Luke - Summer 2014

 

Luke has matured so much in the last few months, I sometimes forget that he's 4, a Pre-K kid now...but everyday he reminds me by his behavior.  He is saying the silliest things lately, and he truly understands so much more.  He has always been opinionated, but these days it's different, he has an opinion about things, but also has a reason for that opinion.  Does that make sense?  His imagination is growing by the day, and I love that!  He and Isaac had so much fun this summer playing together and making up different scenarios and things.  He loves for me to read to him.  This summer we've gotten into the Magic Treehouse series, which has been so fun!  These are chapter books, and the boys will beg me to read the entire book in one sitting!  They just cannot get enough!  It amazed me that he will sit for that long at 4 years old, and listen to me read to him.  Each book is a different story...dinosaurs, on the moon, in the rainforest, the wild west, etc.  These books have truly helped their imaginations grow as well.  Luke has handled the move so well!  I don't know that he totally understands the distance from our old house and friends, but he has taken to this new life like a champ!  He has asked me multiple times if his cousins can come over the next day to bike with him.  That makes me sad when he asks since I have to say no, but thankfully he handles it well each time.   One of his favorite things to do here is to go for bike rides in the new neighborhood.  Luke even made a 4 mile bike ride!!!  I was so impressed by his determination and ability!  He's also really enjoying the playgrounds and parks that are nearby...we have been regulars at Isaac's school playground.  Another thing he's really enjoyed since the move, is the steady flow of visitors...we've all enjoyed that!  We've had a great time with Oma and Opa, Emmy and Gumby, Uncle Rudi and family, Tante Soo Jin, the Henderson girls, and the Stocktons!  It's been such a blessing to us to have so many people come see us...I feel this has helped the children so much, and I am so thankful for everyone taking the time and making the effort to do that for us!  Back to Luke...he is very social, and loves to play with friends.  Thankfully, I have a very good friend here, who has a son his age...perfect!  They've hit it off so well!  We've had three playdates with them, and they've all had so much fun together.  I am excited to watch that friendship grow!  After our first playdate with him Luke said, "Mama, I like Jonah, but I'm not sure if I love him yet."  Haha, I have no idea where that came from...but it sure made me laugh!  After the next playdate I asked him how he felt about Jonah, and he said he did love him now.  Ha!  One day while shopping at Target the cashier was extra chatty.  The kids loved that and really soaked up all of the attention.  When we walked away Luke said, "Mama, I think I love that lady that we just payed for our groceries."  Heehee!  The boy has a lot of love to give. 

Another funny thing he's said recently...a week or so after moving to the new house he was playing on the stairs, kind of studying the carpet or something.  He said to me, "Mama, our new house does not seem very new, it seems like an old house."  After a quiet giggle I replied, "You're right Luke, it's not a new house, but it's new to us."

 

Our Luke is something special, he is my peanut, my strong willed boy with so much love!  This summer has been so fun with him...I love watching him grow!

A new journey!

 

Our first swim at the new house!

 

Moving boxes are so fun!

 

This July brought many changes for our family.  We have closed one chapter and opened another as we moved from Magnolia to Double Oak, Tx!  It was a big decision, one we did not take lightly, but after much prayer and discussion, we knew that this was right for our family.  Carl has started a new job, it's a great opportunity for him, so we are all embarking on a new adventure together.  It was hard to leave our home in Magnolia, as it was where we brought all of our kids home, where they learned to walk, swim, talk, ride their bikes, and experienced so many firsts.  Oh the memories we have!  I am thankful for the years we had there, we made lifelong friends, who we miss dearly.  The Lord blessed us in many ways during those 8 years we were there.  It is a season of our lives that I will treasure forever.  Now, we are here, only a few miles from the house where Carl and I started our married life.  It is crazy to be back, but also a lot of fun.  It still feels so comfortable here.  The kids have handled the move very well!  Luke and Hannah have just transitioned right into this new life.  Isaac has had a harder time, he is emotional and sensitive, but overall he's doing great!  We've tried our best to make this house feel like home to them, we've done lots of fun things, and are spending a lot of time playing on the awesome new playground at Isaac's new school. 

