Happy Birthday to My Husband

I know that almost all of my posts reflect the lives of our children and they are definitely taking center stage in this season of life. But, sometimes we each need a moment of our own. So this is a little slice of time dedicated to my husband the day after his birthday.

 He is literally our rock and lifts us up when we need it the most. For this, we are eternally grateful and lean into him often.

Life just wouldn't feel the same without him in my life. So, I collected some of the pictures we have of him in the most recent years (the last 4 but there is over a decade of pictures for another day).

Happy Birthday! We spend your actual birthday together on a random Thursday and it was the best. Homemade cinnamon rolls breakfast, presents, lunch out, and your favorite tuna casserole supper. In between meals we squeezed in games, a family movie, and driving around together. It was just the best day.

Thank you for all you do for us my sweet husband! You are loved more than I could possibly ever explain.

Jayden is 11 Months

 Well, we made it to 11 months. I can't believe how fast it has gone but this baby boy makes life so sweet and enjoyable. I get about 10 seconds to take a good picture before he is off and going again. He is so, so busy and extremely fast. I am so blessed to have extra hands to help me with this little one.

This is the last of the monthly update pictures for Jayden and that's definitely bittersweet. Our household is so very excited to celebrated your first birthday though. I think your sister has been planning this day since before you were born.

This month went by really fast. Our household got hit with a cold and Jayden ended up with croup which was so hard to watch. Jayden, you are such a fighter though and you just keep going. Most of the time you are still so happy and play just that same, sick or not. We are currently still fighting your cough.

You are momma's baby through and through. You save almost all your kisses for me and want me to hold you 24/7. I love how much you light up at the sight of me.

Don't ever change. Please.

Your sleep is still a bit all over the place but sickness knocked us down. You are still trying to get in 2 top teeth so that doesn't help. I'd pull all nighters with you any time Jayden. It's the day time shift with your siblings that gets tricky while you snooze the day away.

Your eating habits are amazing though. You love everything and eat so much. You are definitely related to your siblings as you all love food! You have tried a ton of new foods in the last month and I'm excited to get to a point where I don't have to think about what you can and can't have.

A few things you love: dancing, singing, talking, helping fold laundry, taking a bath, climbing the stairs, watching your siblings, kissing mommy, and eating. A few things you don't love: diaper changes, being left in a room alone, and being put in anything confining (like the exersaucer, you will scream cry most of the time in this).

This month brought us some snow and that was so fun to see! I have an extra warm coat made for baby wearing and was able to take Jayden outside. I love the fresh air and found Jayden to sleep so well (like a baby) afterwards.

Who doesn't love fresh, untouched snow? This was right outside our front door!

Baby Jayden, we love you so! You will always be our little Jayders.

Have a great week everyone!

Finishing Out October, Halloween, and November brings...

So I have been meaning to write this post for several days now and it just doesn't happen. Finding a few minutes to get anything done is really challenging. But life over here keeps on going.

October was good to us. The kids always love jumping in the leaves and can spend a whole afternoon dedicated to raking leaves and jumping in leaves on repeat.

 Jayden watches the big kids intently.

 We had a big thing happen at our house in October! Payton got her library card!

 I have gone back and forth as to when our kids get their cards and I really just kept procrastinating making a decision. I want my children old enough to understand the responsibility (and potential fees) that come with using a library card. She may have to learn the hard way but this will be good experience for her.

Now, Riley is already begging for his card. Not quite yet, buddy. One person at a time.

 The kids really wanted to have a pumpkin decorating party with their friends. We did this last year and had so much fun (see that here). We had 15 kids, plus moms, and a whole lot of craziness over here that day. I didn't take a single picture. Of any of it.

I did snag a few pictures of the pumpkins our family decorated.

3 kids keeps me busy and apparently too busy to remember to take pictures of our fun gatherings. Maybe next year.

While the weather has still been warm(ish), we've been trying to get outside while we can. The kids have taken a huge interest in our animals and our pets love the extra love.

 Again, Jayden can't get enough of watching his big siblings.

 It won't be long before you are chasing them, too, buddy.

And then Halloween came! Our kids love this holiday. We make our rounds at our local nursing home and just go to the houses of close friends. I let the kids have a "spooky" breakfast with all their Halloween decor on the table, lights off, and Halloween music playing. For dinner, we made hot dog mummies.

Costumes were a lot of fun this year, too, as all 3 kids were monkeys! 

 I have no idea if they will be the same thing or allow a theme next year but I am loving the years they agree to it (like pirates last year). Overall, it was a great Halloween with lots of fun, lots of candy, going to bed too late, and lots of laughter!

Then, November rolled in and we all got hit hard. With Sickness. Our family has colds and poor Jayden now has croup. We are all snuggled into our house and plan to hideout until we are all well again.

Hope your November is off to a great start! Pray for our health at our house!

Leaves, Art, Pumpkins Galore, and a bit of monkeying around

Another month of giving some of the highlights. I know I should be more creative but I'm so busy that I'm seriously just doing a photo dump for my posts these days. I want to have more/better posts but I think my pictures tell so much of the story on their own that they don't really need me. So here are some recent highlights of what our little zoo has been up to:

1. Lots of art projects, science experiments, and school all together:

 E for elephant day artwork

 Shaped colored and cut and then Payton creatively put together Noah's ark

 Along with our elephant artwork above, we made elephant toothpaste. We have also done magic paint in milk, volcanoes, and raining from clouds experiments. I'm really trying to work in the science this year.

