sprinter

I guess "sprinter" is a good name for the season we are currently in.  Not unlike other years, winter keeps hanging on a bit but we get a taste of spring here and there.  I'm not complaining too much, it would be nice to have warmer and dryer weather, but the way it's been has enabled Mike to still have Friday's off.  This week it looks like things are supposed to warm up a bit and be pretty nice by the end of the week, so I imagine they'll probably have  big planting day on the farm this Friday.  Which, of course, is my birthday.  :)  I've had my hubby home on Friday's much longer than expected, though, so I can't complain if his first one back is on my birthday.

Once the weather turns I really need to get cracking on some areas around the house.  One main flower bed that needs to be planted, and the garden.  We completely let the garden go last year with everything going on, so it'll take some effort to get that ship-shape again!  I have plenty to do in the house, though, until that time.  And, it still seems rather hard to get anything 'extra' done beyond the daily tasks around here.

We survived Spring Break and it really wasn't too bad.  The first day felt rather long, but after that the week went better.  Tuesday my mom, the boys, and I drove to Grand Ledge to visit my grandma.  I was SO HAPPY with how the boys behaved.  We had a very nice visit.  They played on the floor of her apartment for a while, and then we all took a walk.  Wednesday was rainy and cold, but my mom had an afternoon of activity planned for the "staycationers".  :)  My parents, my sister-in-law and her two boys, and me and my boys went out to lunch and then we had a shopping challenge at a dollar store, and then back to my parent's to play bingo.  We haven't really done a lot this weekend other than run a couple errands and go to church.  (And it's so nice!)

Jackson has still been hit or miss with his nighttime sleeping.  During the day he'll usually take at least one decent nap, which is so refreshing after months of 30 minute naps!  It seems like he may be having some trouble with the introduction of solid foods - more spitting up, not all that excited to eat, etc.  So, we'll continue to see how things go and he has a 6 month check-up next month anyways.

eventful

We've had a few fun events lately.  Last Thursday was Crazy Hair/Clothes Day at school.  I gave Caleb and Logan mohawks and sprayed their hair blue!  They also had fun digging through some of my old dress up clothes (I had just a few things that boys could wear).  In the evening was a celebration banquet for school that we very much enjoyed.

Saturday afternoon we went to a missions fundraising carnival at church.  Games, magic show, ice cream, balloon animals, prizes...  Caleb used some of his own money to buy a few raffle tickets and won a new light saber!  He had just been saying that he wanted another one because he broke his old one.

Sunday morning we had a very nice Easter service at church, and then dinner at my parent's house with part of my family.

Today was Camoflage/Animal Print Day at school, so Caleb and Logan were excited to dress up in their camo stuff.  And, to celebrate the end of Reading Month they had ice cream at the end of the day and I was able to go help serve.  It was for all the elementary and it was fun to see all the kids.  The boys are going to have to up their game if they want to win any prizes for reading next year!

I believe it was last week Caleb and Logan got report cards sent home.  We are so proud of the reports we get!  Both behaviorally and academically they are doing well.  Sometimes we struggle with the homework, but due to attitudes (Logan) not abilities.  Thankfully I don't think he acts that way at school, I sure hope not anyways.

Jackson has been gradually doing better sleeping!!!  There was quite a stretch there that he was doing bad at night again, but for the most part he's being doing well.  The last two nights he's woken up once, but in comparison that's not too bad.  And, he's generally been taking at least once decent nap a day.  He just seems so big now!  Definitely not a little baby anymore.  He loves watching what's going on, he bee-bops around in his jumper, he "talks" a whole bunch, and I can carry him on my hip.  It does seem like his spitting-up has gotten worse, so that kinda stinks, but oh well.  Not like we haven't dealt with that before!

sick

In regards to my last post, it took Caleb the rest of the week to recover from the sickness.  :(  Logan bounced back pretty quick and was able to go back to school on Wednesday.  Mike did end up getting sick as well, but Jackson and I stayed healthy.  Phew!  I was sick in bed this past Friday, but it wasn't the same thing and thankfully passed fairly quickly.  We thought the Friday before was Mike's last Friday off for the winter, but we're both so glad he ended up having that day off yet.

We've still been able to lay pretty low and not do much, and it's been WONDERFUL.  I know I've said it before, but after the crazy 2015 we had we are really, really enjoying just being together as a family and not doing too much.  It's not that we don't do anything, we just try to be choosy and not get over-committed.  :)  Last Wednesday my friend Jen came over for an early supper (she teaches an evening class at WMU in GR), and then we were able to have Mike's mom and stepdad over for dessert to hear about their recent trip to Kenya.

Saturday morning Mike and I were able to attend a producer's event at Byron Center Meats.  It was really interesting, got us talking about the beef business, and thanks to my bro and sis-in-law taking the kids we were able to do that and have a few hours to ourselves afterwards (which we spent driving to three different Meijer's tracking down a pair of work boots for Mike...but, hey, when you have four small children, time together is time together!).

