Blue Jean Days

Four Months

2012-01-11T14:21:00.000-06:00

Leila Lou turned four months old yesterday. I was just sitting here folding mounds of laundry and caught her gaze. She giggled and breathed in real deep like she was so satisfied. Then she found her thumb, the one on her left hand (I've been studying her, and as far as I can tell, she always picks the one on the left hand). I continued to fold, and caught her gaze again. Giggle. Deep breath. Thumb in mouth. Repeat. Daughter, I too, am satisfied. Satisfied in God. And so thankful He chose me to be your mommy.

A Rhyming Story About a Bear along with smelly marker accents

2011-12-05T08:58:00.000-06:00

"The bear went up the stairs and he sat in his chair and he ate a pear and stared." -Gretta made this while mommy was nursing Leila in the other room. The only question I got was "MOM, HOW DO YOU SPELL "ch"?

Substance

2011-11-28T13:48:00.001-06:00

It seems like a productive day; at least on the outside. The washing machine is running, the kitchen table is full of folded clothes soon to be put away. The turkey's in the oven, the sweet aroma of french bread will soon be filling the kitchen, not to mention two kids are napping and another two are upstairs (mostly) giggling over a hand-me-down bag of boys dress up costumes from GG.

But on the inside I started to dwell on things that would be nice to have that we don't have, like a warm fireplace, or more bedrooms to fill more little ones, or blinds on our patio door. My "wanter radar" as one of the kids books calls it was running sky high. When my eyes began to fill with a few tears, I knew a heart check was in order. Off to my knees in the most quiet place I can think of right now, my bedroom floor. In that place, I confessed my seemingly increasing dissatisfaction with what we have been given, and then turned to the daily devo I committed to reading for the next thirty-one days. Maybe none of this would have occurred if I would have read it this morning instead of at 1:30 in the afternoon :)

In 'Pierced by the Word', Piper points to Psalm 135:15-18: The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them". Earlier in the devo he said, "It is our created nature to make much of God....When we fulfill this reason for being, we have substance. Not to fulfill this purpose for human existance is to be a mere shadow of the substance we were created to make. Pray along with me that God would make us "feel the suicidal faith in innocent idols and give us fresh freedom from all hallow gems".

Leila Lou

2011-11-28T13:01:00.000-06:00

"Giggle butts" is sometimes what we call her. It is funny to hear the kids say it as I can see the reels turning in their minds, "what exactly does 'giggle butts' mean?" I'm not sure what it means; just that she giggles a lot, and giggles more when you say it.

November News

2011-11-25T21:47:00.000-06:00

Here is Leila's 2 month picture. It's funny to hear who people think she looks like. I often hear a confident "I think she looks just like _____ " but it's never the same family member. I guess we all look alike!

Leila has been such a sweet and happy baby. She is easy to get to laugh, loves taking it easy in her swing, and is never bored with all of the sibling attention around here.

We had a triple birthday party this month for Tim, Brian and Silas, whose birthdays are all within five days of each other. Sy's latest is counting to 10 but before he gets to 10, he seems to be fond of one number specifically, "1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9.9.9.9.9.9.9.9.9...........10". He makes us laugh!

For the party, we made homemade pizza pockets. Sammy put a little of everything in his...such a good eater!

Grandma and Grandma holding their newest grandkids, Grey and Leila.

The only picture I have of the guys, and Tim isn't even in it :( Funny how picture taking by the time the third kid turns two just isn't approached with quite the same effort :)

Cousins Johnny, Sy, Allison, Leila, Sam, Gretta and Grey all in pjs.

Play date at our house...thanks Amy, Janelle and Mary for all of the fun!...oh wait, the playdate was for the kids?!

Cousins John, Amie and Paul...so grown up!

"Leila Lou" celebrating a Packer win at Auntie Karens :) She will have to wait until next year to try the turkey.

After a few bribes of cookies and gum, they all sat on the same couch for about 3 seconds :)

The boys are up north with Daddy, so Gretta, Leila and I had some sweet girls time starting off at Hobby Lobby where we found some paper dolls. We went out to lunch at Mc Ds and finished the day strong with puzzles, Candy Land, window clings and a Christmas movie. I don't remember the last time our house was this quiet! But still, we are excited to welcome the boys back tomorrow!

Welcome, Little One!

2011-09-29T15:27:00.024-05:00

Our newest little Gremore...Leila Francine was born on 9/10/11 weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces, 20 3/4 inches long. Leila means "dark beauty" and Francine is after my grandma on my dad's side and means "free". John 8:36 says, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". That is our prayer for our little beauty, whether she stays dark haired or not :) That she would know Jesus and live free in Him!
I have been thinking of certain memories with my grandma Fran...she would sing to us, decorate little baskets for Easter and hide them around their house, make the best chop suey, and never came home from their trip to Florida without a funky designed swimming suit for my sister and I. We are honored to pass her name on!

Two weeks before Leila arrived, we received a big box in the mail full of activities. We participated in an activity exchange where each mom made 30 of the same activity and then mailed them to the coordinator who divided them up and sent each of us 30 different activity bags.

The snowflake felt patterns is one of Gretta's favorites.

Here is Gretta working on some letters....

Now, unto lowercase :)

Sammy and Gretta both got a kick out of the making their own puddy....

This kept them busy even longer than I had hoped!

One of my favorite memories with Linds and Josh and the kids while they were here. Almost every Sunday that they were in the area, we got together for lunch AND supper....we wondered why don't more people do this more often?!? The kids played to their hearts content and the adults enjoyed each others company. On this particular Sunday, the kids were gearing up for a movie.

And now for some birth stories and pics :) Contractions started at 3am but became more regular around 7. Got to the hospital around 8 in case she would make her entrance quickly; we should have known that wouldn't be the case considering she was due 6 days earlier :) The doctor broke my water around noon and she was born at a little after 2pm.

This was the first time the three stooges met their newest little sister. They had been staying with Grandma Lo and Grandpa Jer for a few days already, and it was past bed time for them when they arrived...I remember thinking that two [quiet] nights in the hospital might be a wise option this time :)

Proud grandparents Gampy and GG

Grandma Lo and Grandpa Jer with grand baby number 4 and one more coming this month...can't wait to meet Bri and Amber's little one!

Great Grandma with great-grand baby #8

Uncle Brian and Auntie Amber counting the days until it's their turn!

Another visit from GG along with Granny....and they brought dairy queen...need I say more?

Olivet and Leila just wanted to make sure they can borrow each others shoes...some day :)

A fun visit from Auntie Amy, Uncle David, Ally and Johnny

Ready for the ride home. As soon as we got home we gave Leila a tour, first to Gretta and Sammy's room, and then to Sy's. Leila will be in our room until we move her down the hall with Gretta in a few months and move Silas upstairs with Sam. How fun to have a "boy's room" and a "girls room"!

