Catching up....

Lots has been going on since my last post in April! Bella and Ethan had their birthdays, turning 7 and 5. We have been enjoying the spring/summer weather by having MANY outdoor adventures, whether it's hiking, swimming, kyaking, camping....we've done it all and it's only June! :) One of my favorite things about life right now is how protective we (Mike and I) are of our family time. Every day Mike is not working we are building memories and deepening our relationships parents to children, sibling to sibling, spouse to spouse. Family is the one thing that you can never choose....they are always around and it's God's will to nourish those relationships. I am happy to know that when my children grow up they will be well grounded in family and will take what they have learned through experience and establish those grounds with their own families.

These are just some pictures of our "family time". Enjoy!

Sometimes...

Sometimes, I have a chance to actually sit and think about things without being interrupted by screaming, the sounds of children jumping off furniture, or the sweet melody of "mooooommmmyyyy!!!". It's during these times that I really realize how amazing everything is around me. Despite the clothes and toys all over the floor, the lack of millions of dollars in my bank account, the missing Cadillac Escalade in my garage, I think I have an unmistakably amazing life.
So, here you go...a few things I am thankful for:
1. the smile of my children's faces.
2. the sound of my husband's voice.
3. running water...running, heated water.
4. a full pantry.
5. utility bills, because they mean I have a house to live in.
6. family 5 minutes away.
7. skype to I can talk to family that's not 5 minutes away.
8. sunshine coming through my window.
9. health insurance.
10. the fact that Bella and Ethan are best friends.
11. the ability to breastfeed.
12. an amazing father for my children.
13. pacifiers.
14. books
15. the fact that I can legally, read my bible.
16. a camera to capture almost every precious moment in my life.
17. a big brother and big sister that LOVE their little sister.
18. that each of us have a bed to sleep on.
19. windshield wipers.
20. a washer and dryer.

Neglected blog.....

Well, I suppose it's excused with the "move" that I haven't kept up on here. Soooo much has happened and everyone's changed that I don't even know where to start....so here's a blanket blog:
Moved from Oklahoma to Gig Harbor, WA....love it!
New house...in the woods, near the water...love that, too!
See family everyday...very blessed!
New job for Mike...he's favored there!
New church....it's family now!
Bella into sports...swimming, tae kwon do, and everything under the sun!
Ethan into sports as well, same as his sister, a healthy competition sometimes and others..teammates!
Annie, 6 months and growing.....saying mama, dada, and crawling everywhere!
And last, me...surviving and thriving being a wife, mother, teacher, administrator, and newly Children's Ministry Developer!

We're on vacation now!

Now that we have moved out of our house, we are staying in a "guest quarters" of our good friends. It's so relaxing......finally time to rest!

Farewell, sweet house.

Sigh.....it's official. Today we signed our house away...we are set to move out Oct. 31st and they move in Nov. 1st.
We've enjoyed 3 wonderful years here, and yes, I feel extremely sentimental. Yes, it's just a house, but it was our first house. The house Isabelle prayed for 3 years ago. The house that God blessed us with and giving us small desires of our hearts...a backyard for Bella, a front porch for me, a best friend 2 houses down for Ethan, and the perfect look and location for Mike. In a sense, this was the first place we made a home....where our family felt complete....where we felt comfortable. It's just perfect...cookie cutter looks, on a cul-de-sac, a neighborhood filled with kids, llots of parks and trees around and the #1 elementary school right down the street. Aaahh...if only this house was in Gig Harbor.
Nonetheless, we are still a family, still comfortable, still complete.

A New Normal.

Ok...so we're 4 weeks into our new life with 3 kids. It's been a whirlwind of a month, but a good whirlwind. Nothing to complain of...everything to rejoice. Though my labor and delivery didn't go as I had planned, it went as I hoped: with the outcome of a healthy baby. For those of you who didn't hear, I had an emergency c-section within 1 hour of my water breaking....Anna's heart rate was dropping with each contraction. The cause was the cord wrapped around her neck and the result being a 3 day, $20,000 stay in the NICU!!! Thank God for good insurance. :) She and I have recovered nicely and quickly. She is a very sweet baby with a sweet spirit...very joyful...though she hasn't smiled in response to anyone yet, her eyes smile when you talk to her.

Home life is adjusting as well. Ethan and Bella LOVE their baby sister....it's hard to keep their hands and lips off of her! Mike and I, mostly me, are limited in our sleep of course and learning how to juggle 3 kids. You know how with each new baby you have, you think back to life with the last and say, "having only 2 kids was easy!"...that's the stage we're in now. 2 Kids was a lot of work, but seemingly EASY compared to 3 kids! I'm happy that Annie is such an easy going and patient baby, who hardly ever cries....it makes our life easier when we have a Ethan and Bella to tend to as well. Is that just the way the 3rd baby is because they have to be? I'm assuming so, either that or God just knew we needed a mellow baby for the time being.

So, all in all, things are finally back to normal....but normal has changed and we love it. :)

Good-bye

Today my dad, Jureen and baby brother Jaret moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. We love them and will miss them terribly. It has been a blessing being so close to them and watching Jaret grow up and become buddies with our kids. As emotional as I am in this pregnancy, it was not easy saying "good-bye". I hate being away from family, thus our decision to move to Gig Harbor as soon as feasibly possible.....

Family Gathering....

Can't believe I actually didn't get a picture of Eric and Callie together! It was a beautiful wedding...the black and white was stunning!

Our abundance.....they are such a blessing.

They are so amazing...every time I look at them, I see God's grace and love for us. I am so blessed to be a mother to Isabelle and Ethan.