Lake Lawn 2019

This year's trip to Lake Lawn brought a whole new level of fun with Nana Pam and Ed joining us. We had a super relaxing and enjoyable weekend with family and friends-like-family! The time together never disappoints.

We are so lucky to be surrounded by so much love.

  Nightly BINGO was a hit.

There's always lots of game playing....in the kid activity room, at the arcade, or back in the room.

 Quality time, PJ time, Relaxation time....the BEST time!

 The early risers get sneak out of the room to play games with Mom.

 The lake wasn't frozen over enough for ice skating, but we found an awesome hill for sledding/snowboarding. Even Grandpa got in on the fun!

 

 Swimming is another favorite activity for these fish.

Dear Joel,

It's probably time that we stop referring to you as the baby of the family. At age seven, you're nothing like a baby. In fact, as the youngest of three, you are a much "older" seven year old than either of your siblings at this age. Everything about you still looks and feels so little, but you want nothing to do with being small.

Big things happened this year and we are slowly accepting the fact that just like Caleb and Leah, you have to grow up! Little things like learning to tie your shoes, losing your first tooth, and becoming a reader are not so little when it's our last time seeing it happen! With great joy, we've watched you hit these milestones and so many more this year. 

Perhaps the biggest change this year was having you gone at school all day. The night before first grade started, you were in full blown tears about the idea of being away from Mommy all day. Yet, without a single issue, you sailed through day one and never looked back. Your teacher, despite us asking quite often if she's really being honest, says that you are so well behaved and work very hard at school. You've made some new buddies and love the social aspect of school. Thankfully, you manage to save that socialization for the appropriate times (which still shocks us)! Even more so, you've shocked us with how quickly you've excelled in school. You are a fluent reader and are so eager to keep trying newer and harder books. You love having the ability to read and write and you are constantly using those skills. When we are out and about or just sitting at home, you are always reading things and asking questions...whether it's a book or just the label on a peanut butter jar, words are coming to life for you and it's so exciting! But literacy doesn't stand a chance against your love of math. Your mental math skills and ability to work with numbers are awesome. Sometimes we ask questions to your older brother and sister and you answer them before they do!

Speaking of your older brother and sister, they are still your closest friends (and, at times, worst enemies). You clearly adore and admire them, yet sometimes your desire to keep up with them doesn't end well. Everyone, including you, has a hard time remembering that you aren't their age. There are moments of major frustration when you can't figure out a game that they're playing or understand something they're reading or play sports as well as them. Yet, when things are going well, you are always their number one playmate. You and Caleb bond over XBox games (sometimes), love to have wrestling matches in the basement, and find humor in silly boy things that you'll probably never outgrow. You and Leah share a different bond. She still likes to mother you, but you are fighting that BIG time. When the balance works itself out, you can be found playing games, doing crafts, or getting roped into "girly" things like playing Barbies or having your nails painted. No doubt, you're going to grow into a very well rounded adult!

By yourself, you are definitely a unique kid and there is no denying that you are carving out your own path. You have so much curiosity and could spend hours investigating how something is built or why it works in a certain way. You also have an amazing sense of humor and still find so much joy in making other people laugh. At the core of all of this, though, is the sweetest and most sensitive heart. You hate to disappoint people (with the exception of your siblings). When someone you love is upset or sad, you immediately try to cheer them up. You give the best squeeze hugs and rarely turn down the chance to sit and snuggle. Perhaps the biggest heartbreak of this past year was having to put our beloved Chesney down. You two had a bond like no other and it hit you hard having to say goodbye to her. You love to hear the story of how she used to wander into the nursery before you were born and hop into the glider. It was as if she knew the last baby would be coming home soon and she couldn't wait.

As you enter this new year of life, there is so much goodness to look forward to. We are sure there will be so many more changes and moments of bittersweet growth. It is so very exciting to watch you grow, but with each new milestone, another chapter ends. We will continue to pray that God molds you into the amazing person you are becoming. We pray that your faith in Him never fades and your wonder and curiosity of His world leads you to do great things! Happy Birthday, Joel-y!!! We love you so, so, so, so much!

Love,
Daddy and Mommy 

Leah is NINE!

When your birthday falls in the middle of a hectic holiday season, the celebrating seems to go on and on. But, for this girl, it is totally worth it! She started by celebrating at school before Christmas break. Sadly, that doesn't involve much these days, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. On her actual birthday, she was quite excited that she got to wake up at Grandpa and Grandma's house (Daddy and Mommy had a wedding the night before). After a special breakfast, she got to come home and check out her present from us....a real desk for the school room. She was thrilled! That evening, we enjoyed dinner and fun at Nana Pam and Ed's house. Leah loved being the center of attention and they made sure she felt special the whole time. The final birthday celebration was her friend party, which we held at a local ice cream and candy store. Leah and eight of her gal pals had a blast for two hours. They ate tons of sweets, played lots of games, and giggled nonstop!