A great visit with Aunt Sally and Uncle Jim

Thanks to so many friends and family members for your generosity in bringing over meals. We were definitely spoiled! The cake pops above are from Uncle Mikes Bakery....yummmm!

I walked into our room and found this laying on the bed. Gretta has been Leila's fashion coordinator from day one!

During an attempt to take Leila's 2-week photo...

Despite the face, Leila enjoyed her first bath...especially getting her hair washed; must take after mommy :)

Gretta started her first ballet/jazz class on Wednesday. She finally gets to twirl and dance with some girls her own age and a wall full of mirrors...a little girls dream!

A class of six 4-5 year olds getting ready for 50 minutes of bliss

Finally, a piece of life with four little ones...what does one do when the laundry needs to be put from the washer to the drier and needs two hands to complete the task? Why, find a nice cozy spot for the littlest one to rest!

Wrapping up Summer

2011-08-20T13:19:00.007-05:00

Has it really been over four months since our last post?! We have been busy getting ready for baby #4 (due in 2 weeks!!) and enjoying summer...so much more to share, but here are the latest happenings....

Pigs at the Brown County Fair...We were in this barn when one large pig got loose...quite an uproar until he was finally herded back to his stall!

Grets and Sam on their tippy toes...they really were having fun :)

Still at the fair, decorating door hangers with a state cut out and farm animals.

This pic is taken from our living room of a nest on the awning over our living room window...3 eggs just hatched and we've had the joy of watching the young birds grow up :)

One hot day we peeled and broke crayons, filled them in these "IKEA" (love Ikea!) heart molds, and set them on a cookie sheet only to be melted by the hot sun on the dash board of the van for 2 hours...
Here is Irelynn showing off her color and design skills :) (We get to have her over a few days each week in the summer and the kids love it!)

And...viola! Heart shaped crayons. Will definitely do this project again!

Here we are at Sunset park listening to Uncle Roj's band play...great summer entertainment!

Sy walking with Grandma....

Sam enjoying his sub sandwich....

And Gretta anxiously waiting for the music to start!

Tim and I are honored to be god parents to our dear friends Heidi and Jeff's son, Ethan James.

And finally, our camping trip to Glidden Lake...one last family get-away this summer. The kids seem to love everything about camping, from scoping out bugs to s'mores around the fire, they love living in the woods!

Spring is in the air!

2011-04-07T13:37:00.008-05:00

Three goof balls anxious to get outside! We've gone from a week of the greatest snowfall of the season (see below) to 50s and sunny....time to go run around!!

The snow was HEAVY and perfect for...

...building a snowman! Sadly, Mr Frosty tipped over before daddy got home, but proof is in the picture :)

We recently spent a night in Wausau at a water park with some great friends; one way to beat the winter blues :)

So much fun to get into swimming suits again! The water was refreshing.

Four friends running down the hall. Usually Sy took off the opposite way everyone else was going. This time, he was the leader of the pack :)

All snuggled in. Sam and Gretta slept on the pull out couch and Sy in his pack n play.

Here is Silas AFTER his haircut. I didn't take a before pic, but his hair was getting pretty long. It was going well until he started dipping his sucker in the hair that was falling on his tray....YUCK!

We had a baby shower for our friend Heidi at Renee's house. She was such a trooper with all of the kids; they definitely outnumbered the adults.

Here are our friends Annabelle, Julia, and Matthew. It is always a joy to spend time together!

Mom and I got a good laugh over mom's new creation... a supposedly low-cal treat, after counting the true calories, turned out to be as rich as a slice of cheese cake :) but much less fat :)

Sam at GG and Gampys after his haircut; ironic because they are the ones always saying we should grow his hair out again :) maybe to be similar to Uncle Phils cuts as a child :)

Here are a few pics of Sammy's 3rd dino-theme birthday party. It was precious watching him open his gifts...after almost each one he would exclaim, "WOW!!!!" Sy learned a new word too!

Lily got Sam a toy story puzzle, a book to color in and a little dinosaur. They were in this shoe box, and he said, "wow, shoes!!" He would have been excited about shoes too :)

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa at the party...

Dino-Sam and Gampy.

GG and Gretta smiling for the camera.

This is the excavation site where they dug for dino eggs and then put them in the water where they grew out of their shell. We also played dino-bowling with dino-bone pins and played trivia with the adults. At Sy's party, the women won the match, but this time, the guys dominated labeling the dinos. Since the prizes were mostly girly, the guys could give their prize to their other half :)

Uncle Brian and Auntie Amber...they are expecting their first baby in the fall!

Adam, Kris and Lily...since we would be watching Lily the following day anyway, we decided to have her sleep over. Sam, Grets and Lil all had their own sleeping bag on the floor upstairs. They did great and slept in until 7:30 the next morning. Lily's mom is due May 4th. We will keep you posted!

Home & Holidays

2011-01-09T13:53:00.005-06:00

Taking over Great Grandma and Great Grandma's couch!! More kids than adults? Yes! We are loving our times together with Allison and Johnny!

We made it out the door in a record 20 minutes, and amazingly, all four fit in the sled.

Decorating cookies at Auntie Amy and Uncle David's. I think each cookie Gretta decorated was purple.

Sammy didn't understand the concept of frosting the cookies and eating them later...

Gretta turned four this month! She loved twirling in her dress and opening presents...her favorite, a musical jewelry box from Auntie Amber and Uncle Brian.

Pink cupcakes with sprinkles...mmmm!

Blowing out the candles...

Gretta (4), Silas (1) and Sam (2).

Here is our tree on Christmas morning. Tim and I were up at 6:30. We had a cake in the oven, and finished putting gifts out, only to wait. And wait. We sat on the couch and stared at the tree. Do we wake them up? Nah. Let's just enjoy the quiet! The kids didn't wake up until after 7!

Gretta opening a sticker maker from GG and Gampy...

Silas in his new life jacket from Grandma Lo and Grandpa Jer...

And Sammy just as enthusiastic about his last gift as his first. He was so joyful and full of thanks!

And the best news to share for last...Congratulations Uncle Phil & Danielle on your engagement!! We are so thankful for our soon-to-be "Auntie"!!!

2010-11-17T12:11:00.008-06:00

Remember the Apple Dumpling Gang? Tim rented the dvd for the kids a few weeks ago and based on the title, I thought it would have something to do with Strawberry Shortcake. Turns out it's a 1970's western film. I think the kids liked it. It might be what inspired Sammy to dress up as a (rough shape) cowboy.
Gretta wanted to be a movie star. Somehow, this is what she ended up wearing :)

If God chooses to bless us with any more boys that happen to be 6-18 months old in October, they will most likely dress up in this inherited Tigger costume.

