Back to School

Well, hello little blog!  It's been a while ... seems I've fallen victim to a different form of social media (Instagram) much to the neglect of this corner of my world.  That and the fact that, well, life is busy.

So, here we are finishing up week four of the new school year.  Here's where the LilyKids are at:

Jack - Jack is in 7th grade this year.  At some schools this would mark the first year of junior high, but we have a middle school for 5th - 8th grade so being at the middle school / junior school is quite familiar.  The year is off to a great start - I honestly think football has influenced his school habits (we noticed the same thing last year), I think it has been the discipline of the sport.  Aside from getting a little sidetracked with the "eraser challenge" along with nearly everyone else at school, 7th grade is going great! 

Jack is our busiest outside of home, by far.  From the end of the baseball season, we did a family road trip for a week, he went to camp for a week and then football started.  He has a few weeks of football left and then will transition to basketball.  He also took hunter's safety so will be hunting with Jason this fall (as his schedule permits, of course - ha!).  And, he's doing youth group with a buddy from school.  He exhausts us (in many ways!).

Samuel - Samuel is in 4th grade this year. His year is also off to a great start, he's transitioned back into the school year like a champ.  It's an exciting year as he is the oldest at the elementary school.  He is one of only two boys asked to be a "Bus Buddy" this year.  This means that he is assigned two junior kindergarteners to get on the bus in the afternoon, a big responsibility for the selected 4th graders.  They even had a "meeting" with the Principal.  He also got to be on flag duty this week, another privilege.

Samuel is a homebody for sure so it's wonderful to see him blossom at school and to see him being selected for these types of activities.

Lydia - Lydia started junior kindergarten this year.  JK is the equivalent to 4k, it's just fancy like that in our school district (hehe).  She goes to school four mornings a week.  The transition was fairly easy for her.  For about the first two weeks she did, however, neglect to eat snack at school because she was a little intimidated by the independence and responsibility of pouring her own milk and getting a snack.  She has since realized that snack is worth a little intimidation! 

Nora - Nora started early childhood (a preschool program) this year.  She is at our elementary school (same as Samuel and Lydia) so that she can continue to get speech as part of the program.  The first two weeks or so were rough - lots of tears (Samuel's classroom is on the other side of Nora's so he would come home and report if he heard her crying in the morning).  Nora also goes to school four mornings a week, like Lydia, and they are across the hall from one another.

After the initial transition, Nora is blossoming!  We are so thankful for her very patient, very outgoing, and very loving teacher.  Nora is very proud of going to school and is always eager to show us papers from her backpack. 

To keep this real, while I'd love to post a happy picture of Nora, this is what the first day of school looked like.  Poor girl.  I couldn't even get her to look at me for a picture.  Change is hard for this girl, but she is adjusting to school like a boss!

So, that's the back to school update for September 2014! 

Life Lately via Phone Photo Dump

Well, it seems that this little blog continues to be neglected ... for journaling purposes, here is life lately via a phone photo dump.

On June 15th we celebrated not only Father's Day but also a significant birthday for my mom! 

Lydia continues to want to be just like her big brothers ... I have a feeling she is going to excel at tee ball and then softball!

It has become an end of the school year / beginning of summer tradition to spend a weekend in Door Co.  We were thankful that the hotel we stay in has an indoor swimming pool (it was a bit of a rainy and cool weekend).  We were still able to go mini-golfing though!  And, the day we were leaving the warmer temps and sun came out, perfect for feeding the ducks at a custard place that has also become tradition for lunch on our last day (Yep, ice cream for lunch!).

 

 This past week we had three baseball games (was supposed to be four, but one is postponed due to rain), practices, Nora's speech and PT, little odds and ends, and Jack had baseball camp every day.  Jason did most of the taxi'ing back and forth, but I was thankful to be able to do a drop off and pick up (the location of the camp was about 40 minutes away).

After a busy week, we were ready for some family time this weekend so we got the bikes loaded up and went to a state park to bike the trails, had a picnic lunch, and then the kids braved the lake.

Phew ... add in a little one who doesn't sleep through the night and it's no wonder we're exhausted, but in the most thankful way possible.  We are blessed!

Lately ...

Seems my poor little blog corner has seen some neglect due to life moving at a rapid pace, not to mention the ease of "story telling" through photo posting on Instagram.  So, in a quick recap, what have we been up to these past two weeks?

