SHE'S HERE!!!

Ok, she has been here for almost 3 months, but with crazy newborn-ness and 3 crazy boys, updating the blog just didn't happen!  She is a wonderful baby - happy most all of the time unless she is hungry or tired.  She is not a fan of sleeping though - she would much rather just hang out and watch her brothers or coo at us until we pay attention to her.  The younger 2 boys are having a bit of a hard time adjusting and seem to be acting out for attention. Hoping this too shall pass.  Gavin started football again this week.  He really is enjoying it again and seems to be more confident.  Ashtin starts kindergarten on August 18th.  I can't believe it!  Landyn starts preschool 2 days a week in September (Lord help that teacher!).  Time is going so fast.  Eden turns 3 months old on the 10th of August.
I will upload a bunch of pictures in chronological order.

Third trimester and the Blizzard of 2011!

Hello everyone!  The blizzard of 2011 was one to remember for sure here in good old' Woodstock.  We woke up to more snow than I have seen in a long time - maybe since I was a kid.  School was canceled for 2 days and Rob couldn't get out of the driveway to go to work.  The kids thought it was very cool though :)  Here are a few pictures:

Poor Rob - there was too much snow for the snowblower, so he had to shovel and the snow was so heavy!

This is our 5 foot fence in the backyard - the drift is all the way to the top!

Snow Plow that got stuck on our street

We also got a new mini-van (finally) - We have had the same one since Gavin was a baby.  I did find myself getting a little misty eyed as we traded in the old one.  But that faded quickly when I got to drive home the new one! Here are some pics of our new ride:

Notice Gavin is inside - the boys LOVE the new van

 I got a new iphone and I have been playing around with a new photography app on it and here are some pics of the kids:

Landyn

Ashtin

Gavin laughing - I love this pic of him because it is a real smile!

The days are going quickly now and I am already in my third trimester.  I cannot believe we are going to add a pink addition to the house very soon.  I am a little nervous thinking about 4 children, but I am also looking forward to cuddling my baby girl!  The boys are very excited and Ashtin asks every day when his baby sister is coming out.  Every time I have a doctor's appointment, he thinks we are going to "get the baby out".  We are going for our 4D ultrasound on Saturday and we are really looking forward to that.  Here is a picture of me that Rob took on Saturday:

Happy New Year :)

Happy New Year to everyone!  I am really looking forward to a new year and new things!  I was able to finally edit and retrieve the pictures from Grandpa White and Grandma Betsy's visit.  Here they are:

Ashtin has to read the train book they got him EVERY night before bed :)

Gavin got Strep throat this week and is finally feeling better today.  I am hoping none of the other boys get it.  My throat is a little sore today, but I am hoping it's just from the dryness of the air causing it.

I will include a picture I took of my favorite girly things I have purchased so far for our new addition arriving in May.  I am a little nervous about getting everything done by then...we need to move Ashtin in with Gavin, get bunk beds, paint/decorate the nursery and purchase a new crib (Landyn will still be in his crib and if we move him for the new baby, I feel like he will feel extremely jealous).  Time is moving so fast lately!

Wow- it's been a while :)

Well, one of my 2011 goals is to update this blog more regularly.  I hate living so far away from my family and a lot of my friends...it especially bothers me around the holidays.  Many of you already know that we had a surprise pregnancy this year and recently found out that it is a girl.  Here is a profile shot from our recent ultrasound on the 29th - where I was told that she was "absolutely perfect" - no heart, brain or skeletal problems.  That was the best Christmas gift I could have ever received.

The boys are doing great.  Gavin signed up for basketball this winter and has his first game on January 8th.  He is pretty tall and fast, so he does pretty well.  Ashtin is in preschool 3 days and week and loves it.  That kid loves anything though.  I think he would be happy anywhere.  Landyn is still a "spirited" child and really pushes the limits every day.  He is very smart, so he gets frustrated easily and constantly wants to do whatever his brothers are doing.  I am a little nervous about the arrival of a baby and jealousy issues.  If I show any affection to the other boys, he quickly shoves them out of the way and climbs on my lap.

