Visiting Great Grandpa Birky

Last week, very last minute I went with Mom and the boys to MN to visit my grandpa. Mom was planning on going all along, and then when she asked if I would like to..I said I would..but I had to work. That was going to be my answer if I could find someone to fill my hours scheduled...and within a couple hours I had it covered. 

It was a good week to go for us, Christian had spring break from preschool and Ben was going to have parent-teacher conferences on Monday and Tuesday evening.

So, we headed out Sunday afternoon and drove to Sioux Falls for the night. Noah was a pistol to get to sleep...finally, after a phone call to Daddy to sing the special Spanish lullaby song...he went to sleep! You'd never guess the little angel, sleeping so nice and sweet next to his big brother would be so difficult.

 We left the next morning around 9:45 or so. Christian and Noah were good little travelers. Jonah, on the other hand, decided to show his severe grouchy side during this trip. Yikes. Homeboy was not excited about the car seat for that long, and he let us know it! But again, look here just as sweet as can be when he got out of it for a break. 

We stopped at Fleet Farm in Fargo on the way, and both Christian and Noah got Vikings ball caps. Oh my...they were pumped.

We got to Grandpa's place around 3:00. Jonah met his Great Grandpa for the first time and Noah didn't waste anytime making friends with him. We stayed at his place for awhile, and then went to supper with him. Afterwards, we went to Tam (my cousin) & Cal's for the night. 

Two of their grandchildren were spending the night. Christian and Lydia are both quite the conversationalists...they are very entertaining how they can carry on. And Christian had the understanding that Caleb's name was "K-Love", as in the Christian radio station we listen to. He said to me, "Isn't that neat, his name is K-Love..I know that, its the radio we listen to." 

We had a nice time at their house, and we had the best monkey bread in the morning. Oh yum. We also got to meet the newest little grandbaby in the morning, Colden...he is pretty sweet.

Before going back to Grandpa's, we stopped by the church and showed Christian where Grandma was buried. That was another conversation that was just so hard to explain, "Well, how is she in Heaven if she is buried? Is her skin just down there?" 

We went inside the church just to show him what it looked like too.

We took Grandpa to Perkins for lunch. He drew pigs on the coloring sheet for Noah. And Christian had a special meal of rainbow sprinkle pancakes!

 We went back to his place for a bit, and then we all went to my Aunt Carol & Kenny's home.

 The boys liked all the fun "rides" Grandpa gave them...on Jazzy and his recliner that lifted up.

The boys played and played in Carol's basement. Lots of toys that they could get out! We went on a walk outside too...it was very nice weather surprisingly. The snow had been busy melting over the past several days.

The next day, we went into town to a few stores, and then picked up Grandpa to come back to Carol's house. That afternoon my Aunt Margie flew in from Canada, she stayed at Carol's too.

This was the best we could get of a four-generation picture.

That evening Carol had the siblings over for supper. Stanley took Grandpa home... and just prior to bed, Christian and Noah started to play with their Great Uncle David. Oh my....Noah and Christian both giggled so much. They loved it. 

To top off their night, they were read a book by their Great Aunt Margie...and ate many handfuls of caramel popcorn. Noah would get down mid story for "mo popcorn" and promptly climb back up to listen to the story again.

We left around 10:00 Thursday morning. We made it home just before 11:00 that night. And oh boy, it was nice not to be in a van, or strapped down to carseats for some. Daddy was glad to see us too!

I was glad for the opportunity to go with Mom. It was nice to visit Grandpa and the other family we were able to stay with/see while we were there.

Celebrate the Gredlers [Thursday & Friday]

The very anticipated adoption of Mia, Gia, and Jace has finally come!! Actually, it was final January 9..but the celebration was the 18th. These three children have been living with Carissa and Tim for just over two years, and we love having three more cousins officially added to the family.

Early Thursday morning (like 3:30 am...EARLY), we got up and around, picked up Dad and headed to the airport. Ben couldn't take off work...so the boys, Grandpa, and I headed to PA to join Grandma at Tim and Carissa's house. We had our hands full, literally, but it went really well.

The flights both went smooth, and the three little travelers handled it wonderfully!

We got in around 1 pm, greeted with a sign made and held by Jace and everything! Carissa took us out to a restaurant that they had eaten at following the adoption hearing. It was tasty.

We arrived at their home and the boys didn't waste any time getting busy playing. Christian and Jace are just 3 months apart in age.

The girls came home from school...they were quite excited to have us there as well.

Mom worked on cutting out fabric to make bunting for the adoption party, and made cinnamon rolls.

After supper, we went to Inside Scoop...and had a very special treat. 

The Volcano = 14 different flavors of icecream and 8 different toppings....a whole lotta goodness!

Everyone had reached their limit on what they could handle...

this little man was still going. (Granted he took tiny bits, and if he didn't like something he'd shake his head no..and move on to nibble at another section.) He left the store with just a onesie wrapped in a blanket due to the amount of icecream ALL over his clothes :)

Bedtime snuggles with Grandpa.