Target clearance: 75% off for a grand total of 7 dollars! Perfect for dress up.

The kid's good friend Cohen turned 4 and had his birthday party at Monkey Joe's.

Silas could not take his eyes off MJ!! It was so funny. He didn't cry, he was just very interested.

Sam the brave one going down the big slide all by himself! He loved it.

Gretta did awesome too!

Me and Sy at his one year birthday party at our house. We celebrated Tim, Uncle Bri and Sy's birthday since they are all within 5 days of each other!

So happy to have Tim's cousin Amy and her husband David & two kids join us. They used to live in Fargo, & just bought a house less than 10 minutes away!

Silas thought he'd get more comfortable (pjs) before opening gifts. He had lots of help!

Auntie Amber and Uncle Bri sure know how to pick a toy!!

Opening more gifts...

My homemade tripple layer confetti cake...Sy wasn't sure about it at first...

But it sure didn't take long!

He loved it!

I think he's ready for another change of clothes...but first, a bath (don't mind the dishes :).

Happy 1st Birthday Silas Nathaniel! You truly are a gift from God to us. We are so grateful.

Camping and More

2010-06-26T22:24:00.020-05:00

Happy Birthday Linds!! This blog update is for you :) I wish you could have tried this cake! It was so yummy. My friend Marianne made it for our "Bloom" group. Tim made breakfast AND a homemade blueberry pie, and we had a cook out in Wrightstown that night. Lots of delicious food! Unto some photos of the last couple of months...first on the list...camping!

All packed up and smelling good; ready to start our first family camping adventure!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Sam...pondering the meaning of life...or wondering why the neighbor dog still barks at us even after 2 years of being neighbors.

Here are a few pics from Peninsula State Park in Door County. We tented it for 5 days. I was ready to go home on the first day. None of us wanted to leave by the last.

While we were setting up camp we figured Sy would stay out of trouble (but not dirt) in his travel high chair (don't look too closely at his fingernails :)

Chicken stir fry...mmmm! We cooked most of our meals over Tim's hiking stove.

Here we are eating that meal. We didn't let the rain stop us from having a good time! Tim backed the van to our tent so we had a covering and dry chairs.

Sy's wardrobe for most of the trip...a fleece snow suit! He seemed to like it.

The vigorous climb up the Eagle Bluff Tower proved to be worth the amazing view.

Working on some bird houses for the Grandpas.

Snuggle time with Sy. Two happy campers :)

Next subject: our garden. This is our 3rd year with a garden. We planted on memorial day (did I say "we"? I meant Tim and Grandpa...the rest of us supervised & played cribbage:)

Here are the fabulous results after about seven weeks. Mmmmm!

Here is a Hydrangea Bush we planted. Last year it had one lonely blue blossom for the longest time. This year is quite a different story.

Speaking of landscaping, this is what we came home to last week after a delicious and comical dinner celebrating Uncle Phil's Birthday...I unfortunately don't have pictures of the dinner at Angelina's, but mannaged to pull out the camera for this.

Lots of rain + already wet ground + little time + leaky windows= wet basement. With the help of many fans, an industrial size wet/dry vac, & 2 dehumidifiers, the basement was dry in a few days. No complaints here. On the inspection of our neighbors basement, they were greeted by a floating freezer. Yikes.

Here is Silas at 7 months. Little did I know at the time that I used the same onesie for his 6 month picture. Not the only thing I have forgotten lately :)

Gretta's first dentist appointment! She did awesome! At one point, the dentist was showing her this sprayer-thing, and meant to put it on low, but got her full force on the bib. The hygenist and I both jumped, but Gret's was a trooper and acted like it didn't even faze her!

Gretta picked a purple ring and pink bubble gum (trident:) from the treasure box for a job well done. She told almost everyone we saw that week about her appointment and the treasures she chose! She also got a princess tooth brush and couldn't wait to throw her old one away.

Cousins Luke and Sam...playing football at the cottage on Bear Lake over the Fourth of July. They hit it off so well! We try to get a pic of them together everytime we see them because they are so close in age. Does anyone smell mischief? :)

Relaxing on the swing with Gampy.

The night we got home from camping we took Sammy's nuks away, cold turkey. Gretta went to Build-A-Bear and stuffed hers in the bear. Sammy got to pick out a mit and a ball. Here he is playing ball at the cottage. He loves it! Next step: getting rid of diapers.

Playing chase with cousin Noah on the other side of the family. The pjs are from Grandma Lo. They would wear them every night (and day) if they could.

Lots of running = good sleep tonight.

Great Grandpa received a turkey decoy for Father's Day. Don't tell him I posted this picture!! j/k

Here is Gretta dreaming about training camp. Go number twelve!

Sammy shows this face a lot lately. One would think he is extremely upset until...

the grin breaks through...

The icecream? It's called "Super Man". The kiddie cone was more like a two scooper & Sammy finished every last bite. Gretta asked for vanilla. :)

Is this a messy kid photo contest? Avocado in a dish & self-feeding; the only way he likes it!

Me with all three at once...how rare these photos opps are!!! Now we have to figure out how to photoshop Daddy in (and maybe Diggs).

Last but not least...bikers riding in style. Bound and determined...

Sammy insists on wearing his helmet everytime he rides his hot wheels big wheel (good boy).

"Could you point me to the gas station? This thing isn't moving..." -Silas

That's what a big brother and big sister are for!

Mostly Silas and Sam

2010-04-12T17:42:00.010-05:00

Sammy turned 2 on March 30th! We had his party the weekend before. He wanted a garbage truck cake. His train idea was a close second, so we went with that instead. I think he enjoyed it!
Since the cake below would feed maybe 5 (hungry) people, the one on top was a backup to make sure we had enough!

Sam has been such a joy! He is a very passionate and excitable kid...when we pick him up from his time in Sunday school, he seems to explode like he hasn't seen us in months! You will rarely see him without a ball in hand ready to "dunk" it somewhere. If he misses the basket, he says "missed it" with the same excitement as if he made the shot. If he sees a baby anywhere, he absolutely cannot pass him or her up without an affectionate nuzzle and a few kisses. He makes me smile a lot :)

Digging in!

Below, Sam is opening his gift from Uncle Phil.... and it's ....

the latest Cozy Coupe model, face included! All the kids love this one! Thanks Uncle Phil!

"Cheeeeeeese!"

Ohhhhhh! A track and cars! This will be fun!

The car set and "BATHketball" set are from Uncle Bri and Amber. They always seem to know exactly what the kids will be interested in! We had fun having Sammy repeat "Bathketball". Just try and say it. You might even laugh out loud.