 

We closed on both houses on Thursday, July 24, so it was a hectic day.  There were some bumps in the closing of our new house, but it all worked out just fine.  We were fortunate to have the company pay for the move, which meant movers to pack our things and bring them up.  Unfortunately, that did not go as well as we'd envisioned.  The movers packed horribly!  Sadly, they broke a few of our things, severely damaged a bridge in our old neighborhood, and made a mess of everything.  We just have to focus on the positives, everything is here, we are here and safe, and life will go on.  Heehee.  It was an experience we will not soon forget.  My parents kept the kids down there for a few days, so we could start unpacking and getting the house settled.  That was SO helpful!  They drove up on Sunday, and due to a ton of terrible traffic, it took them 8.5 hours to get here!  It was crazy!  Once here the kids just jumped right into life here in north Texas!  My parents stayed for a few days, to hang out and help out.  This was wonderful because it was so helpful for us and I think it helped the kids adjust, too.  While here my dad worked on the sprinkler system and painted my yucky/stinky pantry.  Once he finished it was beautiful!  Mom helped me clean and clean, and of course helped a lot with the kids.  A few days later Emmy and Gumby made their first trip up!  Gumby had an appointment with his doctor in Dallas, so they were able to combine a visit with us with the doctor appointment.  They stayed with us a few days as well, which again was so helpful and so fun!  The kids loved having them here!  I loved it because they kept the kids busy while I got a lot done around the house!

 

I cannot express in words how thankful we are for the support of our family and friends during this transition in our lives.  It's not easy for anyone, but we believe it is where the Lord wants us.  We are excited to see what lies ahead for us in this new journey!

Summer!

Swimming with Taylor.

 

Hannah and Luke both started the summer in their puddle jumpers, but now in July Luke is swimming completely on his own and Hannah is in a training vest.

 

Father's Day...we love you, Daddy!

 

Fun at the park for Mariah's birthday!

 

The diving board is a big attraction this summer...the kids all love it!

 

 

The World Cup was a big hit for our family this summer...the kids really enjoyed watching it, and of course we were all in orange for every Holland game!

 

Cousins

 

On July 5 we went to Oma and Opa's house to watch the world cup game and we finished the evening with some left over fireworks.  Luke enjoyed them, but they were a bit loud.  Isaac had a blast lighting them with the help of daddy and his cousins.

 

This summer has been a lot of fun!  We have not gone anywhere too special, but we've had a lot of fun spending quality time with friends and family.  The last week and half has been booked solid with playdates with all of our friends!  We've been swimming at our house, at a couple of friends' houses, and we even took a day trip to the beach with the Hendersons.  It was a blast!  When we first got there Hannah was a little nervous.  As I went to put her in the water for the first time she said, "No, Mama, not in the chocolate milk!"  That girl cracks me up!  She warmed up to it quickly, and eventually I couldn't get her out of the water.  Luke and Isaac did not hesitate, they really enjoyed their time in the water and playing in the sand.

 

Yesterday, I took the kids on a bike ride around the neighborhood.  During the ride we stopped at the neighborhood beach for a little swinging and playtime.  It was a special time!

 

VBS - we all attended VBS this year, and it was great!  The kids all enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed teaching Luke's 4 year old class.

 

All dressed up for Carl's cousin's wedding!  Hannah danced the night away and had so much fun!

 

Beach day!

 

Swinging and playing at the neighborhood beach.

 

We spend our down time at home just trying to relax a little, pack a little for the move, go for bike rides, and do some school work with the boys.  I'm trying to make sure they are both fully prepared for the school year ahead.  With Isaac I've focused on 1st grade sight words, hand writing, and some addition/subtraction.  I've been working with Luke on letter sounds and beginning reading.  He really enjoys that.  We've also started reading The Magic Treehouse series of books, and the kids love them!  The books are 10 chapters each, we have finished the first two in 2 or 3 days each!  The kids never want me to stop reading!  I love that!  We started the third book this evening, all three listened intently as we read 4 chapters!  I am so thankful that they enjoy reading so much!!!

 

I'm really loving summer break; trying so hard to soak up every minute with my sweet kids and make great memories!

Our silly girl...

 

Hannah and Daddy while at lunch with Mama and Luke.

 

This girl loves to dress up and accessorize, and the outfits are interesting when you add in your brother's accessories...super hero cape, safety glasses, pretend gun, and high heels.

 

Hannah adores Grandpa, and she had a great time visiting with him on Father's Day.

 

Our three fish...Hannah feels she needs to keep up with them in all they do, including swimming...

 

jumping off the diving board is her newest favorite!  The girl is fearless!  She tells us, "Don't catch me, I go under all by myself!  1, 2, 3...Here I go!!!"

 

Hannah has always been and continues to be a firecracker.  She keeps us on our toes all day and keeps us laughing, too.  Hannah has matured and grown so fast because she has to do all that her big brothers do.  She talks nonstop and so well!  She is a social butterfly, she talks to everyone she sees, everywhere we go.  This past week she went to VBS all week, well it was technically just childcare, but she went the same amount of time as the boys because I was teaching VBS.  She really enjoyed it, every day when I went to get her she'd say, "Hi Mama!  I had fun!!!"  Then she'd tell me all about what they did, and finish by telling her teachers, "Bye-bye, I have to go."

