What is it about mud puddles???

Late this afternoon we had a bunch of rain. I thought we could play outside a while but after yelling "STAY OUT OF THE WATER" a bunch I just gave in. The kids had fun, I had fun watching and no one melted...although Becca did fall and skin her chin (always happens to her)

So, who do you think likes Lego's the most??

GOOD DAY

Today we decided to get out of the rut of working on Sat or laying around. Ron started his day by going for a 40 mile bike ride with some friends. The kids and I headed to nearby Jenks for the annual Herb festival. It is fun to walk around and see a lot of local farms out with plants/flowers. The kids just enjoyed the blow-up jump toys and toy trains, and of course a great big corn dog (which still disgusts me!) Brayden was finally fever free and was able to ride his bike the entire way. For some afternoon fun we drove out to a state park and had some fun flying our kites. They were actually having a kite day for the kids complete with face painting, pony rides, and kite making. Brayden spent most of his time throwing rocks in the lake-typical. Becca actually had fun flying the kites and trying to get them in the air. Andrea just tried to keep up with everyone. She got right on that pony like no big deal-totally different from Becca at this age, who wouldn't go within 4 feet of the pony's. Funny thing today was she got right on and when the pony started to walk she let out a little yell but a with a big grin-so cute. I do have to say that we miss the sands of lake MI, laying on a cement pad next to the lake listening to the kids throw rocks was not quite as relaxing/enjoying as the soft hot sands of lake MI.

ANOTHER WEEK

We sanded down some of our old wooden shoes....the kids are pretty excited to wear them and see Grandma and Grandpa (even if it isn't for a couple weeks)

Andrea is always my little butterfly when the girls are playing princesses

Thankfully today brings an end to another week. Not a lot has changed and we are still struggling with a sick little boy. Not a fun week for anyone since Brayden didn't get to go to school today and much of the rest of the week was spent teetering between healthy and sick. He has been having fevers that come on and off through out the day. It is sad to see because he wants so badly to play outside-shot hoops and hit golf balls but after an hour I usually find him laying on the couch. Unfortunately when he is feeling bad he is also not his easy going/happy self making it hard for anyone to get along with him-including myself. We have checked off Strep, and Mono from the list of sicknesses....I am pretty sure our Dr is getting a little sick of seeing the bunch of us. Today we read Marsupial Sue at least three times in the waiting room-I am ready to bring my own books.

Becca has been feeling great but has been stuck at the house with out anyone to play with besides Andrea. Thankfully she can be a happy easy going girl when she sees the need and for the most part this week she has been wonderful.

Andrea continues to grow and change, she is such a goof ball and copy's anything Becca or Brayden does or says. Her favorite thing to say is ME TOO. It seems like it was just yesterday that Becca was her size and learning to talk.

Of course the heat starts and our air conditioning which has been fading for the past couple of years has decided to just give in this season. I have concluded I very much dislike having people in my house and having to have a schedule around their appointment times. In fact I really don't understand why they even need to be at my house at all. For the most part they look at the air conditioner and furnace then ask if they can use my kitchen table. I think it should require a little more work on their behalf seeing as it is looking to cost us a bundle!

IS IT SUMMER ALREADY????

It was a hot day today, in the nineties. Cold to instant HOT, HOT.....what happen to spring??? The kids wanted to know when they could go to the pool. Sad to say they don't open for a while. So we did the next best thing and set up the sprinkler. What a difference from last year. Becca, who wouldn't go near any cold water last year was running in and out having a blast. Brayden was the one not going in because it was too cold, although he did think it was pretty funny to sit on the sprinkler. Somehow I ended up at the zoo today. I vaguely remember telling myself last year or the year before that the zoo was off limits once the heat kicked in and if school was still in session. Guess I didn't learn my lesson because once again I found myself dragging a couple very hot and crabby kids through mobs of school kids, sweating buckets....not my idea of a good time. Although, thankfully we were with a group of friends making it durable. Hopefully I can remember for next year!


This is where the kids love to play-such a mess but very entertaining.

Becca loves the sprinkler, she would run through and just scream and giggle

This is all Brayden liked doing, besides trying to get water in a cup to make mud...such a boy.

Why do they always have to try to drink the water??

This is where Andrea spent a good portion of her time, at a distance watching her crazy siblings.

THE KIDS

Seems like Andrea is just growing and changing everyday, and not always for the better. The little stinker is full of her own ideas. She now thinks that just because she can look cute and say please she can do what every she pleases. The time has come for DISCIPLINE....not fun, and she has one strong little will. Lets just say last night she went to bed only having eaten yogurt for dinner. It all culminated down to her not wanting to eat her food at the table, and after sitting in time out twice we said enough and she lost her food. Sounds cruel but listening to a little one scream and throw a fit all the while knowing what she was doing can make you stick to your guns (I think both Becca and Braydens' eyes were about to pop out of their face). Anyway this morning she wanted to sit in the high chair with her baby-something I could accommodate-she really is a funny little girl/ rough and tumble-able to keep up with her big brother Brayden.




