3,it can't be!?!

He...is THREE!

I can't believe our precious baby boy Riley Samuel is three years old!

We went low key this year for his birthday. He asked to go to my parents on his birthday for a movie night. So,thats just what we did. He had a swiss cake roll with a number 3 on it. See,I can do low key! Then he asked to go to Shipshewana on saturday to ride the carousel and get a Jojo's pretzel. My in-laws tagged along. We seriously risked our lives driving out to Amish country. It was snowing something fierce. Nearly a white out at times. And my hubby was not feeling well, apparently he caught the virus our little boys had earlier in the week. I was really thankful my in-laws tagged along, as It's not easy to keep an eye on all four, on a carousel. Okay, near impossible by yourself.

We all had a great time eating pretzels, riding the carousel three times. Then heading back to my in law's home to open some presents from Aunt Kaity & Uncle Guy.

I thought I would share a few things Riley is up to now. He loves to sing. His favorite song is "three little birds". I love to hear him sing it, especially the chorus "Don't worwy about a fing,cause ebery wittle fing, is gunna be awright" at the top of his lungs. It's precious.

He loves to wressle and give hugs.

He will whisper in my ear "I wuve you so much, and I wuve Daddy."

He loves to cuddle in the mornings. He almost always wakes up early (around 6am) and comes to our bed for snuggles and will go back to sleep curled up between his Daddy and I and sleep till eight or later.

He loves bath time. Except last week when he had a fever, it was so cute, I had said earlier in the day he could not go outside because he had a fever and it was too cold. So when his big brother said "It's bath time Ry"...Ry responded saying "I tan't take a bafth dackson (Jackson) cause I have a feber (fever) and it too cold". We all snickered at that one.

He loves to play dress up with Clara. Nearly daily she has a dress on him,or better yet,one of her leotards. It's great.

He's a big boy. Think in the 100% tile for height. He's as tall as his older brother,and about eight pounds heavier! He wears a size 4t,and 11 shoe! Our Clara wore that shoe size last summer!

He brings so much laughter and delight into our family! Riley was quite the surprise baby for us. Well, most of our children were a surprise. haha! But, we are SO thankful,and SO blessed by his life,and presence in our family. And really thankful God had much bigger and better plans for our family than my husband and I did!

(More pictures to be added later)

Reece's Rainbow.

I've not been contacted by this organization. But I believe in what they do. My husband and I are not in a place to be able to adopt one of these precious babies. One day we will be ,and we plan to. But maybe one of you could open your heart to love a darling orphan.

Click here : Reese's Rainbow

And Go Here for details about three little ones needing forever families. NOW! They can't wait. Literally,it's life or death for them. You can give one of these children life!

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And Because I can't post without a picture,here is our sweet Elliott.Who's been sick the past few days. He's was given new pj's and has worn them for three days now. They don't smell.Yet.

We're not crazy...okay so maybe...

WE ARE!

Yesterday was SO.MUCH.FUN!

First I had a photo shoot of this precious baby girl. Prepare to have your heart melt.

Precious right? I know.I've oohed and awed over every picture.Still working on editing them all.

The children stayed home with Daddy,while I got a few hours out taking pictures. And they cleaned their bedrooms. It's amazing how quickly they get their room's cleaned when we tell them their reward is going to a friends house to play!

We went to our friends the Miller's house. And had a BLAST! It was a "un-super bowl" party. Instead of watching the game,we played games. I laughed so hard I was sore today! Of course I was too busy laughing and having fun to take one picture. We stayed till 1am! I was SHOCKED that it was that late! We were having so much fun,time seemed to stand still.

The kids were asleep before we turned off of their street. I don't think they have ever been up that late. Ever. It was fun,and crazy! (apologies to the Millers if your reading this,Gary got called to go out to plow right as we were leaving...so much for resting before having to be out all night/early morning)

Today was a lazy day around the house. We did school,and played,and read a.lot. And I attempted to catch up on laundry. (haha,it's never caught up!)

Oh,and we ate grapes.

And Jackson came into the kitchen with his paper towel on his head saying "hey look Mom,I'm like that lady we saw in Shipshewana that had a head covering on!". I could not stop laughing. Random. Yep. I know.

So,that's what we've been up to this weekend. Oh,and celebrating Riley's 3rd Birthday! More on that later though...it's nearly 3am. Yeah,I know...I'm crazy.

S.N.O.W.

Wow. The snow just keeps coming. If you've read my blog for anytime you know,I'm not a huge fan of snow. No doubt it's beautiful. I believe that whole heartedly.

From the inside of my warm house.

Bundling up four little ones,to go from the house,to the van.Then un-bundling to cram them into their car seats. Then bundling back up,to get out of the van. Then the tears from walking from the van to the store because it's "JUST SO COLD!". Yeah. Not really a fan.

