Jansen and Penn and I get to spend a week at my parents' in NH! We didn't get to visit this summer, so I've had my sights set on this trip for months.
We left Pittsburgh yesterday. My little travelers did a great job as usual. They were a joy to be with and I know they brought joy to some of the passengers around us throughout the day. Here's Penn all ready to fly from PIT to BWI.
And Jansen, en route. Too cute!
We arrived in Boston on time with no glitches. It was a great travel day. So thankful! And so happy to be met by my dad. Penn ran into his arms at baggage claim. Penn has been talking about "Bampa and Bamma" for weeks now.
Jansen and Penn slept great after abbreviated naps and lots of activity on our way up the day before. They were quite refreshed and so sweet this morning. Penn just seems like he's going to bust a gut he's so happy to be here. And Jansen is easing in a lot faster than I thought he would. Here they are at breakfast. Janse even let Grampa feed him his bananas!
I told my mom that Jansen loves to jump and would love to have some kind of jumper thing or exersaucer while we visited if she could borrow one. Look at this ridiculous thing she got her hands on! Hilarious! Jansen is a big fan of being behind the wheel!
Jansen let Gramma play with him a little bit this morning. I was really surprised he was so friendly with Gramma and Grampa so quickly as he's definitely in a stranger danger phase. But we are thrilled he's doing so well with these loved ones as they've been dying to get their hands on him!
So after weeks of gorgeous weather in the NorthEast, there are some major storms headed our way that will keep rain in the area for the majority of our stay. Today, our first day after a big travel day, was looking like the best day to head to the beach and enjoy the ocean that I crave from 600 miles away when I'm home. After going back and forth about whether to make the push to get down to the coast with Penn and Janse, we finally settled on just going for it and we are so happy we did. It was beautiful and the little guys did so well with the adventure. It was high tide when we arrived, so we went to Place Cove, a quintessential New England coastal scene.
Here I am with Janse at my ocean, can you tell I'm just a little happy?
Penn is so easy to please and loved the opportunity to dig in the sand and move rocks around with the few trucks and shovels we brought along.
As the tide started to recede ever so slightly, my mom suggested I take a walk in the sand and offered to hold Janse and keep an eye on Penn. I couldn't refuse. Jansen didn't mind a bit.
A few pictures from my lovely walk up the beach and back.
Again, I'm just a tad happy. The smell of the ocean air, the sound of the crash of the waves, the feel of the sand beneath my feet. One of my favorite places on this Earth. So blessed to get a day at the beach!
After my walk, we loaded up our picnic stuff, the beach toys, etc. and got the stroller out for a walk to our favorite ice cream place, The Beach Plum. I love this walk with my mom. We buzz along, chatting away, Penn and Janse were just relaxed and chill in the stroller and before you know it we are at the ice cream stop. Penn was pleased (and could easily be The Beach Plum's cute spokesperson).
I got a great picture of Gramma with J & P after we all enjoyed our ice cream treat. Doesn't Penn just look like he's exploding with happiness?
After we finished at The Beach Plum, we headed back to Place Cove to pack up and head home. Mom had a great idea though when we got back to the van. She suggested that Penn and I go put our feet in before having to leave the ocean. Perfect! Penn and I had a blast letting the waves chase our toes. He loved that we would say, "here it comes, here it comes!" and then run from the licking, lapping wave foam. Precious moments with my Penn.
Attempt at a photo of us. OK, but you get the picture, my little bud and a beautiful backdrop.
I love this pic. Our toes in the sand, the waves just catching us, the shadows of us standing together and I'm holding his sweet little hand.
Penn really got into the running from the waves. So much so that I was afraid he was going to run right in to his waist and get soaked. I had to keep saying, "ok, now run back to me!"
Such a wonderful day at the ocean. Thanks, Mom, for taking us down, for the picnic and the ice cream treat and for your great company. What a way to start our time in NH, but in our favorite place together!
Koen & Tavin had school off today for Teacher In-Service or something like that, so since it is also Doug's day off, we decided we would take advantage of the perfect weather day and go to Moraine State Park for some family fun. Doug has been using most of his days off since school started for work, so today felt like a total holiday, and we definitely made the most of it!
First of all, we all slept in. Doug and I usually get up at 6am. Doug slept til 7am, I slept til 7:45am (unheard of!) and the first boy to rise was at 7:50am! Amazing! I had to wake Jansen a few minutes before 8am to feed him (but not before a picture of course).
