Slip and slide

 

Bike Riding

Colin wanted to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels.  We tried a few months ago but didnt have time to really practice it so we put the training wheels back on.  Joel always wants to ride his bike too.  It is way to hot most days to put Norah in the carrier or wrap. We would both end up a sweaty mess. So this is what ends up happening:

I had Colin take this picture just so I can remember these days. In some ways I will miss this when they grow up.  But for now the training wheels are still on (I haven't taken them on a bike ride for a few weeks now) We're waiting for cooler weather and when Brents work schedule isn't so busy. 

Bubba and his pretty girl

blueberry picking

 Today the weather was cooler so the kids and I went blueberry picking. We've been wanting to go for weeks now but we've been busy or the temp has been over 100.  So today with the high of 84 we went.  And it was perfect. The boys had a blast. We picked more I think today than we have in previous years.  We were there for a few hours.  The kids picked blueberries, ate their snack and then went and picked blackberries.

They were so fun to listen to as they picked. And so sweet to each other. They would always share their biggest berries with the other one.  "here you go here's a big one"  and then the other one would say "thank you"  over and over.

 Norah was in the moby but woke up at one point and kept grabbing at the blueberries too. 

 Its fun to look back at previous years and see how big the kids are growing.  Crazy that the first time we went Joel was just 2 weeks old. 

Cheeks

Sweet girl just had her 4 month check up.  She is now 14.12 lbs and 25 inches long.  Which puts her in the 75% for height and weight.

 But her head circumference is in the smaller range.  Somewhere between 20-25%. 

Obviously they dont measure cheeks :) 

Busy Busy week

 We just had one of our busiest weeks this summer. Between swim team and our normal weekly stuff we had our church's arts camp all week from Sunday - Saturday. I was one of the teachers so we had to be there early each night and get stuff ready. So we pretty much ate dinner at 4 every night to get all the way down to Arts Camp in time and then got back and went straight to bed. There were dance, art, and rhythm classes. I  signed Colin up for the Rhythm  class and he loved it.  He got to play some drums and learn a few instruments.  The kids learn/do their art all week and then they have a performance Saturday night night for all the parents/guests. 

 I was in one of the arts and crafts rooms and really loved working with the kids.  It was also so great to get to know some other parents at our church and hang out with them all week.  Joel had a hard time - I think the whole week was a little overwhelming to him.  he wouldn't go in childcare one night so stayed with me in my class but a few nights Brent got home in time for me to leave Norah and Joel with him and he took Joel to the pool. 

 I'm always amazed at how the performance comes together. Its so professionally done and the kids are always amazing. 

Saturday was busy between swim meet and Arts Camp but it was a great day.  Its fun to end with 80 kids singing Jesus Paid it all.  Brent and I taught Sunday School Sunday morning and we were talking about the crosss and I asked the kids why Jesus had to die and they all broke out in the song with the motions.  We had another busy day Sunday with church, a birthday party and then a very long swim team party. Right now Norah is sleeping and the boys are almost passed out watching tv.  I think we'll take it easy the next few days. 

Here is Colin's group preforming Saturday night.  Its a little jumpy because Joel was helping me and trying to watch Bubba through the video camera. 

Backstroke

Saturday Colin swam in an away meet.  The last one of the season. We got there and it was pouring down rain but thankfully it stopped when Brent brought Norah.  She's our little ray of sunshine - ha! 

He swam freestyle and backstroke. Which meant we were there for 5 hours.  Its a little rough when you have Joel to entertain and Norah to worry about and then Colin to have to sit there and think about swimming his race and all the reasons why he shouldn't swim :)  but Joel discovered the concession stand and stuffed himself with candy the whole time and Norah slept a lot and Colin enjoyed sitting and watching every event. 

They have a "halftime" where they have a coaches/parents relay and then a free for all in the pool to cool the swimmers off.  I need to get into shape by next summer so I can do the relays. 

Colin wanted me right next to him each step of the way.  I waited in the clerk of course (or the zoo as they call it - appropriately named) and then walked him behind the lane and stood there until he dove in. 

I need to work with him on his form but at least he's diving now. 

His time was a little slower this week.  You could tell he tried to do all the stroke techniques the coaches worked with him during the week. 

Then after many hours it was time for backstroke.  He was nervous. And had no clue what to do.  I realized he had never seen a backstroke start since his age group is first so I talked him through it. 

He was doing so well.  Six weeks ago he couldn't even float on his back. He would sink.  Before he swam I told him over and over just whatever you do - dont turn over.  And he was going so fast as you can see in the video he made it just past the flags, and then hit the lane line. He thought that was the wall.  He was so upset.  "But mommy I turned over" So then I told him all the times I was DQ'd and he felt a little better. Swim team is over for Colin but he's excited about next year. And so are we.

4 months

 Norah is 4 months old today. Its been a long day filled with talking to insurance, doctors, patient advocates. We're in a battle with the insurance who has no refused to cover her hospital bill.  So I haven't been able to write anything until tonight but was reminded all day that God knew exactly when we would get Norah.  She is worth it all and more.  We always wanted 2 boys and a girl - in that order and I'm still overcome most days when I look at my beautiful children - 2 boys and a girl in the exact order we would've choosen. 

