Busy, busy!

Well folks things are going to start getting buys around here - even more so than daily life with three children, a husband, college classes, and keeping up a house!  Tomorrow Hayden has his first baseball game and Nile starts practice.  That means we will have games two nights a week and practice two nights a week for the next several weeks.  Then we move on to four games a week.  The boys have 5 weeks of school left and Tulip Time is this week as well!  Unfortunately the weather outlook isn't real great for Tulip Time but we are praying it improves before the end of the week. 
As far as my schooling goes I have already finished one of my spring classes and have just a few weeks left in the other.  This summer I will be taking two classes as well.  I was planning on taking just one but I was able to find an online source for my Spanish classes so I will be beginning that as well.  For fall I will have two classes at Iowa and one Spanish class at a community college online.  This means that after next spring I will be done with classes at Iowa and after next summer I will be done all together!!  WOW!  It is crazy to think that I will finally have my degree and be a college graduate!  Super excited for that day to come but enjoying all I am learning at this time as well.  I am hoping my online Spanish classes go much smoother than my Latin class and I can get this all wrapped up before my baby girl is off to preschool!! 
Hopefully sometime this week I can get up a few pics from Hayden's first games. 

Letter person day

Today in Kindergarten it is dress up as your favorite letter person day.  Nile of course wanted to be Mr. N but he has a nosy nose and we weren't sure what to do with that.  When he brought home the paper for Mr. K I knew we had a winner.  Mr. K is kicking and wears a football uniform.  I talked Nile into wearing his Iowa Hawkeyes football uniform and we put some K's on the jersey and Helmet.  I also added K eye black and he looked great!  He was super excited and I cant wait to hear about his day when he gets home this afternoon!  Here are a few pics of my adorable and feisty middle child Nile Edward!


lookin tough!

Build A Bear

Aubrey received a Build-a-bear gift card for her birthday so yesterday the two of us made a trip up to DSM to make her My Little Pony.  After dropping the boys off at school we came home and finished getting ready then were on our way.  She was so excited to make her Pinkie Pie pony and pick out some other things for it.  We went to the mall first thing and there was no one else in the store so we had fun taking pictures and making her new critter.  All day she keep saying "That was fun Mom!"  We went to a few other store and played in the play area for a little while before lunch at Chick-fila.  The we got some things at Costco and headed home.  She was very well behaved and had to bring her new Pinkie Pie with us everywhere for the rest of the day.  Love my mommy and little girl time! 

New purchases

With part of our tax return this year we decided to replace the dishwasher and get new furniture for our main living room.  The dishwasher we had came with the house and wasn't working real great any longer.  I have no idea how old it was but we were ready for a new one.  One Saturday afternoon Jeremy and I made a trip up to DSM, a little date if you will, and did some shopping.  We went to Homemakers first to find a new couch.  We looked around for a while and then found some we like with the help of a salesman there.  We picked out a couch, a chair and a half, and an ottoman.  Next was Costco and then Lowes to look at dishwashers.  We debated on a few of the different models and ended up going with the one that I like the looks of from the outside.  The dishwasher was delivered the next Thursday and the furniture came yesterday.  Our furniture that was in the living room has been moved down to the basement family room.  So far I am happy with the dishwasher and the new furniture it starting to look more at home too.

Spring fever!

Well the weather around here has been a little crazy lately to say the least!  One day it is beautiful and the next super windy and cold.  We have even had enough April showers to last all month or longer in just two days!!  That being said it sounds like things may be finally turning around.  Today was beautiful and the next few days and weekend should be wonderful!  Cant wait to get the kids outside longer and more often and have some fire in the firepit on the weekends!  Here is a picture of Aubrey enjoying one of her favorite birthday presents outside this week.

