{{weekend/rewind}}

We spent most of our week and weekend enjoying the gorgeous and warm spring weather!! The boys are so happy to be back outside in their sandbox jobsite, and I am so happy to have the windows open! :)

Friday we had lunch at Tim Horton's, per Bentley's request. It's becoming quite our new favorite spot.

We spent all afternoon and evening outside, with friends, playing, eating and having a bonfire. The kids just love it!

Saturday morning we slept in, and had a relaxing day together before brandon and I headed out to celebrate the Steenwyks.

Heidi has been a friend of mine since 7th grade...the second to last of us to get married. She was a gorgeous bride, and their day was just perfect!

The picture on the right is her roommate she met, in California, that is from Michigan...and people think we could be twins. We couldn't resist a good photo op, and it was nice to finally meet in person! :)

the bitties.

first time ALL together in about 2 years!

Sunday we headed out early to church to take a baptism class for Evie. its been so nice to be able to get our fun spring clothes out!

We had a super relaxing Sunday afternoon together, anticipating another busy week.

Beauty Girl just loves her daddy's arm...she immediately goes limp noodle.

together {{springbreak}} 2015

Since we took our winter vacation earlier this winter, we stayed home for spring break. We had NOTHING planned. not a thing one. other than to just be. and be together.

 

the boys spent a great deal of time together, and did really well playing and sharing. so thankful for them both, their different personalities and the love they share.

we watched some "how to train your dragon"...and now I share a house with a dragon and his trainer...

on the left, meet Toothless, the dragon

on the right, meet Hiccup, his trainer

Even pretty girl had fun being together...now that she is awake more. she sure is never short on attention, but she loves every second of it!

she is developing some serrrrrious cheekers. im in love.

we spent a lot of time in the driveway with chalk, on various occasions. Bentley is really enjoying learning to write and draw and is progressing greatly with them both. On the left is his drawing of "moms car". First recognizable drawing he has made. On the left are my versions of john deere tractors...not to be mistaken with the vehicle currently on the market, the Cube.

We spent one morning with just the four of us and went to see the butterfly exhibit at the Meijer Gardens. The boys were super intrigued by the caterpillars and butterflies!

In true Evelyn fashion, we experienced another baby wearing blowout. This girl must just get so relaxed being close to momma that she lets loose! Thank goodness this time it didn't leak all the way on to me!

Bentley tried his hardest to get a butterfly to land on him, with no such luck. Harrison wanted to stomp on one (go figure) but he too had no such luck, thank goodness!

The boys have been into "how to train your dragon" lately and are having a great time role playing the movie with the two of them. Bentley is Hiccup, the trainer, to Toothless, his dragon (little brother.) Its pretty comical how they interact...Bentley even sometimes "ties up" toothless and gives him bones (a batman toy) for a snack.

We also spent some time with our cousins. it sure is fun watching all these boys grow up together...change...learn how to play together, push each others buttons and how to love one another. I cant wait to see what Jett and Evie bring to the group!

We spent a morning at Crazy Bounce with Casey, to celebrate her birthday. The boys had a blast!!

They we grabbed some lunch together at Crazy Horse...it was kind of a crazy day for us! :P

We spent some time facetiming with Grandma and Grandpa in Florida...pretending we were visiting somewhere warm. Grampa would swim laps across the pool and jump in off the sides, as directed by the boys, for their viewing pleasure. Hes such a trooper! :)

it was a blessed week of being together, but routine was welcomed when school resumed again Monday. For some reason we all just do a little better on a constant routine! :)

four months old.

Sweet Evie Girl -
It's been four months since you joined our family, and I dare say that you are no long an infant. You have grown and changed in so many ways this last month.

You graduated to the "big girl" bath, full of smiles and kicks. You love bath time!

You also love your daddy...and your brothers, but prefer mommy the most. you love to hear your guys talk to you, and you love to track them with your eyes and they move around you.

You also love to share smiles and coos with them when they give you attention.

You LOVE to sleep. Literally, you smile upon being smiled. You take one 3+ hour afternoon nap everyday, and cat nap often throughout the morning and early evening. You are sleeping a solid twelve hours at night, from about 8a-8p.

You've found your hands. And they are almost always in your mouth now when you are awake. You love to suck on them, and even sometimes choke yourself. You are also learning really quickly how to reach and grab for things, like the toys on your bouncy seat. You also "reach" for your brothers when they get too close - they like to tattle and say you hit them. I gently remind them you are a baby and you don't know what hitting is, that it was an accident, but that someday when you're big you probably will hit them, and they probably will deserve it! ;)

We had our first ER visit with you this month. Turned out to be an ear infection. You were such a trooper and full of smiles for the nurses, but mommy was glad to have an answer and her happy baby back!

You have started using your 'toys'. You love the exersaucer for short periods of time, and you love to sit in the bumbo and absorb all the chaos around here. You are always smiling, talking and cooing to whoever is close and will listen.

 

You are wearing 3-6 month and a few 6 month clothes right now. you are really starting to chunk up, making you even more kissable!! You are in size 2 diapers, but I'm not sure for how much longer. You are taking 7 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours. you weighed in at a solid 14 pounds 4 ounces at your 4 month checkup and you are 25.5'' long. Growing like crazy, my girl!

 

We are so thankful that God gave us you, precious. We cannot wait to see how you continue to change and grow and bring your unique personality and traits to our family!

We love you so much Evelyn Beth!

 

 

..::four month comparison::..

Bentley // Harrison // Evelyn

 

Some people say Evie really looks like Daddy.

Some say she really looks like Mommy.

Mommy thinks all three have the same chin, but Evie has her own look, for sure.

Daddy thinks Evie, like her brothers, looks like him.

I guess time will tell! :)

{{spring is here...}}

...but will it stay? We sure hope so, we had a great week playing outside! :)

We even enjoyed a picnic one day after school. the boys thought it was super fun to eat lunch on the deck...I see a lot more of this in our future.

Had to snap a pic, after Bentley noticed those people in the slider....

We also had some fun with the chalk...and little sis! shes just too cute, we cant resist!

the boys finally scratched an itch they've had allll winter - to get back on the neighbors tramp! They didn't quite understand why they couldn't use it in the snow.

Friday was our first day of Spring Break and we spent the morning running some errands and working from home. Evie was my smiley little helper putting together some paperwork for Uncle Jake.

We spent our Saturday morning enjoying a neighborhood easter egg hunt. The boys weren't really certain how it all worked, but it didn't take them too long to get the hang of it.

The boys had fun painting eggs, too...they kept asking when the baby chicks were going to home out! :P

Sunday morning we made resurrection rolls for breakfast. The boys thought this was so fun, and loved seeing the "empty tombs" after the rolls were done baking!

Monday starts spring break for us...a week home all together. We are going to do our best to be outside, and active...and I am going to do my best to just be present...and hands free. Time is so fleeting so I am looking forward to soaking up what I can of it while we are all home together!

He is risen! Hallelujah!

Happy Easter! He is Risen Indeed!

After worshipping at church we spent our morning having lunch and doing some easter fun things with kaindls. The kids all de-robed quickly, but we were able to get a few pics!

Can't believe these two babes are FOUR months already!

The boys had fun opening their baskets...

and then had some fun outside hunting eggs in the yard. 

They were pretty happy with their loot!

 

it was a wonderful day together with family. we are so blessed!