The kids always have a blast at VBS and this year was no exception. The theme was Maker Fun Factory and fun was indeed had. Their favorite dress up day was Rock Star Day and they had lots of favorite songs that are still requested almost a year later :)
One of my goals for summer 2017 was to get at least one of my kiddos swimming. Before we moved we knew a few people with pools but in Oregon having a pool is much less common so the kids really just haven't had much exposure. We did do swim lessons the year we moved with Sadie and Wyatt but they didn't get much time in the water aside from that and didn't make a whole lot of progress. Then the next year Grammy bought an above ground pool and we tried that but I was big and pregnant with Evie and the water was cold and while they grew a little more comfortable in the water we again didn't make a ton of progress towards actually swimming. So this year it really was a priority to start getting them swimming.
We took lessons over at the Salem Aquatics Center with Auntie Amy and her girls and it was great! One of my favorite things about taking lessons here was the fact that you are allowed free access to the pool throughout the duration of your lessons. This was awesome for us because it gave the kids the extra time in the water and the practice they needed to really get more comfortable. After the 2 weeks of lessons Cooper wasn't loving it but Sadie had made a ton of progress and Wyatt was really working hard so we took 2 weeks off and then Sadie and Wyatt took a second round of lessons. Unfortunately a week in Wyatt had an ear drum rupture much to his and our dismay which meant no more lessons for him, but Sadie finished the week and was able to jump off the diving board without a floaty by the end which was a HUGE accomplishment!
Sadie and Wyatt were in the same class which can be a bit of a challenge for the teacher as they tend to distract one another and often have a little too much to say but their instructor did a great job and Amy and I really got a kick out of him. He was nice enough but there was no messing around. If they didn't listen it was more bobs for them while Amy and I laughed on the side lines. In fact at one point Wyatt though it was funny to splash him for whatever reason and it was 20 bobs for that. It only happened once ;)
Cooper and Autumn had class together although Cooper was less of a fan. He had a really hard time getting his head under the water during class. However, after the 2nd round of lessons with the older kids and all the afternoons of free swim he also had made great progress and was jumping off the diving board with his puddle jumper and going all the way under the water.
And then there was these little misses. No lessons for them but they were all about the water which was awesome!
The kids had free ice cream coupons from summer reading at the library. Why I thought it would be okay to give it to them in the car I'm not sure. Live and learn I guess!
We often say around here that everyone needs an Uncle Robert and seriously EVERYONE NEEDS AN UNCLE ROBERT!!!
I tell you we do not know what we would do with out this guy.
Robert is truly one of a kind. Everyone who knows him will tell you that he is generous and fun and kind through and through. People can't help but be drawn to him and it's been like this since I can remember. He's not only a brother but a friend and I'm so thankful for him and the fact that I can call him anytime and know that he will make time for me and willingly and even enthusiastically share my load.
One of my favorite memories with Robert will always be the year he scared me to death surprising me for my birthday, right before Wyatt was born. He'd flown down to California and I had no idea he was coming. I was literally sitting in my car talking to him on the phone when all of a sudden he was pounding on my car window. I'll never forget walking until he had blisters, drinking pineapple smoothies while Sadie danced, and drinking castor oil together when I'd finally reached desperation. It was dropping him off at the airport that time that Brandon said, "Our kids HAVE to grow up around that guy" and we are so glad that they are having the chance to. His love for his nieces and nephews seems limitless at times as is theirs for him. Whether he is working outside with them, taking them fishing, taking them birthday shopping, or "spoiling" them with treats, they always look forward to their time with him and we are thankful for the constant investment he makes in their lives and ours.
We had a lot of fun celebrating Robert this year and surprising him with 30 balloons attached to notes with memories and favorite things about him. I can't tell you now many people said when I contacted them, "Thank you, thank you for including us. We just LOVE Robert!" He really is one of a kind and though I cannot believe he is 30, I am glad that a few things haven't changed such as his big heart and the fact that he really is always up to something. :)
In all fairness Brandon knew and agreed to a big family before we ever got married but I don't think he had any idea what he was getting into. Growing up he was an only child a lot of the time whereas I was the oldest of six so it's been perhaps more of a "shock" to him. The amount of time and energy that goes into raising little ones, especially a group of five of them over a span of only seven years, can feel intense. Yet, he has adapted and grown into his role with each new addition. I remember how mesmerized he was with Sadie and how involved he was from the start attending father coached birthing classes, mostly against his will, and every doctor appointment and ultrasound and then even reminding me when to feed her after she was born. Hahaha :) I remember that after a couple days of him being home at my beckon call I had to tell him it was time for him to go back to work because although well intentioned, he was a bit intense in his role as our care taker.
All joking aside though, Brandon has jumped into being a father with both feet intent on being the best father he can be to each of our children, all without neglecting his relationship with me or the Lord. He provides for each of us financially, emotionally, and spiritually which is an enormous task and responsibility which I don't recognize often enough and which our children will most likely be unaware of until they are old enough to be parents themselves. He sacrifices for us in so many ways and we are so very thankful that he is ours.
I think Daddy was more than overdue for a new barbecue.
I felt stretched a bit thin with each of my children to be honest. With Sadie EVERYTHING was new and that was at times overwhelming, Wyatt came along 15 months after Sadie so that felt a bit crazy, we moved up to Oregon before Cooper was even a year old which meant things were a little out of order, and then I thought Hazel was my last which may have been more emotional for me than it needed to be. All that said, I started my journey as a mom documenting furiously. I tried to capture all the milestones and memories that I thought might someday be important. However, as I had more children and less time I did this less and less. So here I am a year late posting pictures and memories of my Little Miss Evie, which is a bummer to me because honestly I wish I'd written more down as it was happening, but then I realize that it's just the way of things. I chose with Evie, above all, to embrace every sweet moment and snuggle I could. I know from experience how quickly this time flies and I really didn't think I was going have another "1st year." So, though I've written down far less about her milestones I have also spent far more mornings snuggled up with her. She is my littlest love and my sweetest surprise and I think that this is what I'll always treasure about her 1st year. I won't remember exactly what she weighed or exactly when she sat up for the first time, but who am I kidding I don't remember that stuff anyway. What I will remember is her easy going nature, her smiles, her snuggles, her chubby little legs and cheeks which none of my other kids really had, and I'll know that if someday the kids give me a hard time about not having as much "recorded" for her that it was in no way an indicator of my love for her. In fact I'd choose to do it the same way if I could do it again. I have truly loved Evie's first year and I believe she has too.
I LOVE YOU MY GIRL!!
Six Months
You learned to Sit
Seven Months
Eight Months
You learned to give kisses!
Nine Months
Our Miss Evie Rose is 9 months old already. Where has the time gone.... Evie continues to be as sweet as they come. She isn't sleeping quite as well as she did early on but she is happy nearly all the time. She can nap anywhere and is amazingly happy even when she's been drug around all day which seems to happen more often than I'd like with this growing family. One of my favorite things about Evie is the way she lights up when you talk to her. She is usually pretty content playing with the other kids all around her but when someone takes a second to talk just to her she can barely contain her excitement. It's the sweetest thing the way she squeals when she sees Hazel coming for her. Even though more often than not the outcome is disastrous, then just love each other. It's also fun to see how all of the kids and bonding and just adore her, but Hazel and Cooper seem to continue to have a really special affection for her.
Ten Months
Weight - 19lb 8oz
Length 29 1/4 inches
Eleven Months
You would have learned to walk sooner if it were up to your siblings, but I told them if they taught you without me I got another baby. Daddy made sure they waited until I was ready and there to witness those first wobbles which were quite a feat considering all the helping hands :)
