Fall Soccer

Is underway! I enjoyed watching Will play soccer last spring so I'm glad he asked to sign up again this year. Remember how I love soccer mom status? We don't plan to ever push sports or extra-curricular activities on our kids but if they want them and we're able to make it happen, then we probably will. I think soccer has been good for Will- it's taught him a lot about sportsmanship, working as a team, listening, following instructions, etc. plus it's great exercise. We promote these lessons at home as well, but it helps to see them unfold outside the home.
I forgot my camera for the first practice, but took a couple phone pics of my little man:

And a few game pictures

The BIG ONE!!

Happy 1st Birthday sweet baby Jacob! But you're not really a baby anymore, just the baby of the family and my baby. :) Our Jakie-poo, Jakers, Sweetums, Bo Baker, Budsy, Tum Tum, Jake. We love you so much. It's hard to imagine our family without you and to think I was so scared when I found out I was pregnant. I didn't know what I was going to do or how I would have enough hands. But God did. And I'm so glad His wisdom is far greater than mine because you have been such a blessing to our family and boy would we have been missing out!!
Your day of birth was pretty relaxed as far as welcoming children into the world goes. For many reasons, mommy and daddy decided to schedule your birth. We went to the hospital, got ready, answered some questions, waited and I enjoyed the last little bit of time having you in my tummy, so close to my heart, moving around yet safe from the world. Then we went back to the OR and you were born! Oh I remember hearing you cry then meeting your sweet little bundled up self. I missed you when Daddy took you to the nursery and it felt like such a long time before they brought you to see me in our room, especially 'cause everyone else was visiting you in the nursery. You stayed close to me after that, though, sleeping so good and eating like a champ. After getting fussy a few times, we tried the binky and you took to it immediately. You're still a little binky boy. When it was time to finally go home, you slept in a little crib by our bed and though you woke up a couple times a night, you were very efficient. Change, eat, back to sleep. You've always been a sweet, snuggly boy and a mommy so enjoys that. :) I love you so much, my son, happy birthday!
Some things about you at 12 months:

• You're so close to walking, but you aren't ready to let go yet. You will take steps while holding our hands, but not ready to do it on your own yet
• You still cruise all along the furniture and will turn from one thing to the next as long as you can still hold on. Otherwise you'll get down and crawl from place to place
• Stand alone for longer periods, sometimes letting go of a couch or table and other times pushing up from a sit/squat to a stand
• Making lots of noises and saying some words- uh oh (still sometimes uh uh), more, ball, mama, dada and we're pretty sure you're saying food and eat, which you love to do!
• You haven't played peek-a-boo with your hands, but you will do it with blankets or other objects and you think it's so funny
• Still sleep great! You go to bed between 7:30/8 and sleep 'til 6:30/7 plus you take 2-3 naps during the day, one really good one and one or two small ones
• Eating meals with us and being introduced to more and more table food- so far you haven't been very picky. You still get snacks in between meals
• Drinking almost solely from a sippy cup- you prefer almond milk. This morning was likely your last time to nurse- mixed feelings for a mommy
• Wearing size 3 diapers and while many of your 9 month outfits still fit, I'm working them out of your wardrobe and moving you up to 12 months
• Still have those two bottom teeth, but two of your uppers are so close! 
• I just love and cherish you crawling up to me and laying your head on me. It's so cute when you do this with pillows or blankets, but it's my favorite when you snuggle up to me :)

Maggie's birthday party

Maggie's birthday fell on a Saturday this year which makes it really easy to plan a party. Unless you just had a big 1st birthday party the weekend before. Which we did. I just didn't have it in me to do parties two weekends in a row. The first birthday is usually the biggest (at least the most guests) but even to do a "small" get together with just family (siblings, parents) is still pretty sizable. However, I did not want to short change Maggie-- she has been talking about her Rapunzel party all year-- pretty much since Will's superhero birthday. We decided on a sleepover the night before her birthday so she could wake up and have a special little birthday breakfast. Maggie was so excited to pick up her cousin, Bailey, it was all she could talk about! Maggie got to pick dinner, then we watched Tangled and everyone played before snuggling up for bed.

Bailey reading Will's first school library book to the kids. Below, she's reading the story she wrote especially for Maggie's birthday. :) It was so sweet. 

