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Truck Painting at the Amherst Family Center- we visit at least once a week, often more

Also a popular toy at the AFC

ChickFila for MLK day- also the day we used our last two free coupons:(

After ChickFilA we visited Nate and the returning UMASS Nav students who were meeting to dream about the semester.  Sam slept in the car, but these two were being very sweet with one another :)

I finally let him just sit in the snow and he loved it!  Until I let him play in a puddle an he was freezing... oops!

A water pipe for our complex broke on Monday so we didn't have any water all day :(  the kids are heading over to watch the water gushing out of the fire hydrant which I assume was part of the process of restoring our water.

Shakers

We are going to try to have dinner on campus once a week with students.  Sam kept grabbing Nate's arm and saying "hi" and gave the biggest grin when Nate turned to look at him.

Isaac's favorite activity at the moment is to eat snow/ice- no matte how old or dirty it may be.  This was leaving the library today after a fun coffee/bagel date and story time.

Sam- 16 Months

So at some point yesterday I realized it was the 13th which meant that Sam is 16 months old- WOW.  What blows my mind the most is to think how much of a baby he is and how pregnant I was with him when Isaac was this age... not sure I wrote that right, but hopefully you catch my drift!

On to Sam- at his last appointment a month ago he was at least 27 pounds.  He was 97, 98, and 96 percentiles for all height, weight, and head size- something like that.  They don't write the actual numbers down for me so I forget exactly- but suffice it to say- he is a proportionally big dude all around:)  He wears 24 month clothes- but he and Isaac could almost wear the same clothes and sometimes do if laundry is in disarray.  He is no longer nursing- yeah!  And he sleeps through the night!!!  He takes between one and two naps a day- but most days now, just one.  He loves to eat!  Shocking I know.  He screams in glee, sadness, to get attention, to get food...  we need to work on talking so we don't all go crazy!  He does not crawl.  He has amazing flexibility and if you have seem him you know he has this amazing scoot- he is fast.  And since Christmas he pulls himself up and cruises- he will be walking soon I am sure.  Although most days I think he looks so old, yesterday he was still my baby.

And some brother shots- what happened when I asked for them both to smile together...  Isaac received matching sweatshirts so I gave one to Sam- I am pretty sure the tag on both was 3t and they fit both boys...  who knows about kid sizes!  haha.

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I am not very good at picking just one photo but I love to recap my life- haha- just a tad narcissistic I suppose...  Here are some shots from our last week- trying to make sure each kid was captured at least once.

Working on her new activity calendar- thanks Aunt Hannah

This boy is addicted to technology- I suppose this is "normal" these day.  This was a webcast about motherhood- I am sure he learned a lot:)  But if a computer, tv or phone is on- he is there!

I sing a song sometimes, ok often, "everybody's sad, what are we gonna do" - the best part is Olivia has picked up on it and joins in...  Yesterday though I think she sang "everybody's happy..."  

Just hanging out like a big boy

 So we don't consider ourselves very fun people- at least we don't initiate lots of fun in our lives.  However, we feel lucky that we have been able to surround ourselves with very fun people- like Astrid and family- she has a 4 year old boy and twin 2 year old girls!  So she also gives me a reality check of my life.  SO- this summer she built a huge sandpit playground in her back yard and had us over every evening when Nate was in Croatia- a large reason why I survived that trip! And for Christmas she built her kids a ball pit.  Yes a ball pit in their sunroom porch, complete with 2500 balls and boxes to jump off of and into it.  The cutest moment was when Olivia and Isaac jumped together- a double jump Olivia called it.  So much FUN!!!

For Christmas we received a really fun looking dinosaur cookie making kit . After spending friday night and most of the day Saturday we had one cookie....  So yea.  All the pieces tasted good though!

Monday Snow Day

Play dough Snow and TV- yep that about sums it up!

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My mother actually sent me a link to a blog which linked to another blog which suggested this idea- a picture a week of each kid to help document the moments that happen all too fast.  I like the idea so here is my attempt...Even in this first week- I am going to have to be sure to get pictures of ALL three kids each week.  Sam is just so cute these days, I often capture him.

Sam: Learning to sit like the big kids, eating constantly, and just today, trying on mittens.
Isaac: A selfie.  Loves flashlights this week- and insists we use our new headlamps and flashlights throughout our bedtime routine.  He also insists on multiple kisses being blown and lots of goodnights and i love you's as Nate and I say goodnight to him.  He is a sweet boy.
Olivia: Asleep in the car- NOT snoring- on our way to her checkup after her having her adenoids and tonsils removed and an ear tube put in.  She is doing so much better!

Bonus- the boys watching a movie earlier this week- an all too common occurrence in our house.

Sam is 1

We had a simple and wonderful time celebrating with Sam Saturday.  As of his first birthday Sam continues to be a pretty chill happy guy.  He does not sleep through the night-  more a problem for the family than him-  and he is scooting!  He gets all around!  He waves which I love! And definitely loves to eat.  Sorry I can't get the pics up from his day but we had Chickfila for lunch.  He got a pass at the frosting during singing so I can't imagine what he would have done with his very own smash cake and then we had Dinner at home after his big day.

A more current photo of him courtesy of Beth Wallace Photography:

Difference a Year Makes

I have told many people in the last week it's amazing how great I feel compared to where I was a year ago.  Last year at this time I was extremely huge with Sam inside me while Nate was trying to kick off our ministry.  It was a full time of our lives to say the least.  And I can honestly say I am enjoying this fall much better so far:). I just feel like I am in such a better place now.  This fall has been fun!  A few highlights:

Olivia returned to her wonderful school this year and she is so clearly so much older this year than last.  She has a few returning friends and tells me so much more about her day.  I love the little girl she is becoming (most of the time).

Ice cream with good friends last week.  The Weather did not admit it was fall till this week so last week we went to Atkins with our good friends for an afternoon ice cream run.   What I love about this is it's an example of how much more settled we are here, two years in-  we have many good friends and I am so grateful!

Last Friday I spent the day with my wonderful friend Beth and her kiddos.  She captured this adorable shot of Sam.  Again just an example of the amazing friendships I have been given here in this stage of life.

Olivia's fashion continues to impress!

I find comfort in motherhood through moments-  this was a brief moment where they were all playing trains this morning.  Hope for their future as best buds!

And one of the best things about this fall is our staff team!!!  They came tonight for dinner and Nate gave them haircuts!  We also have the wonderful Laura Parker!  After bath time the guys were practicing music for navNight so I let the kids come listen.  It was awesome. 

What a wonderful ABUNDANT fall :)