Ollie- 5 months

Oliver just turned 5 months last week.  He has changed so much from last month.  He is definitely a Mama's boy!  He loves his daddy but loves being with mommy.  

Ollie doesn't have much interest in rolling over just yet.  He has rolled from his belly to his back a few times but now when we put him down he just kicks his feet and is happy on his belly or back.  Adam thinks it's because I hold him too much......

He is a little drool bucket and I think those bottom teeth are close to coming in.  He loves chewing on his two fingers and anything else he can get in his mouth.  He has started blowing bubbles with his mouth and is making more cooing sounds.  He woke me up at 4 am the other night blowing bubbles and smiling!  He is such a happy boy!

Thad loves his little brother so much.  He told me the other day he can't wait for Oliver to get bigger so he can wrestle him!  It won't be long and Ollie will be down on the floor wrestling with daddy and brother.  Oliver lights up so much when he see's Thad.  He thinks Thad is the funniest person and is always laughing and smiling at him.

We gave him cereal last month and he really doesn't seem to be interested in it anymore.  The first few times we couldn't feed him enough and now he will barely open his mouth to the spoon.  I'm sure in a few more months he will change his mind.  

More Pinterest........

Thad does A LOT of art in preschool.  Every week we bring home about 4 paintings/drawings he did during the week.  I like looking at it and I don't want to shove it in a drawer to never be looked at again.  Of course I saw this idea on my new addiction- Pinterest.  Adam hung fishing wire on a couple hooks in Thad's room and now we have a nice place to display all the hard work Thad does in school!  I will rotate the artwork out and Thad likes looking at it on his wall.

Another fun project I saw on Pinterest is colored shaving cream for the bath.  We mixed food coloring in with the shaving cream and Thad had a blast in the tub.  

 By the time he was done his water was a dark purple!  I was afraid it might stain his skin but it all washed off.  

Once again I highly recommend Pinterest if you have never gone to the website.  They have so many fun ideas for all kinds of projects.  I am working on a fun one right now but can't share it just yet because the Grandparents are getting them for Christmas!

Angel turkey

Thad had a homework assignment that the whole family was supposed to work on.  We were given this turkey to disguise and use whatever materials we wanted.  It was supposed to be something that related to our family.  The teacher said past turkeys have been disguised like Elvis, clowns, ballerina dancers, etc.  We were to be as creative as we could be.  

We (I) colored the turkey normal then we needed a disguise for it.  Adam came up with a good idea.......

We decided to do an Angel turkey!  I went and got white feathers, glitter paint and some fun accessories to make the halo.    I had fun dressing the turkey up as an Angel.  I am excited to see the other turkey's at school tomorrow.

Remembering Emma

Keep in mind, at all times, that we grow the most from our greatest suffering.  As we go through it, it hurts.  But as we move through it, it also heals.  When a jug of water falls to the floor and cracks, what was hidden within begins to pour out.  When life sends you one of its curves, remember that it has come to help crack you open so that all the love, power and potential that have been slumbering within you can be poured into the world outside you.  And, like a fractured bone, we do become stronger in the broken places. 
-Robin Sharma

Today is 5 years since Emma passed away.  We remember her everyday and always wonder what she would be doing or what she would look like.  She is and will always be a big part of our lives.  She is our first born child.  Thad knows about his sister and Oliver will grow up knowing her as well.  Today is bitter sweet.  Our sweet Oliver turns 5 months on this same day.  I am so happy and thankful that we have had three children in our lives to love.  Our lives have been so blessed over these 5 years and every moment has made us who we are as a family.  The sad times have strengthened our relationship as a family and with God.  Each day is a new day, it never gets easier but we learn to cope with it as each day goes by.  

Emma's G-tube surgery was originally scheduled on October 31, 2006.  Our surgeon called and said he had to move the surgery until November 8th.  I remember being frustrated with the change because I didn't want her to have the NG feeding tube through her nose anymore.  It was uncomfortable for her and I just wanted it gone.  I am so glad the surgery was pushed back because that was 9 more days we got to spend with her.  God was giving us another week with our precious little girl.  

We didn't go trick or treating with her but she did dress up!  She was a ducky.  She didn't really like being in her costume and we always joked that she didn't want to be a duck, she wanted to be a care bear!

Over the years I have found these quotes or sayings and wanted to share some of them.  Sometimes they put things in perspective:

**When something bad happens you have three choices.  You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.

**In the happy moments praise God.  In the difficult moments seek God.  In the quiet moments trust God.  In every moment thank God.

