A Visit from our Dear Friends

We enjoyed a visit from our dear friends, Keith, Aimee, Abby, Mason, and Sophia this past week.  I told myself over and over I need to make sure to take lots of pictures of the kiddos together, but of course I failed at that once again.  I also wanted to get a good picture of Denver and Abby together to put in a frame in Denver's room, but didn't get that done either.  We didn't have enough time to chat and play enough, but hoping God provides us with another visit with them again soon!
We didn't get a lot of time of all of us together as the boys had to do a favor run for me, and then they had to go get bait for their fishing endeavor in the evening, and Aimee & I made a trip to Hobby Lobby for some things she needed for a shower she was doing and to help me pick out some decorations for my kitchen (another blog to come, if I remember).  The kids of course ran and played the entire time and were sad when it was time to say goodbye.

Abby in Denver's superman costume!

Denver with his arm around his BFF, Abby

A fun night in the tub, with easy cleanup.....glow lights!

I originally thought the little 2 would take a bath and then the big 2, but the big 2 couldn't wait and crawled right in.  I think they had a good time, and they still fit better than I thought they would!

I realize the picture is blurry, but it showed the glowing lights the best, and then I didn't have to worry so much about what was showing. :)

We are so thankful that God has blessed not only Evan and I, but our kids as well with such great friends!

Omaha Weekend Trip

Evan, the kids, and I went to Omaha for the weekend.  This trip was for Evan to meet Malachi, for us to spend time with my sister and her family, and to spend time with our dear friends the Hoffmans.  It was a quick trip, but it was worth every minute of it.

Makenna is just in love with Malachi

Malachi with his eyes open

Evan meet Malachi,

Malachi meet Uncle Evan

Caleb's a great big brother

as is Jacob, but he was too busy running with his cousins that I missed any good pictures of him

Makenna with Abby and Mason

Denver decided he could finally join in on the group picture

Best Friends

and yes, they are only 10 days apart but probably 4 inches apart in size! :)

Mason and Makenna reading books together Sunday morning

Isn't she just a miniature Mommy?

Denver's first real Slumber Party with his BFF Abby

God has blessed us by putting a special family in our lives.  Evan and my dear friends Keith & Aimee have 2 beautiful children the same ages as ours.  Due to them having to move for Keith's job shorly after the little ones were born the youngest two are still working on their relationship, but the rest of us have friends that some people don't have in a lifetime.  Even the miles that have been put between us hasn't changed Denver and Abby's friendship.  They both still talk about each other, can't wait to see each other, and have the best time together!  It breaks my heart when Denver hangs up his "phone" and says "Mom, Abby's coming over on Tuesday", when I know that's not the case, but all he wants is to see her face.  Or as he'd say "just a quick little peek Mom!".  So, Aimee and I started looking at dates and finally it became a reality and Abby was able to come stay with us a couple days.  The kids had a blast together and now Abby has a little girl who looks up to her too!  We were lucky enough to have gotten some good snow prior to her arrival and then some nice days to play in it.  They kept busy playing with toys inside, coloring, and playing outside along with more giggles than one can count.  I also some how managed 3 kids 3 and under at the clinic as Makenna had to finish up her Rocephin shots for her ear and sinus infection while Abby was staying with us (which Kenna could use the prayers for her ears to clear up as she's still struggling with the same ear infection from December and if it isn't gone by the middle of April she'll be scheduled to get tubes...thanks for the prayers in advance!).  Here's a couple of my favorite pictures from our time with Abby.

The first morning, eating breakfast.

Abby and Denver

Coloring...of course Makenna had to get in on the fun too.

Playing in the snow.

Snow angels.

Kenna had to try too, but was not impressed!

Investigating.

Reunited

Last week I jumped in the car with the kids, picked up one of my good friends Ashley and her little girl, Berkley and we drove to Sioux City where we met our good friends who moved to Omaha, Aimee and her kiddos Abby and Mason.  First we had to check out Gap Outlet and then we picked up food and hit the park for the kids to play.  The kids had a blast and I think we will definitely need to do this again.  Denver was reunited with his Abby which made his day!  Thankfully we haven't had too many breakdowns since Abby moved, but Denver definitely talks about her, wants to see her, and miss her!  It was great watching them have so much fun together and letting us moms catch up.  The other 3 little ones just hung out; Berkley in her little seat at the table, Mason crawling and walking along the tables, and Makenna walking all over the place.  We let the kids play until they were exhausted, thinking that the kids would take good naps on the drive back home, but boy was I wrong...the 3 in my car slept about 30 minutes and it was over!  Here are some pictures from our time together.

Having some snacks after lunch...it was too windy (oh and maybe I was too lazy to go get my forgotten camera in the car) to take pictures during lunch, stuff kept flying.

