Six Chapters

In a perfect world, this blog post would be broken into six chapters: 1. Our 14th wedding anniversary 2. My kids are growing up! 3. Harbor graduates from Awanas Bible Study 4. Harbor graduates from Cub Scout Kindies 5. Harbor graduates from Kindergarten  {I'm feeling a bit blue writing all that out!} 6. We've MOVED! {packing, packing, packing!}   But, life isn't perfect, so these six chapters are condensed into the Cliff Notes version. {Just like college, but not written in Shakespearean English!} : ) For our 14th wedding anniversary, David secretly constructed his own Pinterest project for our dining room table.  He doesn't drink Coke, so he had buddies drink the bottles for him and he filled them with my favorite flower, our wedding flower- hydrangeas.  A few days later, he surprised me yet again by refilling the bottles with yet more fresh flowers. He is so handy and creative. The engineer in him makes life fun! 14 years have sure gone by in a hurry! I know people on social media {and the world at large!} don't like to hear the sappy love fests from old married couples, but life  with David is pretty perfect. If my life ever looks adventure filled- or plush and easy- or fun and safe, you can thank David! He is the protector of our family and I'm so thankful to be his. 

My little ones are full of life and energy!

They are getting so big.

Hollin is already nine months old and I'm starting to think about 1st birthdays.

Sigh.

I'm in shock that I even just wrote that.

ONE year is coming up with my Hollin Leslie.

Utterly unbelievable.

Harbor smiling big for his Lego collection stored on a new Ikea shelf.

{Our house is empty and on the market!} 

He requested popcorn for breakfast in May.

I thought it was a swell idea.

: )

Henry had his very own play date with a new buddy, Jude. 

I made sixty custom reception invitations for a family in Utah.

Hollin has two bottom teeth, is babbling, pulling up, and still breastfeeding 100% like a champ!

{sleeping through the night.. not so much!}

: )

While I was packing, I rediscovered the Halloween dinosaur tails we made the kids.

An impromptu T-Rex dress up party shortly ensued.

Who says boys can't play dress up?!

: )

Harbor graduated from Awanas at church.

He attended a two hour scripture memorization class once a week

from August to May.

This is his third year to be faithful to the program and he memorized over 100 verses.

I pray he hides them deep in his heart! 

Some dear, dear friends of ours moved to Colorado from Arkansas this month.

Judith and I taught together in Arkansas for many years and right about the time we moved here two years ago, we playfully began scheming about them coming out as well.

The mountains might have been calling their names, but the Lord definitely opened all the doors in His perfect timing.  We are so excited to have them so near us again!

Harbor enjoyed play dates with school friends

{and little brother Henry was ever close}

We tried to keep Harbor from graduating Kindergarten,

We closed off all the hallways with tape in our new apartment.

He busted through them with gusto!

And the inevitable happened.

My first born, my baby walked across his first stage.

{and I cried happy tears for him, but was so emotional}

We attended a reception afterwards in his classroom.

This year has been one of the best years of his life.

Kindergarten was above and beyond what we had hoped.

I'm so thankful he thrived.

We are sad to let the good things go from our hands, 

but I know the best is yet to come.

Mommy and Hollin

Daddy and Hollin

Harbor and I with his sweet teacher

{hello, chevron!}

: )

And lastly, I woke today to find Harbor "reading" his new yearbook.

I pulled out several of my own to show him my class pictures.

We are house hunting for something with a bigger back yard and closer to Harbor's school.

A 4th bedroom would be ideal. 

It is a quick temporary move, yet I can't help but make it feel like home.

Five people in a two bedroom apartment has been the best design challenge.

At the old house, I had to decide what went into storage, what came to the apartment, how to make sharing a room {the boys} for the first time work the best, and what we would need to continue home schooling through the summer.

It was hectic.
Three kids all under six, breastfeeding full time, finishing off the school year strong, and church commitments added to an already full plate.

We enjoy moving
 {I would say that classifies as a 'confession' of sorts, but I don't think it surprises anyone!}
but with each child, I can feel the pressure to be even more organized and task oriented.

Without any family to help us, we are on our own to make it happen smoothly.

All of my oil paintings came to the apartment as David feared the heat would ruin them.

It is a great apartment with mountain views.

We are in love! 

It is our first apartment.

I feel blessed to  be married 14 years and to have always had homes,

but the challenge of organizing and sorting to make things fit- and fit well- has made me giddy.

Summer is upon us and we have lots of hiking, biking, play dates, and zoo trips in the works.

These days are the happiest.

What have you been up to?

: )

'Round Here

'Round here... things have been been busy.

 

We've been busy with the day to day stuff, Easter festivities, the progressing pregnancy, and church.

 

We attended a birthday party for a sweet friend!

 

 

 

One of my best friends, Judith, flew into Colorado with her husband on vacation and met us for dinner. We had a great time catching up!  Some of you may recall that she also flew to Detroit to visit us for a week when we lived there. I'm so blessed to have these deep, abiding friendships!

We taught 5th grade together for many years, and despite being a stay at home mom now, I still love to hear the latest and greatest of what is new in the world of education.

Harbor is growing up.

Sometimes what my eyes see doesn't match the image I have in my heart.

To me, he is still a tiny boy, but I know he is growing and changing.

Being a mommy is painful sometimes, isn't it?

I love seeing him at every stage, but I just adore having "little" kids at home.

 

This Easter, we stayed here in Colorado.

David is finishing up six hours at the local University and has also recently taken a promotion that includes moving into management and now has several employees that directly report to him, so leaving just wasn't a choice this year.

 

We had a great time though- we invited friends over for Easter lunch, hunted eggs, and enjoyed an unusually warm day for Colorado this early in the season.

{We've had snow in May still... but most days are warming up!}

 

We used our tripod/timer and drove to a few scenic spots for family Easter pictures.

 

In these pictures, I was about 20 weeks pregnant.

This third pregnancy has been flying.

 

I've just been so consumed with two other small children to really have the time to focus on much else. I guess that is what happens with a growing, busy family, but I certainly am doing my best to document and remember the details.

 

Thank goodness for good cameras to help document the busy seasons of life!

 

You may notice in this next picture that I'm sporting a lovely orthopedic shoe.

Sigh.

My foot wrestled with a piece of wrought iron furniture.. and lost.

With a broken foot, the kids and I made the trip home to Arkansas for two weeks for help.

Aaannnndddd.. while there, Henry fell and busted out his front tooth and had to have emergency surgery to have it removed.

 

It was a really rough week. Poor Henry.

 

Thankfully, we're both on the mend.

Thank goodness for family!

 

Despite having a missing front tooth, Henry and his smile delight me!

He is such an entertainer!

 

He is 15 months old, saying about 14 words, signing for food and drink, taking 1-2 naps a day, and nursing usually once or twice, as well. 

 

He is such a perfect addition to our family.

Children are a joy!

 I seriously cannot get enough of my boys.

Motherhood isn't always easy {Amen, right?!} but I know my children are my lasting legacy.

Pouring out into them is what gives me the most peace.

 

 

Our Awana Cubbies class at church is ending and since I was a director this year, we wanted to make a little gift for all of our helpers. I was inspired by Pinterest to create and design these little tags and Harbor traced his hand for the hand prints.

 

We celebrated our 13th wedding Anniversary in April.

13 years and a third baby on the way... we sure know how to keep it young, right?

Ha!

We went out to eat at Old Chicago with the kids in tow and exchanged cards.

: )

 

We also recently had our ultrasound!

For those of you who don't know me in real life- or have Facebook- big exciting changes are coming!

SO BLESSED!

{Photography by Harbor}

 

Hope all is well out your way!