Mommy's Job

Part of a conversation I just had with Annah:

Me: Annah, what are some of my jobs as a mommy?

Annah: You take care of kids.

Me: And how do I take care of you?

Annah: You just tell us what to do and we don't do it.

Me: Yeah, I guess that's a pretty good assessment Annah!

Saturday Morning Ride

Jeremy getting ready to take off for a short Saturday morning ride

Learning and growing

I got to go my first scrapbooking class last night! It was a "Beyond the Basics" class at my favorite local scrapbook store, Pocketful of Memories. It was so nice to get out for a little bit, and learn some fun new things about scrapping! And, I did a very cute layout of Sylvie! Happy me!

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Annah and Sylvia think it's just great fun when they get to wear one of Daddy's or Mommy's shirts for jammies. Notice Sylvia is wearing one of Jeremy's old wrestling shirts!

Simon Jacob Luke

Welcome, to our new baby nephew, Simon Jacob Luke Lopshire!

Daily Days

Annah asked me this morning if we could go on a walk to the playground. I really needed to do some serious cleaning and things around the house, but I could tell that it was much more important for me to take this moment with my children and make it count. They don't care that the house is such a mess I can't stand it; they want to get outside and have some fun! And, I need to remember more often not to deprive them of those important times! So, we walked to the playground and played. I realize some people might not think it is a big deal, but I truly treasure these "daily days" that seem so normal. The girls had a really fun time, and they were so tired they could barely finish the walk home!

Now, I realize that it is not normal for most people to take 30 pictures during 45 minutes at the playground, but it is normal for me. I want to remember these precious days of when my children are small! I pray often that I will remember after they are grown what they looked like when I held them and snuggled them. I will admit I do go a bit overboard with the picture taking, but it's in my blood. I was raised in a photo-taking family! I remember being a bit annoyed at my parents (Dad more so than Mom, I think) for taking pictures sometimes when I just wanted to be having fun. And, I remember being really annoyed when I had to take pictures for

4-H, and I just wanted to watch the fireworks with my eyes and not through a lens. But, now I am so thankful that my parents have pictures of me when I was little that I can show my kids. And, I am thankful that I know how to take pictures to help me preserve the wonderful memories of my own family!

The weather could not be more perfect than it is today!

Sylvie was so excited to get to play at what she called, "My playground!!" at the village Community Center.

Sylvia is in love with swings now, after spending a LOT of time on Gram's and Krampa's over the weekend.

Caeden played patiently in his stroller while the girls explored the playground. He even fell asleep on the walk back home.

I have always been petrified to let Annah go near this ladder, but she is big enough now that she just went up it herself and said, "Mom! We have one of these at school!" I wasn't even scared to watch her, because it wasn't scary to her; it was fun! It was just another moment that made me realize how quickly she is growing up.

Sylvia didn't like the big spiral slide by herself, but she loved it when she went on Annah's lap!!

They honestly were holding hands all by themselves.

I know I am sometimes guilty of posing pictures, but these are not!

Annah with her last few school projects of the year
In May, the theme was "Seasons of the Year," and the colors were black and white. Annah is still pretending about her field trip to Gymanstics Etc, so that was definitely a highlight for her.
Annah loves preschool so much, and she is very excited about getting to go more often whe she starts the 4-year-old class next fall! She is also really glad that she will have the same teachers!

Caeden got to try juice this evening. The girls just HAD to help him!

Going and Growing

We went to Indianapolis on Friday to meet some friends and see the last new Star Wars movie. Caeden stayed with us, but Annah and Sylvia got to go to Gram's and Krampa's for the night. We all had fun. The movie was very cool, even though it was dark, and I would definitely not recommend letting children see it.  It was awesome to see how the story comes together.

Saturday we went up to C.C. and hung out with fam, which is always so great--until we have to leave. It is getting harder for the kids to say goodbye, and then we feel bad too. But, the time we have with our family we treasure so much!!!

Today we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa Lopshire, and then celebrated their birthdays. Then we went to Grandpa's new butcher shop and he gave us tours. It is VERY cool! We are so excited for him, and can't wait to see him in action there sometime!

