Tag: Shecklet #2

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Change in position

We’re working on sitting up.  So far, Ingrid is able to maintain a vertical position for a few seconds and then she leans forward or topples to the side.  She loves the change in view from laying on her back or tummy.  I can’t believe she’s 6 months old today!  I think time goes much faster when you’ve already got kids running around.  I’m trying to savor each milestone we have with our little girl.  She has been such a gift.  And the novelty still hasn’t worn off.  The boys are simply enamored with her.  It makes my heart smile.

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Cousins

Jake and I got up this morning and went to mass with Ingrid, letting the rest of the house sleep in.  My dad was there as well.  Afterward, my dad offered to take us to breakfast on main street.  Jake told me to go and he would head back to the house to check on the boys.  When we walked into the restaurant we found my brother and cousin Jared sitting at a table.  We sat down and shortly after, Josh and his girlfriend, Jordan, joined us.  My mom eventually joined us as well.  Good food and good conversation.

After breakfast Jared took Tony & me to see Josh’s new house and dogs.  Then we went back to Jared & Kyla’s to pack up, have lunch, and try to get a few pics of the cousins.  Emphasis on try.  (You may notice that Lincoln is missing from the little cousins photo – he wasn’t in the photo taking mood.)

I don’t know which group was more challenging to capture, the younger cousins or the older!

Finally, as we left town this afternoon we stopped to say one final goodbye to Uncle Joe.  As we were pulling into the cemetery, Lincoln said to me, “Mommy, that sleepover was a blast!”  It was really good to be with family.

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Goodbye Joe

Saturday morning we got ready for the funeral and again, had the boys stay home with a babysitter.  The funeral was a beautiful good-bye to Uncle Joe.  My brother, cousin Kerri and I were asked to read the readings during the mass and we were also pall bearers along with Jake, Jared & Kyla, and Josh & Jordan.

After we returned from the cemetery, the church ladies provided us with a wonderful luncheon.  We were able to visit with many of our extended relatives, many of whom we had not seen for several years.  “Why is it that we only get together at weddings and funerals?” was a question that was asked many times over.

Jake and Jared brought the boys to the church after we were finished eating so we could introduce them to family members who had only seen them in pictures.  At that point we also selected a few items of Joe’s to remember him by.

After a long & emotional morning/afternoon, we returned to Jared & Kyla’s for the evening.  We had dinner and sat around the table reminiscing and looking at photos.

Uncle Joe ended up having the last laugh tonight.  My cousin, Josh, had brought home a humidifier box (after the encouragement of my mom).  When he opened it at home that night, he had to drive back to Jared & Kyla’s to show us what he had found.  Apparently my mom had used the box to send Joe a care package for his birthday back in what we think must have been 2004!  The birthday card and treats inside the box were never opened!  Little Debbie cakes were hard as rocks and Hershey Kisses exploded while Hershey Miniatures disintegrated.  From what we can figure, Uncle Joe must have thought he was getting a humidifier for his birthday and didn’t even bother to open the box.  So funny & yet, not surprising 🙂

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Weekend trip to SD

We traveled to SD this weekend to lay my Uncle Joe to rest.  It was a sad reason to get together with family, but at the same time, good to be with family.  The kids and I rode with my dad (my mom had gone down earlier in the week and Jake and Tony drove together after work.)  All 3 kids did quite well in the car.  The boys were entertained for a while by good ‘ol Cars.  Thank you Pixar.

Once we arrived at my cousin’s house, we had dinner, changed and went to the prayer service for my uncle at the church.  Jared & Kyla found a sitter to watch all 4 boys so we could attend the service undistracted.  When Kyla and I arrived home, we found the boys here:

They remained up until about 11:30.  WWWWWAAAAYYYY past bedtime, but they were having so much fun with each other, how could we put them to bed???

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Happy 3rd birthday Lincoln!

Dear Lincoln,

I thought I’d write you a recap letter detailing today’s events.  I can’t believe you are 3 years old today.  As I sit here typing, I’m looking at a picture of you and your big brother when he visited us in the hospital after your birth.  You look so tiny!  Yet, I can see in your eyes, it’s you!  You have become such a fun, independent, inquisitive & loving boy.  I thank God for the gift you are in my life!

