Rowan's 5th Birthday

It's hard to believe that our baby girl is already 5 years old...

it's all happening so fast...too fast for this Mama.

Sigh...

We didn't have the chance to give Rowan much of a birthday party this year (at least not one that was all her own).  Since we were moving that weekend and I was packing like a mad-woman just before, this prego just couldn't handle the thought of putting all that together.  We did manage to include her in a shared birthday party at Michelle's house that included her cousins and our best friends...so that worked out well.  And to be honest, I don't think she even noticed.  She was happy to blow out her candle when it was her turn for the song...and I think she actually did better this time at not being so shy.  

Happy Birthday time for Lorelei, Alivia, Rowan and Cort

It's Rowans turn to blow out the number 5

We also took the kids up to Chicago one Saturday so we could take Rowan to the American Girl Doll store for her big day.  My mom got her her very own American Girl doll for her birthday (which Rowan was so excited about) so we had to take her and the doll up to the store to pick out an outfit.
Our friends Liz and Jason came along too...their daughter Gretchen is only a few weeks younger than Row and she's one of her best buddies.

On our way to the big city!
I think we're just happy to be stuck in the car for an hour together :)

Rowan and Gretchen and their new dolls

I can barely stand how cute she is...her and that stinkin' doll.
Doesn't the doll look just like her?  

LOVE this one

Rig went along too...
he enjoyed climbing all over the Chicago landscaping :)

I got Rowan a ballerina costume for her birthday...
Grandma Gora bought a matching one for her doll too

working on their moves

our final days at wildflower way

By the grace of GOD, we were finally able to successfully sell our first home...509 Wildflower Way.  It seemed like it took forever to get thru the by owner process, but we finally did and closed on September 13 (friday the 13th at that)! 

The buyer turned out to be a really nice and honest young man...which is probably why we were able to sell it so simply like we did.  No lawyers, no realtors, no problems.  Thank you Lord!  Even when we were at closing the agents seemed to laugh a little at the situation.  I think our "contract" was a little over basic.  A one page document stating the address, the buyer/seller, and the amount.  :)

We found out we were closing on Friday, the Sunday before.  SO, I packed our whole house and we moved in 6 days.  It was quite a week...from making baby and printing baby shower invitations to battling a large wasp nest in the crawl space...somehow we got it all done!

goodbye lovely home

goodbye giant wasp's nest!

We spent the last few hours (that didn't involve packing) fishing of course!  My dad and my brother [Chad] and nephew [Cassidy] spent time with us casting out some lines too.  

We were all trying to catch that big bass again...

Derek just reeled in his big catch

a big one!

a close up

and this is the monster I caught
...it was too big for me to take off the line

whoa momma!

I'm gonna miss this...

precious!

Rowan's first day of pre-school!

Rowan's first day of Preschool was September 4, 2013

at Perpetual Motion in Valparaiso, IN.

She was so excited as you can imagine.  

We went and bought school clothes at the resale shop, found the perfect backpack, and picked out something she could wear with her favorite sandals and leggins :)

I couldn't post just one picture of her "all ready"...

she was trying so hard to stand straight and be big.  

Oh I love this girl.

 

on the way there...all smiles!

but once it was time for mommy to leave...
my poor sweet girl LOST it. :(

but there were smiles again when I picked her up...
whew!

ug. hanson...again.

Rowan found an old CD...clearly I own this???!

Nothing like a little mmmm-bop to drive you crazy. 

Someone seems to like it tho...EEK.

my favorite part is when she dives out of camera view :)

Digger

This is a regular scene around our house...rigby - without pants or a care in the world - and digging in the yard.

This morning he found a dead bird, a baby worm, a bird egg with a feather stuck to it, and some strange rock.

I kept trying to get him to come in and out of the heat...but in his serious voice with palms turned up and pounding he would say..."no mom, not until I find something else to show you, k."

Hmmmm...must I start burying treasures in the mulch for this child to keep him satisfied? ... I know what you're thinking...he'll get bored and move on, right? Wrong?! He just raises the stakes and gets the hose involved. He did this for hours this morning....no joke....hours. His little face was so red and flush!

Well at least I have some leverage with this kid...SNACKS. Thank the Lord he loves to eat :)

Naptime

Nothing like a little afternoon nap with my 3 precious babies...Rowan, Rigby and the little blueberry growing in my belly! (according to baby center, my baby is now this size).

Baby Gora #3 is officially due April 8, 2014. We're so excited, thankful, and well, a little tired...

strawberry picking

michelle and i took the kids strawberry picking not too long ago.  

it was truly a blessed day.  

i remember just thanking God as i picked and 

watched the kids stuff their faces with berries...

i was so thankful to be HOME with them, finally.  

i've had to miss outings like these with my bestie the past 4 years while i worked.  

and i just remember this afternoon being one of the special moments 

that my heart cried out in thanksgiving to God.  

i.loved.this.day.

tractor ride!

michelle and oaks

my loves

snacking as we picked (of course!)

i love this pic.  you can almost hear him say
"cheeeeeeeese" (like the does for EVERY pic...lol)

buds.

My little Rigby and Michelle's Oakley are best buds.  They play really good together (as long as no one's grouchy) and always seem to have something up their sleeve that involves trucks or mud. They usually head straight for Michelle's sandbox and will push trucks around in the sand for as long as we'll let them.  My heart always smiles when I see them playing like that.  I just love that they love each other.

During one of the recent floods they took advantage of some driveway water that wasn't draining...so of course they did their best to fill a cone full of mud and play trucks.  

I think they're discussing their plans for the cone.

The answer could only be MUD!

And on to truck driving...
eventually the girls snuck in for a dip.

We even made it out to climb
in the skidster that afternoon

boys rule :)

Daddy Daughter Dance

Rowan and Derek went to their first Daddy Daughter Dance this spring. 

It was quite the event.  Rowan talked about it for weeks before! 

I let her pick out a new dress, necklace, bracelet and hair bow...AND we did her hair and nails. 

She was so excited.  The whole thing was just adorable.

 

Derek said the dance itself was quite an experience.  There was a room full of little girls dancing to old school hip hop music like MC Hammer. Ha!  I can only imagine.  He said Rowan was glowing though...twirling and dancing the night away. Again, a-dor-able.

 

patiently waiting to leave!

a photo shoot with daddy. 

and Rig got in on the action.  yes, even in his tightie white-ies...
which he was wearing backwards by the way.

 

strutting her stuff with her purse and jean jacket as
she makes her way to the truck...lol

at the dance!

and we met for ice cream after with some of her little friends
and their daddys.  so stinkin' cute!



up!

Derek spend some time teaching Rig how to climb trees. 

He got pretty high up there too.

Derek even got a ladder to better "spot" him. 

 

Oh these boys...

 

learning how to get his footing

still within Daddy's reach

up high enough that Momma's worried

at his peak :)