Homeschool Update

Preschool homeschooling is still going well! I've added a sidebar called "Little Crew School" to put pictures of our activities during the week. I have fallen a little behind in updating it but please check it out as I've added our last 3 or so weeks! As expected, our schooling time has decreased a little (2-3 days a week now) as this momma is needing much more rest-time these days and am taking advantage of nap time a little more often. I've hit the exhaustion level and can't seem to sit down for more than 5 minutes without falling asleep! However, one of the wonderful aspects of homeschooling is flexibility. This allows Aaron to step in and work with Landon (which he has been doing about once a week lately while I go to dr. appts.) and we can always use other times of the day, or even the weekends, to catch up. We know that there will be an adjustment period as well once Micah arrives but we hope to find our new routine very quickly! Landon has done really well and is learning so much! He always seems to enjoy our school time. He recently caught the ugly tummy bug going around. On one of his worse days he even requested to do school...but couldn't muster up the energy to get off the couch. Here is a little video of Landon reciting his bible verses from A-G. We haven't mastered all the references but I think he's still doing a pretty good job at hiding God's word in his heart at 4 years old!



Just for Micah

Our Sweet Micah,

You will be here before we know it! You have 2 VERY anxious big brothers who can't wait to meet you. I'm sure the minute we get home from the hospital they will want you to play cars and trains with them. Don't worry, we will give you some time to adjust to your new home and then we can work up to that. However, I'm sure you'll be "vroom-vrooming" around this house in no time! We pray that you will instantly feel how very much loved you are. There are already so many people in your life who are head-over-heels about you. I'm enjoying the last few weeks I have to keep you all to myself!

As much as your Mommy and Daddy love you there is someone who loves you much more than we ever could. Our prayer is that you will soon discover the precious gift He has to offer you. We pray you accept that gift and live your life in a manner that reflects the most important decision you can make. God has BIG plans for you and we look forward to watching those plans play out in your life as you grow before our eyes.

Landon and Reid have so much to teach you little man...and we can't think of any two little boys that will be better big brothers for you! They might pick on you a little sometimes. Don't worry, being the "baby" of the family I'm sure you'll get away with a little more than you should! ;)

We're all anxiously awaiting your arrival and pray that you come to us as a vibrant and healthy little boy! We look forward to celebrating Christmas with our little family of 5!

Boys rule in this family buddy...and we wouldn't have it any.other.way!!

We love you to the moon and back,

Daddy, Mommy, Landon and Reid

32 Weeks

Saying Goodbye...

Three weeks ago we said goodbye to a dear family member...one of our furry family members. My sweet little chihuahua, Paisley, has found a new home! Over four years ago (just a couple of months before Landon was born) Paisley had a really bad pancreatitis attack that landed her in the vet hospital for a few days on IV medications. She came through like a champ and recovered very well. However, ever since then she has had a few other similar attacks. The two biggest things that her vet said can trigger these attacks are diet and stress. I must admit I used to feed her people food on a regular basis...which I now know is a big no-no! We changed her diet, but unfortunately there was little we could do about her stress level. Let's face it, Paisley is NOT a kid-friendly dog and I just know her blood pressure shot up everytime we brought another baby home. Our children are too young to understand how to be gentle with a very tiny and fragile 3 lb. dog. Not to mention she didn't want anything to do with them. So, much of my time was spent trying to keep them separated. With a third little boy coming soon I knew it was time to look for other options. This past spring I attempted a search for a new home for her. I had several people interested but when it came down to it I just wasn't ready to let her go. I felt guilty, as if I were forcing her to leave the only people she's known since she was 8 weeks old. But I also felt selfish. I knew she was attached to us (and I was obviously attched to her), but I also knew we could not provide the best environment for her to stay healthy. And, she is 9 years old and will only get more fragile as the years go on. I attempted a second search about 6 weeks ago. We had a few more calls and eventually found someone who I feel is giving her a wonderful, loving and much more laid-back environment. And thankfully, they have been great about updating us on how she is doing! She is missed dearly but we feel this was the best decision for her and our family at this time!

Belly Painting...Part III

Tonight we had what will probably be our final belly painting session. I must admit, I wasn't really excited about it at first but knew I had to do it since we did with the first two. But, Landon really seemed to enjoy it (Reid was not too excited...but he hasn't been feeling too good today) and I know it will be a treasured memory for our family. We let the boys do some free-style painting at first. It was a little hard for Aaron to take pictures and keep the boys from getting paint everywhere so we didn't really get pictures of that. For our sanity, we just waited to the end to get some final pictures! Click HERE to see our first 2 belly paintings!

 Almost 32 weeks! 

As usual, it was near impossible to get smiles from these boys!

Halloween Weekend

I'm a little behind in posting about our halloween activities. I've definitely hit that stage of pregnancy where pure exhaustion has set in...and I'm taking more free moments to just rest! Life is about to get crazier than I've ever known it so why not take advantage of the next 6 or so weeks to use the pregnancy excuse to just sit and do nothing every now and then! :)

Friday night the boys and I along with MiMi and Grandy headed to one of our church carnivals. It was pretty chilly that evening and crowded so we didn't get to do a whole lot but I think everyone still enjoyed their time.

Landon and I got to ride the train...which was his favorite activity for the evening...but we couldn't seem to get him to look at the camera!

Reid didn't want to ride the train but opted to stay and snuggle with bear...

Sunday evening, we headed to another church carnival with NiNi and G-Pa. They had a firetruck there...which was perfect for our little fire chief and his dalmation....except neither of them wanted much to do with it....

Reid was excited to finally find someone who came dressed like him.....

They could really relate with one another...

Monday night (Halloween) we were supposed to go trick-or-treating with some friends, but I got sick so we didn't make it...but the three boys hit a few houses on our street and still managed to score plenty of candy! I drove along side them so I wouldn't miss out!

Tuesday night, we finally got around to carving our pumpkin and roasting seeds! Landon and Reid enjoyed helping this year!

I love these "deer in the headlights" looks from the boys. These were both taken in the dark while I was trying to get some pictures of our finished lit-up pumpkin...

YUM! I seriously ate ALL the roasted pumpkin seeds from our large pumpkin in less than 24 hours! I had a little help from the boys...but it was mostly me!

Lightning McQueen...