We are getting closer to our Florida vacation!  Isaac and I are so UBER EXCITED!  But watching Isaac with his dad makes me a little nervous about how much he will miss him. Some mornings he wakes up after Andy has left for work in tears because he didn't get to say good-bye.  I just love how he idolizes his dad ♥.

fun with friends

We got to enjoy a fun evening with our friends the Ory's on Saturday.  It warmed up quite a bit so we took advantage of the weather and accompanied them to their cabin for a little sledding.  The snow was a little sticky making actual sledding a little hard, so they pretty much took turns getting stuck in deep snow and throwing snowballs (mostly at me thanks to Andy's example  ... as I sledded past them down the hill - because big buns slid better than little buns). We enjoyed a yummy lasagna dinner and laughed a lot. Can't wait til we can do it again!

And here is a picture of Isaac and Nolan at the library together from a few weeks ago.  I love how Nolan's hands are blurry-- the two of them together is just hilarious.  They are like little flashes, bolting around that place... that is unless they have some cookies to decorate or a puzzle to complete. Those little balls of energy sure do enjoy each other. :)

anticipation

In a few short days Isaac and I will be heading to see Grandma and Grandpa and we are both very excited for this adventure! Unlike Jack and Lucy, I have not been able to get down there to see their condo in Celebration yet. (Cassidy's turn will come this fall!) I am feeling so blessed to have a husband that supports me and is willing to hold down the fort with the other children while Isaac and I head off to Florida for a week!

The past few months I have been spending my free time reading Disney blogs and taking notes, making lists and preparing for this adventure.  It will be Isaac's first time on an airplane, and my first time alone with a child on a plane.   We have been reading books about the beach because we will make a trip to the ocean and about alligators since we have a trip to Gatorland in the works as well. We've also brushed up on some Disney movies, so he will be more familiar with some of the characters we will encounter at Disney World as well.

It will be so great to get to see where mom and dad live and to learn about and tour the city they call home during the winter months.  I hope they are ready because we are raring to go!!

hot chocolate

Dunkin' Donuts has the best hot chocolate in town, hands down.

And Isaac just figured that out.

changes

I have been feeling like life is going at 1000 miles per hour lately.  I look at my children and wonder where my little babies have gone!  My 'tiny' little Zeekie sits on my lap, and his legs seem like they are at least a mile long. He is still my 'baby' but watching him become more independent makes me want to hold him even closer. Cassidy's quick wit sense of humor slays me- but I also find myself adjusting to learn more about her surfacing sensitivities and insecurities. I am amazed as I sit and think about the sweet young woman Lucy is quickly becoming yet also find myself unsure sometimes of how to react to her ever changing emotions . And Jack- my first born- is well on his way to being a 12 year old!? He loves to challenge and question me as he always has, but I love the glimpses I get of the intelligent, tender young man he is becoming.

It goes without saying, that when you have a baby, you expose yourself to a sea of uncertainty and experiences that help to shape you as a person.  I am finding that as my children age, a new unique set of challenges surface as we all adjust to our changing roles and expectations. I have had my own set of struggles as I learn to adjust to what they need from me at this specific moment in time. This mothering thing doesn't get much easier... it changes, but doesn't get any easier.

I know I have said this before, but once again I am finding myself wanting to try to slow things down, to live in the moment and to embrace it all.  For it all goes so fast...

bath time

perfection

I tried to set my camera's timer the other day.  This is the result.  It's fuzzy and off center but I absolutely love it.  I love the way he holds me tightly with both his arms and legs, and I can smell the unique fragrance of his hair and hear his contagious little giggle when I look at this.

I have been staring down the barrel of 4K registration and just have this feeling of loss. He will only be gone 2 days a week, but 'It is just the beginning of many new beginnings' (thanks Marta).  While I love to celebrate my children growing and changing, some milestones are simply more difficult than others.  This change will definitely take some getting used to.

Mr. Golden Dad

It has been rather snowy (and cold!!) lately.  Isaac was happy to get out and play in the snow with me a bit and I grabbed a few shots of him.  I decided to add a few Isaac tid-bits along with them.

Isaac just adores his daddy.  The other day I over heard him singing:

"Mister Dad, Dad..... Mister Golden Dad...." before he ran over and smothered him in hugs and kisses.

