Sick Baby

A couple of weeks ago we had a sick baby.  It started out as a cough and runny nose, and turned into croup.

 I was up all night with him, and by morning we knew he needed to get a breathing treatment and some medicine.  Robert took him to the doctor and got him all fixed up.

 He was full of snuggles since he didn't feel well.

 He loves to play with all of our cars and trucks!

 And this pretty much sums up our evening.  Both of these guys really needed to be close to me! 

We went for a check-up later in the week.  The doctor gave us a couple of prescriptions to help him get through this tough allergy season and to make sure the croup stays gone!

Play Ball

Baseball season has started!  We had our first games of the season last weekend.

Barrett is playing t-ball for the first time.

 He made some great plays at bat and third base!

 Next up was Blake's first game with his new team.

This is their first year for kid pitch. 

 K did really well playing with the other siblings during the games and with his little car collection. 

 It was a great first game for both boys!

Flat Stanley

Blake mailed his Flat Stanley to someone we know in China.  Yifan sent Flat to Indonesia to visit her friend.  Her friend also sent a letter back (in white)  Blake was excited when they arrived back at school!  (his is the yellow and orange letter, as well as the white one below it)

 They put the pins in the map and hung his letters up.

Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown

Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their father to display pictures and posters. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed. During the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. One special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. Eventually, Stanley is tired of being flat and Arthur changes him back to his proper shape with a bicycle pump.

Spring

Spring is in the air and we have loved it!

 Barrett ate his first piece of pizza... ever!  Picture worthy!

 Looking forward to many more spring days!

Fine Arts Night

The school had Fine Arts Night, where they display great pieces of student art work. Blake had baseball practice, so Barrett, Brynn, K, and I went.

 Barrett was so proud to show me his texture sculpture and bridge artwork.

We checked out Blake's artwork too.  He created this baseball picture using special art tools.

 Brynn held up Blake's foil sculpture... Indiana Jones!

The kids loved this special night!

Love

We have temporarily added to our family!  I am not going to share the details on our blog, but our great-nephew has been placed with us.  We are looking forward to showing this little guy all the love we can while he is with us!

He came to us in the evening on a week night, so I took the next day off from work to stay home and help him adjust.  The weather was beautiful so we got to play outside.

 We are all adjusting to having a toddler in the house again. 

He is adjusting wonderfully to life at our house.

 We are praying for God's direction as we take this journey!

St. Patrick's Day

 

Dads and Dudes Camp Out

Our Boys Mission Organization at church has a Dads and Dudes Campout each spring.  Blake looks forward to this!  He and Robert went for 2 nights and 3 days.  Tanner got to go with them again this year since his dad couldn't go.  They shoot, hike, go on hayrides, play at the pond, do all things BOY!

 At night they sit around the campfire and have a Bible study and time of testimonies.

I love that Blake and Robert, along with other Christian dads and boys get to have this time together.  It is such a meaningful time of fellowship!

Barrett will be old enough to go next year and can't wait!

Birthday Outing

Barrett chose Build-@-Bear Workshop for his birthday outing (in lieu of a party).  He wanted his friend Charlie to go with him.  Since Daddy and Blake were on a camp-out, Brynn got to join us.

 We got slushies to drink, threw money in the fountain, and played at the playground for a little bit.  The perfect outing for our little Barrett!

Oh Beautiful Day

Our first couple of days of Spring Break have been beautiful!   We have enjoyed time outside!

 Throwing sticks and rocks into the pond provide a lot of entertainment for us!

Legos

Boys and their Legos.

Spring Break

Aah, Spring Break has arrived!  We look forward to this week!  For us it is a time to unwind and relax!

I was able to have dinner with the teams who traveled to China last month.  We had a fun time talking about our experiences in China and just enjoying each other's company!

 Spring Break means fun "slumber parties" for the kids.  They love to sleep in each other's rooms on non school days (Brynn slept on the floor after they read books, no worries we didn't make them all squeeze on the bed all night).

Barrett's Week

Barrett and Brynn we both five years old for about a month.  This year Barrett couldn't wait to turn six and separate their ages again.  He spent the month assuring Brynn that he was still older than her.

 We took Barrett out for his b-day dinner on Tuesday night, since we would be at church on his birthday night.  He chose Br@um's.  Chicken strips and ice cream were what he wanted!

 On his birthday, his teacher sprayed him with silly string.  He has been looking forward to this moment for a long time!

Happy Birthday week to Barrett!

Happy Birthday BaRrEtT

Happy 6th Birthday to our little sweet pea!

I remember this day like it was yesterday!  I was so excited that the time had finally come to have this boy!  After a long, hard pregnancy, I was giddy as we rushed to the hospital.  I contracted the whole way and when we got there and they told me I would be having a baby that night, I was elated!  It was an easy delivery and before I knew it Dr. G was handing my baby boy to me.  My first thought was how much he looked like Blake as a newborn.  I fell head over heals in love with this sweet little boy.  He continues to be the sweetest boy with the most caring heart.  We love this little guy with all of our hearts!

The Little Mermaid

We went to see Little Mermaid the musical.  Brynn had fun watching one of her favorite princesses come to life on the stage!

Random Happenings

We went Scouting for Food.

 Played at the park.

 Barrett got invited to a Taekwondo birthday party.

 Mommy has a big job of hair fixing in the mornings!