Bri and Amber are getting married in August. We better start practicing walking down an isle with Sammy. He will be a ring bearer and needs strict instructions on not dunking the rings!

Here's Gretta checking out the sand/water box from GG and Gampy. So fun!

That's where Gretta must have been when the picture below was taken with GG and Gampy :)

And finally, a Hot Wheels bike from Grandma Lo and Grandpa Jer. Now we can go for bike rides without fighting over Gretta's Dora bike. :)

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa enjoying some Sam-time.

Gretta got Sam a flashlight. Perfect for camping this summer!

The birthday boy ready to go on an adventure...

Silas, Sam and Gretta...a common scene in our home. Whenever Silas is anywhere near reaching distance, the older two are as close to him as can be.

They love their little brother. I think it's mutual!

Here's Sy at four months old. Poor guy had a double ear infection towards the end of a week long cold. He's still in smiles though. What a trooper! Praise God for all of our little blessings!

This & That

2010-03-01T16:49:00.010-06:00

Silas has the best forehead. I found that out when I put this almost-too-small-hat on him before a walk. Just look at those scrunchy wrinkles :)

One night away from kids (besides Silas) + 4 girlfriends + lots of chocolate = 1 sweet time :) Thanks mom and dad for letting us stay at the cabin. We had a blast!

While Sam learned how to swim in the pool below, Gretta practiced her balance beam skills in the balcony above. The both slept like logs that night. Woo hoo :)

Got our pizza ready for the oven...

Set the timer for 30 minutes...

Ate the rest of the cheese &....

Ta Da! Happy Valentine's Day!

Here we are at Jody's house. Sammy & Gretta are having a blast with Anna!

Silas is having a good time too, kicking those monkey feet around :)

Si's last bath in the little tub...sniff sniff! He just seemed to be too big & kicked out most of the water anyway...Grets and Sam love having him in the big tub. Sam's first welcome to Si was a cup of water over his head...let the fun times begin!!

Ninja Sam attempting the splits in jeans...

And Gretta in her home-made princess (80's?!) outfit. She asked me, "mommy, does daddy have a tool to keep my headband on my head?"

Some of Gretta's latest art...wow, it is so cool to see her draw people, letters and shapes!!

GG taught her how to draw kites, so we see them on almost all of her pictures lately...

And finally...a gummy grin from Si, with love.

Three reasons why I need to stick to blogging when the kids are sleeping:

4:10 Sammy comes in the living room with a mouth full of I wasn't sure what. I asked him to open his mouth, and sure enough, he got the banana from the trash that I threw out around lunch time because it was very brown on the inside but the peel was yellow. Gross.

4:14 Gretta yells from Silas' room after #1 above happened, "mommy, come and see what sammy is doing with markers!!" My stomach sunk. Sammy colored with black marker on the hard wood. Yes I took pictures. Maybe I will post them next time.

4:21 Gretta yells from the kitchen minutes after #2 above happened, "mommy, come and see what sammy is opening in the kitchen!!" Of course he found those, the presents I just finished wrapping for their cousins. I shouldn't have been surprised!

Our visit with Carly

2010-02-21T15:45:00.004-06:00

Our friend Carly was over for a while last month. We had snacks...

drew pictures (not without talking on the phone a bit :)

and took good care of Silas! Carly is going to be a big sister pretty soon!!

Below is Silas's 2 Month picture...my Little Slam Dunker :)

Sammy's new favorite place: the time-out corner. He likes to give himself time-outs and then count to 10 as fast as he can...

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-19T20:09:00.008-06:00

We brought in the New Year with lots of laughter....

new faces...

not so new faces...

....and messy hair! Tim made us special blueberry pancakes to celebrate the New Year. Since none of us were up past ten the night before (well, with some exceptions... :) we had a pretty energetic morning.

Gretta teaching Silas "cheeeeeeeese". Out of all of us, I think Gretta gets Silas to smile the most. Usually, that is.

This is the day mom had a lot of cooking to do, and a lot of little ones (and one big one under the table) to take care of. Solution? TV trays in the kitchen and play dough. One great combination that led to minutes of fun.

Who doesn't like to mix all of the play dough colors together?

This is at a gymnasium near our house; our new discovery before Silas was born. Silas came with us (well...out of the womb this time) but slept for the majority of the hour. Gretta builds a castle; Sammy knocks it down. Gretta laughs....thankfully.

Sammy doing what he does best, but this time on furniture where climbing is encouraged :)

Dad and Silas spending time together. We have been blessed with family members who have been more than willing to take Gretta and Sam overnight on a few occasions. Thanks to their help, we got the attic clean, enjoyed a date out to our favorite date-spot, Cafe Espresso, and even managed to get a few cribbage games in. Oh, how quiet it was with one child!

Our friends Sarah and Dale just moved a bit further away from us, so we are especially happy (don't let Sammy's face fool you) when we get to see them and their two kids, Matt and Annabelle.

Goof-balls :)

Notice the color choice of Gretta's crayon pile. He he. She was humming the tune to "The Farmer In the Dell" and then broke out in the lyrics (not joking) "Hi-ho the Dairy Queen the farmer in the dell". Too cute to tell her the real words :)

And finally, Silas at 5 weeks old. With Gretta, each months picture of her first year of life was taken exactly on the 19th of each month. With Sam, give or take a few days. With Silas, well, give or take a week. :) He is such a joy to us; we are blessed indeed.

Another wait is over and our hearts are full!

2009-11-24T08:09:00.004-06:00

Silas Nathaniel Gremore Born on November 23rd 2009 at 1:21pm
8lbs 11oz 20 1/4 inches

Proud and thankful mommy and daddy!

Sam and Gretta just love their little brother! I wasn't sure how things would go, especially considering Sammy's latest motto "my momma!". Well, he marched into the hospital room, with that characteristic left arm of his pumping, ready for a mission. "Baby!" he exclaimed and even wanted to take him home! Gretta was such a proud big sister too, showing off her new big sister sticker. She was a little more apprehensive at first, but I'm sure will be a huge helper with Silas.

More to come!!

And the Wait is Over

2009-07-08T20:02:00.005-05:00

Here we are at the airport almost 2 hours early. That hardly mattered; we were so excited to reunite with Linds, Josh and the fam...it has been 2 years for all of us except my mom who took a trip to China last year.

Here's Lily; much taller than I remembered :) But as cute and sweet as ever! So good to see everyone again :)

Grets and Cade really hit it off. As everyone else recovered from jet lag, Cade managed to go for a few walks, take a trip to the library, and play in the backyard all in one evening.

Caedmon and Sam riding in style.