But,This.Is.Pretty.

The running off energy by doing front flips off the love seat,onto the ottoman. The noise levels being deafening. I'm nearly sure I'll need a hearing aide if we have another week of snow days.

But.We are still breathing.And laughing.And running around playing tag.And fighting over the motorcycle legos. And me. Well. I have to remind myself to take deep breaths. Take it all in.

And Keep going. This song has been my mantra this week.

Jackson just ran to me and said

"MOM THEY ARE DIGGING INTO MY LEGO BOX"....I said "Yeah,so?".....

Jackson- "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT...I'm MOVING....well...when it gets warmer!".

Gotta say I've felt the exact same way...but it's WAY funnier coming out of a seven year olds mouth. Gah, I can't believe he's seven!?!?!

What does it look like outside your windows this week? This is what it looks like out of mine...

I heart Faces

I love this picture,and decided to enter it in honor of this

miracle babies first birthday in a few weeks!

Oh to stay little...

I love my children. And I love what they say...Here are a few favorites that I can recall as of late...
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After making spaghetti and meatballs Riley squeals and says
"IIII Wwwwuubbb MEAT BOBS!" (that was a few weeks ago,and I admit,I've made it since then,just to hear him say that...it's sooooo cute)
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At the dinner table with family yesterday Uncle Adam kept saying to Elliott "I'm your Mommy"...cause he kept trying to get my attention...Elliott stops and says "No,your a Daddy!" (his wife is expecting,but he's not officially a Daddy yet)...Adam says "I am?"...Elliott says "Well,you can be,if you want to be,you just have to ask God,and He will make you a Daddy."...Child-like faith.Love it.
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Jackson has been asking us all kinds of questions about what I liked as a child,what my first toy was,etc. The other day he asked "Mom,did you pray for me,when you were little"...I said "I always prayed that I could be a Mommy"...he said "I'm so glad you wanted to be my mommy"...yep,my heart melted.
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Clara is writing,everything.She loves to practice,and has been found with a notebook and pencil in her bed to "practice a little before bed"...after she's fallen asleep I love to look through it...and I found a precious note:
"I love My Mom"...I LOVE my mom"..."I LOVE MY MOM"...that is gracing my fridge now.
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My little boys are really,really into helping mommy lately. It's great!They LOVE to wash dishes,and the other night washed all the dinner dishes,I pulled two chairs up to the sink,and they stood there in their p.j.'s, elbow to elbow,tiny hiny to tiny hiny.Scrubbing away. I was overcome. The cuteness was consuming. I thought..."I want to remember these moments forever"...oh,and they were giggling because they figured out how to "blow the dish bubbles" on each other. Mercy,was it cute!
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Of course,since they love to help...they also discovered that I leave the lid of the washing machine open...usually going downstairs ten or more times a day to throw wet towels,clothes,etc in the wash. At night I just run down,turn the washer on,and wash a load every night. Yesterday morning I woke up,went to the washer...there were little pieces of paper E-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! The little boys decided to "help" and I guess throughout the day had been throwing things in the washer too,just like Mommy! Like a full deck of playing cards(hence the paper everywhere),a matchbox car, a few army men, and a toothbrush. All I could do was laugh...well after I got every teeny tiny piece of paper out of the washer!
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Riley's realized he has eyelashes that are two inches long. And has discovered how to use them to his advantage. Whenever he asks for anything. And I mean anything. He tilts his little head to the side,so his eyelashes look three times as long,and gives you the most precious "puppy dog eyes" look E-V-E-R! I'm really having to work hard on NOT giving in...it's REALLY hard!
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Last one,I promise. I always say to my kids throughout the day "Your Mommy loves you so much!" Riley has begun to say back "Your Riey wubs mommy and daddy...I wub bofh of you"... be still my beating heart...oh to stay little! :)

"I hate needles"

We took Elliott to the doctor today. And anytime you mention a doctor,he's less than thrilled. I can't blame him. I used to literally get sick to my stomach when I was a child from the anxiety of "going to the doctor". And as his Momma,I hate that he's had to be to so many doctors in the last month. His recovery is going well from his mouth surgery.The doctor suggested we have his eyes checked,so we are going to see a specialist for that. And,now we just wait to make sure the blood test comes back good and clear.As we were leaving the doctors office Elliott announced (quite loudly,as he can't whisper) "I HATE NEEDLES!!!". The nurses got a kick out of his statement,he was so adamant,and serious. And,I gotta say,I agree with him 100%..."I HATE NEEDLES TOO!"...especially when they poke my babies!

Another Elliott funny,while hanging out at my parents house on Sunday.The little boys wanted to play a game,so my mom got out a few games,and Elliott said:
"Grammy,I don't know how to play this game,can you read the vacations?".

Ah,I love him so much.SO.VERY.MUCH!