The week is great weather for working in the yard. Today we all picked out flowers-not that bad when the store has some big trikes for kids to ride. I am sure they didn't count on Brayden flying all over, but we gave the older ladies a good laugh this morning ( I almost forgot Andrea as she spent the time laying on the bottom of the flower cart on her belly, under all the flowers)

Becca was my big helper. She is so insightful and after watching me plant a couple she tried her hand at it. It was so fun to watch-she even loosened the roots before putting it in the ground. You can't tell very well from the pictures but she had her nails painted, per her request. Girly girl who still loves to dig in the dirt. Becca is also going through a phase which she expects the world to be handed to her on a silver platter. How to teach this little girl to have a grateful heart seems daunting lately.

This is what Brayden loves to do. Not the greatest video but he loves to toss up balls and hit them one after another. No broken windows yet, I don't know where else he can practice.

SOMETHING NEW

Finishing the bike portion, on to the final run.

The transition area-full of bikes with every ones gear laid out. Ron had fun watching people run from the pool....one guy couldn't find his bike, another couldn't find her way out of the transition area. I can't say anything because my mind was not fulling functioning after exiting the pool.

Coming into the finish....one mile of the two was a huge hill. Definitely not an easy finish, they made you work for it.

One sprint triathlon completed. I was finished almost a whole hour before Ron-a huge spread depending on when you started your swim. (the slow got to go first!)

Today Ron and I both completed something new, something I have been wanting to try for some time but lacked the confidence to try. We both finished our first triathlon. Okay so it was only a sprint triathlon but still....we had a lot of fun. Ron had an awesome race, he was in a great pack of swimmers and was able to hold a nice steady pace. I on the other hand felt like I was in a fish bowl about to drown. I just kept picturing myself coming up for air and then sinking down to the bottom among the other fish....the mind can be a cruel thing! It was a horrible mental experience (thankfully only 400m) and one of the few times in my life I really was going to quit. Thanks to some friends for yelling and getting my head back in the game. The biking portion was 12 miles of up and down hills. Sounded and looked pretty bad but actually turned out to be a lot of fun once I figured out the best gears to use-flying down the hills was great fun. It took me about 50 min and I think Ron smoked me in about 36min. On to the run, which I felt like laughing most of the way because I felt so funny. My legs were so stiff and my feet were numb from biking. I felt like I was running on pegs legs without joints and feet. It was only a two mile run which by the time I started to loosen up and find a rhythm I found I was crossing the finish line. I don't have my time but Ron again did great and ran around a 7:30M/Mile. Overall it was a fun experience and lots of fun doing it with Ron. We were spaced so far apart in the swim portion that we were both able to see each other race. I love being able to do some of these things today and both have a great time.

The kids on the other hand got to sleep in and spend the morning with a sitter. It worked out great as she was from our church so they were still about to make it to service and Sunday school. Brayden has been big into going to the ORU baseball game-mainly to catch foul balls. The sitter told us that as they drove by ORU coming home from church Brayden asked if the lights were on over the field. He then asked if she had her wallet because if the lights were on then they could go to a game. We did end up going for a Sunday afternoon game and he did managed to battle it out for two foul balls. Becca was all smiles because Ron decided to get popcorn, something we don't normally do. Seem like a pretty full day for a sunday, not the norm but a still a good day.

RAINY DAY

My silly Becca, so fun and silly.

Lets just say we have been pretty much unproductive today. It has been rainy and cloudy for most of the day. Brayden continues to have a fever and complain of basically every ache you can think of. We actually ended up loading up everyone and having a Dr look at him because I thought he had strep, nope just an annoying virus. So we did was the kids love most-MOVIE DAY. We watched a movie for most of the morning and I decided to just sit and watch as well, kind of nice to just sit around for a morning.

Becca and Andrea have been the best of buds lately and are so fun to watch play and interact. The other day I took Andrea to church with out the other kids. It was so sweet to hear her little voice ask for Becca when we got out of the car and when I picked her up from nursery, Becca?? They both can play in their little imaginary world, full of giggles, the one bad thing is the things little Andrea learns from the older two. Guess who can shake their booty?? yeah, just what I want my one and half year old to be doing- even if she thinks it is just the sillies thing.