Hadassah loving watching her big brother and sister at Bay Beach.

Here is Sam playing in the water in Door County. Tim's Grandma tured 80 in January, so to celebrate, we all took a weekend trip. Sammy loved splashing his feet in the water despite the numbing effects.

Gretta "chipmunk" Gremore enjoying the balcony. She had a blast swimming in the pool, playing in the sand, and especially getting so much attention :)

Not sure if I have ever seen them this close and still on the bench. Must be inthrawled by the papparazi

Sam not so sure at first...

But didn't want to leave in the end.

We went to a kiddie beach with some friends, and ejoyed some DQ after...mmmm...summer!

Annabelle and Gretta at Annabelle's 2nd birthday party. She will be staying with us for the weekend; can't wait to have her!

Can anybody say "Elaine"??? I get such a kick out of this move each time. He he.

Grrrr.

Just playing :)

Mostly Gretta, Sam and Diggs, of Course!

2009-05-31T14:48:00.010-05:00

With so many photos and not so much time, here is a recap of a few months ago...with hopes to keep adding as the month continues :)

Our little Gretta giving dominos a shot...not without baby of course!

Sam trying to figure out the sippy cup. He's almost got it, just seems to choke more often than drink.

Diggs and Gretta up North in Florence. We had a great time hiking and watching for bear...

Diggs just digs being in the woods.

My favorite pic of Gretta dangling feet over the bridge.

She loves it up there too!

This water jug occupied Sam for at least an hour...take the top off...put it back on... etc.

Mom...bedtime already?

Sammy just loves cords, knobs, electronic things...anything non-toy. I found him trying to figure out the door knob.

...and later getting into doughnuts :) That's my guy!

Gretta and Daddy playing in the leaves.

Sam too!

Digory- not so much. Just resting.

Or plotting how he can stay up here for the rest of his life :)

"I love sand!" -Gretta

Back at Great Grandma and Grandpa's going for a walk.

The soon to be big brother :)

Always "picking on" Sam. Not so sure he doesn't mind the attention!

Gretta, want to try on Mommies glasses that you broke?

"Wow mom, even better this way!" -Gretta

"Yeah- I'd say so too" -Sam

Before Sam's first professional haircut.

And after- he did so well!

Here Grets and Sam are getting our garden ready. We planted seeds on Memorial Day and the countdown for fresh veggies has begun!

At the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Gremore.

One...Two...Three...weeeee!!!

Diggs will spend 99% of his time here until the next snowfall.

Easter Part 1

2009-04-28T20:43:00.003-05:00

On the Saturday before Easter, we went to GG and Gampy's to celebrate. They put together a special egg hunt for Gretta and Sam, created a crazy race for Uncle Phil, Tim and I (with a reward at the end...but the key was to climb in Jake's dog kennel...Phil won hands down!!), and grilled some really great brats and burgers.

Gampy helping Sam pick out a toy.

Each egg they found meant they could pick a treat from this box. Not sure if they ended up finding all of the eggs, but we came home with the whole box of goodies :)

Gretta and GG picking some connectable bunnies...

Uncle Phil connecting with his "bunny" side... he he... I told him I wouldn't put this on
facebook. This isnt facebook :)

Sam pulls this one off too well. He actually kept these on for a while!

Gretta was hesitant at first, but then wore them almost the whole time!

Sammy and Daddy

Stay tuned...more to come from Easter Sunday and Sammy's first birthday...

Falling in Fargo

2009-03-29T14:18:00.006-05:00

We recently spent an extended weekend in Fargo, ND visiting Tim's cousin Amy and her husband David and daughter Allison. Unfortunately, we hardly have any pictures of the trip, but here is one of Sam standing by himself!

"whoa, this balance thing is tricky...."

"crawling might be my thing for a while...." :)

Here is David trying out for the yellow belt in Taekwondo. "The seed is beginning to see the sunlight." He did really well!

Hy-ah!

The week before we left, we had a little visitor, Carly. Here, she is enjoying some bread and pears.

Sam and Carly wanted to go shopping...

While Gretta modeled what they bought :)

Gretta, did you happen to see my stickers?

Learning about shadows.

Gretta feeding Sam. She ate up every moment. Though they are almost the same size, this somehow worked.

One weekend day, Tim and I looked at the clock, and then outside. What should we do all day since we can't go outside and play? So Gretta and Sam got new 'dos.

Playing together so nice...for a while at least.

Clothes from Carly and her Mom for Gretta until Carly is big enough to wear them...the beauty of hand-me-downs! Thank you!

"Moooooommmmm, this doesn't match!"-Gretta

"I think it looks nice" -Sam

"Let me see here..." -G
"This one's my favorite!"-G

Family Life

2009-03-17T15:31:00.007-05:00

I hope these will be the last batch of pictures (for a while anyway) with snow in them!! We took the kids to the cabin in Florence for one last winter who rah before the snow melted. Here is great grandpa reading Gretta a story in front of the wood burner.

NORMALLY the rules are always guys against girls when it comes to you name it, any kind of competition. In this case, the numbers were not even, so this is the dazzling duo that beat two guys at Aggravation.

But as you can see, the men took the weekend.

An all time family favorite.

This is where Diggs spends 98% of his time when he is up north.

In the winter, the "driveway" to the cabin gets pretty snowed in; hence the snowmobiles with sleds. Gretta and Sam have probably road on a snowmobile more times than I have in my whole life.

The outhouse.

An abandoned beaver hut we found on a walk.

Tim enjoying the scenery.

Nat enjoying practice with the new camera (above and below :)

Grandma and Gretta eating yogurt.

There's Sammy, upset that this is his first appearance in the blog so far. jk

Sam chews on EVERYTHING. He has 2 teeth on the bottom with 2 coming in, and 4 on the top.

Gretta insisted wearing this "hat" to the mall.

I think she can pull it off!

Sammy probably waiting for something meaty. He's not a big fan of fruit, but give him some turkey or chicken and he'll gobble it up.

We spent one weekend in Stevens Point visiting Uncle Phil. They had the sweetest time playing in the playland and swimming in the toddler pool with GG and Gampy.

Before we left for Point, Gretta wanted to try her suit on... along with Sammy's new hat and mittens. Hey, they were in the same bag! They must go together!

Cheese!

Sam pondering his March Madness picks.

In honor of Valentine's Day...

2009-02-05T11:51:00.013-06:00

Gretta giving Sammy a hug and kiss...

"EWWWWWW!"

"I'll get her!"

This is Gretta and Sam's friend Carly...we get together quite a few times a month. "I think she likes my hair...sweet!"-Sam

"She must like the messy look :) " -Sam

"There. That's better." -Carly

Enjoying a beater with cookie dough. One time, I was making mashed potatoes and offered Gretta a beater. The look on her face was priceless after she took her first lick! She handed it right back and said, "chocolate chip??"

