in case you didn’t know…
anna kate frances
7 . 30 . 2015
welcomed home with love from daddy, mama and big brothers jack and samuel
and one little out take for kicks and giggles…
we tried…
xxoo
kids
weekend in pictures…
xxoo
round here…
we are getting use to the new normal…
it’s full of cuddles and kisses and some scream fests in the evening…
but these faces trump the evening scream fests so…. it’s all good 🙂
jack had his check up with the dentist for that wiggly tooth. so far things are going okay and we will check back again in another month. i am so thankful for the good news. i am also thankful that i survived a dentist trip in the late afternoon with all three babes…
little miss these weeks are going by fast and i’m loving the new normal 🙂
xxoo
anna kate’s arrival
we were as ready as we could be. the day before we had a planned induction, nana arrived at the house. we got the boys their hair cuts and enjoyed a lunch together. i knew things were going to be happening so fast i was almost to nervous to eat. granny and dana joined us at the house that evening and all enjoyed staring at me, in hopes i would go into labor. i knew it would be happening on its own soon. i did not feel so well. by the time we called it a night i was timing contractions 10 minutes apart. i tried to sleep through them for a few hours and realized i couldn’t handle them much more. i didn’t want to be in too much pain before getting to the hospital. i woke richard up and we started our trip to the hospital 2 hours prior to check in time for our induction. by the time we arrived to sign papers, i knew there was no need for any induction. i could barely sign my name at one point. the hospital decided to give me the room they had ready for me but were a little sluggish on getting the iv and blood work done. i still am not sure why they had to wait because no matter what i was going to have the baby, and probably pretty soon. the contractions were getting to the point i was making the frowny face of the number 9 or 10 on the chart. the epidural finally arrived and oh did it feel like such relief. not even 5 minutes after the relief arrived i was a 10 and ready. i was so wore out i just waited till the doctor was ready. the practice push didn’t even happen. she arrived during one last contraction.
beautiful and perfect in every way…
the boys had been waiting out in the waiting room since before the sun rose that morning…
it was a very long night and a fast and furious morning. i think it was a lot for samuel to take in. being up so early and seeing me with everyone afterwards was almost too much for this little guy. it broke this mama’s heart to see him so emotional. everyone wanted to help him but he only wanted mama. {which wasn’t very easy}
they moved us to our new room while anna kate got her first bath…
gramps drove up just for the afternoon to meet his 20th grandbaby! 🙂
checking out that new clean hair!
after all the excitement everyone said their emotional goodbyes and daddy and samuel stayed with mama for the afternoon… i was so relieved when big brother got a nap in.
sweet boy! we were so thankful that nana was able to help daddy at the house during the next few days. we had some very special visits together.
i loved every bit of having this little girl all to myself for the next two evenings. it was just what i needed before going home.
ready or not baby girl it’s time to go home!
we are settling into our new routines here with only a few minor hiccups ….
i think she likes it here though. which is great because we are all in love with her!
xxoo
7 . 9 . 2015
our lord called papaw home. it was very unexpected and seemed way too sudden. it has been a whirlwind few weeks. we take so much comfort in remembering our times we spent with him, the memories that were made. the love that was poured out in the last two weeks has been unlike anything we have ever known. it has been so very beautiful and has taught us so much! call and hug your loved ones every chance you get. take pride in the family that you have. make it a point to visit them. be grateful for the gifts god sends you each and every day. His love and mercy are endless.
we love you and miss you so much papaw. we will keep your stories going and we look forward to the day our lord reunites us all again!
Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
eternal rest grant unto him, O lord,
and let your perpetual light shine upon him.
may he and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of god, rest in peace.
amen
xxoo
{closing out our spring season}
“love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.” ~ greg, age 8
oh jack anthony, we are so proud of you for all the success you had in your first season of baseball. you really grew to love the game. you grew to love the challenge and the best part was seeing your admiration for the coaches. we were very blessed to be apart of such a great team!
it was definitely a season to remember. we are already looking forward to next year!
we love you buddy!
