1,2,3,4

One soccer player, well at least the first time we got successfully through an organized sport. He also is doing very well on piano lessons and played his first song today.

One pile of wood, we cut and split, and put into our basement. Not enough however to fill up our basement but for our first year it is a good start.
Two dancing princesses. Rachel had Hadessa over for a tea party, and it was so cute to watch them play together.

Three, third times a charm. We ran out of diapers and started potty training, Noah is lots easier than Daniel was. He still has his accidents, but it has been a little over a week, and we are doing well.

Four. Here is our newest four year old. She loves our evening chats, and often has so much to say she stumbles over her words because she can't get them out fast enough.

We got a truck last week and sold our car, so we are getting set for the winter time. Talking about change of seasons, there is change in the air with my dad needing to take a job farther away for a year, and then retire. It is a tough change, but if there is something that brings you to your knees and closer to God(right Sandra?), then it is alright, and you know you can persevere.

Once Upon a Time

We went to a fall festival for my birthday. I love enjoying the fall. We have been to lots of orchards, eaten lots of apples, and played in lots of leaves. The kids at a corn maze...Daniel got us out!

My favorite picture of the kids right now...yes they are all naked...
Kevin and I doing our first 5K together. We finished in under 30 min, not bad for us out of practice runners.
I wanted to get this post in before October. I am finally feeling a little older, but learning to grow out of perfectionism. The more I know, the more I know I don't know. Looking forward to posting next family highlight...Rachel's 4th birthday!

I have no pictures but lots of thoughts. Last weekend I had a great get away weekend with one of my best friends in DC. It was truly relaxing and fun to reconnect with her, without the distractions of life. Well, my life. It is a beautiful city, I enjoyed the buildings, museums, and food. I drove past Chantilly, and thought sooner than later, there would be some more good reasons to visit. I guess it also made me realize I am not as much of a city girl as I thought. Or maybe God gives you the grace to live where He puts you to live. I did enjoy all that cities have to offer, and do plan on visiting again, was just as happy to have some one else do the driving, and parallel parking :-)

On the flight coming home I had the most interesting conversations on the plane. I wasn't looking for a God talk, I wanted to work on the new stitch Jenny had shown me with my knitting, but the young lady had some very pretty sparkly shoes, so I opened up the conversation. She got talking about her family, her religion, and how nobody should home school their kids. It turns out she is a part of the Pentecostal religion that is pretty strict, and she was working through the things she was brought to believe, like wearing pants is a sin, and her love of God and what the Bible says. I tried to encourage her with comparing what she was taught with the nature and character of God, and go back to the basics of prayer and the Word. We had a good talk, and as often I think about her, I pray for her.

That leads us to this past week, my first week of Kindergarten. It was good, although we all seemed to get a bad cold halfway through the week. That is life. Daniel still has soccer, and he is starting music lessons this week. I found a closer dance class for Rachel to be a part of, and Noah is entering the terrible 2 stage. Maybe he is not so terrible, but he is very questioning, and I am not used to a boy this age talking to much and interested in everything. I need to stop complaining about it, these stages don't last long, and these are good issues to have. I am glad to have this blog to put my thoughts, one day I want to print it out for me to look back and remember God's faithfulness, in the big and little things.

Make all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can - John Wesley

The trip to VA was such a blessing. The wedding was truly blessed, the kids did great, we had lots of help, I got to have quality time with the bride, and it all came together. As only God can make it, if you know what I mean.

We were refreshed by connecting with some folks we knew from college and were still in the area. Ron, who married us back in the day, and his family were still in the area, and it was a God thing to connect with him, pray with him, and have the encouragement we needed.

The weather was perfect on the wedding day, here is the whole family up to date. Not the best candid shot, but you get the idea:
Thankful to have the family picture too...without too much stress! Daniel still sleeps with the pillow he used as the ring bearer.
Some bubbly fun in the grandparent's cool tub...
And of course we come back hitting the ground running. Daniel had his first soccer game this past Monday, and scored! I got it on video below, it is hard to see, but it was him.

And now I am excited about a girl time in DC with my best friend from college...Kevin will be on parent duty for just two nights. I am looking for some time to recharge, and then it is onto school. Ready or not here we go!

Turning the Corner

A strange thing happened to me this past weekend. I took the kids to the beach, and I enjoyed myself. Kevin was at work, it was just the three and me, and we had fun. Then we went to the zoo as a family, and I didn't need my stroller. The kids all walked, and stayed close. I didn't really know what to do with my hands, well I was able to pet an elephant, which was cool, but it hit me. My kids are growing up. Noah is asking to use the potty, Daniel is a huge helper, Rachel is a great encourager, and they are growing up. As we turn the corner on summertime, and sprint to the finish, I think the end of this summer will be bringing some new and exciting times. Not all easy, but good.

Here Daniel is looking out from one of our newer rope swings.

Rachel loves frogs, and catching them, and here she is showing one off.
She loves to paint, and has such a joy with her arts and crafts.
Here are the cousins at the zoo last week. We were celebrating Hadessa's birthday, and it is a joy to be around for these occasions.
I love the quote at the top of this one: Social Animals
Noah is chatting up a storm, and I need to remember to video him, because that raspy little voice will continue to change.

No photos on my camera

As I have been meaning to update my blog, lots of things have been happening, I just didn't take any pictures on my camera to document them. For example, we went out to MA, had a great visit with old friends, celebrated Kevin's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary (the only event I do have photos of thanks to Rene), and met my new niece, Juliette.

Rachel being very careful holding her new cousin.

Memere and Pepere Gagnier, with all their great grand kids!
Me and Claire :-), Kevin's other Memere
Saturday night is Spaghetti night at the Gagnier Household, and it has been that way for 60 years.

Other events that I do not have documented, Daniel had his first dentist appointment here, with two wiggly teeth, Noah talking up a storm, Rachel's room coming together, Daniel biking like a champ, Rachel and Noah swimming in the pool, all the zucchini and beans growing in the garden,and a weekend at Sackets Harbor with just some grown up time :-). Makes me want to get a boat...someday... I am enjoying every moment, just didn't have my camera on hand.

Happy 2nd Birthday Noah!!

Look at that little face! After surviving a week without Kevin last week, we welcomed him back, along with Rene and Di. We were able to celebrate the 4th of July with Kevin's parents and celebrate Noah's birthday with them. We went to Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake at the beach there, put together a workbench, fixed up a lot of projects around the house, and had a great time! I enjoyed making a strawberry rhubarb pie, and showing off my other rhubarb recipes.
Memere reading to the kids.
I made an alligator cake for Noah's birthday...and it came out pretty nice! Rachel and Hadessa are putting the final pieces of the cake together.
All the kids seemed to enjoy it, and we had a nice barbecue in the backyard.
I haven't had too much to post lately, or at least haven't had my camera out. The summer has been fun so far, trying new places with the kids, enjoying icee's in the backyard, gardening, jogging, and just laying low. I have been trying to read more, and Di taught me some of the basics of cross stitching, so here is another thing to enjoy. We painted Rachel's room and are working getting it set up for her, and I am excited about starting potty training for Noah. Well, excited to be out of diapers sooner than later!