Lots of food activities as well. Here are fruit cars. Our oldest, Payton has also been making one meal a month (with our assistance but she plans the whole meal and helps with groceries and the making of the meal, all the way to serving and cleanup). Payton is also increasing her kitchen skills, like cutting food with knives, putting away dishes, etc.

2. We get outdoors whenever we can.

Snagged this cute picture at a park play date we had.

 This picture was also taken at the park when Payton and I snuck away for a bit for some 1:1 girl time. Quality time like this is so special.

3. We are working on our next big donation 

So since having baby Jayden (baby #3) and spending time in the NICU, we have found a lot of joy in coming together as a family and making donations. Back in June we had the kids purchase toys and we donated those along with several handmade blankets. I was so impressed with how willing they were and they LOVED doing this. They  have been helping us make activity packs for families to take with them to fill time as they are going to appointments and/or spending time in the hospital. My mother-in-law gave us the fabric and cut the bags and we sewed them and put drawstrings in them over this last weekend. 

I love my kids and their big hearts! I strongly encourage you to focus on finding more ways in your life you can give. It is amazing the difference it can make in this world.

4. Extra curriculars are in full swing

 While Payton is in gymnastics, this little man chooses to come along just to spend time with his mama. As you can see by the cookie in his hand (we stopped by McDonald's) he isn't spoiled in the slightest on these outings.

5. Nothing Says October like the Pumpkin Patch

 We spent a Saturday at the pumpkin patch with Grandma and had a blast. Unfortunately, I didn't come back with many photos to show for it but I did take pictures of the pumpkin decorating party we had that afternoon!

Does it feel like Jayden is missing from all photos? He is. Many of our outings are taken when his daddy is home and he is napping. AND, when he is awake, he is on my hip. He wants to be a part of it all. As long as that means permanently attached to his mom. But....

6. Preparing for Halloween

We pulled out our hand me down costumes and the boys decided to dress up for some outside play. They are set on being monkeys this year. Jayden doesn't have a choice as they other 2 wore this monkey costume when they were his age and so I want all 3 kids to be monkeys as babies. But he doesn't care either.

Payton is now thinking she needs to be a monkey as well despite my attempts at convincing her to be a zookeeper (for those monkeys) or a circus trainer (again for those monkeys) but she isn't feeling that. It will be interesting to see what they do for sure on Halloween.

Fall is just so fun! We hope you are enjoying this month as much as we are!

10 month update for Jayden

 Baby Boy Jayden. You are 10 months! Of course, since it is October, Payton insisted we celebrate you this month with all the pumpkins. So that is just what we did. Our pumpkins with our very own little pumpkins.

Our little Jaders, this month has been so much fun with you as you figure out scooting (instead of crawling) and are in to everything. I mean EVERYthing. We can't let you out of our sight and have 2 other kids around means that our house isn't always 100% baby proofed. So, all eyes on you my friend.

This little one is trying to get some top teeth and they have been extra feisty with no relief. That has meant little sleep for Jayden (and poor mama). I'm hopeful those teeth will cut soon and we can all get a bit of sleep before another round of teething.

Jayden is eating more and more food lately and loving almost everything. Meats are his favorite and he will dance for you if there is egg around. You entertain us by monopolizing much of the conversation around the table.

Our household is fairly certain you can say Dada as you only make that sound when daddy is indeed in the room. It still seems early though so we aren't totally making that call yet but you definitely seem to be so smart and know so much.

My sweet baby boy, you love to jabber and carry the biggest smile. You don't ever want to be alone even if it is just for a second. And you are a mama's baby and that will always be one of my favorite parts of this season in life. Thank you for all the love and happiness you bring to our family.

Fall, Fall, Fall is here.

Our favorite season around here is Fall. Well, really, it seems our favorite season changes quickly with the season we are in BUT my husband and I have always loved fall. And the kids love everything fall related.

Here are a few things we are loving right now with this fall weather.

Getting pushed inside.

 This gives us so much more time for crafts, school, reading, and all around quality family time. This year we have someone coming once a week for preschool and another person who works with us weekly on Spanish. I am also doing school activities and crafts as well. We are loving all of this and are especially soaking in the art and science stuff.

When we can get outside, we are go, go, go.

 Even if we have to layer clothing, we love a few good minutes outside. Or all day outside when weather permits.

The kids get some imaginative play inside together.

 Now that Jayden is on the move, it is so amazing to watch these 3 interact. Siblings growing and bonding has been one of my personal favorites in this life. How blessed I am to watch these relationships grow.

More outings to inside exploring.

 We have taken the kids to the local children's museum a few times now and they LOVE it. It was well worth the yearly membership and Jayden spends the whole time staring at his siblings with the expression above.

Getting pushed inside gives us more time to find other ways to be creative.

Like Payton picking out Jayden's clothes in this picture. She has so much fun dressing herself and her brothers and has a real interest in fashion.

Fall brings a slower pace of life for our house and we couldn't appreciate that more after a busy summer.

Happy First day of October!