BIRTHDAY BOY

Happy fifth birthday to my big boy Brayden. This is the great face he decided was the one he was sticking with for most of the pictures today (incredible hulk is lurking again!) We started the day by listening to his birthday song, Andrea loved it and danced all over-Brayden was more excited about what presents he was getting.

He got to open one gift before school. It was an incredible hulk bubble kit which he had wanted from walmart. He wanted it so badly about 3 months ago he hid it behind another toy display-after realizing that it was still there months later I bought it (about a fourth the original cost!) I don't think they knew it existed.

Ron's great idea was this basketball hoop. The benefits of living in an neighborhood where family's kids are off to college or married is they all want to get rid of things. This hoop being on of those items. Brayden loved it and made five points in a row (granny style)...he was so excited.

No we don't usually have this for breakfast but Brayden got to pick his cereal, Ron was pretty excited as well. We opened cards before school, Brayden was pretty impressed that he got money in some of them-for free! I didn't get a picture but he headed to school with some fun cookies for a special class snack. (yes, I managed to hold Andrea's hand and a box of cookies up two flights of stairs.)

Thanks for all the phone calls. Brayden loved hearing who was calling-even if he didn't talk for long.

His requested chocolate cake. We celebrated after a short dinner, the hardest part for Brayden was waiting for Ron to come home. Although by this point he was pretty much biting the dust-school wears him out and birthday stuff on top of it makes for a pretty tired little guy.

He got to open the rest of his gifts-the girls were great and just sat and watched. I think it would have been a different story if the stuff was more girly.

Thanks for all the calls, cards and gifts. If we missed your call today we are so sorry, it seems that there is just never enough time in one day. I think we wore Brayden out. Sad to say by the end of the day Brayden was not acting himself and Becca was running a temp, so church was skipped and early to bed.

The evening begins, I arrived home from church to find a quite sick Brayden with his typical high temp, Not a great ending for a very fun day.

FIND IT YOURSELF!!

T-ball game again tonight-yes Brayden did play and had a great time but I figured I needed to give him a little break picture wise. He had a lot of fun and is getting better at not freaking out when he doesn't know what to do. Lots of smiles tonight and not as many serious stares.

I don't know if I am expecting too much from my kids at their age but the past couple of days a couple things have been driving me nuts. Mainly that I spend a good portion of my time trying to find things of theirs that they are unable to find or just completely blind that they just don't see them. For instance, this was just today. SHOES, always an issue, the kids know they are responsible for finding them so after Becca couldn't find her shoes she came out into the kitchen with two different shoes complete with wrong feet telling me that she just wanted to mix them today. This was great for a while but not for an outing-it would be one thing if they were on the correct feet. Anyway, you think I could find the other shoe??? Not a chance, and our house is not that big and we have not been outside as our backyard is one big mud pit. Long day made short it was found much later-guess.....on the top bunk-what!!! Next on the list is Andrea's lovie which by the way has been missing since 10am this morning, I have walked the house at least 20 times looking for that thing. Thankfully we have a back-up so I am giving up the search. Brayden's puppy also made an escape, found after much searching on my part buried deep in Becca's bed-you would think I would remember he has been sneaking into her bed to sleep a little faster. On to my biggest kid/husband who wanted me to take his glove to Brayden's t-ball game tonight. All kids loaded, car running and I remember his request so out I jump and run through the house once again looking for something that I have no clue where it could be-three passes later...FORGET IT, he can play catch without the glove. Guess what I found back in my car-yeah, his glove under the third layer of sippy cups, papers, coats, diapers ahhhhhhhh, I am so sick of searching for things. This was after I spend a good portion of my energy's last night searching for his swimming goggles. Next on the list is the Lincoln log box which somehow disappeared.

Oh-please don't respond and give me tips on organization...we have cubbies, bins, hooks but my life is to short to spend my day making sure everything is were it should be....I just waste my time looking for everything-HA!

EASTER

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED....if you are from my side of the family hopefully you got your response correct. We had a wonderful Easter, aside from the endless rain and occasional thunder. Church service was such a wonderful celebration with brass and choir. There is always something to getting to sing Christ the Lord is Risen today with a great chorus. Hope everyone had a wonderful day with family or friends. We enjoyed dinner with friends a great substitute for out of state family. We will see about bedtime, with the busy morning and dinner no one got up from naps till 5:30pm!

So just a couple shots of the kids, no sun today so I had to settle for flash....which I struggle with.