 Maggie hugged the balloons when I brought them home. I could

barely get a pic. Guess she's got some of her mama's blood!

After the kids went to sleep, I decorated downstairs with a few streamers and decorated the mantel. I bought a pack of Rapunzel balloons that Daniel inflated and had 3 filled with helium. I printed the banner here and added other items we own to finish off the set up. For the birthday breakfast table, I used Rapunzel color table cloths, Rapunzel plates, cups decorated with tattoos (couldn't find stickers I wanted) and I printed crowns here and found Ryder's Wanted printable online. Then I added a few Rapunzel balloons.

 Maggie sure did love her princess donut breakfast!

I also made hazelnut soup for lunch- Rapunzel's favorite. Actually, I didn't make their recipe. I used my mom's butternut squash soup recipe instead because it required fewer ingredients, I've made it before and the kids like it. I used sliced almonds for "hazelnuts". It worked, but the kids chose something else to eat.

I found the tower cake idea here as well, but decided to use donuts instead. Maggie was introduced to donuts awhile back and is in love, especially with pink ones (frosted strawberry)! I had them add sprinkles for good measure and loaded those bad boys up. Plus, who doesn't want donuts with their cake? Maggie loved her Rapunzel tower cake! She's also been talking about this for awhile. (Well, she told me a Rapunzel cake and I found this recipe awhile back, so we talked about a tower cake) She insisted on Ryder, Pascal and Max all being on the cake, in addition to Rapunzel, of course. Girl knows what she wants...fortunately she asks for it sweetly. :) My parents dropped in with a present to surprise Maggie so they along with Buffy and Samuel, who came to get Bailey were there for cake and presents. Have a few visitors worked nicely- no fuss and it made Maggie's day. Plus we had some extra adults to eat all that soup!

She loved all her presents, but this princess umbrella we got her was the bees knees. 

That's her playing behind the umbrella in the fairy wings Bailey had to get her to go 

along with the princess fairy story she wrote Maggie. :)

Initially I wanted to do more for her party, I could really have some fun with a Rapunzel/princess party! But this is what I could make happen and it was a great birthday for our sweetheart! Our big 3 year old girl.  :)

Open House

Back in August Will's school hosted an open house night. We heard from the principal, who introduced all the teachers, assistant principal and PTO before we were dismissed to the classrooms. I enjoyed seeing Will's class and all the work he's done so far plus getting a chance to talk to his teacher. It was a good night.

Outdoor Adventure

Earlier this summer, before school started, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and finally take the kids camping. They were stoked! We loaded the car and headed to a nearby campsite. And they were booked! Apparently it's a popular destination that requires advanced reservations. Will was so upset, which upset Maggie too. We decided to just put up the tent in our yard, but stopped to fish on our way home. We fed the ducks, then I sat on the side with Maggie and Jake while Daniel and Will fished.

We started setting up the tent when we got home and saw the kids' excitement return, especially as the tent arose from the ground. We decided to sleep Jake in his room as usual since we were home. Then at bedtime, we brought out the big kids and we followed shortly after. I was excited too- it's been a long time since I've camped. Well, let me tell ya, I know why my parents slept on egg crates when we camped as kids. I was so uncomfortable! I laid there forever, willing sleep, listening to snoring, crickets and the rare soft breeze. When the rain started, I gave up and went inside-- plus to camping in the backyard. It was 2am. Sad thing is, I didn't sleep much better the following four hours. I guess I was overtired, who knows. The kids really enjoyed it so that made me happy, though we all had a much earlier start to Saturday morning that usual. Pretty sure they woke up with the sun. And Daniel tore down the tent right away, so I didn't get any daylight pictures. :(

Maggie's big girl bed

Maggie Moo finally moved out of her crib into a big girl bed! Well, it's the same bed, just converted to toddler size. She was really excited, but nervous the first night. She felt more comfortable with the safety rail. I'm surprised she hasn't gotten out of bed herself yet, but maybe she needs more time to get used to it.

We waited until Will started school to be sure I'd be awake before the kids in the morning. Even though Maggie knows not to go down the stairs unassisted, I didn't want to risk her up and about without me. Moosie loves her big girl bed! And the pretty, cozy, pink pillow daddy bought her awhile back. :)