First Day of School... a whole new year

Today was a big day.  The boys headed off to school!  After homeschooling them last year I am pretty used to having them around all the time.  I'm going to miss their sweet little faces.  They were a little nervous but pretty excited too.

Isaiah

Lukey

This is our first time at a public school but our set-up couldn't be better.  Dad is teaching 5th grade right down the hall and both the boys have amazing, super nice teachers.  I am feeling really grateful!

Love these two!

They look ready to go don't they.  They both came home all smiles today.  I think it's going to be a great year! Lizzy and I had fun too.  We did nails, and went to the library, and read lots of books.  I'm excited to have some fun one on one time with my little girlie.  Until the middle of March that is... and then she'll become my big helper with the new baby.  Oh yeah, if you aren't on facebook you probably haven't heard we had a little surprise this summer...

Yep, it's going to be a great year. :)

Lukey turned 7!

Our Lukey turned 7 in August.  I can't believe it!  He has always been our little guy with a great big heart.  It's hard not to think of him as little, but as the marks on Grammy's door jam prove he is growing steadily... and his heart is just as big as ever.  We sure do love this boy.

I'm still so thankful when I think about Luke's first couple years of life and how sick he was all the time after his bout with RSV.  It was a stretching, tiring season for all of us but God is good and Lukey pressed through like a champ and is perfectly healthy and full of life.  He makes us smile every day.

Luke got to celebrate his birthday a few times this month - four to be exact.  Pretty lucky guy.  We celebrated at the Oregon Coast with my family (along with the other summer birthdays)

Meghan, Grampa, Luke, Meg

Look at these cute brothers.  The other day I was thinking about how Luke and Isaiah have pretty much been together 24/7 for the last year.  Luke adores his brother and I think it might be an adjustment when they start school in a couple days.

We were camping near Sequim on Luke's actual birthday so he got to celebrate with Nana and Papa and Auntie Deb and Uncle Syd.  He spent his day exploring and playing at the beach at Fort Worden.  And he chose steak for his birthday dinner.

Goof ball!

Mmmmm.... icecream cake!

After we got back we had a family pool party for Luke and cousin Dylan.  Birthdays are always a good excuse for a bbq and pool day, plus Auntie Kaylene was home for a visit.

Dylan and Luke- turning 3 and 7

A birthday wouldn't be complete without some friends so we had a few of those over too.  Super Mario Brothers was the theme and Luke was in heaven having some of his best buddies play for hours and then spend the night.

A bunch of Mario's and Luigi's and one Princess Peach

Popsicle time at the pool!

Whew! That was a lot of celebrating but oh so fun. And Luke.... never forget .... you're worth it all!
We love you!

Unicorns...Pink Ponies... and Mermaids

My sweet Elizabeth Joy turned 4 a couple weeks ago.  Leading up to her birthday if you asked her what she wanted she would say "a REAL unicorn and a REAL pink pony!"  That is what she wanted.  She was not discouraged with answers that we may not know where to find unicorns and pink ponies.  "Mom- you just have to look in the magical forest!"  Duh.

Well we didn't make it to the magical forest this year in time for her birthday but Lizzy DID have a wonderful birthday celebration, and she even got a pink pony (which she loved even if it wasn't real)

Lizzy chose the Spaghetti Factory for her birthday dinner and was joined by many of her adoring fans- thanks Nana and Papa, Auntie Kaylene and Uncle Syd and Auntie Deb.  It was a super fun night!  A couple of days later we celebrated with a princess tea party.  We were joined by cousin Isabelle and a couple of dear friends.  Lizzy was in heaven.

A table set for a queen!

Princess Cake

the beautiful Mermaid Princess

the Princesses- Ruby, Isabelle, Lizzy and Zoe

Sweet cousins

Happy Birthday!

Oh how I love this girl! I love her smile. I love her dimples. I love her hugs.  I love how she says big words.   I feel so incredibly blessed to have a daughter.  Lizzy is my constant companion.  She is thoughtful and always ready to help me in the kitchen, or run errands, or give me fashion advice.  I love watching Lizzy interact with people.  She talks to anyone, is quick to compliment and encourage and gives out hugs without reserve.  She is a light and brightens up any room.  Lizzy adores her brothers, who she calls "my boys" and it has been fun to watch her enter into play with them even more this year.  Oh, and this girl never. stops. talking.  She can carry on conversation all day long.  Shopping, fashion, lots of talking, fun.... all the makings of a great friendship and I'm looking forward to many coffee dates in our future.

My girlie

Besides Unicorns and Pink Ponies Lizzy also has developed a new interest in Mermaids.  Her new mermaid costume and mermaid dolls are helping to curb her desire to grow a tail for pool swimming this summer. (a "real" mermaid tail really was on her wish list- and they do make them for about $100)

Oh, so hard to believe my baby is four!  We sure do love her to pieces.  The other day I heard Lizzy sneeze a giant sneeze in the other room.  She walked into the kitchen in need of a tissue and said, "Mom, I blessed you."  Yes you did Lizzy, yes you did.  You blessed me four years ago when you entered the world and you have blessed me every day since.  Happy Birthday Princess!!!