Sam Swayze and Mommy...so surprised Sammy sat still long enough for the photo!

New PJs from Lily, Cades and Das....so cute....thank you!

One of Gretta's all time favorite games is hide and seek. Here she is counting to 10. "One...two...free...."

She gets a little bit of nervous excitement as she thinks about where Daddy could be hiding...

She found him behind the chair and ran into his arms. This is after the find, telling Daddy "I find you". She wants to play again!

Grandma Lo reading to Sam Aka Baby Trouble

Sammy riding in his dump truck (instigated by Daddy)

Gretta and her new found friend Stella. The nookie is magnetic; it also sticks to the nails in the coffee table :)
"This isnt so fun any more...get me outa here!" - Sam

Gretta's idea...let's find a new toy! Maybe I can push him!

Grets calls this her "lion burrito"

Sam is always on the move. He just climbed the whole flight of stairs yesterday, a couple of times actually. Gretta just started crawling at ten and a half months, so this is new for us. I thought, well, if he is standing still by the tub, maybe holding a camera case or anything that doesnt resemble a toy, I could try and give his hair a much needed cut....
I think he likes it...crooked angles and all :)

Add a little styling goo and viola!

New Years Resolution: Blog every month!

2009-01-04T10:44:00.017-06:00

Much has happened since October 27th (our last blog). Tim turned 30. Gretta turned 2. Sam turned 8 months. Then he turned 9 months. Nat is still 27 :) We celebrated Thanksgiving, then Jesus birth at Christmas, and now the new year. As I type, Tim is on his way home from ice fishing in Florence. The kids and I stayed at GG and Gampys for a few days. A few cold and flu symptoms caught our eye (literally in some cases :) so we took everyone in for a checkup this morning. Diagnosis: Gretta has pink eye. Sam has a double ear infection. Nat has a virus. Cheers to antibiotics! We are now home and resting, eager to hear about Tim's fishing trip.
Despite the long nights and sore noses from so much kleenex, we are making it through, thanks to God, who gives us hope even when the rainy days dont seem to have an end in sight. He is our provider and our strength in the good and the bad!

Playing in the leaves

Sam telling Gretty a secret

This is Gretta's good friend Annabelle. The funny thing about this picture is usually the smiles and the frowns are in the other order :)

Sam at 8 months...

During Sunday School, I turned to see what Sam was up to, and his buddy Oliver was showing him the ropes to a fun toy...

Gretta at Thanksgiving in jewelry heaven! These necklaces had all belonged to my Grandma Fran. I bet she would have loved to see Gretta enjoying them so much. Hours of fun for Gretta!

Gretta bored...Sam interested..

Gretta happy...Sam confused...

Maybe this jumping jack will make you both laugh...yep!!

Sam at 9 months

Tim's cousin Amy was in town from Fargo with their little girl Ally.

Look at those dimples!!

Gretta is happy to see Auntie Lisa, but not so happy to share a lap with Sammy

Painting paper snow flakes

Gretta turned 2 on December 19th! Here she is opening presents

Lots of pretty paper and bows. Gretta was so fun to watch open her gifts. At first, she took each gift so carefully, and gently lifted the tape off of the paper. After a while, ripping became more fun!

Time to eat!

What 2 year old girl can have a birthday party without Dora? :)

"Hey Gampy, that's my cake!" -Gretta

Christmas Eve at GG and Gampys...Gretta not interested in pictures

"Gretta...wait up! Im just learning!" - Sam

Our Christmas Tree from Great Grandpa's little tree farm. Note to self for next year: measure. Then still take an additional 6 inches off :)

Tim humming the lyrics to Sara Groves song 'Toy Packaging'

We spent Christmas Day at Tim's Great Grandparents. Here's Diggs his favorite time of year. Notice the small hill in the distance. Tim attempted to take Gretta down in a sled but she cried the whole way up and the whole way down.

Gretta is much happier making snow angels!

Christmas night at Grandma and Grandpa Gremore's in front of the tree (also cut from Great Grandpa's "tree farm"!

"Dad, lets go outside and play!!" -Gretta

One "Complete Snowman Kit"...

Plus 2 eager builders...

Equals the best Frosty in town!

2008-10-27T20:04:00.007-05:00

Here's our little girl all grown up! (well, not really). We were on our way to visit Uncle Phil in Steven's Point, and Gretta insisted on wearing her new pink backpack (filled with goldfish crackers and clean diapers...)

Sam enjoying college dorm life with Uncle Phil.

Later in the month we went apple picking with a bunch of other moms and their kids. Gretta was amazed at how many "yellow apples" there were. This is her first of many...

Sam's first taste of green beans all mushed up. Hmmm, not quite a fan yet.

"MOM, what were you thinking??? Let's go with something sweeter next time:" :)
For Mother's Day, my 2 moms and I had received tickets to the True Woman Conference in Schaumberg, IL ( so exciting!!). After a somewhat longer drive than we had expected to get there (along with a bout of car sickness, a bloody nose, and a missed turn that almost took us to Chicago) we were so thankful to pull in only a few minutes late (and we even found a great parking spot!). The conference was phenomenal to say the least.

Did I mention that we brought Sam along?? He was a riot! And never lacking in the attention department (6,000 plus women and one handsome little guy...always a willing hand to help!).

The following is a link of the True Woman Conference schedule and speakers available online for free: http://www.truewoman.com/?id=317

Sam enjoying our time, but wondering what Dad and Gretta are up to (they went hiking with Diggs near Door County, and visited with quite a few family members...Tim taught Gretta colors like "white" "black" and "brown" while we were gone, and when we got back, she was combining 3-4 words together...I couldn't believe the difference only a weekend made!).

The conference offered a sweet set-up for moms who had their babies along. Live video feed played in a separate room during each main session. I even met a mom from Freedom!! What are the odds??

Back home...This is Sam's 6 month picture.

And here was Gretta at 6 months.

Playing in the leaves...

Showing off her "orange" pumpkin...

"Maybe if I close my eyes, the camera won't see me either"

"I walk." or "I walk Willa's house too?" is Gretta's favorite saying as of late. Usually she says it with conviction and a furrowed brow. Willa is her friend down the street.

New swings at the park. I love them; they are higher than most and much easier to push.

Gretta loves under-ducks. Sort of a surprise, since she says "weeeeeeeeeeee" as we go down the driveway in the stroller or the 20 degree slant in the sidewalk before the street begins.

"Hanging" out toddler and infant style.

