Boulder Ridge

We hadn't been to Boulder Ridge yet this year and we had to pick up a car door for Eric's car in the area.  We decided to go for the day since it was going to super nice out.  

They had a whole bunch of baby animals available for petting.  The kids loved that.  Until Adelyn got bit.  There were lots of tears.  They were also offering for you to buy the bunnies and take them home.  Thanks for offering that in front of the kids.

My little boys and I on the safari ride.

We went in with all the birds to be the crazy bird people.  Everybody help onto their sticks this year and no one had a fit.  Still a bit frightening

Joelle loved it ;)

I was really mean and purposefully putting them on her head... She didn't love that.

They even landed on top of Lincoln...

HA!

This doesn't look at all like the scene in Home Alone when he is in Central Park and the homeless lady is covered in pigeons..

Loooooooooooved the giraffes.  The baby giraffe?  Could have taken him home.

Feeding them was so much fun :)

This one had some really cool markings on it's neck.

Thrilled to hold the rabbit;)

Aanndd this is as good as it got.

Crane’s::2014

Our annual Crane's apple picking trip.  We picked a lot.  They all looked extra scrumptious.  The kids loved going picking.  Nana came with us.  Brecken was trying to climb the trees and we had to quickly get him down because they are extra funny about things there.  When we were pulling our loads back the men with the golf carts took sympathy on us.  Something about lots of kids and lots of apples... ;)

My big girl on her ride back.

 

Blurry but cute.  My mom is in front of us.  Brecken and Joelle were soooo excited to get a ride!

Lincoln::2 Months

Oh little Lincoln.  It's been a whirlwind of a couple months.  When you were 2 weeks old we found out you have water on your kidneys.  They wanted to do a VCUG but I said no way.  After your 2 month appointment she was really insistent on having it done.  I just agreed since they won't stop bugging me until it's done.  Then we will know exactly what we are dealing with.  You also went through a period of time where you spit up buckets.  Just buckets.  You would spit up from when I stopped nursing you until I started nursing you again.  I started keeping track of what I was eating and anything with even trace amounts of gluten was causing you to puke.  So strictly GF I am.  You have always had AWFUL gas.  Just AWFUL.  We have noticed your tummy super distended before too.  I eliminated all dairy, including butter, and you don't have that anymore.  I have noticed the awful vomiting with tree nuts (plain ole nuts don't seem to bother you) but haven't tried eating them again because I get real sick of being covered in vomit all the time.  I mentioned all your issues to your ped and she, surprisingly, concurred with everything.  She said I'm going to have to be SUPER careful introducing foods.  She also said if what I'm doing is working keep doing it and we can discuss allergy testing further down the road.  They don't typically like to do that until after 6 months..  GF, DF, tree nut free.  It's a wonderful existence I lead.  I've also taken you to the chiro.  She did some testing on you and confirmed a severe gluten problem, dairy problem and tree nut problem.  We shall see what eventually comes of it.  The only good thing is that I figured it all out and you are gaining weight...at a very steady rate.  Could you imagine what would have happened if I had been on a "normal" diet?!  Yikes.

*14lbs 4oz, 90th percentile

*23 1/2in, 75th percentile

*head is in the 97th percentile

*our longest and biggest baby

*size 1 diaper during the day, size 2 at night
*nicknames Linc, little Lincoln, Sir Lincoln, Charles Barfsley

*we are all across the board with a "schedule."  4th child syndrome.  Schedule's are officially overrated.  You went a week straight sleeping 12 hours.  Then you went back to your down between 8 and 9, up between 5 and 6 and back down until 9ish schedule.  Now we are at 13-14ish straight hours at night.  During the day you eat every 3-3 1/2 hours.  When you do wake at night it literally takes me 5-10 minutes to get you back asleep.  You seem to just want a little snack.

*3 month and 3-6 month clothes.  I have your 6 month clothes out and they are only slightly too big.

*paci free is the way too be.

*will tolerate a bottle.  When you are absolutely starving.  

*smiles allllllll the time.  You are such a happy baby.

*loving the bumbo.  You have HATED lying flat on your back, so the play gym thing is out.  I thought you were so big you would just kinda support yourself in the bumbo and you do.  You have started to actually enjoy laying on your back, I think because your tummy doesn't bother you anymore.

*started grabbing toys.

*have been finding your thumb more and more.