**God doesn't give us what we can handle, God helps us handle what we are given.

**Faith- it does not make things easy it makes them possible.

**Someday everything will all make perfect sense.  So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.

You probably have noticed this quote on our blog above Emma's picture but I wanted to post it again.  Some people are afraid to bring up Emma's name to me.  Please don't be afraid to.  I love talking about her.  She lived and I want to tell her story.  Sometimes I cry while talking about her but she is my child.  

"If you know someone who has lost a child, and you're afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad by reminding them that they died--you're not reminding them.  They didn't forget they died.  What you're reminding them of is that you remembered that they lived, and that, is a great gift." ~Elizabeth Edwards

Hug your children tight today and everyday.  Don't take anything for granted.  Enjoy every minute of everyday and don't sweat the small stuff. We are not guaranteed time on this earth and at any minute our lives can change forever.  Don't have any regrets.


Love you baby girl!

Play dough and noodles

At Thad's preschool the families take turns making homemade play dough and dyed noodles for all their fun projects.  It was our turn this week and Thad was my BIG helper! 

Thad really had fun making the play dough.  I measured everything out and he poured it all in the pan to cook.

He was so excited every time I measured something out so he could pour it in.  We made 5 colors of play dough- pink, purple, yellow, blue and green.

(do you notice Ollie in the background in his swing.....he was NOT happy he had to be in the swing while we were having all the fun!)

This is the first time I made play dough and it was really neat how it smells and feels like real play dough from the store.  I had just as much fun making it and playing with it as Thad did :)

Once it cooled we divided it in bags.  

There are all kinds of recipes online but I really like this one:

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 Tbs vegetable oil

4 drops of food coloring

Mix all ingredients in pan, cook on medium heat while stirring.  Once it begins to form a thick substance put on wax paper to cool.  Store in air tight container.  

Pretty simple and fun to make!

Of course I had to keep some out for Thad to play with.

We used bow tie and pin wheel noodles and dyed them with vinegar and food coloring.  Our house smelled like vinegar all night!

I love doing things like this for Thad's school.  I love it that he likes to help me and is so proud of himself once he does something. 

A trip to Grandma's house

The boys and I went back to Kansas for a long weekend.  We always have such a good time when we go back to grandma's house.  Our schedules are always full but we have a lot to get done!

Dawson was back this weekend and Thad and him always have a good time together.

There were two things Thad wanted to do this trip, have Papa take him on a motorcycle ride and go see Papa's fire truck!

He looks like a true biker here!

Avery was a pirate for Halloween so she was practicing her pirate smile!  Poor Ollie's cheeks were red from the wind.

We have gone back to Russell the past 3 years for Halloween and walked in the parade.  We walk down Main street for about 5 blocks and then go parade around the Middle school.  Each kid gets an apple and a big candy bar.

The weather was good this year.  Thad lead the pack down Main street.  We had to remind him to slow down when he got too close to the Police truck.

Waiting to parade around the gym of the middle school.

Poor Ollie had too much fun and fell asleep.  Here is a picture of the grandkids-

Thad- ironman, Macie- witch, Hannah-Ragidy Ann, Shayna-didn't dress up, Ollie- giraffe, Jaelynne- vampire, Avery- Pirate and Dawson- Mario.

After the parade we went to the fire station so Thad could see Papa's firetruck.  He had fun climbing all around inside.

Thad wearing papa's helmet......

and boots........

and jacket.......

and he fell over after putting all that equipment on.  It was too heavy for him!

We had a big day on Saturday.  After the parade we went to Granny Mae's pumpkin patch in Dorrance.  Oliver was ready to go in his overalls.

 The pumpkin patch was really neat.  They had all kinds of things to do for kids.  Thad rode this train a few times and loved it.

 The weather was good except for the wind.  It was so windy!  We still had to pose for a picture with the grandkids.

 Me and my boys

 Ollie found the big pumpkin.  They had a few of these pumpkins that were HUGE.

Papa propped him up against it and let go for a few seconds.  I think Ollie was amazed by the big orange thing in front of him.

Here is a picture that shows how crazy the wind was.  Everyone's hair is blowing like crazy.

They have this huge corn maze.  We were lucky we didn't loose anybody in it.  The boys had a good time running through it.

The kids had fun running around on these hay bails and going down the slide.

Ollie was enjoying himself too.

 Love this little boy

After our big day at the parade and pumpkin patch we went home and took a little nap.  We drove to Great Bend and went to their Zoo Boo.

We got there 30 minutes before they opened and were back about 2 blocks! The line went fast and we made it through the zoo.  

Thad is usually afraid of people in masks but he wanted to take a picture with this creepy clown! It freaks me out just looking at the picture.

 It was so much fun going back to Russell and seeing all our family.  The boys did good in the car.  I had to watch the movie Cars about 5 times but it was a good trip and it kept Thad occupied in the back seat.  We made it home in time to go trick or treating with Adam.