Thankful

 

I haven't taken the Facebook challenge this month of reflecting each day on what I am thankful. But I have been convicted lately of how thankful I am for the biggest things in my life. For one, I'm thankful for these little faces. Being a mom of young kids is challenging to say the least, but the Lord has been blessing me lately with little reminders of just how wonderful a calling it is to be their mom. It could be an extra long hug just when I need it, or saying something so funny that I double over with laughter, or asking to snuggle during rest time. I love these sweet moments with my kids and it more than trumps the daily hurtles I might face. Here's some pics from the last couple of months of some of our favorite times.



Trolley ride to pick pumpkins!

Picking our pumpkins, just their size!

Crazy hair night at Awana Clubs :)

 

My little school of fish for Halloween

I'm also so thankful for my husband. He just got a new job and I'm so proud of the prayerful consideration he made before taking this leap and how he even made sure that I was on board before proceeding. I'm also so thankful that he loves our kids whole-heartedly and with all the energy he can muster. He's not one that takes lots of down-time when he gets home, but he immediately starts running around with the kids and playing and giving me a break after a long day. So cheers to you, babe! I'm so grateful for all you do for our family! Happy Thanksgiving everyone, hope you too are reflecting on your many blessings!

 

Apple Orchard 2013

Fall brings many things I love; beautiful colors, cooler temps, pumpkin spice latte's (which I have yet to have, I need to get a move on that!) and of course our trip to the apple orchard. We started this tradition with dear friends a few years ago and I have to say it continues to be one of my favorite things to do. This year my parents & the whole Hess clan joined us so we had quite a group! My kids actually remembered going last year so it was fun to see them so excited about visiting again. It was definitely an unseasonably hot day, but it was lots of fun and we already can't wait to go again next year!

The Hess clan and good friends Christina and 1 year old Jack :)

Get that one way up there! Those little arms came in handy.

  

Having fun in the play area

 No picnic lunch allowed? No problem, that's what trunks are for!

 A rarity for pictures these days, the cousins ALL smile!

Preschool - Family style

I had no formal plans for preschool. Maybe it's a triplet thing, but I was in no hurry to start the kids in the school system. When you have a built in play group, I guess it just isn't high on the priority list. However, when my sister-in-law approached me about doing preschool and SHE would do the teaching, I was all over it! So we have begun once a week making a trip up to Aunt Erin's house for a morning of preschool. The kids absolutely love it! Hanging out with cousin Mya is a definite highlight but they also are really enjoying all the activities that Erin has come up with. You natural born teachers out there continue to amaze me! So school has sort of begun for the Hess', at least our version for now, and that suits us just fine. :)

 Gathered at the table on their first day.

 Cousins and BFF's :)

I have a feeling the boys will be the class clowns!

Truckin'

What does every kid love? Trucks for one thing. On Saturday we attended a "Touch a Truck" event at our local mall. They had every kind of truck imaginable, fire trucks, snow plows, emergency vehicles, army trucks, you name it! And the best part, the kids got to climb in! They had such a blast and I know this is something we'll go back to again. The only bad thing was the constant horn blowing as every other kid there had to blare the horns as long as possible. It sometimes had my kids in tears, but all in all the good outweighed the bad!

Policeman Daniel is on the job!

Sitting on the school bus, way too cool.

Having Daddy there is always the best! 

 Fireman Braden to the rescue!

Lookout! Driver Daniel coming through!

We're no cheese-heads, but we loved Wisconsin!

Being from Pittsburgh, I haven't done the typical Midwest thing and traveled to Wisconsin for vacations. Apparently if you have lived in the Chicagoland area for any amount of time, you will have traveled to the Wisconsin Dells, Door County or a variety of other attractions that I had no knowledge of before moving here. I've heard people say that northern WI is really the place to go because of the beautiful lakes and scenery. Well, we traveled way north for a vacation with friends and I have to say, it was better than I had imagined! It was so quiet and peaceful and was just the getaway we all needed. It was so nice to have a week at a slow pace with no real agenda except to have fun. The kids loved every minute and have been begging to go back nearly every day. Here's a few pics that capture our time there. I still give out a big sigh just looking at these pics, yep it was that great. Thanks to our dear friends for a wonderful vacation, it was definitely one of our favorites!

 View from the back porch

 The beautiful lake the house was on. Rich and I went kayaking one morning, just the two of us. 

It was luxurious!

 Having fun at a park in the closest town.

 Nearly every day we were out in the water on our friends' boat. Here's Braden driving. :)

Daddy learned to water ski! He got it after just a few tries!

Probably one of the kids' favorite things was to play in the water by the pier. Simple buckets and spoons were all they needed for hours of fun!

 And another favorite, snack time by the water!

Zoned out on the way home after a great week. Bye Wisconsin!

A cool, cool summer!

Well, this summer has nothin' on last year. Compared to the scorcher of last year, it's been incredibly cool and I can't believe how many days we were able to live without the air conditioning. This has all been fine by me! While the kids have had very few pool or splash park days, I have to say I think we've made up with it with time outside riding bikes and playing with neighborhood kids. I'm absolutely LOVING this age! Three and a half is definitely lots of fun. The kids are so much more independent, we don't have to worry about diapers, they can play at the park on their own, and best of all they actually have little friends now that they like to play with. One of the saving graces of this summer has been some neighborhood girls who are a little older but love to play with the kids. They play hide and seek with triplets, push them around in their little cars and can literally keep them entertained for hours! Their mom keeps thanking me for keeping them busy, but I think it's a win-win! I dread them going back to school!

We've had a pretty busy summer. One of the highlights was a trip to Chattanooga back in May. The famous Uncle Brian graduated from Covenant this year and we piled in the van to see his big moment. All in all it was a great trip and the kids did great on the 11 hour drive there and back. It was definitely easier than the last time down there when they were only 1! We had a great time seeing family and friends and it was made even better by being able to stay at a big house with the whole family. The kids still ask to go back to "Chaganooga" all the time. With 2 uncles residing there now, I know we will again!

The whole fam with the big graduate

                       Uncle Brian with the boys at Covenant     D, K & B by the overlook on campus         

Definitely a highlight meeting Uncle Dave's band, Telemonster!

Many of you know that I have gotten into running this past year. I don't think I particularly enjoy it like some people do, but I love a good workout and and the feeling afterwards is definitely worth the work. I ran my first 5k back in May and it was so fun. Although it was freezing cold, I had some "enthusiastic" supporters there to cheer me on. I'll be doing another one this weekend, although it's super early so I think I'll spare the kids this time. :)

And I can't blow past Mother's Day and Father's Day without a couple of shots of us with the kids. Man are they getting big!

For the kids, I would say one of the highlights has been playing the drums. Yep, I said it. Playing the drums! I bit the bullet and purchased (for $8 I might add!) a drum set. Daniel in particular is really into music these days so I really couldn't pass it up when I spotted a set at a garage sale. It is definitely LOUD in this house, but totally worth it to see their faces light up as they play. 

And finally, what is summer without water and bikes!  And yes, Braden has a pink bike. It was a good deal and he never complains so I figure we'll get away with it for now and he can be mad at me later. :)

 Definitely getting a little big for the baby pool, but fun nonetheless!

Look out world, we're really moving now!!!