"S" is for September

2008-09-13T21:37:00.010-05:00

We try to take a trip to Whitefish Dunes at least a couple of times a summer for a few reasons. One reason is the take-your-breath-away-this-makes-me-feel-small moment at the first sight of the lake. Another; Gretta loves the water and pretty soon the only water she will get to play in is her bathtub. Finally; Digory does not like the water (at least going in past his knees...do dogs have knees?), but this specific beach is dog friendly a mile down from the parking lot. He pretends it is one massive water dish.
Collecting shells...
Notice that Sam is oblivious to his surroundings except for the strap on the backpack.
The beginnings of a sand castle
Back at home munching on broccoli...snack of champs.
These two are so unpredictable. Either hugging or pushing the other away. Can you guess who dictates in this relationship? :)
Sam's 5 month picture. He is such a goof. He giggles easily, even for strangers, and loves watching his big sister. He is starting to sit up without help but still has an occasional spill. No teeth yet, but lots of drool...

I had to put this one on here. It wasn't even planned; it just happened as I took the photo. Grets has been really "digging" Sesame Street lately, and has a few favorite characters including "so-ee" (Zoe), "nuf-me" (Snuffy) "er-nee" (Ernie of course) and especially "elllllmmmmo" (Elmo). She is really catching on to a few letters (A, O, G, and B to be specific), and if you ask her what her favorite color is, she will say "booooo" for blue. She can point to blue things, and even asked to wear the blue sweater below. Her friends name is "wi-wa" (Wila, a neighbor down the street), and if you ask her what B-A-B-Y spells, sometimes she says "bae-bee" but more often says and over-exagerated "DDDAAADDD!"(the first word we showed her how to spell) then laughs.

These big eyes melt my heart!Checking out her "new do"

Hanging out with dad
Stinky feet!

September first was Grandpa Stoffel's birthday. We went to the cottage on Bear Lake to celebrate with him. Gretta's getting ready to swim, & sporting her all-time favorite hat (I found it at a rummage sale!).
Jumping off the dock with GampyAnother summertime favorite...corn on the cob

Taking the wheel

Gretta insists on wearing her "Barbie" shoes. They have the name Barbie on them, and she heard me call them that once. Now she calls them Barbies.

Mom and Sam enjoying the ride

Hats from Gampy from the Milwaukee zoo...

A late night walk...past bed time, but worth it!
Before we left for the walk, Gretta had a bath, then I painted her nails. She wasn't sure what to do with her hands now that her nails were so pretty. She is ALL girl.

2008-08-10T20:19:00.007-05:00

Today was a memorable day for us...Gretta and Sam were dedicated to the Lord!! We had an opportunity at church to explain our desires to raise our children to love and fear God, and asked for prayer as we go through this journey with much appreciated help from our family and church family. Many thanks to our family and friends who supported us today, and a special thanks to our heavenly Father for entrusting Sam and Gretta in our care.
"Sam, say cheeeeese!!!" -Gretta

Gretta wearing her new dress from Grandma GG
Soooo big!

Our friends Dave and Joy also visited this weekend with their daughters Ruby and Sadie. We had lots of fun attempting to get Packer player's autographs, swimming in the pool at their hotel, and trying to catch up in the midst of 2 babies and 2 toddlers :) Below Tim and Dave are holding Sam and Sadie...both four months old.

Christmas in August...thats what Great Grandma called her time with Gretta earlier this week. Sam, Gretta and I all went over for a delicious summer lunch, and Gretta stayed the night. Despite a long night and a missing pacifier, I think their time together was well worth it!
Gretta excited to play at Great Grandma's house

Sam getting some boxing tips from Great Grandpa
Couldn't be more content...book in hand and a pint-size rocking chair
The humble beginnings of our first (well...second, really) attempt at a vegetable garden (these are the before pictures taken in spring)...

With Great Grandpa's assistance, of course
Very weed-less, very nice
...and Va VA VOOM!! Just a few months later, the results:
Peas, carrots and cucumbers oh my!

Bunnies are not as cute to me as they used to be. After nibbling away our first round of peas and beans, we outsmarted them (so far) with a double duty fence
We had a visit from the Neumans earlier this month (or was it late July? my memory is fading!) Tim reading a story to Gretta and Ezra...his mom and dad were at Packer family night with his two older brothers. Ezra got to stay up later than normal (almost 8!) and loved the pizza we had for dinner. Gretta giving her teddy bear a piggy back ride...upside down.

Gretta trying to read Sam a story...

Not without hugs though.
Watching the Pack Attack practice. This lasted about as long as it took to take the picture...I forgot to bring snacks, so back home we went.

Father's Day, The Fourth, & Fun with Annabelle

2008-07-11T21:08:00.009-05:00

We spent Father's Day with Tim's side of the family. Here are the proud Great Grandparents of three- the fourth is due in September!
Here is Sam's 3 Month picture...he is sitting on a non-slip grippy kitchen pad so he won't tumble over. Oh so handsome!

I was laughing so hard when I first saw this, I just had to get a picture!! This is one of Gretta's favorite dolls, taken such good care of.

An afternoon at Grandma GiGi's house with Gretta and Sam...it took a few tries to get everyone to look in the same direction.

Gretta is starting to really dig her little brother. She will lay next to him...point out his toes, fingers, and nose, and even help out with pacifier placement- Sam seems to think the world of her by the look on his face when she is around and helping out.

Gretta prying Sams mouth open with the nook, making sure it will fit.

We took the kids, a 150 pound newf, and a borrowed camper to Florence Wisconsin over the fourth of July and spent some time on the water, took a few walks in the woods, played lots of cribbage, and even stopped for icecream on the way out. Below is Grets sporting her new shades. I think she thinks we can't see her when she has them on. When she's wearing them, she walks around with her hands extended as if she will run into something that is actually not close enough to run into.

Sam and Grandpa on the boat. I bet he can't wait to fish like his Grandpa!

Sam and Grandma Gremore cuddling.

After a few days at the cabin, we went to Uncle Rick's cottage. Gretta is more interested in feeding this duck than riding on it.

Gretta being goofy in the car ride home. Sam and Gretta both slept almost the whole way back.

Gretta and Sam getting ready for Annabelle to come over.

We are watching 13 month old Annabelle for a week while her parents enjoy a trip to Austria with her dad's work. She will be a big sister this October. We are enjoying her joyful spirit; she is an easy baby to take care of!
The whole crew going for a walk this fine evening.

The sweet tune of early June

2008-06-03T20:11:00.006-05:00

Sam has his 2 month check up tomorrow. Not looking forward to shots, but curious to see how much he weighs...
Gretta at Grandpa Jer's birthday party... she climbed into the stroller all by herself.

