby shower for her son, Ryder. Here's a pic of me with Trang and Naphtali at the shower:
We paint... a lot.

We lounge at the pool:

We love on Daddy when he comes home 1 hour early (happens once in a blue moon):

We went to Crosby's first football game:

But hanging out with Crosby's little bro, Abram, is more fun than watching the game:

And now this week, we are preparing to go on our beach vacation that starts SATURDAY!

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Our sweet little caterpillar!

Justin's sister, Jennifer, and I planned a joint birthday party for cousins, Joel (1) and Clara (2). The theme was centered on the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We served foods that the caterpillar ate, and we had a lot of fun working together on being creative.





Sweet sisters:

Jennifer found that cute litte outfit for Clara that fit the polkadot theme from the book.




Look at all Clara's newborn DARK hair:

Aunt Tess surprised us and showed up all the way from PA!

The party planners:

Opa DeBoer reading to the birthday kids:

Friends and family:

Relaxin:


One of the only girls Clara knows that is her age, Ella Grace Mitten:

Blowing out the candles:

Rainbow stripped cupcakes! Do you see Clara's caterpillar bows that are in her hair that I made?

What a fun celebration of God's blessings towards our families!
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