Congrats to our sweet Ty're!!

Where did the time go? I think living at Joe's Place has really given us some insight into how quickly kids grow up. We first met Ty're when he was a 5th grader at MRH elementary. Fred was living with us and Ty're came by to sell us some Christmas wrapping paper to raise money for his school. Fastforward 3 1/2 years to last Wednesday... and his 8th grade graduation. Kind of hard to believe he's now lived with us almost longer than any other JP resident. It's not been the easiest year for Ty're... but we have seen him grow in ways we could never have imagined. He has one of the sweetest spirits of any person I have ever met and we are so proud of him! We're looking forward to seeing him on the high school football field in the Fall... just like his big brother 3 years ago.

Love this picture. He is so happy... he's reaching out to shake Fred's hand while walking in with the graduating class!

I thought it was fitting that there was a rainbow over the school after the graduation ceremony...

Then and Now

I can't believe Carter finished his first year of preschool today! I'm hoping to have pictures of our kids on the first and last day of school to see how much they have changed each year. I couldn't believe it when I looked back on Carter's first day of school pictures today...

August 2009

May 2010

August 2009

May 2010

He has changed so much! I think he gained more weight this year than any other year. He has always been so small... unlike his little sister who gained 4 pounds in the last 4 weeks!

April 2010 (2 days old)

May 27 (4 1/2 weeks old)

She's probably going to hate that picture one day... but I think she looks so cute!!! Such a little chunk!

One of the sweetest things...

Fred and Claire tonight after Ty's 8th grade graduation (pictures of that to come). I LOVE this picture!!!

What a difference 2 years makes...

This morning was a special Sunday for us... for two reasons. Not only was Claire baptized during our morning service at church... but two of my really good friends also had their babies baptized. It was awesome to stand together as families and answer our vows at the same time. It's been fun to watch each others families grow over the past 4 1/2 years. Here we are two years ago on Easter Sunday after Bryce's baptism...

and here we are today after Caleb, Claire and Haven's baptisms...

and here are the baptisms...

Claire...

Dan's dad praying after Claire's baptism...

Haven (with her Grandpa)...

and Caleb...

Such an awesome day!

Happy Due Date, Claire!

As much of a shock as it was that Claire came three weeks early... I do have to say I'm so glad the anticipation, delivery and first three weeks of adjustment are behind us. I am having a hard time with Dan going back to work tomorrow. I had it in my mind that his paternity leave would run right into summer break... but we had to make some adjustments when Claire surprised us. The newborn thing I can handle (Claire has been a dream!)... it's life at Joe's Place that can at times be overwhelming right now. Dan has taken over all the parts of life here that I normally handle... and that's why I'm so sad to see him go back (that and it's been so nice to actually have some alone time with him without teenagers around during the day). We do have family helping us out... so at least I'm not alone.

Here's Dan enjoying his last day of leave... :)

And here are a few pictures of Claire on her official due date at almost three weeks old. The amazing blanket she is on arrived in the mail this week from my best friend's mom! Kathy... thank you so much... we love it!!! I can already tell it's going to get a lot of use!

Getting a little sleepy...

She already seems like she's grown so much! I think she looks so girly in this picture! :)

Carter also loved the blanket!



Speaking of Carter... he finally had his nut allergy testing today (after a 3 1/2 month wait). Dan and his mom ended up taking Carter to the appointment. He did amazing! He had to have his back pricked in four different places and he had to have blood drawn! :( I'm so glad I wasn't there because just hearing about it made me want to cry. Carter did not cry at all... he even watched when they put the needle in his arm. Brave guy! So far it looks like he does not have any allergies to any nuts... we'll know for sure when we get the blood work back next week. We'll still have to carry his epi-pen with us just in case and avoid pecans for the next year.

One last picture from last night that I couldn't leave out. This is actually an entire other post that I'm going to get to at some point. Sadly... our finished basement has flooded twice in the last two and half weeks (yes... that's twice since Claire was born!!). Normally you wouldn't think it would be that big of a deal... but we use that space almost more than any other part of the house. The guys are starting to go a little nuts because of it... and everyone's sleeping and bathing arrangements have been a little displaced since we've had family in town for the last two weeks (our guest room is in the basement... as well as one of our much used bathrooms). Anyway... Ty're was helping Dan check out the basement drain after dinner last night to make sure it wasn't clogged. Carter saw Ty with a headlamp and insisted that he needed one too so he could help out. Can you tell how excited he is?!

Happy Mother's Day!

It's pretty rare to be with either of our moms on Mother's Day... so it was a treat to see my mom the week before Mother's Day this year and to be with Dan's mom today. We're pretty proud of the gifts we put together for them this year. I'll have to post a picture after my mom receives hers. Happy Mother's Day!!

A few firsts...

First trip to our favorite park/playground earlier this week...

and today (15 days old)... we finally gave her a bath! I'm sure we gave Carter a bath on his first day home from the hospital! :)

We're wondering if she's going to have her Daddy's hair...

One of Dan's Aunts gave this to Carter when he was born... fun to use it for Claire too.

Now that I know how quickly these baby months go by... I am cherishing every second with this sweet girl! Still kind of hard to believe that she's already two weeks old and I wasn't due until Thursday!

Day 9