Caleb has been eating A LOT lately.  Like, third and fourth helpings of stuff.  I'm sure this is only a foreshadowing of the teenage years.  He is not allowed to grow out of his clothes before the end of the school year!!  

Logan has been getting more and more interested in art activities.  Drawing, coloring, cutting out shapes, etc.  It's fun to see what he does and hear the story behind his pictures.

Levi is still my sweetie pie, but sometimes Mike and I refer to him as Mr. Bossy Boss Man or something of the like.  He seems to think he knows best on various things.  He's always got a solution or explanation, and likes to micromanage.  :)  He still takes a good afternoon nap (and clearly needs it if it gets skipped), and goes to bed fine at night.  He's had a harder time waking up to go pick up Caleb and Logan from school.  :(

Jackson.  Oh, my little baby, Jackson.  What can I say?  My most challenging baby, yet he smiles at me and I just melt and forgot all the troubles.  Today he's actually napping decent, but I'm worried he might be coming down with something.  In the last week he had a couple good nights, but otherwise it's been 2-6x/night that he wakes up...  Not cool.  He doesn't need to eat, but cries and cries until I put the pacifier back in and re-swaddle.  He generally doesn't nap all that great, unless it's a school day and he'll be nice and sound asleep when I have to get him up to load him in his car seat to go pick up Caleb and Logan...  I just can't seem to get in a real regular routine with him, and that's a real struggle for me, but I'm doing my best to try and be flexible.  :)  Jackson loves his jumper, and he loves his big brothers.  He seems pretty strong, and when laying on his back will often try to sit up - just looks like he's doing crunches.  :)

It still seems crazy that we lifted our house and dug a basement.  And, I still think over the headaches and money, and wonder whether it was worth it, and then I listen to Mike playing a rousing game of balloon volleyball or freeze tag with the boys down there while I feed Jackson upstairs and I know it was.  :)

wash

We have been very blessed in that our children have always had great Sunday School teachers.  Levi is nearing the end of his time in the 2's & 3's class, and he has such a sweet and very devoted teacher, Miss Stephanie.  She does all sorts of activities to get the kids engaged in that week's lesson.  Yesterday the story was Mary pouring expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, and they talked about ways to show love.  Each child was sent home with a small vial of "perfume" (water) in a special little box - Levi poured it on my feet and it was just the sweetest, cutest thing.  It was cold, and he had to refill in between feet, but it was pretty neat.  :)

Three out of the four boys are sick.  Fever and coughing.  Logan came down with it yesterday, so he didn't go to school at all today; and I got a call at lunchtime to come get Caleb.  Their first school absence!  Levi woke up with it this morning as well.  Jackson had his 4 month visit to the doctor this morning.  He's healthy and growing!  He is 15 lb 9 oz, which is 49th percentile; and 27" long, which is 98th percentile!!  :)  He did get a few shots today, and took them like a champ.  Stopped crying pretty quickly.

Caleb and Logan don't have school anyways tomorrow, so hopefully one more day to recover and kick this bug will be enough so that they can go back to school on Wednesday!

marching on

Last Friday Caleb and Logan had a friend from school over for the day so that his mom could take his older siblings skiing.  Since the three of them together make up half of the boys in the Kindergarten class, I figured we might as well invite the others over for a while as well.  So, one of the other boys was able to make it and come for a couple hours.  So glad we got some snow and they could play outside!  They had a blast sledding behind the tractor and exploring in the woods.  

This past Monday, right after school, we split for Frankenmuth to spend the night at Zehnder's and play at their indoor waterpark.  (This trip is very much looked forward to and talked about for the entire year.)  It went well with the six of us, but I am glad we did only one night.  :)  Sleeping arrangements were Caleb and Logan on the pull-out couch.  Mike and Levi in one bed, me in another, and Jackson in a portacrib right next to me.  In the waterpark was a little challenging since they totally outnumber us, but we just had to trust that Caleb and Logan have vastly improved in their swimming, and that there are lots of lifeguards watching.  It started snowing like crazy on Tuesday, and our drive home took TWICE as long as it should have.  I was very relieved when we arrived home safe and sound.

Yesterday Jackson hit the 4 month mark!  For all the squawking and fussing he does he's a super smiley guy, and that smile melts my heart every time.  He hasn't been sleeping the best overnight, but I haven't had to actually feed him in the night, just get up and give him his pacifier.  So, not great but could be worse.  He's still not a good napper.  I keep holding out hope...  Last week I had some luck getting him to sleep in his car seat - he would do his usual 30 minutes or so in his crib, then when he would wake up I would put him in his car seat, rock him for a while and he'd eventually fall back asleep for a while.  Hasn't been working anymore, though.  This afternoon I didn't have anything real pressing to do, so I just snuggled him so that he would get a nap in.  Love doing that when I can, but obviously I can't do that all the time so he's got to learn how to nap in his crib!  Doing my best to be flexible and go with the flow, but it's really hard for me to not know what kind of schedule to expect each day.  :)  He eats 5 or 6 times a day.  I suppose I'll probably start some cereal soon.  Jackson loves to watch his brothers.  I wonder what kind of trouble he's going to get into with them...  Most of the time, if I'm within range, his eyes are glued on me.  I love it!  He's pretty vocal, and I just love baby noises!  It's a little sad that he's growing so fast, but it's so much fun having him become more interactive.  He's wearing 6 month sized clothes, but some of them are getting tight.  