Gretta has never turned down a tractor ride from Grandpa.

Great Grandma and Samuel basking in the sun
Gretta would live outside if she could. She would also probably live in a zoo considering her admiration towards animals. I am not looking forward to the day she sees me swat a fly or crunch a spider under my foot. She is normally crawling all over Diggs when he is around, but apparently the camera got her attention first.

Gretta soaking up the attention from the neighbor girls. They take such good care of her (stroller rides, building castles with blocks & playing in the hammock are a few favorites).

Samuel Lewis with sockies on his hands so we won't scratch his face. I noticed one store that sells special hand covers for that kind of thing. Personally, I think the socks are kind of cute.

This is usually what happens when Gretta and Sam are within arms length of each other. Tim and I had to try hard to hide our smirks...

Graduation and Other Things

2008-05-27T17:17:00.012-05:00

My "little" brother Phil graduated from Freedom High School the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. So many memories with this guy...so little space. One of his claim-to-fames is hooking up Tim and I (at least that is his version of the story. Im sure he would share the details if you ask him). A super guy with a super big heart yet competitive to the core...he's off to Point this fall...goooooooooooo Pointers!
My only picture from the grad ceremony that turned out...I think I need to go digital. j/k

Though this may appear to be a graduation cap, it is actually a cake!! Thank you Marianne for a fabulous job...withstanding a 30 minute drive the cake made it to the party in one piece; but not for long...yummy!

This was really funny...Tim the instigator collaborated with Phil's cronies to get Phil near the pond...he thinks he is there to tell them about the tadpoles....

only to be drenched seconds later...

At least he is not the only one drenched...

Here is our beautiful daughter with her friend Kaden building sand castles (notice the tadpoles).
Uncle Larry and Granny by the pondMy cousin Beth (Larry's daughter) with her daughter Johannah

Lisa (Larry's daughter... Beth's sister...) with her boyfriend

Twins? Nope. Third Cousins? Yep! Luke and Sam...11 days apart.
Now unto the "other things"...I recently hosted a Lia Sophia party....most of my guests were Aunts! These are the Aunts on my Dad's side showing off their bling.

Here are my Aunts from Tim's side (plus Mom and Great Grandma) minus Aunt Reena (we missed you Aunt Reena!)

Grandma Nelessen above and Grandma Rezash below with their newest great grandson Samuel
We asked Grandma and Grandpa Nelessen for some advice on gardening. What did we get? Hands on how-to's far better than any online tutorial. After planting the seeds, we enjoyed ribs on the grill, cribbage, and visits from our parents.
A sweet end to a sweet weekend...

The Story

2008-04-17T17:10:00.004-05:00

Sam is snuggled in his car seat by my side, and Grets is, you guessed it, content as can be with blankie in hand surrounded by stacks of books that never seem to get old. I thought I'd take a few minutes to share about Sam's birth story. I will spare you all the details, though my journal has probably 10 pages of thoughts on the day. I asked Tim to retell how Sam's birth-day went, for sentimental reasons, I suppose. He managed to describe the events in a paragraph, no more, no less. That's why I like him. Back to the story. I woke up around 1am with cramping, so I went into the living room. I had read in one of the um-teen pregnancy books that used to grace our shelves (apologies to anyone else in the world who was trying to check out a book on labor and delivery from the SouthWest library branch in the past 9 months) that often a female animals behavior is to find a dark cozy place and curl up in a ball when it was almost time for having the baby (or babies). I guess that came to mind as I was curled up on the couch. Now it all made sense (sort of). Around 2am (though Tim thought it was 3...lets go with halfsies...at around 2:30...) I went back into our room to get a heating pad, and woke Tim up, sort of by accident. He asked if I was ok, in a tone a bit more concerned than when he would ask any other time. Up until now, I have been trying to tell myself these were just minor contractions, hardly noteworthy. Before Gretta was born, we got to the hospital only to be sent home a few hours later because it wasnt time. Tim knew this time was it and called the hospital to let them know we were on our way. He also called my mom to come and watch Gretta. Contractions were a steady 1-2 minutes apart according to Tim's Motorola phone clock. I packed the remaining essentials in between contractions, and Tim loaded the dishwasher. Mom arrived around 4, and we ended up at the hospital around 4:45. We left the car at the entrance (running), trying to get to our room AFAP. Our doctor showed up in the nick of time (a great relief to our poor nurse who did not try to hide the fact that she did not want to be the one to deliver this baby). After just a few pushes, Samuel was born into this world at 5:30 am. So much for the cd of hand picked soothing songs, birth ball, prego pops and pages of verses printed out. They all remained nicely packed in the car; maybe for another time. Now we are slowly adjusting to another little person living with us... more diapers to change, more sleepless nights, and more laundry; more snuggles, more patience, and more grace from the Lord who has richly blessed us with a beautiful son.

It's a BOY!

2008-04-03T17:20:00.006-05:00

Samuel Lewis Gremore

Born on March 30th 2008
8 pounds 8 ounces 21 1/4 inches

Gretta and Sam meet...Gretta's a bit shy at first

but gets closer....

and closer!

our little boy

Baffled

2008-03-07T08:33:00.003-06:00

The day Favre announced his retirement Gretta and I watched the press conference, but not without snacks, of course! Last Sunday Gretta broke out in hives, just in certain areas, like under her armpits and on the back of her neck. I tried to walk through the day and previous night in my head, asking, "what did I giver her that she hasn't had before?" and could think of nothing unusual. Since it was Sunday, our doctor wasn't around, so we decided to give her Benedryl and bring her in the next morning. It turns out she had an ear infection and strep! The doctor was baffled because she didn't even have a fever. Now that she is on the up and up, she is much more joyful and her appetite is back. Before the doctor visit, I accounted the lessening appetite and fussies to teething. Now I know better (at least this time!).

2008-02-26T20:25:00.004-06:00

Independent. Intense. Into everything. These words describe our beautiful 14 month old daughter who took her first four steps on the 19^th . Gretta is all girl, pink toe nails and all. I often find her sitting in little cheerleader poses as she is feeding her dollies or thumbing through her story books. She seems to find every piece of lint or crumb in her path and will hand it to me with an emphatic crescendoing , “hmmmmm”. From hearing the bark of our neighbors dog, to seeing a picture of anything remotely close to animal-looking, Gretta puckers her lips and offers little kisses to these furry friends. She’s had her fair share of face washes from Diggs, who is quick to clean up the food-covered floor under Gretta’s high chair- a new favorite spot of his. Gretta loves when daddy comes home from work, pointing when she hears the door open, “Da Daaad!” She loves spending time at the grandparent’s houses, where attention is far from sparse (not to mention extended bed times, long baths, and yummy treats!).