Lydia had a date with her cousin (of course, my SIL and I had to chaperon) to get pedicures.  Super fun! 

 Jack's baseball team took 2nd place in a tourney ...

The boys and I went on a Starbucks date ... this is one excited boy (definitely a treat) ...

 

Samuel had Field Day at school with fun and games, and the girls got to hang out with the 3rd and 4th graders and play on the school playground ...

The boys completed the school year, I somehow now have a 4th grader and a 7th grader (in denial) ...

And, today Jason and I celebrated our 15th anniversary ... not quite sure how that can be!

But I do know I'm a blessed mama and wife for sure!

Sevenly

Every week Sevenly teams up with charities to raise funds and awareness for "weekly cause campaigns."  A portion of every item sold on Sevenly goes to the charity of the week.  The week's charity is one that is quite personal for us, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS). 

NILMDTS and a local photographer blessed us beyond measure when Owen was born (the photo at the top of my blog page is still one of my favorite family photos, Jason and I with our boys - Jack, Samuel and Owen on May 30th, 2008).

Part of Owen's story will always be how a sweet friend introduced us to a local photographer who became the first photographer in our area to become a part of NILMDTS so that she could capture the arrival of Owen, so thankful for Leslie Faye and how she laid aside her fears to bless us ... and now others. 

And, thankful for organizations such as Sevenly that advocate for causes such as this.

Because there is no foot too small ...

Easter 2014

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13

Ha - of course, an Easter selfie!

 

And, some "posed" LilyKid photos ...

 

 

 

And, me and my guy ...

Goings on around here ...

It's been fairly quiet here (on the blog that is ... not here ... because we really don't have many "quiet" moments here ... a few months ago I heard that noise is the heartbeat of the home ... our heartbeat is strong and steady ... and, while there are days that a little "peace and quiet" would be nice I know that one day we will miss it).

A lot of the noise comes from these pint-sized girls (although the boys add more than their fair share as well).

For journaling purposes, here's what we've been up to ...

Jack's baseball team has been practicing for about a month now.  He's excited to be playing!  Samuel's team will start in a few months.  So far most practices have been indoor as the fields are just not ready yet.  We are all looking forward to being at the ballpark!  Speaking of the ballpark, Jack is at the ballpark today with a buddy's family, cheering on our Milwaukee Brewers (go Brewers!).  Our family really does love us some baseball!

Samuel has been "practicing" for his school's upcoming spring concert.  It's sure to be entertaining and will capture the audience as only an elementary school spring singing concert can.

Lydia has a few weeks of preschool left at the Arts Center.  She recently had her screening for the school district and will be going to Jr. Kindergarten four half days a week starting in the fall.  Can't. Be. Possible.

Nora also has another upcoming screening coming up so that we can determine if she will just do speech in the fall at school or if she will be in their "preschool / early learning" program (likely the latter).  She "graduates" from speech with the birth to three program in July (when she turns three).  Unfortunately, Nora's current pathologist is only going to be with the program for a few more weeks so Nora will get another pathologist for the couple of months before her third birthday.  We are truly going to miss Miss Christina, the influence and relationship she has built with Nora and us has been such a blessing.

We don't do a spring break, mainly because it's hard for me to get away this time of year so we've been having fun planning a late summer road trip (nestled between the boys' baseball, camps and the start of football!).  Like Olaf would say, "let's bring back summer."  It seems we cannot go a day here without a conversation that is largely quotes / songs from Frozen ... that movie has us hooked!!

Go Wisconsin!

Sporting our Badger gear today ... much like we did when we celebrated Jack's birthday in the Fall!

Randomness ...

Saturday randomness ...

 

Practicing my non-braiding skills (my SIL is a pro at fancy braids ... I'm learning) ... Nice look for Lyds - baby in the carrier and her beloved Superman shirt ... 

Supporting my sweet Texas friend with this fun tee as they make their way to China (hopefully soon) to bring home their daughter ...

A recent round of selfies ...

Celebrating 40 Years

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Friday ...

And yes, by admitting that I am also admitting that I am quickly approaching a "milestone" birthday. 

The kids were excited to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa today (and, by excited, I mean a bit wired). 

We also got my annual Valentine photo of the kids today ... sadly, they have outgrown being able to squish together on the chair as they have done in years past (here and here) and needed to pose by the fireplace.

Thankful for the privilege of doing life with my parents nearby!