Let's see, kid updates...

Last week Annah pulled up a bunch of the lilies of the valley that my parents had brought from their yard and we planted here. (They are my favorites!) She just pulled them out and threw them in the yard! I was quite upset with her, and I told her she could not pull up anything in our yard anymore; no weeds, no dandelions, no flowers, no grass, no leaves, nothing! So, a few days later, the kids were all outside with Jeremy, and Annah came in an told me she felt like she was going to pull up some grass. So, then I had the opportunity to explain to her that what she was feeling was temptation, and we talked about how to do the right thing even when we feel like doing the wrong thing. It was really neat!

Sylvia is speaking in complete sentences now, and can answer questions really well. A few months ago, she really started to ask, "WHY?" all the time, and now she knows how to answer and explain when we ask her, "Why?" It is really fun to hear what she has to say.

Sylvie must be working really hard at growing, because she is tired, whiny, and snuggly a lot these days.

Caeden got his third tooth yesterday! It popped through on the bottom, right next to his other two. Gram noticed it first.

On Friday, Caeden started getting up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth. He pulls himself all over the place with his arms now too, and can get into anything. Last week I caught him trying to pull a plug out of the wall! He is definitely mobile!! He will be crawling soon; we're sure. It seems a bit strange that he will probably crawl before he sits up, but he just wants to be on the move, not sitting still!

Caeden's babbling is getting more frequent. He really seems to know that Jeremy is "Da!" or "a-Da!" And, today we thought for sure he said, "Annah" a couple times. He can clearly make the sounds, "Da," "Ba," "Ma," and "La."

Caeden's biggest joy these days is definitely JUMPING! He jumps if he's on someone's lap, and in his super saucer--any chance he gets, he jumps!

Preschool, Big Birthday, Parties

Today was the last day of Annah's preschool year. We all got to attend her class picnic, and had a very good time. Annah's favorite part was the rice table!

I thought the coolest part were the scooter boards!

TWe went out to lunch at Famous Dave's, Jeremy's favorite restaurant, for his birthday!

Happy 30th birthday Jeremy! When you came into the world 30 years ago, you brought joy; and you've continued to bring it to everyone around you throughout those 30 years. We love you!

Jeremy and his birthday present--a LeMond Racing Bike.

 Annah (3rd from the right in the front row) and the other students from her preschool at their spring program.

Annah and Ashley

Annah and her teachers

Baby Babble

We have heard Caeden make sounds that appeared to us to sound like, "Da da da da..." and "Ma ma ma ma..." At any rate, he is starting to babble!

Garage sale, Injury, Anniversary

I am feeling like our house is in mass chaos. It is such a huge mess! Seriously, if you walked in right now, you would probably think it had been ransacked; it is so bad. I can't stand it!! I don't even know where to start! Maybe by hiring a cleaning service?! Just kidding... I'll get to it this week. Although it's so bad I know I can't get it all cleaned in one week! How sad. ;)

We had a garage sale yesterday, and I spent every waking moment of last week preparing for it. I never realized how much work it takes to get ready for a garage sale! Holy cow! I was planning to have one at the end of June, and then found out 2 weeks ago that the town-wide garage sales would actually be this weekend. So, it was a mad rush to get ready. Then we had rainy, extremely windy, very cold (for May) weather, so not many people came. We didn't sell much, except a few big items, so it was definitely not worth all the work and mess getting ready for it. But, I learned from it. I will never have another garage sale in May. Maybe in June, when there's almost always nicer weather. Ugh, I am so tired! And, now I have to bring everything back inside with the rest of the mess and put it all away!

As I was starting to pack things up yesterday, a man came along and decided to buy a garage door we had. Jeremy was helping him load it into his trailer, and a big gust of wind blew it out of his hand, and he sliced a finger open to the bone on the door. He had to get 3 stitches, but thank the Lord he didn't cut any nerves, tendons, or muscles!

