A visit from the Gilberts!

We had a great visit with the Gilberts in town last week! Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Shawn arrived on Sunday evening, with Layla joining us on Thursday. The kids were so excited and right away had fun playing in the backyard, with Sydney and Myles asking them to go down the slide over and over. We kept busy each day, but still were able to give Grandma and Grandpa a glimpse into the happenings of our chaotic daily life. 

Both of the older kids had a special day at home with Grandma and Grandpa. Sydney got to go shopping, out to lunch, and to the park. Myles spent his special day at home with Grandma playing outside, reading books, walking to the park, and she even got him to nap. They wore each other out! We spent one afternoon in Golden eating frozen yogurt, and playing at the playground while Grandpa and Uncle Shawn went fly fishing. Everyone came to watch Myles at his horseback riding lesson, and Grandma and Grandpa watched the older kids' swimming lesson. We also spent time shopping, made smores in the backyard with our buddy Mark over that night, and went out to eat. After Ryker's dedication on Saturday evening, we came home to celebrate Uncle Shawn's birthday and had an early birthday celebration for Myles and Sydney. Our Iowa visitors left Sunday morning after a full week of bonding and fun. The kids were thrilled to have everyone here and really had some quality time deepening their relationships with Grandma and Grandpa.

Myles playing with one of his new birthday presents, a Spider-Man punching bag!

Ryker's Dedication

This past Saturday, June 21, we had the honor of having Ryker dedicated at Grace Community Church. We've been attending Grace this spring/summer, and it has been such a welcoming church for us to hopefully plant our roots closer to our new(ish) home. It is our prayer that someday each of our kids makes their own decision to follow Jesus, but for now the dedication of each of our children represents our commitment to raise them up knowing Christ.

We were grateful to have both sets of grandparents here for the service, as well as Uncle Shawn and Layla. The dedication was simple, but very meaningful and special for us. It was fittingly followed by a message on parenting, which wrapped up the series our pastor has been teaching on living relationally healthy lives.

We love you, Ryker Joseph.We are so lucky to be your parents and promise to do our best for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father's Day

Last week we celebrated one of the best daddies there is! Gilby is such an amazing dad to our kids - a leader, mentor, and comforter who's actively involved in both the fun and not so fun times. He's extremely patient with them and willing to sacrifice for their well being. I'm so grateful to have Gilby by my side in this parenting journey. In a two working-parent household it's sometimes tough to balance work and home life, but we make a pretty good team. We share childcare and household duties throughout the week, with Gilby working 4 long days so that he can be home with the kids a day during the work week. We chuckle when people tell us they wish they could have a day "off" during the week, because a full day alone with all three kids is anything but that! His day off is filled with therapy appointments (and all the driving that comes with them!), errands, laundry, dishes, meal prep, etc. He's our resident clothes-folder, spending many nights after I'm in bed folding lots and lots of laundry! We are very thankful for our daddy.

We started Father's Day with a special breakfast for Gilby followed by church. Afterward, I took the three kids to a birthday party while Gilby got some time alone. He went to a favorite restaurant of his for a quiet lunch, and although it may sound sad to go out to eat alone on Father's Day, anyone with young kids might understand what a rarity this is. It was a treat for him! We spent the afternoon preparing for his family to arrive for their visit, and grilled a yummy dinner with my dad (my mom was out of town). Afterward, the Gilbert's arrived, and we all spent some time playing with the kiddos in the backyard.

It was a special treat for Gilby and I to both be able to see our dads on Father's Day. We are grateful for their love, and what they have done, and continue to do, for us.

The gifts the kids made at their summer programs were so cute. Ryker made the apron with his footprints and handprints on it. Both Sydney and Myles painted rocks that say "My Dad Rocks." Sydney also gave him a sweet poem with her footprints on it and a picture that says, "Sydney likes to look at rainbows with her daddy." Myles answered a little interview about Gilby with his talker, and the summer camp staff said he chose the answers all on his own. It went like this -

My Dad is 15 years old.
His hair is black and his eyes are black. (Myles' favorite color.)
My Dad likes to wear a silver vest.
He loves to eat berries and corn.
He is smart because he knows how to use a shovel.
My Dad works hard at making dollars and pennies.
Daddy always tells me "I love you."
It makes my Dad happy when he hears a joke.
If he could go on a trip, he would go to the mountains and he would take his lunch.
I really love it when my Dad reads me stories.
If I could give my daddy anything it would be a pretty ball and a cake.
My favorite thing about my Dad is his kisses and hugs.
Love, Myles

And the poem from Sydney -

Walk With Me Daddy
Walk alongside me, Daddy and hold my hand.
I have so many things to learn that I don't yet understand.
Teach me things to keep me safe from dangers everyday.
Show me how to do my best at home, school, and play.
Every child needs a gentle hand to guide them as they grow.
So walk alongside me Daddy, we have a long way to go.

Making progress...

Over the past year Sydney has been maturing so much, and I've noticed a huge difference in even just the past couple of months. She's always been really compassionate and supportive with her brothers, but now she is actually very helpful too. She mostly gets herself ready in the mornings and at night, and we hardly ever have disagreements over her wardrobe choices anymore.

But most recently...she got her haircut!! I've tried seven ways from Sunday for over a year to find a way to get her to agree to a haircut. We've made a few appointments that have ended in tears before getting into the salon, and when I tell her that her hair might actually grow faster if she gets a little trim, she'll respond by saying, "I just want my hair to grow slow."

Last week when I mentioned the idea again, she surprisingly said yes right away, and told me for a few days that she would get the haircut without crying and then be able to pick a sucker. And she did! She was amazing for the haircut - no one would ever have known what her haircut struggles have been like this past year! I'm actually really proud of her and the young girl she is becoming.

Chalk Festival

We went to the chalk festival in Denver with Grandpa a couple weekends ago. Although our kiddos didn't last long with the heat of the day, Myles being two days out from the stomach flu and it being Ryker's nap time, the chalk art was very cool. I love living so close to the city for these types of experiences!

Coloring

Two kids were coloring so nicely. And the third? Well, he was coloring his face...