Christmas was wonderful this year.  My mother came to visit for a few days and then Grandma Betsy and Grandpa White came for a day as well.  The boys really enjoy family visits and had a blast.  The boys got an Xbox and that has been occupying their time a lot over the break.  I will include some pictures from Christmas below.  I still need to download the pics of Russ and Betsy's visit off of the camera - the battery is dead I just discovered.  Here are a few of the boys on Christmas morning:

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS! I LOVE YOU ALL :)



One year since my dad died...

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my dad's death and it was a very hard day for me.  I went through a ton of old pictures and found some wonderful ones that captured my dad's spirit and love for his grandsons.  I thought I would post them here for family/friends to see them also.  Not a day goes by that I don't miss him.  These pictures made me smile though.

Back to school

Ashtin started preschool yesterday.  It doesn't seem possible.  Of course he absolutely loved it and already made a new friend.  Here is a picture of us before we left:

I also took my camera with me to his school because I stayed with him for the first day - although he didn't even notice I was there I think :)  Here are a few more school pics:

Gavin also started school on the 27th of August.  He is very happy to be back and loves his new teacher and has a lot of neighborhood friends in his class.  He is a big second grader now and seems to be maturing a little.  He is getting so tall and is still very lean.  Here is a picture of him on his first day:

Gavin turned eight on the 23rd and Rob took him and 2 buddies to Six Flags for the day.  I have pictures from that day that Rob took but he took a disposable camera and I have to actually scan the pictures in and I haven't had time.  Here is a picture of Gavin eating his huge lollipop he got that day:

Rob had a day off yesterday and he took Ashtin and Landyn to Emricson Park and the boys had a blast!  I got a whole hour in the house by myself - I cannot remember the last time that happened :)  Here are some pictures from their trip - it was such a beautiful day yesterday.

Then Ashtin told Rob he wanted to go to the baseball field and he was just fascinated with it.  Rob took a really cool picture of him taking it all in - I called this pic "Field of Dreams" :)

Then, for your viewing pleasure, I now present you pictures of "Super Ashtin".  There was a whole day when Ashtin would NOT take off his Superman cape and Rob happened to snap a picture of him with no pants on and his cape - that one will definitely be on his graduation board when he's 18! 

Drum Roll Please....

Landyn is walking more than crawling now *sigh*. He turned one on July 10th and is eager to keep up with his brothers! He is a very vocal and curious baby (well, technically he is a "toddler" now I guess). He also whines/cries a lot for daddy to hold him - daddy spoils him a little :) Time is flying by! We went to Michigan the week of July 6th and celebrated all 3 boy's birthdays at Grandma Parniske's house. The boys had a lot of fun and I will post more pictures when Grandma gets around to sending them to me.

Ashtin is very excited that he can sing the ABC song, so here is a video of that to make you chuckle:

Gavin is all signed up for soccer in the Fall. He seems excited for it, so we shall see. He is not a sports guy, but is willing to try soccer. Hopefully, he learns to play as a team and develops some "team" skills. He is going to be in 2nd grade this Fall and it just doesn't seem possible. He turns 8 in August and I can vividly remember driving home from the hospital with him making Rob go 10 miles per hour because I was afraid we would crash with him in the car. Hard to believe that was almost 8 years ago! Gavin and Rob went camping over July 4th in Indiana with Grandpa White and Betsy. Renee was also there with her kids and Becca and Matthew. Gavin really enjoyed himself and told me all about catching lightening bugs! Rob forgot the camera, so we have no pics :(

Ashtin is still working hard on the potty training, but isn't quite there yet. Hopefully we will make preschool in Sept...if not, January is fine! He is talking much better and a LOT more these days. In fact, I don't think he is quiet unless he is sleeping. He really enjoys summer and LOVES the water.

That's it for now. I will update with more pics when my mom emails them!