Unfailing Love: Spring Break Time!

Vincent Gerard

This is my hubby. Also known as Vinny, Dowey, Dowebally, and (as of last night) Pickle Juice. (You may learn that I have an affinity for nicknames, comes from my daddy!) Unbelievably, the hubs and I have been married for 9 years! I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college and my friend introduced me to this hunky senior with a hot red car! Vince is working hard to support our family and traveling here and there. Vince is a WONDERFUL father and his girls (all of us) are the most important things to him!

Barclay Kathryn

What to say? I'm Barclay, usually known as Barclay (not much you can do with Barclay). I was an elementary teacher for fours years until I had Bella. Now I am doing the job I have wanted to do ALL of my life, being a mom. I love these two girls more than I can possibly express and it is my joy and privilege to be able to spend each day with them. I recently entered the blog frontier, and although my blog followers will probably be able to be counted on one hand, I thought it would be exciting to be a part of something so neat. I love that there are many other moms out there facing the same joys, hardships, questions, surprises, and challenges that I am. I also hope to be a sort of medium to spread awareness for others that need prayers, help, or just someone to walk through life with!

Isabella Kathryn

Usually referred to as Bella. As well as Bells, Bellie, Belly Boo, Bellsie Bubs, Bubs, Bubba, Bells and Whistles.... Bella is our first born daughter. She is 6. Bella enjoys school, reading, riding her training-wheel free bike, she could color and write for hours, she loves singing to the Momma Mia soundtrack, anything princess or pink, having bows in her hair, playing dress up, and her little sisters! God blessed us with Bella a month early but she was perfectly healthy. In six years she has become such a bright, outgoing, sensitive, and fearless little girl. Bella really is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is eager to please. If she hurts or disappoints someone it literally crushes her to tears. This last year she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior and we could not be more proud!! Love this sweet, blonde, blue eyed beauty!

Bryanna Karina

Usually known as Brynn. As well as Brynnie, Miley, Miley Moo, Geegs, Geegers, Brynnie Boo, and many more. Ten days before Bella turned 2 years old we were blessed with another beautiful, healthy girl by planned c-section. This time I was able to see my baby right after birth, watch her get weighed, bathed, etc. I couldn't wait for Bella to meet her. Brynn is now 4 and keeps me laughing all day long. Brynn, since she was about 2 months old has been the smiliest baby I have ever met. All you need to do is look at her and she will flash you a world class smile. Brynn is smiley, more shy and reserved about things than her big sis, can be quite the clown when she feels safe or gets in a silly mood, amazingly brilliant, she's been speaking full sentences since she was 19 months and continues to amaze us with what comes out of her mouth. She loves doing whatever her big sister is doing, dressing up, looking at books, her blankie, being held, twirling in her dresses, singing, and dancing whenever she hears music! Brynn is my compassionate baby, she hates to see people hurting. We just love this sweet, shy, snuggly, smiling little girl!

Brooklyn Blythe

Also known as Brookie, Brookie Cookie, Cookie Lu, Lulu B just to name a few. Sweet, sweet Brooklyn is our family's latest addition! We welcomed Brookie into our family on August 23rd 2010 at 12:23pm by planned c-section. I was nervous she would be a bit high maintenance since she came out screaming bloody murder and continued to wail anytime anyone touched her- get her footprints, take her temperature, etc. Amazingly, she would instantly stop the moment the Hubs touched her or began talking to her. And since her birthday, we have barely heard a peep out of her..... And fast forward 18 months, she definitely makes plenty of peeps now! :) We are full blown in the the terrible twos (which IMO last from 18-36 months) I believe. To make matters worse she's also cutting her 4 molars. She definitely knows what she wants but can't quite articulate it, so gets frustrated. Eating is also a hit or miss these days which is very foreign to me. Mixed with the crabby days though is the funniest personality ever. She is a riot! She LOVES chasing after her big sisters or having them chase and imitate her. She also has this adorable chubby face and will peek out of the corner of her eyes and just melt your heart! She is definitely shy at first but if you can get through to her she will keep you in stitches with her antics. We love you little BB and couldn't ask for a sweeter addition to our family!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Spring Break Time!

Last week of March we got to enjoy Spring Break!

I was looking forward to it for two reasons:

One just having my girls home all day!

I know there were days before they started school that I couldn't WAIT for them to be in school, just to get myself a little break. But the saying is true, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I definitely miss them while they're away at school. So I was excited to have them all home with me. :)

And secondly, I LOVE my sleep. :) I didn't get my butt out of bed before 8AM all week!

So we kept ourselves busy all week, doing at least one fun thing each day.

Friday:

Kicked things off with a birthday party for Bella's bestie from school, Kaitlyn.

Monday:

Some friends and I got these Groupons for an indoor play place for $6 for all the kids. They expired this week so we thought it would be a fun spring break activity. Monday was really chilly so we chose to go check the place out. It wasn't exactly what we pictured, but the kids loved it. It was a swing set show room and they had 8-10 massive swing sets set up for the kids to play on. So not what we thought, but still fun!

Tuesday:

Our MOPS table had a get together. Our table leader, Somer, put together a wonderful morning and lunch for our group. She made a delicious lunch for everyone to enjoy. And afterwards the kids had an Easter egg hunt. They sure found their eggs quick and then enjoyed some yummy cookies!

Some of the kiddos from our table:

Listening to the rules and anxious to be released. :)

Yummy cookies!

Wednesday:

Somer and I took the kiddos bowling! It was their first time and we of course used bumpers. We had the whole place to ourselves most of our game. They sure had a blast!

Great form. :)

Final scores! Ran out of time before we could get to the 10th frame.

Afterwards we hit the park for lunch. :)

Thursday:

We hit the indoor playground again (bought two Groupons) but this time with the girls' friends Mara and Ella. Again a good time!

Friday:

A local skating rink was having Learn to Skate class each day during spring break. So Friday we joined the Kissinger clan and the big kids each tried out the 45 minute class. Nolan and Bella did SO good being their first time. Miss Bells fell A LOT but by the end of the class was doing a ton better already!

Go giraffe group!

Middle sweeties cheering on their big sister/brother.

And the babies keeping us mommies busy with chasing them everywhere! :)

Fun time! Watching the zamboni run after class.

Saturday:

That morning while the hubs graciously changed the brakes on BOTH of our cars, we partook in another Easter egg hunt with our local park district, along with Chevriers and Burns families. And then that evening, due to a last minute trip to Egypt with a layover in Chicago, we had the special treat of seeing Mormor and Poppi Glass!