xxoo
on the go post…
also known as all the pictures off of my phone… which really isn’t on the go. it’s mostly at home 🙂 i loaded these up and realized my phone is really helpful for documenting our messiest one. oh samuel, with you there is never a dull moment or a clean one… we recently picked up a booster seat and it’s totally changed your eating habits. food is at least contained to just your spot now…
we rarely buy you guys toys because for one we don’t need them, but i couldn’t pass up this amazon deal for blocks. and it currently is played with every day… and the teacher in me love, love, loves toys like this.
we already had a set from when i was a kid that we are using as outdoor blocks and it was the test run to approve buying more blocks for inside. i took this picture because i couldn’t believe how dirty these kids get every evening. they have a blast out on the drive way but late sunsets means late baths…. means late bed times. it should be a fun summer 🙂
papaw and nana came up the other weekend to watch one of jack’s t ball games. luckily when they got to town, mama and daddy were able to sneak in a day date. we didn’t get a picture together but i guess the next best is with our drinks and yummy food…
daddy had to head out of town for training after a long fun filled weekend. it made for a long week with you two overtired boys. luckily abbie, felicity and little joseph made their first trip out to visit us. it was an unexpectedly quick visit but i am so so happy they did it! looking forward to the next time!
mamas roommates for the week when daddy is gone …
the sun came out for like four or five days straight. it was beautiful! we soaked up every bit of it along with the cool front that came with it. lots of playing and eating outside, daddy did a half marathon -trail run and we did some much needed yard work. looking back at these pictures i want it all back. we have had predicted storms for up to a week lately. such a bummer to see…
a cutie for my cutie…. “here mom you hold the peel.”
after another busy weekend together, daddy’s first project started and he had to be on location. his hotel was only a little over an hour away. these kids love hotels and we didn’t have anything to do that monday, so a slumber party at daddy’s hotel it was. these kids were so excited and honestly so were their mama and daddy, because when the kids are happy, we are happy 😉
in the business of all the fun with you boys, i’m anticipating all things girly. i recently got some things to play with for anna kates room. it’s my first time to work with this paint and it is quite fun. i’m just doing small things, which is a lot less pressure and these little cans can really get the job done.
may has many celebrations going on! the first weekend in may our church had first communion celebration and may crowning for mary. jack wasn’t able to take flowers up like the class did but i promised him we could get some at the store to honor mary in our home. so he reminded me monday morning what we needed to do. he was very excited to put these up for her.
{oh this library here, how much we love it.. the views and the activities are so much fun}
a few ball games here and there and every where between…. and then a special mothers day!
the boys made me breakfast, were super at the beautiful morning mass and were very patient during a long wait at a nearby restaurant…
but this place had a place to play so it was worth it…. happy kids = happy mama.
so it can sometimes be crazy busy, crazy messy, and crazy emotional but i wouldn’t trade this for the world. feeling super blessed to be carrying our third little blessing ~anna kate~ 29 weeks this mothers day.
xxoo
lil slugger…
jack’s first season with t-ball is almost at an end. we were lucky to have some of his favorite fans join us at a few of his games. it has been so much fun to watch him work hard at something new and just having fun with friends….
we have one more weekend of games {as long as they don’t get rained out}. i’m sure this is just the start of it all. you are already begging for flag football in the fall. 😉 for now we are taking it one season at a time little sport…
xxoo
{b is for bluebonnet}
oh how this is my f a v o r i t e part of spring!
sibling picture didn’t really happen this year…
maybe next year it will happen with another little sweet face…
{24 weeks}
we just checked on this patch the other day and it’s already gone! can’t wait to see it bloom again next year. as always, it was beautiful while it lasted!
xxoo
i’ll eat you up, i love you so
complete opposite, you two are….
yet the best built in friends you could ever find…
your hobbies these days… carrying backpacks {everywhere}, ditching naps, playing on the driveway for hours with bikes and blocks. drawing on each other with chalk, carrying your many stuffed animals from room to room around the house, picking me flowers and sometimes just weeds { thanks sam}.
samuel, your newest phrase is “i uv it!” with your hands raised….
jack, can you slow your growing down a bit… you are more than ready to get this wedding season started.
you two are inseparable, the best way i have learned to punish one or the other is to just have you separated from each other… it’s been working like a charm because you quickly miss each others’ company…
oh man, i could watch you two all day, then again… i realize i am so lucky i get to!
love you boys!
xxoo