Branson 2014

We had the most absolutely awesome get - a - way about a month ago. We went up to Branson and stayed in a super cute little cabin. We stayed three nights and relaxation and time together was our main goal. I was so amazed at how refreshed I felt when we got back. I felt our family needed that time together. We needed to take out all of the distractions of everyday life and just focus on eachother. It was amazing and much needed.

My parents came down the day after us and stayed in a cabin about a 2 minute walk away. It was great to get to spend some time with them. Even though we live relatively close to them, it was nice to get some time with them that was void of any other distraction or focus other than just being together. 

We came down on Thursday. We got settled in a unpack about 3pm. We then took off exploring. Kate was such a trooper and I wore here in the front carrier. The big kids just took off running and we checked out the area. The hills and scenery are absolutely amazing. We found a big playground about a 5-10 minute walk away and we found some hiking trails to go explore later in the weekend. We came back to the cabin and grilled hot dogs and sat on the back screened in deck. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast sleeping on a pull out bed (its the little things:).

Friday we got up and enjoyed breakfast burritos on the screened in porch. Josh and I made a pot of coffee and sat on the porch and just chatted while the kids played. It was awesome! We then headed into branson for a ride on the branson scenic railway train. The old fashioned train depot and train were sure cute. The train had about 8 different cars and varied from the ones with the open roof to the dining cars and super comfy cars. There was even a little snack car you could order food from. The kids loved it and especially liked going through the tunnels. The ride was a little long and Logan was losing patience about 45 minutes in. They have a polar express train ride during the holidays so we may return for that. We then came home for a late lunch and more exploring outside. We found a cool little creek and practicing skipping rocks in the water. So fun! The big kids found hiking sticks too:) My parents got in Friday evening and we grilled steaks and had twice baked potatoes. We enjoyed cookie brownies on the porch and had some adult beverages. The kids were wonderful and colored and played the whole night. 

Saturday we got up and had cinammon rolls and coffee on the porch. We then took off for a long hike. Kate was such a trooper and fell asleep in the carrier. Grandpa taught Kins and Logan all about the different trees and plants and we collected a goodie bag of pretty rocks, leaves and acorns to take  back to grandma at the cabin. We all had lunch together and then everyone napped. Absolutely perfect. Saturday night we took the kids fishing and had no luck. But grandpa showed the kids how to cast their poles and reel it in. Kinsey was the star of the show and stayed out there for a couple of hours trying to catch one. I made a dinner earlier in the week and froze it so dinner was super easy saturday night. Another night of food and adult drinks on the porch. Wonderful.

Sunday we all had breakfast and coffee together and then packed up. We were sad to leave but had such a great time enjoying eachother. Josh and I have committed to making this our annual family get a way and I am already excited for next year!!

Enjoy some pics

Impromptu lemonade stand

A few weeks ago Josh and I were sitting out front enjoying some coffee on the most beautiful morning ever! The kids were having a blast playing and it was seriously some good stuff. Dont you just love that? Nothing planned, perfect weather, the stars aligned and the kids were all in good moods at the same time!
We had the brilliant idea to set up a lemonade stand for the kids. We had all of the supplies and there were so many people walking the neighborhood we were sure to get some traffic.
Logan ran around like a crazy man. But he sure was cute doing it!:)
Kinsey took things very seriously. Shy at first but soon came out of her shell and was boldly offering her customers a glass of "sweet lemonade." She learned to make change for 1$. She knew that when some gave her a dollar she gave them back two quarters. Except the poor neighbor that gave her a ten. She was not amused with only 50 cents change. Mom had to step in a help on that one a little:)

In the end they made 10$ and then we took 5$ down to give to our neighbors that are going on a mission trip to Haiti. Kinsey was so excited to ring the doorbell and give them an envelope with the money in it. So precious. I pray that she always has a generous heart. 

What a fun little impromptu Saturday!

                                                         Beginning picture 

                                                  How Logan spent most of the morning:)
                                   

4 months old!

Behind. Constantly behind. Have patience with my while I try to dig out of the hole blog posts. 

Here is Kates 4 month pics. Not gonna lie, the lines have been blurred between accomplishments and milestones between months 4 and 5. So lets just say that she is continuing to grow well. Her little personality is starting to show and she is more and more fun each day. I will update with specifics on her 5 month pic. But as of now I can just document her monthly picture with Stretch the giraffe!!

