Monster Jam

Before Christmas Auntie J said she wanted to take Charley to Monster Jam come March. Well, she was true to her word and to Monster Jam he went...along with Mommy, P, G, Mimi & Grandpa (Daddy had to work otherwise he would have been there).

Armed with our earplugs, ear muffs, juice and snacks to the Van Andel we went. 

The kids had so much fun. I was pleasantly surprised how well the all did with their 'ear muffs'. They all kept them on the whole time and didn't cry or complain about it at all. It was really loud so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

G loved it the most. When the older two were ready to leave Baby Biscuits cried and wanted to stay and see more 'monstar tucks'. 

Don't be fooled by the straight face, he loved it. He is just taking it all in.

Me & my Chuck Diesel

Mimi & C

All tuckered out.

Ears Pierced

After months of talking about it and trying to convince P to pierce her ears she finally decided Valentine's Day was going to be the day. About two weeks before a mom of a friend from school texted me that P had told her daughter she was going to get her ears pierced on Clementines day. :) Needless to say this is the first time I heard an exact day and after talking with her about it sure enough that is what she wanted to do. 

So our Valentine's day date looked like this...

Dinner with the kids at Wendy's

Happy Girl

 
She was so brave and didn't even flinch much less cry.
She loves her new sparkly pink heart earrings, which she picked all on her own but I thought it was appropriate seeing as she got them on Valentine's day.
My girl is getting so big!
Love you Baby Girl. You are so beautiful inside and out.

P - 5.5

(Written February 13, 2014)

Today P is five and a half. When I say that out load it doesn't seem real. In six short months she'll be 6? How can this be? It's such a big number. I look back on all her pictures and see how 'grown-up' she has gotten even since her birthday in August. Sh e amazes me every day. I am in awe of her kindness, imagination and intelligence. I pray daily I parent her in such a way that nurtures and grows these traits and not hinders them.

Little lady - 

You are so loved. 

You make my heart smile just thinking about you.

You are so Kind.

There are so many times in any given day where I 'catch you' putting the needs of someone else in front of your own. You like to make your brothers happy and to see them smile. You like to make things such as bracelets and pictures for your friends and for your grandparents and of course for Ava...oh and mommy & daddy too. :) 

You are so creative.

Weather it is music or art you are always creating. You make up songs and sing them all day. You sing your feeling, your wants, your needs. You sing songs about the boys, for the boys and I think to drown out the boys sometimes. You love your art box and can create beautiful artwork in no time at all using a multitude of different things.

You have an amazing imagination.

You are always pretending. It's one of my favorite things about you. You pretend with Charley, with Grant, and all alone. Give you any sort of toy, doll, figurine, stuffed animal and you will play. Not everyone can pretend. It's a gift little one and I hope you don't lose this ability for a long, long time! 

You love your little brothers.

I've already touched on this a bit but man oh man do you love these boys. You would much rather be around them than not. However, there are times when you like a little 'me time' which is totally understandable but after a short time by yourself you are always ready to play more. 

You love school.

You've made some great friends this year in Young 5's. I love hearing about your days and who you played with at 'choice time'. Rarely do I hear the exact same group of names with says something about you. You like to play with everyone and you are friendly to everyone. I love that.  You are working on your letters and numbers and are beginning to 'read' homemade books by word recognition and by looking at pictures for clues. It's fun to listen to you 'read' at home all by yourself.

You are developing so great friendships.

 I touched on this above but there are three little girls in your class who you seem to talk about most and I can't wait to see your friendships grow and mature and change over the next few year. Another thing that I just love is when you play with 'friends' you've never met before and after the play time is over you talk about them and want to play with them again as if you've been friends forever. You are just a genuinely kind, sweet, person!

You are beautiful both inside and out.

I hear it all the time how people think you are so beautiful on the outside, which I have to agree is very, very true but most of all people think you are beautiful on the inside and that is what matter and that is what makes my heart happy.

 God made you special.

God has a plan for you.

God is good.

Seek God and grow in his love and grace.

I love you so much Sweetheart!

Love, Mommy

Winter Wonderland

This year's winter has been amazing in my personal opinion. I love snow and for the past two years have was beginning to think my children would never get to experience a 'real' winter because there has been hardly any snow. I was wrong. 

The kids have loved being able to play outside, build snowmen and snow forts, shedding, being pulled behind the three wheeler and snowmobiles. It's just been great all the way around and I am thankful for all this snow. 

She loves to eat snow.

Uncle Chew & Kellan road over to play on New Year's Day

Not happy about having to come back inside.

Playing at Travis & Tyler's house.

Oh boy! This could be trouble.

Ready to ride.

"Do I have something on my face mom?"

Daddy may not love the snow as much as mommy because this is how he spends a lot of his time.

Snack time in the barn.

Christmas Program 'Star'

Back in December P participated in our Church's Christmas program. 

The program was set up like this, the kids choir put on a little program with songs and speaking parts and sang the verses while the little kids (Kindergarten and under) sang were the chorus.

I had ask P earlier in the season if she would like to sing in the choir because our choir director said if younger kids wanted to participate they could with permission. She loves to sing and loves music so I thought she would jump on the opportunity but nope, I got this, "No mom, I only want to sing my own songs." Ok then. 

She was however, excited about the program the day of. I got her all dressed up because that is what she wanted. Once the program started the choir kids came in and the littles (P's age and under) were invited up to the front. 

Part of the skit portion was our choir director asking for 'help' from the kids. Well my sweet little nugget didn't understand this was all planned out and had her hand raised high everytime a volunteer was asked for. Bless her, she loves the spot light. Not sure where she gets this because Daddy and I are 'behind the scenes' kind of people. 

Our very kind choir director, after seeing her hand raised every time, on the final one said she should go up and help the girls 'read'. So up there she went and just stood beside the two girls reading. 

It was really cute. I guess next year I will just have to put her in choir. :)