My 3 Year Old!

So Rylin is now 3! We were able to celebrate her birthday on her birthday this year (the 22nd), since it managed to be quite a few days before Thanksgiving this time. She was quite funny about her day and trying to understand what the day meant. When she woke up and Kevin told her "Happy Birthdday", she said "no not yet, not my party yet". Kevin told her that her birthday lasted the entire day, not just her party, but she kinda understood. We did a no-prep, no clean-up party at Chuck E. Cheese's, so as we are pulling into the parking lot at 5 o'clock, she starts clapping and exclaims, "Yeah, Chuck E. Cheese, its my birthday!!!" She was also funny after she blew out her candles, she cups her mouth and whispers to me "Mom, me 3 now?" "Yes, honey, you're 3." "But right now, now me 3?!" "Yes!" "Okay."

This day also marked a big moment for Kevin and I. We have officially survived 3 years of very poor sleep. I think that there have maybe been 2 months (spread out) of Rylin's life where she actually slept through the night. Some of you may think I'm exaggerating, but sadly this is true. We have tried just about everything from numerous books, and still she has remained a very restless sleeper, who awakens numerous times a night. But somehow, during the day, when she is being her silly self, singing songs, dancing along with Dora, or cackling her funny laugh, we manage to forget the frustrations of the night, because she is truly one fun kid! She has a way of making people laugh and smile, she is quite passionate, active and adorable! She is an incredible blessing in my life, our home would definitely be lacking if it were not for the personality she brings to it. My beautiful, blue eyed baby may not be growing physically very quickly, but I am constantly reminded of how fast she is growing up.

Post-Party Recap

So the party was a success (aside from the fact that the pacifiers weighed too much for the balloons, so Dad had to sneak in with a little snip of the scissors before she released the balloons, but hey, it was dark and she didn't have a clue!) Rylin loved all of the attention and praise that her cousins showered her with for being such a big girl. Last night went much better than I had anticipated. When we had taken Kacia'a pacifier away, it took over an 1 1/2 hours of sobbing for her to go to sleep the first night. Rylin did shed some tears, but managed to go to sleep after about an hour without too much drama and heartache. She did wake up twice (which I expected, since in the last 6 months, she has slept through the night only once), but after walking her back to her bed and a quick hug, she quietly went back to sleep both times! And to top that, Lincoln slept through the night for the first time in 3 weeks! So last night was the best sleep I have gotten all week! So thanks to those who prayed for us! I know we are not totally out of the woods, but we got over the biggest hurtle!

Now if we can only get through the first nap- she is currently still awake after being tucked in for nap over 45 minutes ago. But hey, her pacifier has been her sleeping tool for nearly 3 years now, so I know it will take some time.

Bye Bye Passy

So tonight is the night. We are saying goodbye to Rylin's pacifier. It may surprise some of you that she still has one, but she has it only to sleep with it, but now, as we are approaching the number 3, it is time to say goodbye. So tonight we are having the Goldens over and daddy is bringing home some balloons and we will all say goodbye to "passy" as it flies high with the balloons.

Wish us luck. Rylin is excited now, but when she wakes up at 2 in the morning and wants it, I'm anticpating I won't be able to reason with her much. Plus, I'm going to miss her muffled little voice when she wakes up and gives me cuddles with her big, sleepy blue eyes and still looks like my little baby girl!

It could be interesting, so if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night, you can pray for Kevin and I, our sanity and patience.

A Boy and His Toys!

Well, it's official, Lincoln is outgrowing his bouncer and swing, so we have brought out the big boy toys! He seems to enjoy these new items quite a bit. He cruises all over in his walker, and the big hit of the week is the jumper. It took him all of about 2 seconds to realize that jumping and spinning are great fun! He can really get moving too!

So he will be 5 months in a couple of days which is really just too hard to believe! I just realized that he is old enough to start introducing foods, so he has had cereal the last two nights. He is a little unsure, but anyone who has tasted it can understand why. He is so sweet and makes such great expressions with his big eyes and huge grin! I thank God daily for his easy going demeanor and the gift of being his mommy (who he is really starting to recognize and thus prefer over others, but hey, I'm his food source, so you really can't blame him. Plus, when you are the mom, a mama's boy is really good thing!)

(*Disclaimer- Most of the time when we go out in public, I do remember to fix his hair, but when we're at home, Bed-Head rules!)

