Halloween

Halloween isn't my favorite "holiday", but I enjoy watching the kids get dressed up and go trick or treating. This year we went trick or treating as a family. We didn't really make plans because I didn't know if we'd have a baby by then (although, I should have known better...my babies don't come early!). Riley wanted to be Merida, from the movie Brave (which she's never seen), Lincoln chose Iron Man and Emmersyn was an owl.

Riley was so excited to have her hair curly, considering she has stick straight hair normally. Emmersyn wasn't happy about wearing a mask. I think I got 2 pictures with it on her, otherwise she tore it off or threw a fit when I tried to get her to wear it (proof below)! It was a really cold and wet day, but thankfully about 5 minutes before we started it had stopped raining!

 

 

 

Oh how I love the 2 year old stage!

 

26.2

Last year Ty decided he was going to attempt running a marathon. It was something he's wanted to do for some time now. He decided on the Chicago, but ended up getting injured 2 weeks beforehand and had to pull out of it. He was really bummed, but determined to still run a marathon. Months ago he ended up signing up for the Detroit marathon and began training for it.

 

Saturday morning, my dad, Jamie and girls came up to watch our kids then Jori ended up coming later that evening and staying the night with them so I could cheer him on, on Sunday morning! We stayed at a friends house who didn't live too far from Detroit. We got up at 4am on Sunday morning, ate breakfast and drove to Detroit. Emily and I dropped the guys off near the start and we attempted to make our way through downtown Detroit without getting lost. Unfortunately, at 37 weeks preggo I'm not very fast so I didn't get to see Ty start but we did get to see Ian (he was running the half marathon).

 

Once the race began Emily and I had hours to kill so we walked around and found a place inside to sit and chat. To be honest, but the end of the marathon I kind of felt like I had just ran one as well...that was a LOT of walking and standing for being so pregnant! We watched Ian finish his half then waited for Ty. A couple hours later Ty came down the stretch, I heard his name announced over the loud speaker and could see the pain on his face. I told Emily and Ian he looked like he was in pain. To make a long story short, that injury he had over a year ago came back (his IT band in the knee). He may not have finished as quickly as he was hoping, but I was so proud of him for completing it!! He did awesome and I was so glad to be able to watch and cheer for him! Great job, Ty!

 

After the race he said he'd never run another one...it's just too much work. However, yesterday (a day later) he said he wouldn't rule it out yet!  

 

Getting ready, the night before the race!

 

 

Ty and Ian Shaw

 

The 7am start. There were over 20,000 runners (5K, half and marathon combined)

 

Almost there, Ty!!

 

DONE!! Great job, I'm so proud of you!



3's Company

I have been SO bad at taking pictures lately. Maybe it's because I can't find my point and shoot and when we're home I don't feel like dragging out the SLR. Anyways, I'm trying to get better...here are a few pics of the kids together. Wow, it's hard to get a good one of all three of them!

 

A funny story about the above picture: When I was getting the girls dressed, I asked Riley which of the two matching hairbows she wanted to wear. When she pointed to the one she's wearing she said "I want this one because the bigger the bow the better"...what a proud mommy moment :), I have taught her well!!

Riley at 6!

What can I say, I can't believe Riley is 6! Wow, time has flown by and it's hard to believe I've been a mom for 6 years already! Riley is at a really fun at right now. As many of you know, Riley has an endless amount of energy. Thankfully we are channeling that into gymnastics and lots of other activities throughout the week.

I know all parents say it, but she really is a smart little thing. She started Kindergarten this fall and although she's not in a traditional school (I am homeschooling her and Lincoln) she's doing great. It really is such a fun experience for us all, I absolutely love being able to watch her learn and discover new things. She seems to be enjoying it as well but often gets confused when people ask her what school she goes to or who her teacher is. She is a VERY social child and I am thankful that even though we are homeschooling she is still able to go to MOPS and BSF during the week. She's also doing gymnastics and AWANA which she loves. I am thankful to have her in other activities because she loves to be "busy".