*you are a belly sleeper.

*tolerated your shots like a champ.  You were a bit fussy in the afternoon but fine by night.

These pictures aren't the greatest.  I need to start doing it while the kids are sleeping.  They want to sit by you to take a picture.  You weren't having everyone poking at you.  So this is the best I got.

 

Stop taking pictures.

This is literally where B sat the whole time I was taking pictures.

 Adelyn and Brecken at 2 months.

 

Joelle at 2 months.

I'm starting to see some of everyone in him.  He has Joelle's nose and big lips.  A lot of Brecken and Adelyn in him.  We shall see!

Camping::Community Group

Our Community Group went on a camping trip to Triponds for the weekend.  Triponds needs to be renamed Twoponds.  They turned one of the ponds into a pool.  Which I am ok with.  Now if it had been a little warmer we could have made use of one of these water activities.  Such is life.

Camping this weekend wasn't the warmest.  It was a high of 60.  Low of 40.  Hooray.  It drizzled off and on all of Friday and rained Friday night but then it was nice for Saturday and Sunday.

As we were getting ready to leave I caught Brecken twirling his hair in the van.  Eric HATES it when I twirl my hair.  So he saw Brecken doing it and was super excited ;)

Chickens walking around.

We had TWO birthday's to celebrate while we were camping.  Elliot turned two and Ben turned 5.

Sweet little boys.  They loved everyone singing to them!

Most of the group of kids.  Waiting oh so patiently for everyone to get a piece.

Little E enjoying his cake

I wanted to make it on the hayride with the kids.  I missed the first ride.  B, L and I went on the second.  This was as good of a picture as we could get with all the bouncing around.  Then J was SO upset that she didn't get to come with me, so I had to go again.  Then she fell asleep on the ride.

All the kids.   Solomon looks thrilled.  And Jack may or may not be thrilled.  Some strong sets of parents taking this many kids camping.  In September.

My camera died between the kid pictures and the group picture.  So we had someone use Nate's phone to take this.  Nate sent it to me later saying apparently his brief tutorial on how to get it to focus was too brief.  No joke.  The more I look at it, the more it looks like the man focused on the picnic table.  Oh well.  I was not wearing my best the entire weekend.  Because I forgot all of my pants.  Go me.

Had to get a picture of Lincoln's little bed.  Cutie patootie.  We dressed him in two pairs of pajamas and had a heater going in the trailer and he never felt cold once.

Amidst,  the Hemmes' tent flooding, Nate's shoes turning into a swimming pool, my Keurig melting and numerous mild tantrums from everyone's children we had an excellent time.

JBZ::Daddy Edition

We had a random free weekend and wanted to make a trip to the zoo with daddy...because he doesn't get to go very often.  We packed up a supper and headed out.

They released some monarchs a day or two prior and apparently they hung around the zoo.  This one wouldn't leave Eric alone for the longest time.  It landed on his finger quite a few times and he let it go, then it landed on his shirt.  So he just walked around with it.

Love the new bear exhibit.  You can officially count their teeth.

The tigers were up close and personal.  One had a big gash on it's side from fighting with the other one.

One of our favorite parks.  You do have to time it just right though.  If it's super busy, it's super annoying.

Thankful for warm weather and Daddy coming to the zoo with us.

First Day of School::2014

Adelyn had her first day of "real" school.  She will be going to Holland Christian on Wednesday's.  She is SO excited.  We have been so back and forth on the whole school thing that she wasn't sure what she would get to do.  We have various reasons for homeschooling, that I don't feel like getting into now.  Maybe someday I will do a whole post on it;)

She picked what she wanted to wear.  Love that she wants to be a little baker when she grows up!

Adelyn at her locker.

We had some errands to do after.  We ran to the Credit Union and I never let them get the suckers.  Suckers are messy.  I had to sign some fraud papers so I had them sit down and wait.  And eat a sucker.  They were thrilled. ;)

After we went to JP's.  I had to get them each a cookie because Brecken wanted the chocolate one.   Joelle still didn't eat her cookie.  I should have got her a bag of chips.  She is her father's daughter.

When we got back to school, I wanted to grab a picture of Adelyn in front of the sign.  Her teacher had just given her a sucker and this was as good as I got. ;)

Had to get pictures with the twinkies too!

We have been loving our schooling choices so far!  Here's to hoping I don't make my kids dumb ;)