Berkley hanging out in her seat

Mason attempting to push the stroller backwards!

Makenna and Mason

These guys were too little when they moved to know that they were going to be missing their good friend!

(They are a week apart in age)

The Clan

Little ones don't get that they all have to look at the camera at the same time!

Running, running, and running

The big kids did play on a jungle gym too, but by the time I got up to go take pictures of them on it they wouldn't go back on it.

Trick or Treat?

So, it's been awhile since I've even had time to think about posting....let alone think about what I've missed since my last post...so we'll pick back up at "Halloween" and if I remember (or find) something else that I really wanted to post in between I'll do so out of order.

We had a busy "Halloween" week. I can't remember anymore, but I think the beginning of the week we carved pumpkins.  Well...2 out of the 4; mine never got done and Makenna's was a little one so I planned on painting hers', but I ran out of time and energy.  Denver thought it was great "picking" pumpkins.  We didn't have time to go do the whole pumpkin patch thing this year so we just ran to HyVee to get some, but that was good enough for Denver; he still talks about "pick pumpkins".  (I just have to add in here...Denver gets to be more fun every day...he's talking more and more and putting sentences together and you can have a simple conversation with him...it's just so cute....oh I just love being Mommy, can you tell?)  Here are some pictures from our "pick pumpkins" evening.

Before we left to go get pumpkins I was having a wafer and Makenna took a dive to try to eat it!  She wants EVERYTHING and it all goes to her mouth!

Our beautiful little girl crashed when we went to get pumpkins.  Look at those eye lashes...they are getting long...now we just have to wait and see if they'll get as long as Denver's!

Cleaning out the pumpkins.

"Hmm....are pumpkin guts good?"

The silly picture won't turn the right way, sorry, but here is Evan and Denver lighting Denver's pumpkin.

Denver's pumpkin is Mickey Mouse...great idea, Dad!

(I've been meaning to get a picture of Denver with his finished product, but that hasn't happened so this will have to do)

On Wednesday evening we went to our "Harvest Festival" at church.  This includes games, inflatables, candy, puppet show, and more.  I had this great idea to take along Denver's girlfriend Abby.  (They go to our church, but her parents were out of town so she wasn't going to get to go and I felt bad for her and for Denver because I knew he'd want to spend some time with her....our days our limited...they're moving...yes, very sad, but that's a post for another day).  Little did I know how much work it takes with 3 kids!  I think I now know how parents of triplets or 3 close in age feel...maybe?  They had a blast, but did like to split on me at times and had me a little nervous...but since we were at church I knew they'd be okay.  Denver also loved the puppet show and wanted them to keep going when they were done.  He was also quite funny during the show; he would laugh and say "funny, funny".

"Hugs"

Picture Time...Denver was not into pictures.  They took a bunch that I'm hoping to get, but this will have to do for the blog.

The Girls

Makenna

Going down the slide with Dad, what fun!

Thank goodness for a friend (and co-worker of mine), Becky! She helped us out by playing with Makenna when we became exhausted from keeping track of the 2 big kids and lugging Makenna around!

Pumpkin Bowling! Denver did great; you throw little pumpkins to knock over bowling pins. Denver also played a basketball game and whatever that game is called that you throw a little ping-pong ball in the different buckets...I think it comes from the "Price is Right". Our youth helped run the "Harvest Festival" and one of the boys said to us, "I've never seen a little boy with such a good arm!".

Monkey see- monkey do!  The bigger kids were throwing themselves into the bottom of the slide and "bouncing" off.  Denver thought that looked like fun so he started doing it too.

The "bouncy house" was probably the favorite for the night. I was worried because there were big kids in there, but they had a blast. They let them stay in for 2 turns and then I went in and drug them out.

I love Denver's expression here...."Abby isn't this so much fun?!"

Picking up ducks....or just playing in the water! :)

On Halloween we had a crazy day as I had worked the night before and had other committments that day, but we did get the kids in there costumes and made it to see 2 of their great-grandparents.  If you can't figure it out from the pictures Denver was "Joe Mauer" from the MN Twins and Makenna just wore a onesie that said "Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch" with a tutu and headband that I made her.

Great Grandpa Melvin with the kids

(Notice the Case tractor and wagon!  Even a John Deere guy has some Case in his house! :))

Great Grandma Mabel with Denver....eating treats, yum!

I had hoped to have a picture of my 2 little munchkins in there Halloween outfits, but that never happened either.  Notice a theme?  Things just don't always happen in this house anymore!  Stayed tuned as our little girl turns 6 months old tomorrow!!!!!!  I have had her little outfit for this photo shoot picked out since my birthday and can't wait to take the pictures.  (There probably won't be a 6 month post until after the weekend though, sorry, too many things to do!)