1st Dentist visit

Today Aubrey had her first dentist visit.  Our dentist has kiddos start coming every six months after they are three unless you have a concern.  Aubrey never had too much trouble getting her teeth and they all came on time or a little early.  This morning Aubrey and I had appointments for cleanings and the boys went after school.  I was a little nervous as to how she would react to the whole situation.  Hayden has always done great - just as I would expect.  Nile has done great too even though I was not sure how he would react to this situation.  So I figured surely I cant be lucky enough to have all of my children do well and enjoy going to the dentist.  Turns out I am that lucky!!  Guess I should go buy a lotto ticket or something, just kidding.  But really Aubrey sat in the chair fine, let her count and clean her teeth, and let the dentist take a look too.  Everyone in the office thought she was adorable and she enjoyed chatting with them.  All four of us had good check-ups and no cavities! 

ready to get started

got the shades on for the bright light
- they were even Cinderella!



she did a great job holding "Mr. Thirsty" and
giving his "kisses" when she was told to

 

After the dentist we stopped by  Hy-Vee to get a few things with our fuel saver card.  Aubrey was very helpful and well behaved for the most part.  When we got home she dug into the petite baby carrots she had gotten at the store.  The she thought she needed a cookie and wouldn't let the subject drop so she had to go to her room for a bit.  I went to check on her since I could hear her talking and she was all tucking in her bed.  She said she was tired and didn't want to be grumpy for Build-A-Bear tomorrow so she was going to take a nap - by the way it wasn't even noon yet!  I gave her a kiss and left the room.  When I checked on her a little later she was fast asleep.  I guess the dentist was more of a tiring experience than I thought!

 

My little bookworm

All three of my children love books and to read, whatever their reading level may be, and be read to.  This month Hayden has been working on learning that you can read anywhere and anyway.  His assignment was to pick one of the options on his paper and read that way for 20 minutes.  His reading skills have improved so much this year!  He has always done well and not really struggled but now he reads big books in one sitting!  I am so proud of him and hope he continues to love reading throughout his lifetime!  Here are a few pictures of him reading. 

reading under an umbrella and outside

reading with sunglasses one

this is actually from our vacation but one of the items on
 his list was reading in your swim suit!
 

Aubrey is 3!

Well I officially no longer have any babies in the house.  Aubrey turned 3 on the 14th and we have been diaper free, with the exception of a pull up at night, for 3 1/2 months.  At Aubrey's birthday party I was reflecting on how much she has changed in the past year.  Last year when she turned 2 you was barely talking and now she talks non-stop!  She is now potty trained completely during the day.  She certainly has her little personality and lets us know what she wants ALL THE TIME!  She does not let her brothers push her around at all and prefers to tell them what to do regularly!  There is no lack for conversation or noise at our house but I am treasuring this time while Jeremy and I are the greatest people in their small worlds and know that all too soon the house will be quiet.  I have really enjoyed be able to stay home with Aubrey for the majority of her lifetime.  I did go back to work part time when she was 3 months old but then was home full time just 5 months later.  I love my boys so much but I have really enjoyed having a daughter - at least this far!  I am constantly prayer for the teen years for all three of my children but especially my daughter! 
After our trip to Disney earlier this year Aubrey had decided on a princess party - more specifically Cinderella!  I have a lot of pictures from the party - some are blurry as I have a new camera and need to read the instruction manual a little more!

all set up for the party

Aubrey's cake made by her Aunt Shauna

ready to open presents!

3!!!

reading her card with Daddy

Minnie scooter!

Minnie Mouse from Disney World

new twinkle toes

ponies!

Tangled crown from Disney World

gettin pretty!!

time for some cake

blowing out the candles

yummy frosting!

Hair

finally got my hair cut and highlighted.  it have been since august for a cut and two years for any color

 

Love having a little girl, she is finally starting to let me do a little more with her hair, as long as she can watch tv or play with the iPad that it!

closer shot of Aubrey's side french braid - stole this hairstyle from my hairdresser and her daughter!

Mother-Son bowling

This afternoon the boys and I had mother-son bowling.  This was the first year for Nile to join us.  We all had a great time.  Nile has a birthday party at the bowling alley this Saturday for a classmate so he was able to get a little practice in before that.  After bowling we all went out to Applebee's for dinner.

Happy Easter

We officially attended 4 egg hunts this year with the kids.  They have more candy than we could ever need, these are they days when I miss my candy dish at work where I would just take what we didnt liek or need and they would eat it!  We are teaching the kids that Easter is not about a bunny or eggs filled with candy but about how our Lord sent his son to this earth to die for our sins on the cross so we could spend enternity in heaven.