2 years later...

Well, I'm back (I think). I've thought often of updating our blog. It serves well as a place for me to keep track of our lives as I don't journal as I should. It also serves well for me to get some thoughts down once in awhile! I seriously underestimated how busy life would get. I thought newborn twins made life busy...turns out 2 year old twins and busy school children really make it tough, but wonderful! Here's some pictures since the last post, nearly 2 years ago.

Heading into 2019

Wow-I can not believe we are actually starting the year 2019. I also can not believe after all the years I have been alive that my writing is no more creative than it is, ugh. I would hope eventually I'd have more creative blog titles!

I may be motivated today to write here in my attempt to avoid actual work. Also, my goal on here was to write fairly frequently as a source for my kids to look back on and see the reality of what life was like to raise them. I am not a "journal-er"...but there are lots of times I'd like to have a way to document what things are like in our house, happy, sad, frustrated, busy, etc. I'm aware my audience at this time is probably just me; so if I can keep my goal of writing more frequently this year I am going to change the 'tone' of the posts as if I am talking to my children as I go. I feel that may be more beneficial in 20 years when I'm trying to remember "what was it like when Gabbie was transitioning to adolescence" or "was there a year we ever got our Christmas cards out in time?!" or "what were those afternoons home with Henrik after school like?"

Gabbie had her first real experience with 4-H judging. She did earn 3 blue ribbons

The fair week was made a bit more challenging by trying to corral these two!

Henrik joined the morning bus route in the fall of 2018 :-)

This was the moment I became even more grateful for the twins. When I was putting our 3rd child on the bus I knew I would have regretted not having another one at home still. Even lately it has been hitting me that this is the last few months where Henrik is home in the afternoon. This fall its just me and the twins all day!

I can tell my 4th grader is getting too cool for my annual 'end of the lane' picture :-(

Will had been wanting a camera for a long time! He got a waterproof one for his birthday.

He didn't want a homemade cake-he preferred a Hy-Vee purchased cake :-)

Luke luke...he can find all of the mud and never wants to keep his hat over his ears!

Polar Express train ride in Boone 

The whole crew!

Christmas is interesting to me and I think I am settling into a way I can enjoy it best in my adulthood. I LOVE to see the season come. I get my CD's playing in the car. I start taking the kids to see Santa at various locations, making plans for wintertime fun. Then the 5 days prior it just seems like the joy is gone and I'm in panic mode of how to get our taxes done before the end of the year, make sure all the Christmas gifts for everyone are ready to go (OH all the little school, dance, tumbling, etc gifts as well), and plan a family meal of some type. My main goal is always to get to Christmas Eve church service and by then hopefully we can relax. Christmas Eve was beautiful-Will is at such a fun age and he was so concerned with having the plate of cookies just perfect, along with the glass of milk and carrots! I wanted to feel the magic but I just didn't. I was ready for it to be done and I was just praying we had everything accomplished! Then once we get to January I can get things back in order and enjoy the extra time in the house that Wintertime allows us.