Ready...Set...Go!

It's official: we now have a crawler.

And boy is he fast.

I now spend my days frantically picking up small objects off the floor and yelling at the older boys to pick up their Legos and Nerf darts. Nathanael is obsessed with those bright orange Nerf darts for some odd reason...it must be how boys are wired. It's like he has x-ray vision and can spot them behind walls or something. Heaven help me. Anyway, here are some photos of our little crawler in action...

4th of July = Fun, Fireworks, and Family

This 4th of July was what all holidays should be like (minus the man-eating mosquitoes of course)... Being back in your hometown, surrounded by family and friends, watching cousins make memories, relaxing at the lake, no real schedules, sleeping in, letting Grandma and Grandpa spoil your kids, slowing the pace of life, and just enjoying each moment as is comes.

We traveled back "home" to South Dakota for the 4th and were so blessed to spend a week with both sides of our family. The kids were in heaven playing with their cousins, swimming at the lake every day, playing cards, visiting magical Storybook Land, and watching baseball on TV (a treat since we don't get any channels at our house). Paul and I were treated with a couple double dates with his brother Dann and wife Rachel, and it reminded us that we NEED to hire a babysitter more often because we enjoy each other so much more without all the kids in tow. It was so nice to just relax and visit with all our family members, to watch Nathanael get passed around and melt people's hearts with his dimpled chin and big grin, to watch with pride as our kids performed for "Grandma's Annual Piano Recital," to see the delight spread across their faces as they received golden trophies, to simply "be" and not worry about being anywhere or being something that you're not. There truly is no place like home, and although I deeply miss living near all our family, I guess the distance just makes it that more magical to visit.

Maria's entire family...everyone is smiling with their eyes open thanks to PhotoShop
:)

Joseph and Dominic enjoying a tranquil moment at the lake

Uncle Jon and Aunt Debbie playing UNO with Michael and Dominic (our two card sharks)

Joseph playing "Fur Elise" at the piano recital

Michael getting ready to play "Old Uncle Bill"

Dominic playing the last note of "Rain Rain Go Away" (this was his first year of piano lessons and he was quite proud of himself...can you tell?) :)

All the pianists showing off their new trophies (thanks Grandma!)

Paul and his brother Dann playing "hot box" with all the cousins

Mike and Jon trying to catch the mysterious fish that kept biting the top of their feet while they were moving the boat lift. It was quite hilarious to watch two grown men cry out in pain as they got bit, and then proceed to prove their manhood by trying to catch the culprit.

After a few more bites to their feet and expletives from their mouths, they finally found the perpetrator...a bull head protecting her eggs!

Dominic beaming with joy at the lake

All the cousins swimming before a thunderstorm chased them out of the water and ruined our plans for fireworks that night

Michael with a sparkler...they are fascinating at any age

Dominic with a sparkler, a bit concerned about those shooting sparks

Joseph surrounded by smoke bombs, hoping the smoke will keep the mosquitoes away

Joseph, Elizabeth, and Dominic in awe at the fireworks lighting up the sky

I hope your summer has been a blast too!

a poem

when shadows are cast upon every corner of your soul
and selfishness weighs your heart like lead
remember the sun waits to give its warmth
its rays peeking even through curtains drawn
hoping you will notice how it illuminates
and brings joyous light no darkness can drown
making even the simplest of wild flowers
burn wildly with tranforming, selfless love
radiantly happy just to glorify the sun

Dom the Bomb's B-Day

Dominic celebrated is 5th Birthday this past weekend, a day for which he has been waiting (perhaps a better word would be "pining") for months! And the day did not disappoint. He awoke to surprise decorations and a birthday banner made lovingly by his brothers. By lunch time we had a yard full of his his best friends from church. First we ate (hot dogs for kids, chicken salad sandwiches for adults, fruit, and chips), then birthday boy opened gifts, followed by cake and ice cream, and then came the event they had all been waiting for: a water balloon war!!! This birthday just might have been the best one we've ever hosted...I guess you could say it was "the Bomb!" Here are some of the highlights:

Our Baby is 8 Months!

Another month has flown by, and with each month our baby seems to grow faster than the last. I want to hang on to this adorable baby stage for as long as possible, but it's also so fun to watch him grow. This month Nathanael had many milestones:

• he started eating lots of table food and can pick up things like cheerios to feed himself


• he can sit up unaided


• he prefers to be on his tummy now and can push himself backwards or around in a circle to reach toys


• he is learning to get up on his knees, which means he is just days away from learning to crawl all over the house (a prospect I am dreading since it will mean that I will have to dilegently keep the floors clear of small items that he could choke on)


• he learned how to drink from a sippy cup

We spent the week of July 4th in South Dakota, and Nathanael loved every minute of it! He loved all the attention from Grandpa Pat, Grandma Theresa, Grandma Jean, and all of his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He loved dipping his toes in the lake, playing with new toys, seeing new faces, and melting people's hearts with his adorableness :) He continues to be such a happy, easy baby, filling our lives with more joy than we ever imagined. Our only challenge with him is getting him to sleep through the night. He takes two great naps during the day, but at night he keeps waking up every hour or two...mostly for comfort rather than hunger...and I just don't know how to break him of the habit. We tried having him cry it out one night, but I was crying by the end of the hour...strike one. We tried having Paul go in to hold him and get him back to sleep, but he definately wants his mommy...strike two. Does anyone have other suggestions before we strike out? Or should I just accept this very small cross, knowing that this is just a season and will soon pass? Anyway, enjoy these photos of our sweet little man...

Nathanael loves being in daddy's hands!

Nathanael spent lots of time bonding with his godfather Uncle Jon.

Most of his time, however, was spent in Grandma Theresa's loving arms.

Grandpa Pat can always make the grandkids smile with his teasing and tickles.

I can just hear Nathanael thinking, "Mommy, can we come to Grandma's house next summer too? I love it here!"