Jammed Packed & Ready to Roll!

We had a very jammed packed weekend enjoying every last ounce of time before I go back to work this week. Chris finished off a 7 day stretch...but the boys and I had a group of friends over on Saturday. Crew, Brody, Ky, Jovie, Jack, Ariana, Lane, and Tay had fun, and us mom's had some much needed girl time.
Brody and Ariana
I just LOVED her "sporty" outfit! Can't wait for your 1st birthday party Ariana!

It had been quite a few years since our last DeJager/Bergsma Family Reunion. So we got everyone together on Sunday at the city park, there were a ton of kids and babies!

Kakie and some of his MANY great grand kids!

Kys waiting very impatiently for his next bite...

Sunday evening we had our neighbors over, the Marti's. They moved in last fall, and we have spent many late afternoons and evenings hanging out, but we finally got our BBQ in we had before our schedules got any crazier. Their kids Hayley (4) and Dane (2) are the exact same ages as Crew and Brody. Although as you will see in some of these pictures Dane is HUGE and got that football player build, but like always Brodes was relentless and held is own in all the chasing and tackling they did. It was such a fun night, can't wait for the next one! Had fun with the camera again too!

We are ready to roll, back to work on Monday... Hopefully all of this planning pays off and everything runs as smooth as possible!

Right Around the Corner

Soaking up these last days where we make our own schedule. Back to work I go with a new schedule, new routine, and lots of people in the mix making this all possible. After having the last year off from teaching, I am hesitant to say that I can’t wait to go back, but I am also not dreading it. Being a teacher I feel is such a great job with having a family. Although nothing can replace the special time being home with young kids, I do however feel that having a balance for me is going to be really beneficial for everyone. I have spent some hours in my classroom getting things reorganized and back into place, and I am starting to get excited for all of the 96 students that will be making their way through my door next week. Also seeing some of the awesome staff I work with, it brings back why I do honestly enjoy my job. My contract will still be a .5, but instead working part time all year, I am going to work full time just first semester. And then that leaves me available to sub if I want. So it will be quite the adjustment in this house. Chris and I will only have 4 days off at the same time each month…

The journey this past year with Kyler alone is book worthy and it is time that he adjusts to someone other than mom. Crew will be back in preschool at LC three mornings a week, something that we all have been anxiously awaiting! With Chris on shift schedule he will be able to help out with the kids two days a week (which I am so excited about) Mr. Mom, shoe will be on the other foot! My mom will be able to help on some Wednesdays, and I have two fantastic college girls coming in each on a day or two each week. I have my very helpful school TA’s helping with transporting Crew to preschool when needed, and my grandma also picking Crew up from school. I guess it takes a village to get the job done! The nice thing is that I will actually not have to take them anywhere when I leave at 7 am, although daycare has been a great place in the past, it is not that convenient with three young kids, on an alternating schedule, or cost efficient.

Being home is no break; a stay-at-home mom with 3 boys 4 and under is by far the hardest thing I have done yet. But being here for my boys has been so great, and even though I will be back to work, I guarantee to get in just as many hugs and kisses. It is going to be an adjustment for sure, but as a family we will get it done!

It's Fair Time!

Crew and his buddy Lane got to go on rides together again this year. These two are like 2 peas in pod. Hopefully they grow up and stay good buddy's!

Holding hands everywhere...Although towards the end they were tackling each other and we had to break some things up :)

Right before Crew got stung by a bee...just his luck!

He wasn't brave enough to go on Monday, but with a little peer pressure from Lane he shot right down the big slide!

Brodes even caught a few rides on Monday, although he was just more than happy to sit in the stroller and kept wanting to back to the cow barn...

Crew even talked Chris into going on the Sizzler. Crew loved it, but Chris was about to puke after.

They were having a honking war...

Ducks, mom, ducks!! Quack, quack!

Take this Ninja Turtle!

Poor Brody was scared of every dressed up character we saw...Lets just say Disneyland would be a waste of money right now!

Poor guy :(

We topped off our fair traditions with some yummy PTA cheese burgers, 'moo'wiches, and Crew and Brody had their share of corn dogs... The fair is still something I look forward to every year and sharing it with the kids is fun, but I am always happy to see it go too, until next year!

Family DERBY Night!

It has been an annual event for my parents to treat the family to a night to the fair, and the best part of the fair is not the rides, games, animals, or yummy food, but the Monday night Demolition Derby. Crew's favorite thing, hands down, to watch and talk about. He learned the meaning of what the words "year", "months" and "weeks" were due to asking every week when driving by the fair when the crash up cars would be back again.

Jeff, Rae and Cruiser playing the fish game

A few rides before...

And its DERBY time!

It is a sold out crowd every year...