Andy typically puts Isaac to bed.  After we read scriptures and say prayers as a family, they head into Isaac's room to watch a YouTube video before Andy says goodnight and leaves.  Last night Andy wanted to sneak in part of an episode of one of his favorite shows.  Isaac agreed that watching a bit of Shark Tank was a good choice.

Andy told me they were pretty well through a good chunk of the show, and rather that falling asleep as he typically does Isaac was wide eyed... and rather miffed.  "Dad, we have been watching this show for a long time and I have NOT seen any sharks.  Where are all the sharks?"

And hanatizer.  One simply cannot live without hanatizer to clean his hands with.

On Monday we signed Isaac up for 4K!  How is it possible that he will be in school next year!?!

I don't even want to think about it.

fish lovers

Andy sent me this picture he took while we were fishing!  Just look at the! Cassidy is so proud and Isaac is nuzzling that fish!  What a fun photo :)

a Valentine's first

Cassidy came to me the other day.

"Mom, what do you do at a Valentine's party? I never went to one because in Kindergarten and 4K we went to visit Aunt Jenny's house and I missed it."

Before I can answer, from the other room, Andy yells "Cass, you hug and kiss everyone in your class the whole time!"

Her big blue eyes got as big around as quarters, and she blushed in a confused little smirk.

We all laughed for a moment and then I reassured her that she would probably get a few treats, and get to give and receive some special valentines, but that she'd not have to kiss anyone. There was a look of relief on her face.

Love that little sweetie. ♥

a little ice fishing

We enjoyed an afternoon out on the ice as our Saturday activity yesterday.

It was a mild day, and the sun even peeked out at times.  It was really refreshing to spend some time outside and to let the kids run free and be wild.

The kids enjoyed running football routes and playing games with the kickball, making snow angels, eating snacks and warming up in the shack in between a rather steady stream of tip-ups.

We ended up with a few northern and Andy finished out the day with a really nice 22.5" walleye- our only one of the day.

the annual winter milwaukee trip

We had such a wonderful trip to Milwaukee to visit Jenny and her family this past weekend.  We went down on Thursday night to have a long weekend.  I just love watching my kids interact with their cousins.  They go weeks- sometimes months without seeing each other and when they reunite, they are so genuinely excited to be together they practically walk on air. I feel the same when I get to be with Jenny.  Truthfully she pretty much annoyed me when we were in High School together.  She was the twerpy little sister who listened in on my phone calls and 'borrowed' my clothes when I was not looking only to return them with a stain.

Then college happened and I realized she wasn't so bad. Fast forward and we both had kids and BAM we were besties relying upon each other in good times and bad. Even though we are too many miles apart now, we still talk often and rely upon each other just as much.  But when we get to be together- I just love having the carefree time to spend with her watching HGTV, perusing the mall and Target, eating yummy foods and just being silly together.

We have had this tradition for a few years now where the kids and I come down in the winter months to visit.  I feel like these visits are just getting better and better.  I have seen them evolve from a rather involved slightly stressful rigmarole of pack-n-plays, makeshift bedrooms and tears (mostly me because I just wanted some time alone with Jenny to do fun stuff) to a pretty streamlined system. The girls huddle together and chitter chatter about what 7,8 and 9 years olds like to giggle about and enjoy a sleepover complete with sleeping bags and stuffed animals.  The older boys get to play the PlayStation during the day and have the rec room in the basement to themselves to watch a movie and fall asleep to.  And during the day the 4 year olds are commonly found driving trucks up and down the hallway or playing on a tablet, and have finally figured out how to go to bed in the same room without tears and tantrum.

That gives Jenny and I plenty of time to catch up on Flea Market Flip, and Fixer Upper and just to relax and be together.  Poor Poor Matt, the wonderfully awesome sport comes along for the ride in his home, housing 7 crazy kids and two crazy-weird sisters, with such grace offering to watch the boys for a while when we wanted to go to the mall, and quietly watching HGTV with us (while probably biting his tongue.)  Bless his heart.

This year the girls attended a hip-hop dance class and performed at half time of the girls basketball game back at my Alma Mater.  It was almost surreal sitting there watching the girls play ball on the same gym floor that I played on 24 years ago!  Mr. Woodworth sat at the score table and announced just like he did when I was there.  The energy in that gym was electrifying.  It brought back so many wonderful memories and feelings.  I really loved my high school sports! I hope my kids can have some of the same experiences.

We returned home a little sad that it was over so quickly, with many fun memories and a little sleep deprived but counting down the days until we get to see them again.