 Norah is just the sweetest thing. Its sad she is growing up so fast but its also fun to see her discover things. The other day we were playing in her room and I was holding her toy and trying to help her grab it and she didnt want to have anything to do with her rattle.  She wanted the boys dinosaur.  She's already trying to lunge for the legos - life will get really busy once she is mobile.   She is also being interested in our food and tries to get it whenever I eat.

 She still doesnt like being on her back or stomach but she still loves to sit up.  She is my constant companion.  She is just happy being on my hip all day.  I think she's going to be my little shadow since she wants to always be where I am at all times.  Love it.  I'm not complaining although it does mean every things takes a lot longer. 

 Norah is still a big snuggler. And really so patient.  She gets dragged everywhere and doesnt complain.

 Our pretty girl.  Colin calls her his pretty girl all the time. 

 Such a sweet face. 

 Words can't describe how much we love this girl. 

 I love this picture even though its blurry and she's not looking, she is still our little baby. Kind of puts her size in perspective. 

 And this picture is just life around here.  My crazy Joel - tongue out and doing pretty ears to Norah.

Swim Meet

 He did it.  Colin swam in his first meet yesterday.  I am so proud of him.  He kept talking himself out of the stingrays group and then finally on tuesday he wanted to go into the stingrays lane and swim. That was a big deal since he had every excuse why he should stay in guppies. "well mommy, today the water was a little colder, or Mommy I just want this year to be a practice year, or mommy I'll do it tomorrow..." he had every excuse.  At first he was a little nervous and then just loved it. He's been walking around so proud of himself. 

 I signed him up for the swim meet.  I wasn't sure how it would go. You never know.  My brother and sister would want to do the meets, get up on the block and then refuse to dive off.  Colin woke up saturday nervous but I just walked him over to the pool anyways.

 This leauge does it so different from when I swam/coached.  Colin kept asking me about things and I told him I wasn't sure.   They had co-ed relays at the beginning and then  10&under relays and then went straight into freestyle.  Colin was the first event.  So he didnt even have time to watch other people do it.  Which was probably a good thing.  Brent and Joel got there just in time and right as Colin walked from the clerk of course to the lane Ma-ma-maa and Grandpa showed up.  And seeing how Brent was holding both norah and joel they got there just in time. (Joel wasn't sure of the whole thing)

During warmup Colin swam without stopping 3 times. The first time he's ever done that.  I told him he could rest on the lane rope if he needed just not stand up or he wouldn't get his ribbon.  I think that warmup gave him confidence to do the whole thing. All morning I kept texting Jeff and Ant Ant and I think my dad was doing the same thing.  Colin was so fast.  And loved it.  I can't wait to get his official time today.  So now I'm signing him up for our last swim meet.  Its an away meet and he's already starting to talk himself out of that but I keep showing him this video so that seems to stop his excuses.  Colin has a lot of talent (he might look like his dad but he is definitely part gouger with his swimming. I told him I wasn't that fast when I was his age) I'm hoping this is the first of many many years of swimming.

*** official time - 36.05 (fourth fastest on the team) ***

water park

On the hotest day this summer we went to a water park. Probably not the best idea but we had to get in before Joel turned 3 and we had to pay for him. It actually wasn't too bad. I was a little worried about Norah but she did great. Thankfully we talked Ant Ant into coming with us. We could not have done it without her. She took one of the boys and Brent took the other for the rides. The kids had a blast. Last year we took them to ocean breeze and there was only 2 slides colin was old enough to do - at water country they could both do pretty much anything- just had to wear a lifejacket. And Joel had no fear - going through a dark tunnel in an innertube he was all smiles. I sat most of the time int he shade with Norah. She was a trooper. It was so hot but I had wrapped icepacks in a towel and put under her so she could stay cool. That seemed to work pretty well. And then when it got too hot we would go in the water.  I wasn't sure how long she would last and expected to take her somewhere else during the day but she did it all. 

 I think she's going to keep her blue eyes - they look just like her aunt mary's.

I love how she puts her arm when she's sleeping.   

We were all in bed shortly after getting home.  I think we wore out Ant Ant but had a great day.  And thank you so much Ant Ant for coming.  Theme parks will be much more fun for the adults when the kids are a little older but it was worth it seeing how excited the kids got and how much fun they had. 

Big girl bed

 Norah has been sleeping in her car seat in the cradle ever since maybe the second night home.  I just lean over and rock the cradle at night if she starts stirring.  We finally put her in her own bed this past week. It was a little bittersweet for me.  My baby is growing up.  She isn't sleeping as well but each night gets better. We were afriad if she slept much longer in the car seat she would never sleep in her crib.  And really who wouldn't want to fall alseep under these lights:

My friend Clemma made them for my baby shower and I brought them home.  They are beautiful and it makes the room so cozy at night.

And I love her crib bedding that my mom made for her.  One of these days I need to take a picture of everything people made for her (a wreath for the door, bow holder, quilt, bumpers, hair bows, blankets) a lot of love went into getting ready for Norah.