ANOTHER WEEK

We have not been up to a whole lot the past couple of days. With company gone and us still recovering from vacation we have not done a whole lot. We did have a couple nice days and I have been able to run out doors, which is a very nice change from the endless/boring treadmill. I actually was able to get out and go biking/picnic with the girls for a morning something we love to do but we seem to have either been too busy or the weather has not cooperated.
Actually what we have spent a good chunk of time doing this week is exercising-Ron in particular. He continues to ride his bike to and from work and usually runs on his lunch hour. On top of that this week he decided to check out a biking group that meets on Wednesday and rides. I have to have him tell his version of the evening but lets just say he was beat when he road into the garage-thirty miles at some break neck speeds made for quite the work out and also gave him his first flat. We both also got in a 14.5 mile run which is very time consuming as neither of us was motivated to get up early. With biking and swimming my mileage has lessened so it was a stretch for my body to increase this week.
This is also the first year that the kids have been understanding the story of Easter, or at least they can tell you about the death and resurrection of Jesus. It has been fun as this holiday is one of my favorites/most meaningful. Such an amazing relief that someone would die to take away my endless sins and there is nothing I need to do but give him my heart in return. Out church has been great about having childcare during some additional services this week.
One cute thing with the kids. We have adjusting to a normal bedtime routine and beds. Brayden has been up multiple times with multiple complaints or requests. He was reprimanded and severely warned. Becca on the other hand I think listens to all this and doesn't dare say a word. In fact the other night when I went to bed I discovered that she had taken off her pull-up, gone potty, got a stool to reach her pull-ups, put a new one on and put herself back to bed. What a shock coming from a girl who crys when asked to put on her shoes because she can't do them....they are Velcro slip ons. Brayden has decided to impose on Becca and since I didn't listen to all his complaints about the dark, closets, doors..... I found him in bed with Becca last night both sleeping soundly. Great with me, as long as they both sleep till morning.

PRETTY QUIET

Our company headed out this morning so our house have been pretty quiet without an additional three other kids around. Brayden kept asking me who was going to play tennis and baseball with him....over and over, until I ended up playing-which actually was fun.

So we decided to get back into a little routine and headed to the library for storytime. The kids enjoy it even though they are about the oldest kids there. Story time for their ages is either in the evening or on school days. The purpose of storytime is to give us something to do during the day and by evenings bedtime is most of the agenda! After some lunch and a video everyone went down for naps. Amazingly it was a day where all three slept, I almost lost Andrea on the ride home from the library but food managed to keep her awake. Andrea was so tired that after sleeping 2 hours she awoke but promptly fell back asleep on the couch for another hour, while the other two where awake. I got a peak inside her mouth and found four molars poking through. This might explain some of the long nights we have been having-I might have a little more sympathy at 2am tonight.....maybe.

I also decided today to cut Becca's hair. I have come to terms with the fact that she is not going to have long hair and I am not going to be the mom that has daughters in pig tails. So, we cut it and it actually looks just fine. It curls better and she likes it. So if your child has hair enjoy doing it for me and never complain about having to get your childs hair cut every couple of months. This was Becca's second hair cut in her life.

A Full Day

http://picasaweb.google.com/RB.Haveman/DekruyterTulsaVisit#

The kids had fun collecting balls at a couple ORU baseball games.

Everyone getting to participate with the lent devotionals that the Dekruyters brought.

A first for our family-dying Easter Eggs. All the kids had fun except Andrea who screamed most of the time as she wanted to drink the dye.

This is what Jack loves to do-hours he lays with this computer.

The house has not had a lot of quiet moments these past couple of days. Today we had a lot of fun with Amy, Dave and kids. After braving the park, which we had totally to ourselves seeing as we are the only crazy people to head out in 40 degree weather we decided on the Aquarium. We actually went to see something new this time-a shark feeding. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved watching the sharks eat the squid, shrimp and fish. Seems like although we might go quite a bit we always learn something new. Today was the spitting fish-did you know that there are fish that spit out of the water to catch their food???? Dave actually saw them in action.

The kids have been busy, even though it was very cold today they had a great baseball game outside. The boys are very funny and just love to run the bases. Brayden doesn't really care about getting out he just sees how far he can make it before getting out.

We thankfully found some new girl bikes and so Becca could join in the evening bike ride. What a bunch with 2 three year olds on training wheels, two 4year olds on big bike plus a stroller, scooter and dog.

Tonight we had a collective birthday celebration for the month of April-Brayden and Peter. We spent part of the morning baking a checkerboard cake with LOTS of helpers, who were mainly in it for the cleaning up part which always involves a lot of licking. It will be sad to see them head out tomorrow as the kids have just loved all the extra attention and other kids to play with. Although it has been busy we have had a lot of fun memories.

Yes-I do have to say that I survived this past week and weekend mainly do to the fact that Sat was girls day and night away (thanks to a wonderful husband). Yup-we headed down to Ok city for the day and I actually was able to get a good nights sleep with out being interrupted with crying, food requests or bad dreams-WONDERFULLY RELAXING.