Wow, It's really been that long?

Well I was just thinking the other day how it's been forever since I updated this thing! Sorry to leave our faithful readers without new material!

We have been so busy with just everyday going ons. I dream that one day it will slow down. I fear that dream will never become a reality though. I (Calie)have been busy keeping some kind of order to the house, watching 4 children 1-2 days a week (mine plus 2...all under the age of 2 1/2), and working with my Creative Memories business. There is never a dull moment around here!

Steve has been busy at a pastor's conference, officiating a wedding, preaching, running meetings, shut in visits, hospital visits, end of the year youth events, confirmation, and our young adult ministry group. Whew. I'm exhausted just typing all that! Oh he also hangs out with us, is nursing our trees back to life, planting stuff in our yard and wrestling with hoses...don't ask!

Isaiah is a busy man playing baseball, going to the park, riding his "bike", golfing, basically anything you can do outside. He HATES coming inside, which the neighbors all know now too!!! He has become friends with the two neighbor boys, which is fun for both them and us Moms! He is still a kind big brother with the occasional eye poke, and lots of hugs.

Brielle is so big! She seems to be growing up faster than Isaiah, which is hard to believe. She is sitting up, feeding herself, eating cereal with fruits and veggies, and has two teeth. She is army crawling like a mad woman, and can get on all fours and rock. I am just waiting for her to take off! She is also close to getting herself to the seated position from her belly. She is a lot of fun to be around these days!

I hope that this slide show works, this blog has not been kind to me this year. Here goes nothing!

April in Sun Prairie

So Blessed!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." James 1:17

We have all had those particular moments. (At least I hope we all have!) Those days, those times when we just sit back and look at our lives and think, "I am so blessed!" Overwhelmed by the love we have for our families and so grateful for the ways in which God has provided for and blessed us. Last weekend was especially one of those moments for me. With Sun Prairie being on Spring Break it really lightened my church load and enabled me to be home for almost an entire weekend, along with my off day on Monday. The days were spent enjoying time as a family. Going out for Isaiah's first official trip to Dairy Queen; spending an afternoon (albeit while we were all sick) just lounging around and hanging out at home while watching the Twins finish up spring training; spending another afternoon swimming in the pool (Brielle's first time!), eating more ice-cream and then grilling our dinner; and then spending a day off at the Children's Museum in Madison.

It was a great weekend, a time for me to recharge and spend undivided and uninterrupted time with my beautiful wife and wonderful kids. A weekend for me to live out my first and most important vocation as husband and father. Left me quite often looking up towards heaven and thinking, "Thank you God; we are so blessed!"

Rainy Day Blues

Well, it has officially been raining for 3 days now, but I am not complaining too much. I hear that other parts of MN and WI are getting snow. I'd much rather have the rain!!!!

To cure our rainy day blues, we have watched a movie, napped and had lunch. Now I am making my "famous" chocolate chip cookies, but I am unsuccessfully baking them. They seem to be coming out looking more like cake than the "famous" cookies that I know and love. What is wrong? I want to make another batch to see if I can get these right. I haven't been able to make really good cookies since we moved here...what gives?

The kiddos are doing fine. Growing too fast, but what is new?! I don't remember if I have posted this or not, so sorry for the repeat if I did. Brielle is climbing the milestone charts very quickly. About a week and a half ago, she started eating rice cereal. She really likes it and does a great job eating. Our doctor has also given her the green light to try other foods, but I don't think that I am quite ready yet. She has also rolled both ways (from her back to tummy and tummy to back). Now as soon as you lay her on her back she is rolling onto her tummy. It makes diaper changes interesting! We have also started sleep training her, so she now goes to sleep in her bed when she is awake. She is doing a great job and hardly cries before drifting off to sleep.

Isaiah is just two. He has been a bit sleep deprived lately which turns him into a pushing, kicking maniac. Really it's not that bad, it just makes me miss my sweet little boy who runs over to give me kisses while he is playing. He is learning a lot and amazes me daily at how much he knows. He can count to ten in Spanish now too!

And of course Steve and I are the same...busy but good.

Here are a few of the latest pictures. Oh and I have to say, I think our blog has somemething against Brielle's videos. They just will not post them!!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

You're never too old to celebrate your birthday at Chuck E. Cheese! So that is just what we did. After a very busy weekend full of fun and exciting church-related events and activities, we celebrated Steve's 30th birthday on Monday. We all piled into our new minivan (new to us anyway) and headed to the place where a kid could be a kid. Mom and Dad were able to relive some childhood memories playing games and enjoying the "live entertainment." Isaiah had a ton of fun running around and ate plenty of pizza at his first visit. Enjoy the pictures!

Finally

I am so proud of myself! I have successfully edited and posted a video, and I bet I can do it again!

I am writing this in such a peaceful setting...yes I am still at home! The snow is falling outside, Isaiah is napping and Brielle and Steve are snoring in the chair. All I can say is life is good!

Isaiah is amazing us everyday with the information that he retains. He can now say up to 5 word sentences. The favorite around here is, "Hey Dad/Mom, What you doing?". He comes up with some real funny stuff. He finger painted for the first time this week, with real paint. (previously he used pudding) He also just got a new train table. It keeps him busy, but he still prefers playing with Mom or Dad verses by himself.

Brielle is getting so big! She is blowing raspberries, sitting up tall, and grabbing toys and hair. I can't believe that she will be 4 months old next week!!! She is now the same age Isaiah was when we started giving him cereal. I am just amazed at how much faster it is going this time around! I think Brielle could handle cereal, but there isn't a reason to start, so we will probably just wait a few more weeks.

Steve and I are the same as always. I try to keep the house clean, laundry done and people fed. I have continued to hold monthly scrap booking nights and attend monthly MOPS meetings.
Steve is starting a new bible study on Sunday mornings, as well as Family Fun Nights, and a Young Adult Ministry. He is busy as usual.

Last week we took a quick day trip to MN to celebrate my Dad's birthday. It was SO nice and fun to all be together again! My Dad is loving being home and loves his new home health nurses. He continues with physical therapy and exercises at home too.

Here is a video of Brielle making raspberries. She usually makes them when she is getting mad.

Isaiah Rockin

I am hoping that I have this video thing figured out. Enjoy our little Guitar Hero!