Lizzy's "Birth"day

 One year old

Two years old

 Three years old

Four years old

Nine!

Isaiah turned 9....

 How did that happen?  I don't feel like he should be that old.  Wasn't it just yesterday that he was toddling around and falling asleep with his head on my shoulder.  Things are changing.  He doesn't snuggle in quite like he used to.  He doesn't need me for every little thing.  He can get his own breakfast and sometimes his sister's too.  He stays up reading at night with his little bunk light.  He understands things he didn't used to understand.  He's best friends with his brother, and helpful and patient with his little sister.  I can't make time stand still, but I can enjoy and appreciate all the new things that come with each new season of life and all the things that never change but make Isaiah who he is.... his huge smile... his contagious joy... his soft heart... his zest for life... his love of being with his favorite people, his patience and forgiving nature, his creativity and very active imagination.  I feel so blessed to have Isaiah as my son.  He brings life and laughter to our house.

Isaiah wanted a bike for his birthday.  Kyle of course, had no objections to bike shopping for his first born.  And he had a few ideas in mind; 7 speed so the gears are only on one hand, 24 inch wheels, something that will last through two boys.  We looked a couple places and Isaiah and Kyle found one they loved but we told Isaiah we would have to see.  Kyle bought him a new bike helmet that Luke and Lizzy wrapped up and secretly paid for the bike as well.  He picked it up the next day and hid it in his trunk.  Isaiah was a little bummed on the morning of his birthday not to see a bike (we usually give him his present at breakfast) That evening when Nana and Papa came we kept Isaiah busy while Kyle snuck the bike onto the porch, and then while we all loaded into the car in the garage he got it set up in the living room.  After birthday dinner at Red Robin Isaiah got his surprise...

First glimpse

Pretty excited...

He wasted no time in trying out his new bike and has pretty much been on it every free moment since.

We took a fun family bike ride on Saturday on the Chehalis Western Trail. It was my Mother's Day request.  It was a beautiful day and beautiful scenery and as we peddled along I realized again that my kids are getting older.  Everyone was riding a bike (well, Lizzy on the trailer bike behind me)  No one wears diapers any more.  Everyone can communicate, and put on their own shoes and buckle their own seat belts.  I love my babies and toddlers but new adventures await us and that's exciting too!

As I was writing this post I remembered a picture I took almost 9 years ago when we lived in Parkland. It's my little Isaiah man and his daddy on a bike....

Two of my most favorite guys... and that won't ever change.

                         

Happy Birthday Isaiah!!!  We love you to pieces!!!

Meet the Chicks

There's some new girls at the Grunenfelder house.  They're cute and soft and just a teensy bit messy.  Yep, that's right, we got us some cute little chickees.  I have wanted to have chickens for forever so I have been just as excited as the kids.  They are growing like weeds so I thought I better introduce them before they get too big.  I finally got them out on a little photo shoot on Easter.  Here they are...

Sophia

Sophia is the chick Lizzy picked out.  She named her after her current favorite princess cartoon character.  Sophia is an Americauna and will lay bluish greenish eggs.  She was the only light yellow one in the whole bunch.

Liz loves her little Sophia

On a side note, Lizzy has been going by "Cupcake" lately... she cracks me up!

Rhonda

Rhonda is my chick (and also the 'extra' in case one of them turns out to be a rooster)  She's a Rhode Island Red and is posing with cousin Isabelle today.

Goldie

Goldie is Luke's Golden Laced Wyandotte.  See the flecks of gold on her head?  They are already losing their baby faces.  

Luke loves animals, he's such a nurturer.

And finally...

Mary

Mary (inspired by The Mariners) is Isaiah's Barred Plymouth Rock.  It's the kind he specifically wanted.  At first he named her Rocky but decided that wasn't very feminine.  He's keeping that name in his back pocket just in case.  

Fun Fact:  Isaiah is really excited about baseball right now.  This is a new love for him.  He started playing on a baseball team a couple weeks ago and is loving it!

lovin' his new hat

Well, that's the girls.  Hearing those little peeps from their box makes me happy.  Having fresh eggs out my back door in a few months will make me even happier.  And it was kinda fun to have them on Easter. 

New Life.  

Fresh Starts. 

Living Savior.

Easter.

I love Easter!  Here's a couple of pictures of our day celebrating with my sister Megan's family, Kyle's sister Kaylene, and Kyle's cousin Kent's family...

Talking to Papa

Lizzy's "most favoritest" egg 

Checking out their eggs

Soccer anyone?

Look who just figured out how to cross his eyes...

We tried to get a good group shot, we really did.

 Uh, Oh... baby down!

Oh, well... they're cute even if they're not all looking at the camera.

Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!