We were hoping to leave the house by 9:30am, but we didn't really care the exact time and we enjoyed a pancake breakfast and then a quick pack up and exit, but didn't make it out til after 10am. We got to Moraine State Park about an hour later. It was breezy and cool when we pulled up and the boys jumped on their bikes and I took Jansen on a short walk until it was time to feed him. I was overwhelmed by the refreshing beauty of the perfect day, the natural surroundings and being together as a family (I totally cried happily on my little jaunt with Janse).
The boys finished their bike ride while I nursed Jansen. I changed him on a picnic table and he was fascinated by his view above. You're right, Janse, it's beautiful.
We walked down to the water and I got a great photo by accident. I was trying to get a pic of us together and he grabbed my face just as I took the shot and I got this sweet picture. I love it! He brings me so much joy and I feel this photo captures it perfectly.
After the boys returned from the bike trail, we headed down to the beach. Koen, Tav and Penn spent the next hour or so digging in the sand and enjoying the water lapping their toes. I enjoyed the scene. I just get so much joy from the boys having simple fun in the gorgeous creation we've been blessed with.
Next it was picnic time! The boys had a blast rolling down the big, grassy hill in between bites of lunch. Again, so happy to see them just loving being outdoors on a gorgeous day.
I went to take a picture of Tavin and Penn and Tav put his arm around Penn. How sweet!
Jansen was such a trooper all day with the adventure on top of a short morning nap. After his lunch he played on the picnic blanket and then in his little jumper chair thing and then as I got ready to take him on a nap-walk he hunt out with Doug (who was eating an apple). Turns out, Jansen likes to eat apples the big-boy way. How cute!! Since he only has two bottom teeth, he can't get a big chunk off, but he loved the activity and the sweet proceeds!
I took Jansen on a long walk and he did indeed sleep. Doug took the boys to the playground above the beach area and then they played baseball til I returned with the sleepy Janse. We left around 3:15pm so we could home for me to feed Janse dinner. So, we were there about 4 hours and it was glorious. I loved it. I was craving outdoor time, the weather has been so beautiful lately and my ability to take advantage of it has been limited. This was such a wonderful day...our family together, being by the water and in the woods, my soul needed it.
Tonight was the Show & Tell Open House at Koen and Tavin's school. Unfortunately, Doug had to be elsewhere, so that left me to take ALL the boys at bedtime to check out what Koen and Tav have been up to the first few weeks of school. Penn was excited to see a little more about why Koen and Tavin have to leave him 5 times a week for this "school" thing, Janse was a trooper and rode it out in the BabyBjorn and I was happy to get to see Koen and Tavin in their element. It really all went very well, especially when you factor in that Penn didn't end up napping today and Jansen woke up early from his afternoon nap. I noticed that Koen was very friendly with kids he recognized whereas in the past he often would point out people he knew, but wouldn't want to call out and say hi. Tavin was confident and so happy, he was very friendly as well. It's a comfort to know that your kids are comfortable in their school environment and it's clear that that is the case for K & T.
We visited the Kindergarten classroom first where Tav's teacher had a scavenger hunt setup to help the child lead the parent through all the high points of the room and their work that was displayed. Talk about a teacher being on top of it! Tavin loved showing it all off. Here are a few highlights... Tavin painted this life-sized self-portrait.
The first unit of the year is an all-school unit. This year it is a bridges theme. Perfect for my boys! They get to build and learn about building, as well as get a lot of history about the bridges and steel industry of Pittsburgh. Here's Tavin's bridge.
This is the "hopes and dreams" wall. We had to send in our hopes and dreams for Tavin and he got to draw a picture of his hopes and dreams (which he told me was "learning math," which is the truth. He talked about it all summer).
They've already started an alphabet journal. They've been working on the letter A. Here's Tavin showing me his journal and his seat in the classroom.
The Kindergartners have been learning the 7 days of Creation. Tavin showed me his drawing of all 7 days and easily spouted off what they all were. I was really impressed. So blessed that the boys can be at a school that values God's Word and integrates it into their education. PS - Check out Tav's drawing of Day 7, God rested. God looks a little bit like a character from a horror movie, don't you think? Precious! (Oh, and I blame the blurriness on Jansen. He was trying to get my camera every time I tried to get a shot, it was not an easy photography night to say the least!).
Next we headed to the new space outdoors. It's amazing the progress that has been made over the last year. They have a covered area for an outdoor classroom and then green space for play and learning. It's beautiful and very special for an urban school.
