Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

We had a great Halloween this year

I worked all weekend but was able to still enjoy the festivities.

Like an adorable 8 month old giraffe

Who wasn't the most cooperative photo subject...

Joining in at the festivities at my sister and her hubby's church with Mario and Wolverine

Isaac enjoying his 1st Halloween

These 3 boys getting ready to go trick or treating

A family shot thanks to our neighbor

2 little boys so excited to go trick-or-treating and happy to go down the block, around the corner and back.

Happy Halloween from our home to yours!

Crawling machine

This video is from a few weeks ago, but still fun to watch!

I can't believe Isaac has been crawling for a whole month already.

He is pretty fast and has been pulling himself up and I am afraid it won't be much longer before he is walking. Ahhhhhh!

We are quickly baby proofing our house and the boys are having to work on keeping door shut, little toys picked up, and keeping an eye out for our crawling machine.

After watching him crawl around on our hardwood floors I am thinking of inventing a baby dusting sleeper.  Then he can clean for me while he explores. Nice huh?

Until then, here's Isaac...

Fall Photo Shoot

My extremely talented friend Stacey Rygh took our pictures again. 

I LOVE her work for many reasons, but mostly because they are real. She captures real life moments, not ones that are fake and strained.  These pictures are an excellent documentation of what life is really like these days. Thanks Stace!

 Despite the mosquitoes just about eating us alive, a little rain, and some grumpy boys who don't like their picture taken, I think they turned out FABULOUS!   Hey, don't take my word for it, see for yourself...

My 3 Sons

How accurate is this shot?  Are my big boys ever not making super hero moves?

This one is my absolute favorite. 

A: Because everyone is looking at the camera

B: It shows just a bit of everyone's personality

C: Elijah is holding a stick (he is rarely seen outside without one)

D: It made me tear up with thankfulness. Man I love those boys!

Yes, this is my 7 month old baby who is trying so hard to be a BIG boy like his brothers!

But, while he is making every effort to become mobile, I am making every effort to restrain him.

Hmm...this one could be titled: ENERGY (something we definitely do not lack at our house)

Me and my boys

Thank you Lord for these 3 precious gifts!

I will have to post more later. 

Someone gets grumpy when my posts are too long.

{sigh}

The Simple Things

A good friend recently reminded me to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.

These crazy days with little ones will not last forever.

I become blinded by my daily tasks sometimes and often don't take the time to slow down and enjoy the little moments.

 I pray posts like this one will help me remember those moments when my boys are grown.

Funny how easy it is to let all the "to-do's" make us feel like we are drowning and also make us feel as though we are inadequate when we spend the entire day moving 100 miles an hour and still have a long list of unaccomplished items for the next day, or the day after that.

So this post is a tribute to some of the little moments I have cherished recently...

Two big boys wanting to be like their little brother

My littlest man exploring the world from his hands and knees

The same discoverer easily entertained by an echoing hallway

Drawings of super heros, spiders, and adventures of "stick men" that are covering our fridge

The beginning of a bond between two brothers

Graham cracker faces

A baby quickly becoming a little boy!

A precious picture from a pumpkin patch adventure

Lord,

  

     Help me cherish these days of little sleep, full to-do lists, endless loads of laundry, stepped on toys, sticky kisses, and roles in imaginary worlds.  Thank you for moments like these that help me remember how thankful I am to be the mother of 3 BOYS!  Despite feeling like I am being pulled in 1,000 directions and I that there isn't enough of me to go around or that I am failing as a mother, You give me moments like this to remind me that is not true. 

    Help me to ignore the dust bunnies, dirty kitchen floor, and piles of things to be put away or organized all around my house.  Help me to cherish this time where these 3 little boys still look up to me for guidance, advice, and magical hugs that make any owie go away. 

     I pray for many more days of encouraging, playing, and teaching these 3 precious gifts. Please give me strength to be a light and example for these little boys so I can help shape and mold them into the men you have created them to be. 

     P.S. I would also like to pray for more sleep and a cleaning lady too ;0) 

    Yours Truly,

       One  Extremely Blessed Momma

Look what I can do...

Here is another fun short video of Isaac.

Sitting in the big chair in our living room and feeling pretty proud.

The Red Runners

Last weekend we went to Fargo to cheer on the Red River Roughriders at the 

Cross Country conference meet.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day and it was fun to watch the teams running and support Richard.

It is hard to believe this is only his 2nd season of coaching.

To say he enjoys it, is an understatement.

The middle school and high school runners become his 2nd family, and he loves spending time with a whole bunch of kids who are just as crazy about running as he is.

Now, being the wife of a coach is no easy task.

 It means long days, short weekends, and the overwhelming task of keeping the house running, kids happy and healthy, and yourself sane while your spouse is absent most of the time.

Coaching also doesn't pay very well, so you certainly have to LOVE it to do it.

You also really have to LOVE your husband to agree that coaching is a good idea.

Or crazy.

I think I fall into the love category...well at least most of the time.

However, it has been pretty special watching these guys and gals improve throughout the season.

