First Day of School: Year 2013-2014

Ava and Gianna started preschool today! This is their second year at a small Catholic preschool in town. They love it there... and so do we! It was amazing to Rick and I at how much they have grown and matured in just one year. Last year, there were lots of tears on the first day of school. This year, their was none of that. They both quickly found a friend to play with. It was such a relief! Its going to take a big adjustment for me to not have my two big girls here 2 and 3 days a week :( Im not liking this whole growing up thing. Cant I just keep them all babies forever?!

I cant wait to pick them up and hear all about their days!!! In the meantime, Rick and I enjoyed storytime and lunch out with the two littles :)

 

Ava: 2012

(Ava was trying to run from me! She was so not interested in going to school and refused to cooperate for a picture. )

 

Ava: 2013

(She was so excited to go to school and to bring home all the fun things she does for us to see!.... Mostly looking forward to being able to play on the "big" playground this year!)

 

Gianna: 2012

(She was excited until she realized that school involved me leaving her!)

Gianna: 2013

(Still happy and that's even with knowing exactly what happens next ;) )

 

2013: 3 year old and 4 year old preschool

All my girls!:

 



Michigan Playdate

(This post has been sitting in my drafts for nearly two months, but I still wanted to finish/publish it! This is from when we were in MI during our 16 day adventure in July)

One of the most memorable days that my kiddos (and I) had while in Michigan was a playdate with our dear friends! They are definitely on the top of the list of most missed people! We were alittle nervous that Beth and her family were going to be out of town during the time we were in Michigan but it turned out that not only were we able to squeeze in a playdate but a dinner out just us Mamas!

A couple days before our playdate Beth and I were discussing the logistics of the playdate, when and where? Nowadays, with 10 kids, its always easiest to go to one of our houses so we decided on her house. Ok, now time? Morning? Afternoon? All day? Wait... all day. Absolutely! So, that's what we did.

We spent the entire day over at The Kohler's Home. It was wonderful. People think that I am crazy when I say that it was actually relaxing and enjoyable. Having 10 kids in your home is bound to be a little nuts, especially around meal times and nap but seriously, it was wonderful. Our kiddos are all mostly within the same age groups and surprisingly there are very little disagreements or issues.

We were at their house alittle before 10 am and didn't leave until around 7pm. A full day of playing.... & I cant even recall if their was one meltdown??

 

The babies talking to each other :)

Zeke and Kinsley are one month apart.

Lainey and Jude acted like it was the first time they had ever met :P

Lunch time!

 And a movie while the little ones slept :)

Last year, right before we moved to Ohio, we had our "see you later" playdate. We took this picture which was given to us in a frame from Beth that currently sits in the girls room. The Kohlers were really the first "friends" that the girls ever had that have become such a big part of us and our life. We sure did miss our regular play dates and our weeks just don't feel the same for me without seeing their name on our calendar but I am thankful we have been able to see each other so much throughout the last year!

June 2012

(left to right: Lainey, Ava, Karas, Meraya, Jude, Leo, Ben & Gianna)

July 2013

(left to right: Kinsley, Gianna, Ava, Meraya, Zeke, Karas, Jude, Leo, Ben and Lainey)

 

 

Crazy how much difference a year makes. Everyone a year older and we added two more babies to this adorable crew! Cant wait to see what this picture comparison looks like 5 years from now!! :)

Gianna: First Haircut

Monday, September 2nd: Gianna told us that she was ready for hair cut, so we jumped on the opportunity! We both had been a little on the fence about it. I knew that she could use one but, she was nervous and I was sad to see those baby curls go :( But, we went and got her haircut in hopes that it would help it start growing better, too.

She was brave, no tears and a smile the whole time. We were so proud of her! We celebrated with a  lollipop and some fountain play in our clothes!

 

 

She was so proud of herself! She kept saying, "Mama, I was so brave!" This was the last picture of her dry ;)

 

Im so happy that her hair cut did not make her loose all her curls. She has more now! Yay! Cant believe how fast this girl is growing up! <3 p="">



Lainey & Kinsley get their ears pierced

 

Saturday, August 24th: Two cuties got their ears pierced! We usually get our girls ears pierced when they are younger. I realize that many people have different opinions regarding this decision. Really, I don't know that their is a right or wrong answer. Ava got her ears pierced when she was 5 months old and Gianna was 7 months old. Lainey never did get hers done as a baby. Lainey battled awful ear infections when she was a baby and because we knew that getting tubes in her ears was always a possibility (which it did happen at 10 months old!) there was just never a "right time". Kinsley was approaching her 4 month birthday and we happened to be at the mall so what better time to do it than now! Lainey also said that she wanted to get pretties in her ears, too.

 

The only thing that Lainey liked about this process was the sucker, ok, 3 suckers she got out of the deal. Poor thing did not handle it well and it probably wasn't the best decision on our part.

 

 

Kinsley cried just for a moment and was completely over it. She looks SO adorable with her earrings!

Lainey is still a bit traumatized over the ordeal. She does NOT like when you clean them. Anytime she sees the cleaning solution bottle she says, "No ears Mama, no ears!". *sigh* Luckily we have almost hit the end of the constant cleaning period so that will be a happy day in our house ;)

Our biggest worry was her messing with them and either loosing the earrings or ripping them out of her ears. She hasn't done either of those. So overall I am glad we got them now. She also looks super cute!


 

Kinsley: 5 months old

Its been nearly a month since Ive had a chance to come on here and blog, so I have a bit of catching up to do. We have lots going on over here but not too much of it is blog worthy... yet! This post is for Kinsley's "month birthday" which is the 29th of each month.

 

5 Months Old

(look at that drool! No teeth yet; but definitely some signs of swollen gums!)

 

 

This girl I tell ya. She has been such a blessing to our family. I probably say that about each of my kids, every single month, but, really. I love her and am so thankful for her in our lives. She has been such a little cutie. She is growing up and developing such a personality (& so much chub!!!). Kinsley has been sleeping great at night (once I actually get her to sleep!). I have really enjoyed the baby stage this time around, so I haven't worked to much with her in regards to sleep training. She has cried it out sometimes, mainly when I just cant get to her fast enough and she ends up putting herself back to sleep. But, for the most part, we have just snuggled her to sleep a lot of the times. She has mastered rolling over both ways and I just caught a glimpse of her trying to get on all fours this morning. She can make it all over the loft by rolling and scooting backwards which means I might have to put the gate back up and we are really having to watch the little toys laying around. As for sitting up, she is no where close to that. Because of how badly her acid reflux/ spitting up has been, we had to stop putting her in the bumbo. We dug out the jumperoo which by the way, she LOVES. That has helped her gain the strength in those "sitting up muscles" so now that she can do that without completely soaking herself and the floor in spit up, sitting up isn't too far out anymore! I think we may be hitting the end of the constant spit up, I'm so thankful for that!