We are now a Family of Five

Wow!  It happened only a week ago that I started labor pains Monday afternoon before Siena's gymnastics class, but the doctor said I wasn't dialated.  But my body caught up and after a long hard labor, Allegra Grace made her entrance into the world at 9:47am on Tuesday, April 14th.  The doctor delivering her wasn't aware her gender was a surprise so the climatic element was removed, but we cherished it all the same.  We are so grateful that God gave us another healthy child and a natural delivery, so we can't help but give Him the glory, honor and praise for such a miracle.  May she live up to her namesake of lending favor unearned in a joyful, upbeat manner and may she be a blessing to all those she encounters.  

 First introductions to her siblings: Siena couldn't be more happy to have a sister. 

 Uncle Dave has been such a big part of all the kids lives and he was there to meet her at the hospital. 

 1st Day Home and her 1st stuffed animal from Daddy. 

 1st Bath at home on Saturday, the 18th. 

 1st Bottle given by Daddy. 

Allegra has been such a quiet calm baby and she lets her siblings do all the talking for her.  She has been the sweetest addition to our family.  

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." 

- Psalm 127:3-5

Easter Celebrations

Easter never gets enough credit.  It's the biggest celebration of the year for Christ-followers, or at least it should be.  Christmas is awesome and who doesn't love snow and hot chocolate, but Easter is the celebration of Christ's sacrifice AND His victorious triumph over the grave.  This means so much more to us this year knowing that our friend Jon is hunting Easter eggs in heaven, as Siena reminds us, and that death has lost it's sting in our lives!  That's worth a Hallelujah!!

All that to say, we had a fantastic Easter and beautiful weather to enjoy it.  We dyed Easter eggs, searched for those eggs around our house, enjoyed a great service with 20,000 other people from middle Tennessee at our home church campus and then we celebrated with a Southern BBQ dinner and Easter egg hunt with our Tennessee family, the Hamricks.  I could write a lot of fun stories about how many hard-boiled eggs we broke (all but 1), how many bottles of bubbles we went through (I lost count), and how quickly we, I mean Siena, ate the jelly beans (They lasted until 11am).  But really, it's the kids and their smiles that make it so memorable.  

Two Seasons in Two Weeks

There are so many things we have become accustomed to in the South including "Ya'll", Southern hospitality, macaroni & cheese as a vegetable and warmer winters.  But this winter was definitely one of the colder ones with more white stuff than we have become accustomed to.  I remember when Siena hated going out to play in the cold and Mommy would go out without her, and now she is out there before we can reach for our boots and Carson is typically done after only a few minutes.  

And just when you think you have left the Midwest behind, the following week brings sunshine and gorgeous temperatures.  One week after the snow, we spent the afternoon outside doing yard work and going for bicycle rides.  Kurt was itching to pull out the lawn mower and get to work and it's a good thing he did: the previous owners of the house drove by just to see the old place.  It's difficult to believe that we will celebrate 9 years in this home next month.  It just doesn't feel possible but we love it more and more every year. 

Our kids have an art cubby and they typically pull everything out and go to town with stickers, markers and paints.  Here is just one example of them BOTH hard at work.  These activities keep them from arguing too much which takes up a lot of their time these days. 

And yes, Carson found my flute and insisted on trying it out.  It looks easy enough, right?  Milo's ears aren't covered anyway.  They both love the piano and Daddy is now playing the guitar for them at bath time.  These little ones are being exposed to so much that I hope they catch the love for the arts somewhere along the line. 

Winter Months

How simple the winter months are and yet how busy we have remained with the typical grind of life.   For the most part, our life has remained interesting with Story Hour, Preschool, MOPS, Small group, doctor's visits and play dates.  Siena & Carson are aware of their new sibling that is soon to enter the world, but that doesn't stop them from turning to Mommy for everything, including rides around the kitchen.  I guess this is how I get my exercise when it's too cold for a jog. 

We started a new semester at our preschool co-op were I have officially become the music teacher teaching the different types of instruments and composers as well as beat, rhythm and songs.  We took our first field trip to a farm where we got to see new baby chicks, pet a horse and see the cows with our friends. We also exchanged Valentines with our class mates. 

Carson has his first sleep over with his friend Clark.  It was unexpected and unplanned but the boys had a great time, played so well together and Siena loved being the older ruler enforcer.

Then came Snow-apolycalpse 2015.  Our state literally closed down for an entire week due to ice and a little bit of snow.  It wasn't awful but if you can't get out the front door due to ice, it makes sledding and snowmen building was a little difficult.  With everything canceled, we just stayed indoors with hot chocolate, puzzles, games and movies.  

 

And with some extra time off work, Kurt made Mr. Calvin Anderson proud with his woodworking skills.  He built the kids their bunkbeds from scratch and then painted the lower half of the front bedroom to make it more unisex friendly.  The kids enjoyed being part of the process of helping and a little bit of fun was had in the process.  

Here is the new kids room, featuring both of their favorite color, BLUE.  Siena has Doc McStuffins sheets and Carson has Olaf from Frozen sheets.  They have done pretty well adjusting to the new set up  but there are still a few kinks to be worked out.  That's why we started this process 6 weeks before it's baby Stawberry's arrival in April.  

It's That Time of Year

Last year our family ticked off all the "must dos" for the Christmas season: caroling, Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, lights, projects, Christmas movies, etc.  This year we hit a few of those but not all and you know what: we still had a fantastic Christmas.  We spent December reading Advent devotionals in the evening and the kids attended Miss Patty Cake's Birthday party for Jesus.  Neither Siena or Carson was consumed with presents or wish lists, but the fact of being together and celebrating Baby Jesus.  What a joy to see the kids truly grasp what so many of us adults totally miss!

 Christmas Eve service at World Outreach Church

I believe this was Carson's only gift that was NOT train related.  The boy owns nearly everything Thomas but his thirst for "choo-choos" still is not quenched!

 Hearing The Night Before Christmas read by Papa. 

 The joy of Christmas morning and seeing what was left under the tree. 

I know we were very grateful to be surrounded by family and friends during this special season, especially with the journey home of our close friend, Jon Bufkin, just days before Christmas.  None of us are guaranteed another Christmas so enjoy the ones around you, drink a little extra cider, sing carols a little louder and squeeze those near you just a little harder.  

October!!!!

My second favorite month of the year is October, right behind September.  And we had a fantastic one full of play (yup, they play in puddles), visitors, leaves, pre-school and of course, HALLOWEEN!!!!

 

Sebastian come to visit and played with us for one week.  We kept the kids busy every day with different activities, and the weather was nice the latter part of the week so we could burn off some energy.  He had fun with both cousins but he could definitely play with Carson more than before.  Our little man is growing up fast.

 

 

Siena started a pre-school co-op with some of her best friends once a week.  She was so excited to have a back pack and a special pillow to sit on.  Carson got to tag along and play with kids his age, but he won't get to participate for a while. 

We had the hardest time picking our costumes this year but Simba, the Lion King, fell in our lap and finally we turned to Siena's favorite animal, the zebra.  We are so blessed to have good friends with incredible talents who could paint Siena's face into a masterpiece.  We had cold temperatures here with high winds so we were only out for an hour or so but we got enough candy and had enough fun to last us the whole year.