"Who hears these words of mine & puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, & the winds blew & beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine & does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, & the winds blew & beat against that house, & it fell with a great crash."

Matthew 7:24-27

Monday, March 31, 2014

Norah's 3 Year Pictures

We were finally able to get Norah's 3 year pictures taken!  Here are some of our favorites!







Classic Norah face :)






Saturday, March 22, 2014

Grace is 5 Months!

Miss Grace was 5 months old on March 17th!  Hard to believe we are almost half way through her first year!  Grace definitely mastered the art of rolling from back to tummy this past month.  She now rolls that way almost every time we lay her on her back.  I haven't seen her do it in her sleep yet, but I have seen her sleeping on her side.  She also rolled from tummy to back for the first time this month.  She is not as good at going that way yet, and has only done it a couple times.  Usually she rolls from back to tummy then hangs out on her tummy for a while, then gets mad when she's had enough and wants someone to help her. :)  She is now also really good at holding her head up when she's on her belly.  She has had great control of her head for a while, but I think this past month it has really improved being on her belly.  Another thing I have noticed this past month is that Grace is trying really hard to sit up from laying down.  Whether she's laying flat on the floor, in her car seat, the bouncy seat or the swing, I will look over at her and she will be lifting her head off the ground like she's going to try to do a sit-up. :)  So, I guess it's time to put some of these things away. :)  We think Grace is starting to figure out a little bit what to do with her hands.  She will sometimes see something then try to reach for it and grab onto it.  Other times she will just be reaching her hand out and feel something and then grab on.  She loves to chew and suck on her hands, quite frequently you will find them in her mouth.  She has also started to become more vocal this past month.  Sometimes she will be sitting somewhere and then just go "Ahhhhhhhh" fairly loud.  We think she's just trying to compete with her big brother and sister. :)  We haven't tried any cereal yet, we will wait until 6 months.  I waited until then with Norah and things just seemed to be so much easier waiting.  Grace still likes to sleep in the Ergo during the day, and still does pretty well at night, going longer stretches.  She refuses to take a pacifier so I'm trying to figure out the best way to get her to nap in her bed during the day to be able to keep herself asleep and sooth herself.  She still is very laid back and goes with the flow most of the time!  Here are some pictures from the past month!

5 Months!

Not so sure about this hat mom...

Checking out the TV :)

Quite the crew :)

3/10-Rolled from tummy to back for the first time

We got out the jumperoo this month!

Hi Mom!

3/1-Rolled from back to tummy for the second time :)

Hanging out with her big sister!

Watching all the action at Norah's birthday party

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Winter Fun

Here are some random pictures from February and March!

2/3-We decorated some Valentines today!  Kyler and Norah have really been into making things and doing "crafty" activities or "projects" this winter.  It has been fun to see their creations at their different ages.  Thanks to the Target dollar bins, I have found quite a few craft activities for them to work on!  Here are some Valentines ones we decorated today!

Norah's creation :)

Kyler working on his

Oh Norah ;)


2/18-We were finally getting over being sick and it was actually warm enough to go outside!!  The kids have been asking and asking to go out and play in the snow, but it has just been too cold out.  So, now that the temps are above zero and we are feeling better, the kids enjoyed some time outside today!

Hard at work!

Hanging out :)

Just relaxing in the snow :)

3/1- Norah got this cool house that you can color on for her birthday.  It has been a great project for the kids to work on while stuck inside. :)  They have also had lots of fun hauling different blankets and things into the house while they "hide out" in there.  Here they are working on her house. 

Kyler working hard

Norah coloring

Having fun decorating

3/6-The snow is still here! :)  Another "warm" day so the kids were able to enjoy some time out in the snow.  It is great that they are getting to the age where they can play with each other and without me! :) I enjoy playing in the snow but with Grace being so little, it's hard for me to be out there this year.  Next year I'm sure we will all be out there together!

Miss Norah

Kyler

Having fun digging (I dug out some of the sandbox toys for them to play with in the snow!)

Kyler's snow angel

Norah's snow angel

My almost 5-year-old!

Happy to be outside!

3/11-Kyler heard it was a friend's birthday today, so he decided to make this picture and then asked Erik how to write "Happy Birthday".  Then he wanted me to send the picture to her.  I am just amazed at how Kyler's writing skills are coming along, he's doing such a great job!!

Happy Birthday!




 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Kindergym

We signed Kyler and Norah up for Kindergym this spring.  I (Ashley) had done it when I was little, so I was excited for the kids to go too!  At first I wasn't sure about having to haul all three kids up there by myself, but then my parents offered to help take them, so we decided to do it!  The first time they went, they were a little unsure of what was going on.  This doesn't surprise me, especially with Kyler who is very hesitant in new situations.  The second week they had fun, but were kind of in the middle of being sick.  The third week only Norah went, as Kyler was sick, and she didn't want to do a whole lot.  She told me when she got home that she needed Kyler there to help her and that's why she didn't want to do anything. :)  Then the forth week was good, and the fifth week my parents were gone, so all of us (even Grace) went.  They also had fun the last week too (it's only 6 weeks).  Here are some pictures from when we were all there on the 5th week.  The theme this week was Dr. Seuss because it was right around his birthday, so all of the stations had to do with Dr. Seuss.

Kyler climbing on the play stuff before it got started

"Picking up" the "mess" that thing 1 and thing 2 had made :)

Driving his "car" like in "Go Dogs Go!"

Norah driving her "car"

More car driving :)

Another one driving cars :)

We really enjoyed going, and it was fun to try to remember some of the things that I had done when I went.  This was the 30th year for Kindergym!  I wish it was maybe 2 more weeks, since it seemed like we just got in the swing of it and then it was done.  Maybe we'll do it again in the fall!

Grace is 4 Months!

Grace was 4 months old on February 17th!  It seems like time is flying by with this lady!  She is pretty laid back and goes with the flow, unless she's tired or hungry. :)  At her 4 month appointment, she weighed 13 lbs, which is the 37th percentile, and was 24 3/4 inches long, 59th percentile.  Her head was 16 inches around, which was the 47th percentile.  She still does pretty well at night sleeping wise, and will sleep for fairly long stretches of time, which is nice!  However, during the day she still loves to nap in the Ergo…. :)  She refuses to take a pacifier, even though we have tried many times!  Grace rolled over for the first time this month from back to front.  It was February 4th, and I had taken all three kids upstairs so that Kyler and Norah could nap.  I had laid Grace on the floor so I could change Norah's diaper, and all of a sudden Kyler (from the top bunk of his bed) goes "she made it over!".  I looked over, and there she was on her belly! :)  Of course, she hasn't done it since, but that's okay.  Grace has really started to laugh this past month.  I have been able to get her to laugh too and not just Erik!  It's this cute little giggle and I could listen to it all day. :)  Grace also had her first Valentine's Day this past month.  We didn't do a whole lot, as Kyler was still sick, but the girls sported their red for the day. :)  Here are some pictures of Grace this past month!

Four Months Old!

Hi Mom! :)

Working on rolling over

Hanging out :)

Hanging with Norah

All ready for Valentine's Day!

Liking the play mat

A little smile :)

Sitting with big sister!

Big blue eyes :)