I think, more than anything, Riley's 3 favorite things are 1. crafts, 2. Lincoln and 3. Emmersyn in no particular offer. First of all, she would sit at the kitchen table and color or draw or do something crafty ALL DAY LONG. Seriously, getting her to put down a crayon/marker/scissors/glue is like torture. However, if she's not drawing she's playing with Lincoln. It's so interesting to see the different relationships she has with her siblings. She and Lincoln have such a "best friend" relationship and Riley and Emmersyn have a "mother/daughter" relationship. I've said it before, but Riley would be lost without Lincoln and vice versa. They are seriously inseparable. The great thing is, is that they also very rarely fight or argue. Riley has such a people pleasing personality that if there is some kind of issue between them Riley almost always gives in. She's so sweet! R and E LOVE each other! Their relationship seems to have blossomed even more since they are sharing a room. Riley refuses to fall asleep unless Emmersyn is in her room and when Emmersyn wakes from a nap she calls for "I-ya" (that's what she calls Riley). Riley will often get Emmersyn out of her crib in the morning and change her diaper (she stashed a handful of diapers in her room to be helpful) before I even hear them wake up.

Riley is extremely helpful around the house and, honestly, she's been a great help since I'm pregnant and HUGE. She has no problem helping me out and getting things (esp. from upstairs) for me. Although she's a great help, she hates cleaning her room and she's definitely not a "neat freak". The bigger the mess the better. I'm trying SO hard to get the kids to take one thing out at a time, put things away when they're done, but somehow every day their rooms and the playroom is a DISASTER. It's a work in progress...

As sweet and fun as she is, she's not perfect and she's by far my most difficult child. She's my impulsive, don't think before you act child. I am constantly thinking...in my head..."Riley, WHY would you do that...". For instance, when she had to get stitches. WHY would she grab a HUGE butcher knife to cut an apple? I picked her up from BSF and she had playdoh all in her hair. I asked what happened and they said she was trying to color her hair. She is also m whiner. Oh my gosh, drives me CRAZY most days. She can seriously find anything to whine about...I just bought a book on this subject so I'm hoping it will give me some good ways to combat her whining. I always tell Ty, I can handle naughty because I can discipline but I can't handle the whining...seriously, drives me NUTS!

She loves cats and dogs. Our neighbors have a cat who is outside a lot, Riley has named "kitty pie" and is ALWAYS asking when she can get a cat or dog. She desperately wants a pet. However, I always tell her she won't get one because I'm really allergic. Poor girl!

 

Riley, I love you more than words can express and am so thankful to be your mom. Your spirit and energy both wears me out and makes me love you even more. Daddy and I pray that you grow up loving our family and most importantly loving the Lord. I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you!!

Riley turns 6!

Riley turned 6 at the end of September, so we had a small get together with family and a couple of close friends. R requested a my little pony cake and I have to admit, I got lazy and took the easy way out. I didn't decorate it much, but she loved it and didn't notice. I'm realizing how much work it's going to be to put on 4 birthday parties for the kids!!

 

 Riley's My Little Pony Cake

 

 Riley and one of her best friends, Hailey!

 

 Cake and ice cream

 

 Opening gifts

 (I guess Ty didn't notice, at the time, that he got my belly in almost every picture! Oops!!)

Updated Pictures

I FINALLY got around to getting all the kids pictures taken.  I'm only 4 months late with Lincoln and 3 months late for Emmersyn, but hey...at least they got them taken.

 Riley, age (almost) 6: Kindergarten

Lincoln, age 4: Preschool

 

Emmersyn, age 2

Single Digits (and a comparison)

Update: I forgot to mention that I keep hearing "You don't look as big with this baby as you did with Emmersyn". However, I think people remember how HUGE I was at the VERY end, rather than at this stage. Here's a comparison. I was 31 weeks on the left and 32 on the right.

That's right, people. We are down to single digits until our due date with baby #4! I'm feeling great, still, for the most part. Feeling a little extra large and my hip has really been bothering me. Ty usually has to help me roll over at night because it's so painful, but I can't really complain because this pregnancy has been the easiest in general (although, it's also been difficult because I'm chasing around 3 other little ones). My girls are, by far, more active than Lincoln and I'm pretty sure this little one will be too. She is constantly moving, I often wonder if she ever sleeps.

  31 weeks with #4:

                                                            32 weeks with Emmersyn         

I've been going to the doctor every two weeks and seem to be measuring right on (despite the fact that I look like I was due yesterday). She doesn't have any indication that the baby will be gigantic, but in a few weeks she wants us to have another ultrasound just to see how big baby girl is! Ty and I really haven't discussed names yet...we should probably start soon! Life is crazy and hectic right now it seems like I hardly have time to sit and enjoy this pregnancy. I suppose I'm thankful that she's so active because it's a reminder every time I feel her moving!