The day started off much like it did on the Easter Sunday you were born – we woke up to wet, heavy snow.  You, Nolan & I had breakfast in our pj’s and gobbled up purple waffles – your request.  After getting dressed, we had planned on going to the Children’s Museum, but the snow and slop made the roads extra messy (and dangerous,) so we decided to save that adventure for another day.  You didn’t seem to mind since you had a chance to play with a few of the birthday presents you opened in the morning.

For lunch, you asked for “Taco Bells,” so you and Daddy (who took the day off from work) picked up tacos and nachos for us.  After lunch, you, Nolan & Daddy went to pick up your cake – Buzz Lightyear was what you asked for this year.  I briefly considered making your cake again this year, but decided to let the ladies at the bakery make it for you this go-around.  You fell asleep in the car on the way home, so Daddy laid you down for a birthday nap – probably a good idea since you ended up being up past your bed time yet again tonight.

Our family and friends came over for cake and ice cream at about 6:30.  We sang “Happy Birthday” to you and your eyes just beamed!  I think you enjoyed being the center of attention today 🙂  After cake, you politely asked if you could open your presents, and had so much fun doing so.  You received many wonderful, sweet well-wishes & gifts from your grandparents, aunts, uncles & friends.

You are loved by so many wonderful people, Lincoln.  Never forget that.  And in the words of your great-grandma Fran, God loves you, and so do I!

 

XOXO

Mommy

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Jumpin’ Lincoln

Nolan came to the kitchen this afternoon and said, “Mommy, Lincoln is in the jumper.”

Following Nolan into the toy room, I discovered this:

Pinching my lips together so as not to let on just how funny the situation was, I said, “Lincoln, get out of there.”  His response to me was, “I can’t! Mommy, can you help me?”

Good thing we know the springs in the jumper are rated to at least 30 pounds.  Ingrid should be safe.

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A little time with Mommy

Today, Nolan was asked to go to a classmate’s house to have lunch and play after school.  That left me with only 2 kids for a good portion of the day.  (Good thing, because I battled a migraine for most of the time he was gone.  But I digress…)

We took a meal over to a family who recently had a baby and then perused the aisles of Sam’s Club – always a rousing good time.  Then, because he was such a trooper, I told Lincoln we could go out to lunch.  We ate at Panera and then grabbed dessert to eat at home.  In the time it took me to unload the groceries from the truck, Lincoln made his way to the dining room table, opened his M&M cookie, devoured it, and threw away his trash.  Amazing what he’s able to do on his own when sweets are involved.  🙂

When I eventually had a few minutes to snack on the cinnamon roll I brought home, he was kind enough to “help” me eat it.  I was able to snap a picture of the two of us using the camera in my phone.  Not the greatest quality, but it captured a sweet moment I was able to share with my favorite almost 3 year old.

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Just like Mommy

After putting the boys to bed tonight, Jake and I were talking in our room while I was feeding Ingrid.  At one point, he looked across the hall and saw the light on in the boys’ room.  Opening the door, he saw Nolan in bed with a Dr. Seuss book.  (Thankfully, Lincoln was out to the world.)

Jake: “Nolan, what are you doing?”

Nolan: “I’m reading to relax, like Mommy does.”

Oh what that child observes and retains.

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Run, boys, run!

Little Miss Ingrid and I went to a friend’s house tonight for a “ladies night.”  Just a little out of the house time with my favorite little girl, friends & conversation.  While we were there, Jake took the boys to the gym to run.  Yes, all 3 of them ran on the track…for a bit.  Apparently it was quite a sight and many who were also working out got a chuckle out of it.  It’s amazing the boys survived because they were incredibly distracted by all of the action and machines that are located in the center of the track.  Jake said that when they finished their 2nd lap, Lincoln requested that he and Nolan go to the childcare room so Jake could get his workout in on the treadmill.  Two laps was enough for him.  Not bad for little legs like theirs!  And when they got home, they crashed!  Yes!  This may be what we need to do to tire them out until they can resume their (almost) all-day adventures outside when the weather is warmer.

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Bedtime conversation

When asked why he’s out of bed, Lincoln responded, “My bed is not comfy.”  (With a pouty face.)

Upon exiting his room a 2nd time, he responded, “I can’t go to sleep in my bed  b/c it smells like body surfers.”

Jake asked, “Where did you hear that?”

Lincoln, “I made it up.”