It has also been fun watching our own boys get so excited about the races and going out to support their Dad and his "Red Runners" (as they refer to them).

They are already talking about being the fastest runner for daddy when they grow up!

Running around the course cheering for the runners is also an excellent way to tire out a few boys I know who happen to have more than enough energy!

We even get my parents and sisters out to support the team!

We have become invested in Red River Cross country and I am very glad.

It has been so rewarding to watch Richard do something he loves, and to do it so well.

He works so hard all season guiding the runners to become as successful on the course as they can.

I know he enjoys seeing them succeed as runners just as much as he enjoys watching them mature off the course as they are learning how to navigate the world before becoming adults.

Last weekend the Riders had a great day on the course, and Richard also received a very special award.

Co-coach of the year!

This award is one that is voted on by the other cross country coaches in the state.

We are pretty proud of him and we hope he knows it!

Way to go Coach Dafoe! 

We Love You and are looking forward to cheering on the "Red Runners" at State next weekend!

Sooooo Big!

Here is a short little video from our camera of Isaac showing off 

"Sooooo Big"

It's pretty cute...but I am a bit biased.  Just see for yourself.

7 months old

This post is just a little late...but better late than never right?

My baby is 7 months old!

(He weighed 19lbs 3 oz and was 29 1/2 inches long at his 6 month check)

He is wearing 12-18 month clothes! Our biggest boy yet!

His hair is still strawberry blonde and he still has bright blue eyes.

He also still melts my heart

He continues to be a very sweet, happy, & loveable baby.

Who continues to surprise us...like crawling for the first time on his 7 month birthday! Eeek!

He has adjusted well to being in a house with 2 big brothers...

He is very curious and has unfortunately discovered our plants.
(they have been relocated in effort to protect and save them)

He still adores BOTH of his big brothers, but now that Jonah is in school I have seen him softening up Elijah's heart.  I am curious to see how their relationship unfolds!

(this may be one of the few pictures I have of these 2 together...I think the superhero shirt helped)

He figured out "So Big" and loves to make us all laugh, smile and cheer when he does it.

Isaac, 

      I still can't believe you have already been with us for 7 months!  You are so precious and you have lived up to your name and provided our home with lots of laughter.  I am so often reminded of the miracle of life when I see you so healthy and strong.  Hard to imagine you could have been so small and sick when you were born, but He had another plan for you!

     I am afraid you are going to be hard for me to say no to!  You are just so sweet, it is tough to be upset with you at all!

Here are some more fun facts about you these days...

• You continue to be a great sleeper.  (You also seem to know when mom is home...when I am at work you sleep all night for your Daddy) You sleep most of the night, take 2-3 good naps during the day.  You also rarely wake up without a big smile on your face. 

• You don't really care for eating solids.  You prefer to breastfeed or have a bottle.  I am praying you are holding out for the real deal and possibly just boycotting that mushy baby stuff!

• You love to be outside.  The weather has been unusually warm so we have been able to squeeze in some extra time out there and a few extra walks.

• You already have your 2 front, bottom teeth.  Getting them was possibly one of the few times you were a "difficult" baby!

• You are very interested in what your big brothers are doing, and this has recently become a problem for them.  They aren't quite ready for you to be into "their stuff" but maybe they will pick up a little better now that you are mobile!  One can frequently hear "No Isaac...Not for you!" or "Mooooommmmm, Isaac is breaking my_____ or ruining my _____!"

• Speaking of being mobile...you are definitely that.  I have tried to slow you down, but you are persistently showing me it isn't my decision. When you see something you want, there is not much we can do to stop you. You are pretty sneaky, but I have seen you trying to pull up on things and I am not a fan!

• You still like your pacifier, but really only for nap and bedtime.

• You have started to "snuggle" with your blankie at night.  You pull the end up to your face with both hands on it and touch it to your nose.  Then you rub it in your fingers. You also like to sleep on  your side in the shape of an L.

• You still LOVE your bath and scream when it's time to get out!

• You may have inherited your dad's love for cleaning as you are fascinated by the washer, dryer, broom, and vacuum! 

• You are quite vocal and make lots of fun noises during the day.  I also enjoy hearing you wake up from sleeping.  You often will "talk" to yourself in your crib for quite awhile before I come and get you. 

• You really only fuss when you are hungry or tired.

• You just had your 2nd haircut!

• Clapping your hands is a new trick you just learned and it has been fun watching you figure it out!

• You get very excited when you see your Daddy, myself, big brothers, grandma, grandpa, Aunties or Uncle Tom. It is so fun to be so close to them and see you recognizing them!

We are truly blessed by you!  You were worth the wait little man.  I am having a hard time with you growing up so fast, but am enjoying each time you discover something new.  We love you lots & are so thankful for you!

3 Little Vikings

3 Little Vikings all in a row...

Waiting patiently for their mom to take their pictures.


Elijah picked this beautiful flower from Grandma's garden...fortunately she was ok with that!

Why is it so hard to get three little vikings to smile at the same time...

Good thing they are still super cute...even with a "fake" smile on their face

So fun to capture a little brotherly love without any wrestling moves involved!