The Infamous Red Cup

So on Wednesday, after helping out in Kacia's class, I was able to run a few errands by myself, which wouldn't be complete without a trip to Starbucks. And I was so happy to see the festive, holiday cups out! I really don't know why they make me so happy, and my caramel macchiato tastes the exact same, but there is just something about those red cups! Every January I am sad to see them go. I suppose they invoke certain memories for me, ones that I won't bore you with, but it's nice to know that such a small, simple thing can really make my day.

Better Late Than Never!

I failed to get very many pictures from our Fall Festival, but here is the best one. Kacia was Jessie from Toy Story (thank you Grandma!) and Rylin was a bride (gee, that dress looks a little familiar, what a cheapo mom I am, or is it resourceful?) Once again, our fall festival was a blast!

Tag- I'm It!

So the other day I was reading Megan's blog, enjoying reading her 6 fascinating things, and then I hit the end of the post and realized my name was included with a few other of our friends (who have not yet responded by the way), and thus I have been tagged. Coming up with 6 facts about myself is not as easy as it may sound, so I warn you that the facts to follow are by no means all that intriguing or fascinationg, but they are me!

1. Someday I would like to write a book- God has placed a lot of "challenges" in my life, and at some point I desire to be able to write a book that will glorify Him and allow others comfort and encouragement in the midst of trials and heartache.

2. I hate mustard- I don't even know if it is the taste really, or just the look and the smell, but I detest mustard! A knife that has not been rinsed, but rather just placed in the sink with the mustard still on it is enough to totally gross me out. Weird, I know.

3. My current goal is to be less lazy- I know I have plenty of excuses right now to not have a perfectly clean house or to spend adequate time in my bible study, but that is really what they are- excuses. Yes life is busy and even a little hectic at times, but I can afford to spend less time on the computer and in front of the TV and more time to be more productive around the house and more time to play with my kids. We have a neighbor in her 50's (Kacia calls her our "busy,busy bee neighbor") who works full time, but every weekend she is tackling a new project- yard work, re-roofing her shed, painting her trim, etc. That's what I want, a need for less "downtime" so that I can serve my family and others. I don't want idle hands, but it's so easy to always say "maybe tomorrow"!

4. I love December- The holidays are my absolute favorite time of the year! I love the music, the baking, the shopping! I love how all of the stores are decorated, and the pretty, red festive Starbucks cups. I love the Christmas lights, the parties, the wrapping! There is just something different about December, and even as an adult, I find it all just a little bit magical! And it's almost here- but don't blink because you'll miss it!

5. I could live on ice cream alone. I could eat ice cream everyday for all 3 meals and never tire of it. I might be 3x the size I am now, but I'm quite certain I would love it just as much as I do now. Oh, and perhaps saying ice cream alone is a little misleading since I would also need a small amount of milk poured on top.

6. Of all of my responsibilities around our house, I hate grocery shopping the most! I don't like trying to come up with a list, looking for a parking spot, always picking the cart that only wants to turn left, loading up my cart, standing in the ridiculously long lines so that I can unload my cart only to reload it all back in to bags that undoubtedly will rip, then unloading all of the bags into my car, listening to them tip over and spill out as I drive, unloading my car, and then cleaning out the fridge to make room for the final unloading. It all seems a bit redundant to me, but I suppose it is necessary, and it makes my family happy, but I still wait until we are out of everything before I do it all again.
There you have it, now it's my turn, so I tag Suzy, Robyn and my newest blogger, Kaitlin!

Four Months!

Time is flying by and Lincoln is now 4 months old! He weighs in the mid 13lbs. and is a true joy to our family! His hair continues to get lighter and crazier. I guess we're so used to it just being part of him, we don't even notice it, until we go anywhere. Then I hear, "Oh look at that baby's hair!" "Did you see that baby, he had so much hair!" "I love the hair!" "Look at the hair on that kid!" And even, "When are going to cut that hair?!" When I look at him, I'm just looking at his face, making eye contact as I interact with him, not even noticing the enormous crazy poofball on top of his cute little head, but the poofball is there and growing. Kevin is still against cutting the top for whatever reason, I'm not sure. Crazy hair and all, he is truly a very good baby. Yes, there are those moments when he's crying and I don't know why or what to do to make him stop. But unlike one of his sisters, these are just moments, and do not dominate our days. For the most part he is a very content, happy boy who gives the biggest smiles! He is a good sleeper, still loves his bouncy seat, loves his sisters, has discovered his toes and thumb, rolls over all the time, drools constantly, and likes the sound of his own voice. How truly blessed we are!