Friday morning we ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

Carissa gave Noah a new look..

Mom, Carissa, and I (and Jonah) went to get a few things from Michaels...

and I picked up an antibiotic for Noah (poor guy coughed and coughed during the night..the same crud Christian has had and needed antibiotics for). Carissa picked up Mia and Gia and they went to get beta fish for the party....they are so pretty.

During the afternoon, I worked on making the bunting. 

Carissa made the gingerbread houses (they were used in decorating the cake).

Tim, Christian, Jace, and Mia worked on squeezing lemons to make lemonade for the party.

Jace, Gia, and Christian in their outfits.

They all certainly had lots of playing to do...oh how they can play!

That evening for supper we went to a place in Bethlehem. It was good food...and it was probably a blessing it was so loud in there..a certain 2 year old was not pleased by the time we got our food. We had a quick time for gifts (some for Tim's birthday coming up on the 26th, and a couple gifts to celebrate the adoption) when we got back to their house. Grandpa told a bedtime story...and off to bed they went.

RMV {roommate visit}

Christian and I made a long over due visit to Iowa this week, to visit my dear friend Ranee and her family. He traveled really good both there and back..that's always a blessing.

The first evening we got there, Kyle (my cousin..who just so happens to be Ranee's brother in law as well), was combining in the field in their back yard. He was nice enough to let Christian and I join him for the last little bit. OH boy, Christian loved it. He talked about Kyle for the rest of the time there!

Ranee and Justin have two cute kids..Luke (3) and Tessa (1 1/2). Pictures are good when you can't visit..but it sure is nice to see the real deal in person. Its fun to see them grow up!

 This trip Ranee and I had made a relatively long list of craft things to do together, since we both enjoy doing them..and doing them together is double the enjoyment! Of course we included a shopping outing in the agenda as well..a visit is not complete without that!

After we'd lay the kids down for the night...the crafting came out! The Brokaws have recently built a nice addition to their house..a laundry space/bathroom, two car garage, and basement (where Christian and I slept). We set up our craft shop in the laundry area.

We had a few extra helpers...

I can't remember if I told Justin I wouldn't put this on here or not..but for the record I'm only trying to depict the awesome participant he was in contributing to the crafting. He will have to be nominated for best supportive husband or something. I actually took it to prove to Ben that Justin did this for Ranee..to see if I could boost Ben's excitement in helping me! I don't think I'll hold my breath..which is probably okay for the both of us :) 

More photos of the days together...

Christian was a fan of Ranee's cinnamon rolls..we all were for that matter.

The last evening we were there, the Gingerich's (Ranee's parents), and the Birky's (Kyle & Julie's family) joined us for supper.

And due to the fact that we were so busy chatting, shopping, crafting, and watching our children..this is the only picture we managed to take of the two of us literally seconds before we had to say goodbye. 

We should really learn to do better at this!

 I'm glad we were able to visit. We had fun together as usual. I value Ranee's friendship, even if 98% of it is over the phone or through emails/letters. The extra 2% in person is like icing on the cake! We didn't exactly get all of our crafting endeavors completed..but I'd say that's fine, maybe that means we need to do this more often...(or maybe it means we need to have a more realistic list), regardless I had fun and I"m glad I got to hang out with the Brokaw's for a few days!

Iowa trip

Justin and Ranee Brokaw

Luke (2), Tessa (7 weeks)

Last weekend we took a trip to Iowa to visit our good friends, the Brokaws. Ranee was my roommate at Hesston College. Whoever placed us together did an amazing job...because I have a lifelong friend, and my only complaint is that we don't live closer to each other! So, they have an adorable family, and we had to meet the newest member Tessa.

We arrived Friday evening in time for supper. Kyle (my cousin, and Ranee's brother-in-law), Julie and their little boy Isaac (almost 2 years old) joined us. Isaac is quite a cutie..and he loves babies! Even though Christian is a BIG baby for him to hold, he wanted to and did so quite effectively :) 

Saturday we had a FULL day of fun filled activities! We first went to a couple shops in Kalona, came home to eat lunch, then....the GIRLS went shopping while the boys stayed home. They have a nice outlet mall nearby..with many good stores I might add! Whew, we did well!! It was a productive shopping day, with plenty of good deals and much needed purchases :) We took a picture of our piles of goodness.

The boys joined us in town for some of the best pizza, and then ice cream too, AND there was a park right across the street that we went to. It was such a nice evening.

There was even a sunset to top off the day! You know its a good day when you can fit in all these things AND get a sunset :)

Good Morning!! 

It's a shame I didn't take any pictures of Ben playing with legos with Luke. He did that several times..and enjoyed it! Luke has quite the vocabulary and it doesn't seem possible that Christian will be saying things like this so soon! Sunday morning we were able to play a little bit more before going to church. After church we ate some lunch and then had to leave to come home. We had such a good time visiting our friends..only wish we could do it more often!!