Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Turtles and Toads
In our backyard, we find itty bitty baby turtles . . .
. . . we find bigger turtles with slimy shells . . .
. . . we find big bumpy toads . . .
. . . we find tiny baby frogs . . .
The kids have been busy catching, keeping, and releasing our backyard wildlife.
So far this Spring, we have hosted over 26 turtles, 68 toads/frogs, and 2 snakes.
We also have a tadpole nursery : )
Lovin' our hands-on Science!
So far this Spring, we have hosted over 26 turtles, 68 toads/frogs, and 2 snakes.
We also have a tadpole nursery : )
Lovin' our hands-on Science!
(our wildlife guests stay a few days in our outdoor aquarium and then are released back to their natural homes)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Boys
The boys (and girls) had a super special weekend.
Daddy took all FIVE boys camping!
The boys spent two days at Land Between the Lakes, hiking in the woods, collecting shells and critters from the lake, pushing trucks, cooking food, and sleeping in a tent.
The camping was super exciting and fun, and it was wonderful to enjoy time outdoors,
but more important was their time with Mike.
It is great for these boys to spend special time with daddy - they are learning how to be men!
It was an important and successful outdoor boys adventure!
Daddy took all FIVE boys camping!
The boys spent two days at Land Between the Lakes, hiking in the woods, collecting shells and critters from the lake, pushing trucks, cooking food, and sleeping in a tent.
The camping was super exciting and fun, and it was wonderful to enjoy time outdoors,
but more important was their time with Mike.
It is great for these boys to spend special time with daddy - they are learning how to be men!
It was an important and successful outdoor boys adventure!
Amy and the 3 girls enjoyed a very special "girly" girl weekend.
"Girly" time is rare with our home dominated by 5 rough-and-tumble boys.
We painted nails, made necklaces, had a fancy tea party, watched a princess movie,
and made daddy's favorite cookies as a surprise for when he arrived home!
"Girly" time is rare with our home dominated by 5 rough-and-tumble boys.
We painted nails, made necklaces, had a fancy tea party, watched a princess movie,
and made daddy's favorite cookies as a surprise for when he arrived home!
Love those sweet girls!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
The Other Field
While our big boys are tearing it up on one field . . .
Our younger kids are playing around on another . . .
And sweet Maclaren sleeps . . .
Our younger kids are playing around on another . . .
And sweet Maclaren sleeps . . .
Friday, March 23, 2012
6 weeks
Precious baby girl is 6-weeks-old!
she's eating well, gaining weight, and filling out her 0-3 month clothes
Maclaren is our little Miss Chubbs :)
(love those sweet cheeks)
It's amazing how many changes little babies go through in their first few weeks.
All these little changes are bittersweet:
It's exciting to watch her change and grow into the next phase,
but we mourn the sweet newborn stages we've left.
We're thankful for the pictures we have to help capture precious memories of her first weeks.
Each little stage is such a treasure.
What our little girl is doing now:
. swiftly falls asleep in the bouncy seat (oops!) . loves to sleep in our arms .
. very alert when awake with eyes growing bigger each day .
. is super soothed by her pacifier and has 7 siblings who are eager to assist in popping it in .
. stretching her feedings to 4-hours at night . nursing 7-9 times per day .
. grunts! . usually enjoys an hour "wake-time" in the middle of the night (uh-oh!) .
. works hard to hold her head up, bobbing like a chicken . moving around in her crib .
. sleeps soundly in the pouch sling . growing chubby cheeks and thigh rolls ;) .
. has an incredibly loud cry when she's ready to eat .
(The kids were surprised: "I thought new born babies were supposed to have quiet cries")
We love this sweet girl!
she's eating well, gaining weight, and filling out her 0-3 month clothes
Maclaren is our little Miss Chubbs :)
(love those sweet cheeks)
It's amazing how many changes little babies go through in their first few weeks.
All these little changes are bittersweet:
It's exciting to watch her change and grow into the next phase,
but we mourn the sweet newborn stages we've left.
We're thankful for the pictures we have to help capture precious memories of her first weeks.
Each little stage is such a treasure.
What our little girl is doing now:
. swiftly falls asleep in the bouncy seat (oops!) . loves to sleep in our arms .
. very alert when awake with eyes growing bigger each day .
. is super soothed by her pacifier and has 7 siblings who are eager to assist in popping it in .
. stretching her feedings to 4-hours at night . nursing 7-9 times per day .
. grunts! . usually enjoys an hour "wake-time" in the middle of the night (uh-oh!) .
. works hard to hold her head up, bobbing like a chicken . moving around in her crib .
. sleeps soundly in the pouch sling . growing chubby cheeks and thigh rolls ;) .
. has an incredibly loud cry when she's ready to eat .
(The kids were surprised: "I thought new born babies were supposed to have quiet cries")
We love this sweet girl!
Soccer
The Spring soccer League got off to a great start.
Tesfaye and Hendrick both scored goals in their first game!
Tesfaye absolutely tore up the field, scoring 5 goals in his first game.
Hendrick made one impressive goal - his first ever!
He was so proud of himself, jumping up and down in celebration.
*Tesfaye was blessed with athletic skills. With soccer being his ultimate favorite, we knew it was important for him to play year-round soccer. We asked Hendrick whether or not he wanted to play too, his response: "I'd like to play with my brother". So sweet!
We are so proud of our boys.
We love watching them play together.
Tesfaye and Hendrick both scored goals in their first game!
Tesfaye absolutely tore up the field, scoring 5 goals in his first game.
Hendrick made one impressive goal - his first ever!
He was so proud of himself, jumping up and down in celebration.
*Tesfaye was blessed with athletic skills. With soccer being his ultimate favorite, we knew it was important for him to play year-round soccer. We asked Hendrick whether or not he wanted to play too, his response: "I'd like to play with my brother". So sweet!
We are so proud of our boys.
We love watching them play together.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Fire Roasted
Lovin' our backyard fire-pit and fire roasted marshmallows and s'mores!
(It's also nice to have company and extra help - thanks Aunt Julie and Uncle Dann:)
Roasted Goodness :)
(It's also nice to have company and extra help - thanks Aunt Julie and Uncle Dann:)
Roasted Goodness :)Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Game On
We love having visitors . . .
. . . especially visitors who are game for anything . . .
Like Spending an entire weekend OUTSIDE!
. . . especially visitors who are game for anything . . .
Like Spending an entire weekend OUTSIDE!
We were thrilled to have Aunt Julie and Uncle Dann (Amy's brother) down to visit us for the weekend. We don't get to see them nearly often enough and always thoroughly enjoy time spent with them. We just really like them!
Julie and Dann were incredible sports all weekend: playing soccer and baseball in the backyard; cheering on Hendrick and Tesfaye at an early morning soccer game; frisbee, picnic lunch and hiking 2-miles at Mousetail Landing State Park along the Tennessee River; backyard fire with roasted marshmallows and s'mores; catching frogs and turtles (and being willing to carry them long distances); and sleeping on our couch!
Thanks for a wonderful weekend!
It's always a pleasure to be with you!
Julie and Dann were incredible sports all weekend: playing soccer and baseball in the backyard; cheering on Hendrick and Tesfaye at an early morning soccer game; frisbee, picnic lunch and hiking 2-miles at Mousetail Landing State Park along the Tennessee River; backyard fire with roasted marshmallows and s'mores; catching frogs and turtles (and being willing to carry them long distances); and sleeping on our couch!
Thanks for a wonderful weekend!
It's always a pleasure to be with you!
Mousetail Landing State Park
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