Then we visited Koen's classroom. I try to be super sensitive to not embarrassing him, so I didn't whip out the camera in there. I don't know if he would've minded, but it wasn't as much as an event as Tav's room anyways and well, I had a baby on me and Penn in tow and then keeping an eye on T & K, so there was enough going on!!
All in all, a great visit. Looks like a great start to the year Koen and Tavin. Thanks for sharing it with us. We look forward to all you are going to learn this year and we pray that you will grow in the character of God and His wisdom most of all. Love you!
Having six people in a household is no joke when you manage said household. This morning I spent 30 minutes on phone calls scheduling different needed appointments. We have several standing appointments weekly and then there's always a random one for someone, a checkup or dentist appt. or something. Because of our frequency at doctor's offices, etc., we've all learned to adapt and go with the flow. I've even gotten a little bit better about freaking out about the germs that hang out in these places. This week Penn's speech therapy session was moved from Friday to Monday. It was right up against lunchtime, so after his appointment we had a picnic outside Children's Hospital
(and before that Penn got to play with the trolley for a bit as we are usually in more of a rush to the next thing!).
A new addition to our appointment routine is that I'm seeing a chiropractor twice a week. I've had some back issues all summer and I finally got desperate enough to go out of my comfort zone and try this area of treatment that I'm completely unfamiliar with...the jury is still out on whether or not it's working, but I'm willing to give it a little more time. Jansen has become my chiro appt. buddy as I try to schedule the appointments for when Penn's at preschool. Had to snap a pic of the little man and I hanging out waiting on Tuesday. I just love my little pal at my side, whether playing at home or waiting in some chiro's office!
Well, that's the random update for today. Life is full and it seems half of it is taken up by appointments and appointment-making sometimes, but I'll take it. We are blessed with good care, good senses of humor so we can have fun amidst the ups and downs and good company in each other during these visits and waits. Love you, boys!
Doug has had a crazy few weeks. He's been out most evenings and even had obligations on most of his days off. Well, on Friday (his day off), he worked for awhile in the morning and then he helped me out by taking Penn to speech therapy, then he had the lovely idea of picking up Jansen and I and all going over to Highland Park's Farmhouse playground for a picnic lunch and play time. It was delightful. We had the playground to ourselves and we just enjoyed the lovely day and some simple, sweet time together (we miss each other a lot, it's been a lot of come and go, stop in and help out, leave again, etc., this was a treat!). Here's a few pics (clearly we spent a lot time on and around the swings!).
This was a good chance to zoom in on Jansen's pearly whites...he has two bottom teeth!
Doug and I were laying under Jansen's swing to make him giggle and Penn came over to attack Doug. He's a funny one!
Thanks for taking some time with us, Douglas. We know you work so hard, but I know we are always top of mind and I love how you are always finding ways to give us as much of your time as you can. XOXO
Penn had quite a day on Thursday. He had his first real day of preschool and then Doug picked him up and took him to the afternoon Pirates game! This has become a tradition as Doug has done this same special post-preschool date with both Koen and Tavin (although I think it may have been when they were four and not three). Penn was so excited to go to the baseball game with Daddy. They had a blast (although it was crazy hot!). Here they are on their long walk from their cheap parking spot in the Strip District.
Doug took this sweet pic of Penn chilling out at the game enjoying his snack (with his cute little tanned legs crossed!).
Apparently a guy was going around selling stuffed parrot toys (the Pirate mascot). Penn thought he was giving them away and when Doug said no to buying one, Penn just lost it. The heat, the long day and the no nap all hit at once and it was intense Doug said. The guy selling the parrots just gave one to Penn. Who can deny a sad cute kid?! Doug was so embarrassed! Here's a picture of them later after the incident. Penn got super silly and slap happy with the parrot!
They lasted through the 4th inning and then Doug brought the pooped out preschool Pirate fan home. He was hot, happy and hilarious. Good job, Daddy. Such a sweet one-on-one time with Penn Rye. He clearly loved it (and man, did it wear him out!).
I put Jansen in a pair of jean overalls the other day. It was just too cute, I had to have a photo shoot and share it with you!! Prepare yourself, I'm a big fan of this cutie, so it's hard to choose one picture over another, so I pretty much shared them all. Enjoy!
This is his new "my teeth hurt" face.
Back to the "my teeth hurt" face (can't get enough of this one!).
Happy giggles!
Pucker face (another form of the "my teeth hurt" face).
And that's my sweet Jansen in jeans.
The photographer wanted some snuggles.
Some say he looks like me. Do you see it?
Love you, Jansen!!
