Here We Go!

The potty training begins! Last night Sarah told me that "when the sun comes up again, I'll wear underwear!" So when the sun came up I took the little potty seat in her room, she sat down and went. I put underwear on her and that is the goal - to keep underwear on her all day, diapers at night, even with accidents we can make this work! Wish me luck!!!!!

First day of school!

first off we tried to give Daniel a mo-hawk, if you can see it, it looked pretty cute.



Megan started 2nd grade last thursday. She was pretty excited. She has done the whole school thing for 2 years now and knows what to expect but was most excited because her best friend from 1st grade is in her class and they get to sit by each other (at least until the seat change someday)


Joseph on the other hand was a little apprehensive and nervous and "embarrassed" he said. He did go to 2 years of preschool but full day kindergarten with 3 times the kids in his class is a little more than he was comfortable with. I knew it could go 2 ways, I would pick him up and he would LOVE it or he would say it was okay with not a lot of enthusiasm. Luckily it was the 1st of my thoughts and he loved it. He even made 3 new friends on the first day!





Megan at her locker. this is the first year she has had a real locker so this was pretty exciting. I couldn't take any pictures of Joseph at school, he did NOT want me too, to many kids and he was being a bit shy.

I was worried how Sarah would do with them gone all day since she has been so used to being with her wonderful brother and sister all summer long, but she has surprisingly done really well. We play lots of pretend games throughout the day and our trips to the stores keep us busy but she has been doing great. Now I need to start potty training!

and can I just say how much easier it is to go to the store with 2 kids than 4!!!!!!

Fair '09

We went to the famous Iowa State Fair on monday. It is fun to go but by the end of the day it almost feels like being tortured, being outside for so long and around sooooo many people, with so many different smells and such. I got a headache by the time we were done monday night and I still have it wednesday morning. But we did have fun and it was nice to spend a day out all together.

This is where Daniel spent most of his time.







Sarah went on her first amusement park ride, all by herself. Megan and Joseph were to big. She did pretty good but near the end she was saying she wanted down.

Having lunch on a park bench.

Enjoying ice cream. She wanted that SOOOO bad.

Megan opted out of having ice cream (to full from lunch still) but was sipping on my strawberry milkshake, yummy, and Joesph with a nice mustache

Like father like daughter. (He started it)

Sweet smiling Sarah

In the Animal Learning Center there were little chicks that were so adorable. We watched a few trying to hatch out of eggs, saw chicks waddling around a little "pond" in the picture, saw a video of goats and pigs being born, saw a "magic show", saw baby pigs and goats (the ones on the video being born), and got to smell the combo of all these animals under one roof!

and of course we had to do Little Hands on the Farm.



These are just sweet picture of Daniel smiling and being attentive to us. He is starting to be such a happy little baby, especially after he has been fed.

I wish his shirt said little guy, because that has become his affectionate name we all call him. The kids will say "where's little guy" or "I want to see little guy"

and our tired sleeping little guy!

(can anyone tell me how to add the updates on the blogs that I have listed, tells me when people update there own blog?)

Daniel's blessing day

This past sunday we blessed Daniel at church. We had my parents, my grandparent(who tagged along with my parents driving out here), Brent's parents and his aunt and uncle come for it. We were so excited to have everyone come and share in this special day, but I am kicking myself that I didn't get any pictures while they were all here with Daniel and the kids. ARRGGG (Grandma Higgins if you have pictures could you send me some?)

Anyway, Brent gave a wonderful blessing and all our prayers were answered that Daniel would not cry and whine during the blessing. He just sat there and looked around at them all apparently. Here are some pictures we did take of him after church in his outfit.
Megan's proud of herself that she can now hold him like this.



Sarah was NOT happy after church, but wanted me to take a picture of her crying.

I love his pouty face in this picture, he was Done taking pictures

Our not so little family anymore

Having family here this weekend wore the kids out. One night after my family left for back to their hotel all the kids fell asleep on the couch.

And last thursday I decided to organize our toys again, a very much needed project. Here is the MESS!!!


You can see the excitement on their faces. They were so excited and kept finding toys they had been looking for!

We lined up all the baskets and 3 (yes 3) Hours later, everything had a home. (some the garbage can or the sell pile for a garage sale next summer!)

and here is a happy picture of our terrible-2's daughter actually happy

2 months

Daniel is 2 months old and just had his 2 month check up. Crazy that he is already 2 months. Sarah was telling people he was 20, now she says he is 0.

He was 13lbs even (79%), 24.5 inches long (93%), and he sounded and looked healthy they said. Him being my 4th and him acting and growing much like the other 3 makes things a little easier on me. Daniel is such a delight and we enjoy trying to get him to smile and hopefully laugh soon. He gets pretty excited sometimes and lets out little noises that could almost be considered a laugh.

We had family home evening the other night on prayer so the kids made prayer rocks. They were pretty excited to decorate their rocks.

although you can't tell by Joseph's expression here

but Sarah's expressions shows how excited she was!

On a sad note, my brother and sister-in-law lost their twin boys this past week, Kyson Gary and Timothy Trevor. She was about 19 weeks,4 months. We are sad we won't be able to see them grow up in this earth life but are so grateful that we know of our Heavenly Father's plan of eternal families and that someday they can be reunited with them. My heart goes out to them and we wish we were closer to be more support for them but I know they are surrounded by those who love them and we love them too!