 

Her favorite activity is swimming, the girl is truly fearless in the water.  She loves to go under the water, and she thinks she can swim!  Luckily she is doing really well, she kicks well and is learning to use her arms a little more consistently.  She started taking her puddle jumper off, so we switched her to this vest thing, which she cannot get off alone.  It works well for her, and it forces her to practice her swimming in order to stay upright. 

 

Hannah is obsessed with the movie, Frozen...obsessed!  She even pretends to be the princesses.  One day last week I was walking away and this happened...
Hannah:  "Elsa, Elsa wait."
Mama:  "Am I Elsa?"
Hannah:  "Yes."
Mama:  "Are you Anna?"
Hannah:  "Yes.  Please don't shut me out again."

I just laughed and laughed, this girl is so silly and so fun!  I love her imagination and her understanding of the things around her is so impressive! 

 

Just this evening we were out to dinner and she was in a super silly mood.  She was very talkative, flirty with our waiter, which is quite normal.  Well, at one point he asked how old she was, so I answered for her, then she had to tell him, too.  He commented on how cute she was.  After he walked away Hannah said, "I be a pretty girl."  Oh. My. Gosh!  Where does she get this stuff!?!

 

One day after Carl had been gone for a few days we were getting ready for dinner, and it was a bit chaotic (which is normal), but as I was washing her hands she said, "Boys, you stressin' me out!"  I laughed so hard at that...apparently I had said that a few times that week.

 

She seems to be getting some people confused.  For example, she has her nephews Carson and Colton mixed up.  And our friend Mr. Henderson she refers to as Mr. Addy (his daughter is Addy).  After spending a day with our friends the Brooks, she later referred to their house as Ms. Titus' house.

 

Our Hannah has her crazy mood swings as all 2 year olds do, but she keeps us laughing more than that.  She is a sweet girl who loves her baby dolls, her brothers, and her dog.  Watching her grow into her own little person is so fun, and I'm so thankful for her joyful, sassy personality!

Kindergarten End of Year Fun

The start of kindergarten was such a roller coaster...it was exciting, it was scary, it was fun, and it was a hard transition.  Isaac was a champ through it all, he had times of struggle, but overall he was amazing throughout it all.  I cannot believe the year is over, I feel like we just started.  Isaac was blessed with an incredible teacher!  Mrs. Swiney was all that we prayed for in a teacher for Isaac.  She was a perfect blend of love, kindness, and discipline.  And she really took time to get to know Isaac and to develop a bond with him throughout the year.  He absolutely adores her, I mean truly, he loves her!  I am so thankful that The Lord provided Isaac with a wonderful start to his education journey.

 

 

Isaac's school ended the year with a Kindergarten graduation.  It was a special night.  Isaac got to dress up, and of course he had to wear a tie.  He looked so handsome.  I had to get a quick picture of he and his teacher before the big event.

 

The ceremony was so sweet.  Each child was called up by name and given certificates and awards.  Isaac received his kindergarten dimploma, the Physcial Fitness Award for sportsmanship in PE, and another which I can't remember.  oops.

 

Next, the entire class got up to sing songs, and oh they were so sweet!  I am so proud of Isaac, he was front and center (next to his sweet friend, Ella) and he did the motions to every song.  He sang some of the words, but I could tell he was nervous.  This was a huge improvement from last year when he would barely move when on performing on stage.  Isaac has grown so much over this year, he is so much more mature and confident in who he is now than he was a year ago.

 

Tante Soo Jin came to celebrate with us, so sweet!  And I absolutely love this picture of them!!!

 

FIELD DAY!!!

Isaac's entire class at the start of field day.

 

Field day was a blast!  They started out on these fun inflatable water slides...what could be better than that!?!

 

The kids were soaked throughout the entire day, but oh how much fun they had!!!  It was a sweet day of fun games with friends...what a wonderful way to end the year!

 

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

 

Isaac was a mix of emotions on this last day.  He is such a sweet hearted boy, and he loves with all his heart, so he is truly attached to his teacher, class, and school.  Finishing the year and heading into summer is exciting, but it's also sad to leave his friends and teacher knowing that things won't be the same.

 

The bus stop was a fun place!  The kids loved playing with the neighbors while we waited every morning.  Their favorite game was Ghost Ghost in the Graveyard.  I'm not sure why it's called that, but they sure laugh and have fun while they play.  What a blessing to have such sweet friends and neighbors.

 

Getting on the bus as a kindergartener, for the last time.

 

End of year party!!!

 

There are no words for how it felt to walk out of that class.  This year has meant more to us than I can explain...so thankful.

 

Oh these two are the sweetest of friends.  They helped each other in so many ways throughout the year, not always even knowing it.  Isaac told me a few times throughout the year that friends would ask him if he loved Ella.  Awe.  I am so incredibly grateful for their precious friendship.