I was originally worried a little bit about Brodes, but he ended up doing great, and LOVED every minute of it.

Nana and Crew

The suburban smash... Brody kept saying airplane, airplane, over and over again... Pretty cool that they turned the "smasher" truck into an airplane.

Great night! Fun memories...And a whole YEAR until it happens again!

*Also thanks to Papa and Memi for having Ky's for like 7 hours :)

Cookbook?

A friend of mine is raising funds to support their adoption, and would love for you to visit her blog and purchase a cookbook. I am excited to get mine, this family has some great recipes to share. If it is not something you are interested in at this time, I know they would also just appreciate your prayers!

What's better than an upcoming Fall day, and a new recipe to try? :)

Check them out! http://bkmulder.blogspot.com/

Summer At It's BEST

Well the heat is here...Pools filled up early, sunscreen on, and days filled with swimming, and staying cool. It is always about this time, mid August, when I am getting really excited for the CHANGE of weather...Don't get me wrong, this is great, but nothing sounds better than a Friday night football game, breezy cool fall weather, and a nice cup of hot chocolate! Okay I am dreaming now, we have plenty of nice days and fun ahead before that will happen!

Even though we have some AC's, trying to keep everyone cool can be challenging. Maybe keep everyone happy and not irritated, might be a better way to phrase that, we can get a little cranky around here! So the other night I loaded up the kids in the nice, cool, airconditioned car, and we drove to DQ to get mini blizzards. Ice cream is the cure all! With blizzards in hand, I had the most peaceful 10 minutes of the day. I even took the long way home. Aww these are the days!
How many times can we run and jump in and out of the pools and go down the slide? You would think they would be exhausted, but they can do this all day long...
Skinny Brodes does not let anything stop him, he is our grasshopper going and jumping all day, loving to pee outside too!

Kys has his own space, which is perfect so he doesn't get trampled by his rough brothers...

At the end of the day, bath time is still one of my favorites...Notice anything special about this picture??? :)

Perma grin

3 boys in tub

Crazy boys

Brushing good

Cheers to this nice weather and fun times with the kiddos. I do truly love all the seasons and the fun and excitement that I experience with them. Busy but so worth it.

Tony Wilson Kickoff Classic

The Price boys + Tom got together this year to play in the Tony Wilson Kickoff Classic Golf Tourney. This is such a bittersweet time, because of why we have this tournament now in remembrance of a great guy and friend of ours that we went to school with, and to raise money for the Lynden Football Team, and now Tony's Memorial Scholarship Fund. It is a great cause and good way to come together and celebrate not only the life of Tony but a great community we have that supports its local programs.

A night out!

The Price girls, we are pretty much out numbered!

Kyler VanDiest holding baby Kade

Overall it was a great evening seeing old friends and coming together to support a good cause and most important remember someone as great and inspirational as Tony Wilson.

Summer Soccer and Swimming Lessons

I think Crew would do anything and everything if he knew about what was out there. We picked a couple things for this summer, and as all of these boys get older I can already see myself with my days packed full of soccer, baseball, swimming lessons, etc... Good thing I love to plan and schedule... Gotta love it!

Even though Crew had his cast on, we were still able to have him go through with swimming lessons, which was lucky for us, since we were on a waiting list to get into the Bode's. They have a pool at their house, and growing up I spent every summer there taking lessons as well. Crew did his typical "crewism's" and worried me a bit on the first day by how over-the-top he was with his outward excitement... He is just a very happy kid, with a lot of energy. I am finding that is his way to cover up his nerves about something, because after the first day, he calmed down a little. He still caused quite a few smiles and times where I had to get up out of my seat and walk over to the pool to remind him of some things...but such is life with our Crew Charles!

He did good going underwater and swimming across the pool with his face in!

Keep going Crew!

A little wobbly!

Waiting his turn...always moving!

Hi mom, he would always look to see if I was watching, and periodically give me the thumbs up...What a dork!

Dive attempt...

Little Kickers was an 8 day camp for soccer that Crew did earlier this summer. He and Brodes are always playing soccer with Chris, and kicking balls everywhere. Crew proved that being 4 is a lot more mature than being 3, ha. He did this same clinic last September, and he came leaps and bounds in his ability to LISTEN, FOCUS, and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Honestly that is why I have him doing this stuff this young. It is not because I feel like he has the possibility of being the next David Beckham, come on, this kid needs a little (a lot) of structure in his day, and coming from another adult figure like a teacher or coach has been so great for him. Love the exercise that comes a long with it!

We had no soccer socks for a few days...

Coach Lisa runs all of the youth camps, and does great with these kids....

Great job Crew! He was also going to do the Little Sluggers clinic, after we got home from Chelan, but baseball and a broken wrist don't mix...Next year!