Family Photo

I bought a Groupon from Grinz Photography to have pictures taken way back in November with the intention of using it for the twins' 2nd birthday pics ... but that didn't really work out so then we needed to use the Groupon and ... tada!  Family pictures!  Let's just say trying to get two two-year olds to cooperate is nearly impossible.  By then end of the photo session, Jack and I were both sweating, had every possible treat opened and half eaten, and had promised everything under the sun to the boys in an effort to get them to cooperate.  Thanks to a wonderful thing called photoshop, we got a decent family shot but the attempts at a nice one of the three boys was a fail (I got the one above so I could remember the fun of the day). 
And, on a separate note, Tyler loves to sing into his golf club and it just cracks me up.  I'm willing to bet you might crack a smile too :).

Big Deal

Happy birthday to my dad who turned 60 years old yesterday!  That's kind of a big deal!  My mom said it best: he may be a guy with a few quirks (his notorious vices include chocolate milk, Grandma VL chocolate chip cookies, Bill Knapps Celebration cakes, orange juice and Mountain Dew) but he's always been a loving father and grandfather to us kids and our kids.  He's the dad who was at almost every one of my (and all my siblings') MANY sporting events.  He's the dad who helped me with random geometry problems when I was studying for my GMAT (his mind is like a steel trap when it comes to math).  He's the dad who made me laugh when I was walking down the aisle to marry Jack.  He's the dad who always woke up from a dead sleep if I just stood in the doorway of his room (all just so I could tell him I couldn't sleep).  I love you dad -- you're a big deal to me.

And congratulations to my oldest nephew, Tony, who starred in the Hudsonville Christian eighth grade play this week (he was Robin Hood in a play called "The Trials of Robin Hood").  That's kind of a big deal!  He managed to memorize over 200 lines on top of school, sports, and the many many other things he is involved with.  And did I mention he was AMAZING?!  I can hardly believe he is almost in high school (I remember I was in high school with his dad as my Bible teacher when he was born -- all well before I even knew of Jack), but he is becoming such a wonderful Christian young man (MAN?!  what happened to boy?!).  Way to go Tony!  YOU were a big deal today and I was so proud to be your auntie! 

Precious

He's growing so fast!

Thankful

Lucas is such a precious little boy.  He smiles and kicks and gurgles and I just can't get enough of it.  He loves to cuddle.  He loves to watch his brothers (unless they are smushing him).  He is simply a sweet, sweet little boy and a wonderful blessing.  It is far too easy to forget that things could be different and today, I just am thankful for a healthy baby.  A precious, healthy, happy baby boy.

 

March Updates

I've been trying to think of something interesting to post about for the last few weeks ... but we've really just doing the boring old normal life routine lately.  Not that I mind -- sometimes just getting through each day (boring, normal, whatever) is hard enough! 
Lucas is still a wonderful baby.  He is cute as a button, sleeps pretty well (typically from 10 or 11pm to 4 or 5am), and is in general a pretty happy baby.  He eats, sleeps, snuggles, and takes a beating (mostly of kisses) from his brothers like a champ. 
Samuel & Tyler have been normal two year olds.  By that I mean they are adorably cute, funny as can be, loving, active, and growing.  Their absolute favorite song is Away in a Manger and they could watch Chuggington or Backyardagains all day if I let them. They are also clingy, moody, and like to fight with each other which, depending on the day, can really test my patience.  Sam is still a bit of the instagator (as in he more often steals Tyler's toy than the other way around) but he is also pretty good at playing with his choo choo's by himself in the corner or upstairs.  Tyler is a goofy goofy boy and loves to swing his golf clubs, march with his golf clubs, or sing into his golf clubs.  They both (actually, all three) have smiles that melt my heart.  I'm quite certain three cuter boys do not exist, at least to this mamma!
I started back at work too and it has been going really well.  It was much different than last time with the twins knowing what I was getting into and I think it has really been an OK thing for me.  I really have a pretty good situation at work so I can't complain. 
The boys are good (and daddy too), work is good, we are all relatively healthy ... sometimes "normal" or "boring" can be just fine.