Friday was our 5-year wedding anniversary! Jeremy was in Michigan for work Thursday all day, and got back in the evening on Friday. He helped do some preparation for the garage sale, and then the two of us got to go on a quick last-minute date. We went to McDonald's, Dairy Queen, and ALCO...the same places we always go when the kids are with us. It was kind of silly, but it was nice to get away for a couple hours by ourselves. It was the first time we have since having 3 kids. The opportunities are so rare; we really need to make them more often. But, I am grateful for every moment we have together, and I am so thankful to have Jeremy for my husband!

April School Projects

Annah and her April preschool projects -  (Yes, I'm a bit behind!)

Annah learned about Nursery Rhymes at school in April! She is holding her "Doggy In the Window," and you can see her Humpty Dumpty she put back together, and Peter Pumpkin Eater, Jack and Jill, and the whole Mother Goose book she made. The color of the month was purple, and the shape was oval. Annah's teacher reports that she is very shy at school, but we know she is soaking everything up, and she really loves to go to school.

Green Peas, Please!

 Caeden tried peas today and he really liked them!

Lalala!

Today, Caeden started saying, "La la la la...!"

Mother's Day

When I was growing up, I didn't pay much attention to children, and never really thought much about wanting to be a mom. In fact, if I did think about it, I probably said I would not want to have kids, or that I would maybe start considering it after I turned 30.

Some people might say that things in life happen by chance or coincidence, but I now know that there is no such thing. I believe that God knows what is best for each of us. Sometimes He blesses us in ways we never would have thought of choosing, and it turns out being better than anything we could have asked for or dreamed up.  I am so thankful that God could see that I needed children, and I am so grateful to Him for giving them to me.  I am immeasurably blessed by them every day, and I know that I could not choose or ask for a happier life than the one I have been blessed with. Thank you God, for making me a mommy!

Mother's Day - It's much easier to capture a real moment with 3 little children than it is to get everyone looking at the camera and cheesing!

Huck's Hat

Annah said, "Let's put Caeden's hat on like Huck's." (Huck is Strawberry Shortcake's only known male friend--Huckleberry Pie.) Little did Annah know that Caeden also looks a lot like his Daddy this way. I remember when Jeremy used to wear a baseball cap all the time--and lots of times backwards.

Growing Kids

Here's what's going on with the kids lately...

Annah went on her first field trip last week to Gymnastics, Etc. She had a very, very fun time! I wanted to go along, but decided she would be more independent and have more fun without me and her siblings there.

On Thursday, a little boy in Annah's class brought a baby calf to school! His name was Hairy Larry. Sylvia petted him, but Annah didn't want to.

Sylvia learned how to open her bedroom door this week. So, now bedtime is a long struggle of getting her to stay in bed and go to sleep.

She is also aware of her pottying needs sometimes now, but not consistently. So, we're talking about the potty and practicing sitting on it. Once in a while she goes.

Caeden sleeps about 9-12 hours at night now.

He is doing better at eating from a spoon. (For a while there, he was not too interested!) He's eaten carrots and sweet potatoes. This week we might try peas.

Caeden has learned how to spin himself while on his tummy. If he sees a toy to the side of him, he knows how to turn and scoot around to get it. He has gotten himself pretty far across a room with this little trick!

Caeden also loves to shake his head "no!" Sometimes it even seems like he knows what he's saying by shaking his head.

Visiting Dr. Sara

 Annah and Sylvia went to the dentist today. It was Sylvia's 1st time! She was SO excited!! In fact, while we were waiting for their turn, a little boy was called for his turn, and Sylvia bolted right through the door with him before I could catch her! When we did go in, she climbed right up in the chair, and was disappointed when told she had to wait her turn. She did fairly well when Dr. Sara counted her teeth, and let her brush them too, but Dr. Sara decided she better not try the "tickly tooth cleaner" today...maybe next time. When asked about her experience at the dentist she said, "Dr. Sara has squishy hands." --in reference to the Latex gloves. 

 Annah got to have her first x-rays today too! The girls both liked seeing the pictures of Annah's teeth!