Preschool 2014

Be still my heart. Kinsey started preschool last week. This is her first legit year and she is going to Kidslink Preschool at our church. School is MWF 9:00-11:30. Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Fraze are her teachers this year. They are absolutely precious!
She is so lucky to have some of her good friends in her class. Colton, Tenley and Maggie are in the same class and that is good for her. She was really nervous on her first day and the fact that there were some familiar faces really put her at ease. Kinsey is typically an outgoing little gal but when it comes to new environments and situations it takes her a while to get comfortable. She asked me a hundred times the morning of her first day if she could just stay at home with me forever. Ugh that pulls my heart strings. I love that she still wants to be with me. I love that she loves being at home. Someday she will be so grown up and independent. I pray that our home will always be home to her and her safe place to land. 
Anyways.......Josh stayed home on the morning of her first day and we went to McDonalds for breakfast (Kinseys choice:)). I tried my best to prepare here for all of the excitement that school is. But in typical Kinsey fashion she walked in the school chewing on her fingernails and clinging to my leg. Once she saw some of her friends she relaxed a bit. She hung her backpack up and gave daddy and me kisses. Reluctantly she went in to her classroom but did not put up a huge fight. 
I pray that she learns a ton, I pray that she is loved on by her teachers, I pray that she makes new friends, I pray that she learns in a new light just how much God loves her. 
I hope your school year is amazingly awesome sweet Girl. I love you!!
Heres a little pre-K photo shoot!

End of summer fun

Since Kinsey started school last week we thought we would end the summer with a little afternoon par-tay!
Nothing fancy.......Just some friends, water balloons, sidewalk chalk paint, sunshine and plenty of laughs!
My heart will truly miss the care free summer days. Playing outside most afternoons. The pool. Summer nights with friends. 
But we are excited to get into a routine. Start school. Cool fall mornings. Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Maize High Football!
Until then we celebrated with one last summer blast. 
Enjoy the pics!

The Big 3-2

Last weekend Josh turned 32!!! For some reason he says that sounds super old. Guess its because you are well into your thirties by this time and forty is slowly creeping up. EEKKK.
Anyways.......The kids and I decorated the house and had a surprise party for him after work on Friday. 
Streamers and balloons everywhere. We heard the garage door going up and went to hide behind the couch. Im sure he had no idea what was going on, especially with the little giggles coming from the living room:)
But he was a good sport and acted surprised!
The kids loved decorating and wearing the party hats. 
I snapped a pic of all three kids for his office as his present. Nothing fancy around here but I knew it was something he wanted.
We had dinner with some friends that night and the big kids had a slumber party at the church. 

Our family is so blessed by you Josh. You are a wonderful husband and father and I hope you know just how much you mean to all of us!

3 months old

I can't believe it has been 10 days since Kate has turned 3 months old. It has gone by so fast yet so slow at the same time. 
She has made some great improvements in the last month. 
She just now made it into size 1 diapers. Whoo hoo!
She is still in newborn clothes, although they are getting a little big more snug and I think she will be in 0-3 months by the time she turns 4 months.
She still nurses only  but when I am at work we do add a bit of formula to her bottles. Added calories cant hurt her right?!:)
She is waking up only once a night to eat. Somewhere between 3 and 5am and goes to bed about 9:30.
The first part of the night she sleeps in her rock and play in the living room and then comes to bed with me after her feeding.
Napping is still rough. She prefers to be held while she naps or me to lay down next to her. I am not sure whether she is just super sensitive to sound but the kids seem to disturb her during the day. I have tried a fan and a radio and a white noise machine in her room while she naps and she cant seem to get into a good deep sleep. I have tried on the boppy and in the rock and play and she does ok for 30mins or so but not much longer.
Jessica is a magician and can get her to take good long naps. Like 3 to 4 hr naps.!! Glad she is getting some good sleep while I am at work. (Maybe I am the problem:))
She smiles a ton!
She coos and talks a little but not a bunch. Not sure if she just isnt a vocal baby or it is cmv related. 
She is very very alert and loves to watch the big kids.
Her new favorite position is to be propped up on the big boppy against the couch so she cant watch her surroundings. She is much more content this way and I actually can have my arms free for short periods of time.
It seems these last couple weeks that she has become more content. She doesnt cry all the time anymore. She is still a bit more difficult than the other kids were but I have noticed her disposition change a bit. 
Her dimple is the cutest thing ever and her smiles are contagious. 
He head control is making progress. I can tell she is becoming stronger. She can hold it up for short periods of time while reclined on my chest. She is working so hard on controlling it and has made great strides. She absolutely hates tummy time and I try the best I can with it. I will usually wait until she is getting hungry then she fusses for a bit while on her tummy and then I feed her to calm her down afterward.
She is still on her antiviral medications and had her levels checked a couple of weeks ago. When she started the meds  her cmv levels were 8490. As of one month on the meds her cmv levels were 600 (or barely detectable). Her doctor was beyond happy with these results and so are we! She will have 4 more months left on the medications. 
She has a repeat hearing evaluation in a couple of weeks to make sure that her left ear is still hearing well. My prayer is that this medication has stopped any possibility of the hearing loss moving to her left ear!

Goodness I love her so much! I am so honored God chose me as her mommy. She continues to be a blessing to our family and I cannot wait to watch you grow and get stronger. We will not let cmv hold us back!!!