I certainly have my 'days', but I am crazy about my boys and am loving my role as 'mom' more than ever!

control

I'm not sure that I'll ever really truly learn, but somehow the Lord keeps finding ways to gradually teach me that I can't always be in control...  I kinda like to have my day planned out and be in control of the situations, but this fourth child is proving to be a bit of a challenge.  :)  He's gone back to napping only 20-30 minutes at a time, but for the most part I think I'm doing better at just rolling with it.  It's okay if I'm not getting other stuff done, I won't have a baby to snuggle forever.

I've also taken a different approach to my household management in order to hopefully lessen my stress, especially on Monday's.  I was seeing a pattern of Monday's being really difficult (to the point of me standing there in tears holding a crying baby, and feeling like I just can't do this (mother four children, cook, clean, be a good wife, etc, etc...) and I don't know how I'm going to go on).  After thinking it through I think one of the problems is that I wasn't doing as much around the house on the weekends, so when Monday rolled around I felt overwhelmed with everything that should get done. I am now trying consistently stay on top of things so that I don't find myself on a day with way too much to accomplish.  Rather than waiting until it's "too late" with the cleaning, I'm trying to just focus on one area each day, and not let it get out of control.  This past Monday was definitely better, and today I was able to have a friend over for coffee without scrambling to clean the house because it was already in decent shape.

Two weeks ago Caleb woke up sick and threw-up several times throughout the morning.  I felt so bad because he kept puking so much and was getting so weak.  But, by mid-afternoon that day he was ready for a snack, and he was back to his normal self by evening.  And, no one else got it!  Phew!!

This past Monday I was able to go help out at Caleb and Logan's school Valentine's party.  I love having the chance to see them at school, and interact more with their friends.  It's also a nice chance to meet some of the other moms.

We've still got full on Star Wars fever over here.  The guys just keep watching the movies over and over again (a little bit each evening).  I do enjoy it too, and it's fun to have something that Mike enjoyed as a child that he can now get into with our kids, and they'll hopefully be able to with their kids someday.  :)  I wonder for how long we'll be as into it as we are now, though.  :)

Caleb and Logan are doing well at school, and it's really neat to see them learning to read and write!  We've mentioned to Levi how we're planning to send him for one day of preschool next year.  Today he said something to me about being worried there wouldn't be a backpack for him.  :)

For the most part Jackson is doing well at night, so at least he's got that going for him.  :)  He's becoming more and more vocal, which is one of my absolute favorite things.  Love that smile with his little tongue sticking out, love the sounds he makes when he's "talking" to me.  I love watching him interact with and smile at his brothers, they love him so much and it's really sweet to see.  

3 months

As of yesterday, Jackson is 3 months old!  He's definitely growing, and becoming very interactive, which is so much fun to see.  He smiles a lot, coos, and almost laughs.  He mostly keeps his eyes on Mom, but enjoys watching Dad and his big brothers some, too.  :)  We had a miserable day on Monday - lots of crying inconsolably and hardly any napping.  But, yesterday Jackson was like a completely different baby.  Not just different from the day before, but different from the whole first three months.  He actually napped!  For like a couple hours at a time!!  This is completely unheard of with him.  As much as I was doing my best to get used to and work with the 20-30 minute naps, there were still times that it was very frustrating, so I sure hope we've turned a corner here.  Just a few minutes ago he had been napping for about 45 minutes and woke up, but I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM TO GO BACK TO SLEEP IN HIS BED.  This is huge (in case you can't tell).  Holding my breath that we're starting on a new trend of taking longer naps...  Jackson had been eating 6x a day still, but with his long naps yesterday he dropped a feeding and still made it through the night fine.  And, oh yeah, I can't forget this part (because Jackson will really appreciate this someday) - for the last month he's pooped only every 2-3 days.  On the one hand it's nice to mostly only change wet diapers, but when that one dirty comes, boy oh boy!!  Yikes!  It's not a nice one.  And, he never does it for Mike, only me.

One of the fun conversations we've had with the boys lately is about all the things they can do when they're adults and have their own house.  You know, things like jump on the couch, eat whatever they want, jump off the top bunk, etc.  Mike even made sure to point out that they can even bulldoze their house if they want, but they CAN'T burn it down as that's illegal.  :)

This morning Caleb and Logan had a two hour delay for school.  Unfortunately, I didn't discover that until I got there and the parking lot was empty.  Not only that, we somehow got loaded up early today, so I drove around a bit before heading to school!  I ended up getting groceries with all four.  Not ideal, but we managed.  :)  That was actually the first time I've taken them all with me to the store.