Our Version of an Adult Birthday Party

The 5 of Us

On top of the Hay Pyrimad

Getting the girls to sit still, smile and both look at the camera- nearly impossible!


My girls with their very favorite teenage girl

A canoe ride at the Pumpkin Patch, why not?

Jumpin' with Dad

Big kids like jumping too!

All of us, but Kev, the photographer

The Golden Fam

One of my favorites- Daddy and his girls!

So last Thursday was Breanna's birthday and so we decided to do one of our favorite fall things, go to the Pumpkin Patch. Not your typical birthday thing, but it allowed us to visit more than sitting around a crowded table at a restaurant, and the kids loved it. The girls don't quite get that adults don't always have "parties" like they do, so this was a good way for them to celebrate. Although Rylin got very upset in the car on the way home when she realized we didn't sing Breanna "Happy Birthday" and we didn't eat cake! But we had a really fun evening together and the weather was beautiful! We hope Breanna enjoyed her special day!

Retreat- A True Treat!

This last weekend I got to go on our annual Women's Retreat up in Ashland, Oregon. I was a little concerned as to how much of a "retreat" it would be since my mom duties were following me in the form of a truly cute 3 month old. Well, I was so impressed with how great Lincoln did! He is such a content an easy-going baby, he didn't really change the experience for me all that much. (Hopefully, my gracious roommates feel the same way!) Yes, I sat in the back of the conference room for most of the sessions, taking notes were out of the question, and as far as feeding in public settings go, I had to get over that, but all in all, I was still able to listen, worship, be with friends, and of course- shop! Our speaker did a wonderful job of using more Scripture than her own thoughts, and the focus was on God's Faithfulness, despite our faithlessness. I came home encouraged and ready to serve my family (until Monday hit, then I was ready to go back for just a little longer! Man, 5 year old attitudes are really something sometimes!)
And you want to know a real treat? When I came home, Kevin had cleaned the house! Based on past experiences this was quite the opposite of what I expected. And not only did he pick up, he got additional things done, light bulbs that had been out for awhile, a wobbly toilet seat that needed to be changed, cleaning out the fridge, separating the girls' bunkbeds... He was busy, he survived, and the girls had a lot of fun! All in all, a great weekend! (We missed you Meg!)

Our Surprise Visitor!

So last week I got a call from my little sis. "What are you doing this weekend?" she asked. "Nothing. Kevin is going camping, so it's just me and the kids." To which I heard the response, "Then do you mind if I come see you?" So it happened that Ian, who is in the Marine Reserves, had drill all weekend and one of Kaitlin's friends was driving down to California. So Kaitlin hitched a ride and got to come home! With her crazy school schedule last year, the only time we got to see her was at Christmas, so this was a real treat! I knew she was going to arrive in the wee hours of the night, so I didn't tell the girls until they woke me up Thursday morning. Then I told them I had a surprise waiting for them on the couch. They were a little in shock! We had a great time hanging out, we cooked together, she played/helped with the kids, we had a girl night with Allie, and of course, we all got free haircuts! I'm thinking this should be a normal thing everytime Ian has drill, but then I'm not the one who would have to spend all that time in the car! But at least we have Thanksgiving to look forward to, and then we will get the complete set!

Mini Mommy

Here are a few pictures of Rylin playing mommy. She is adjusting well to Kacia's school days. We are having a lot of fun playing Hi Ho Cherry-O and Candyland just the two of us. We are also reading a lot of books, which is great since this a very recent thing that Rylin will sit down for more than 2 minutes! But I'm also discovering that she is far more capable of playing by herself than Kacia ever was! She does well playing dolls and loves playdough (gotta love dried playdough crumbs all over the floor!). I feel like lately so much of the blog has been about Kacia with school, soccer, her birthday and so on, but know that Rylin is keeping me busy and growing up just as quickly as she is approaching the big number 3!

Daddy Gives the OK!

Me and my Boy!

Lookin' a little shaggy around the back...

and the ears.

Lincoln's new clean cut!

So Kevin finally gave the okay to trim Lincoln's crazy do! I was not allowed to take any off the top, but I trimmed his neck and ears, and I feel better about my handsome son! Now if I can only figure out how to tame the crazy top, we'll be doing good. (Maybe we'll need to use the scissors when Daddy's not around!)

Kacia Turns 5!

Our cake melted so badly in the heat we just HAD to eat it first, but I didn't hear any complaints!
Our "cowgirl" theme was difficult to find things for, but we did a pony relay...

and panned for gold.

Kacia's new doll and treasured gift, "Jenny" (weird, I know.)

My big girl with her big girl Bible.


So, it's official, my daughter is 5! A week ago today I became the mother of a 5 year old! Kacia had a great day, complete with a party at school, then presents from mom and dad, dad's softball game, then ice cream with Grandpa and Bre and the cousins. She is really fun to watch open her gifts, and her favorites were her new Bible complete with a flap that closes and her name, and her new "American Doll". Ever since seeing the American Girl Doll catelog, she has wanted one of these EXPENSIVE dolls. But since the pages say for ages 8+, I told her that maybe when she was 8, if she still wanted one we would talk about it. But for now, she got Target's version, which to her, is just the same. The doll with the cutest outfit on happened to be named Jenny. I told her she could pick a different name, but Jenny has stuck. So now I get to here things like, "I need to get Jenny's pajamas on her" and "Mom, Rylin took Jenny!" I'm pretty sure it totally confuses Rylin and it sounds funny to me, but I'm sure in time I will get used to it.

We had her party on Sunday at the park. We had a great time celebrating with friends, and we greatly appreciate how they all love Kacia! So to all of you who endured the heat to help us party and celebrate one of God's greatest gifts to us- Thank You! Kacia had a great time and has not been bored once this week with all of the great new toys she got to keep her busy!

My Mind Rambling...

So a week ago today my baby girl turned 5! I have to admit this was somewhat of a difficult birthday for me. Maybe its just the timing of school, soccer and everything, that I am finding myself a little overwhelmed with how quickly time truly flies! As I was driving Rylin and Lincoln to Kacia's school so we could bring treats to her class, Rylin was on her cellphone talking nonstop, having the cutest, funniest conversations! I all of a sudden had a flashback of my life when Kacia was our only noisemaker, and the funny things she would say in her little 2 year old voice, and I I wondered when did I get here? When did I become a mother of 3? It honestly feels like just a few years ago that I wandered my college campus, my only responsibilties being work and preparing for my next test or paper. Now, my time might not seem as scheduled out, some might think my life has more freedom and flexibility, and then you add in the three people that mean more to me than breath itself. Once you realize that they are counting on me for everything- from clipping nails, eating food, learning to read, to teaching them the truths about our Lord, salvation and eternity - and then I see how busy my life is, how great my responsibility is and I find myself in shock! How and when did I get old enough to be here? And how do I adequately do the work set out before me? And then I see that this is what matters in life. It's not my degree, or the condition of my home, or any of the things that in the end will fade away. But it is them- Kacia, Rylin and Lincoln. They are my mission field now, loving them, teaching them, training them, helping them to see Christ in everything, this is why I am here today. So now, I pray! I pray for patience, discernment, wisdom, strength. And I pray that maybe, if possible, life slows down just a bit, so I can truly take it all in and enjoy it!

Holding on to Summer

It was the first week of school, we were all tired, but it was the last family night at Waterworks, which we had told the girls all summer we would go to. And I am glad we did! The girls had a lot of fun (and I think Daddy did too!) I pretty much stayed at home base with Lincoln while Kevin took turns taking the girls one on one to the things they "could do". The park's rules seem a little strange to me, Kacia couldn't go on any of the "medium" slides because you can only go solo on those, but they allow kids to go with their parents on the larger slides (the catch- you have to rent a double tube). Well Kevin decided we didn't all pay the entrance fee to just stay in the kiddy zone, so he rented a tube and tested out Kacia's adventurous side. Like always, our little girl is a daredevil when it comes to rides! She even convinced Kevin to take her on the Avalanche! Rylin, like always, enjoyed staying close to mom and walking around in the little pool, braving it to her was the frog slide (the smallest one in the whole place!). She apparently had fun though because she has been asking to go back ever since.