Picture Day

Last Friday was picture day at Max's school.  

He has gotten so big and gets cuter by the minute.  I got him all dressed and out the door to the bus stop and while I watched him till the bus came, I couldn't resist taking a picture of my own.  Max just looked so great out there...happy and adorable.  I wish I could bottle him up right now, cause he's on the verge of not being that little boy anymore:(.

I also realized while putting this post together, that I never put up pictures of Max's first day of school!  So here are a couple from a month ago.  I think Max is having a great year so far...much better than last year...so excited for him and how much he is learning!  Here's to first grade!

Seth turned FIVE last week.  Wow...that went by fast!  Seth is such a great brother, especially to Bryce.  If the baby is ever crying, Seth is the first on the scene to help me out.  He wakes up so happy and always gets dressed before coming down stairs.  Cereal and fruit is his go to meal if he is ever hungry or doesn't like what we're having for dinner.  He's learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, which makes family bike rides so much fun.  He loves to dress up like a ninja and play spy games.  He enjoys eating whole packs of gum and usually hides them behind the piano.  Since school started the week of his birthday, we had a pool party the week before with some of his friends.  Then on his actually birthday, we went out to dinner as a family and I made a cake with one of his favorite action figures on top.  We love you Seth, HaPpY bIrThDaY!

Bryce slept through the first half of the pool party.

Dinner at Red Robin!

Bryce is 4 month

Hi there everyone!  I'm four months old now.  I've really turned into a sweetheart...I gave my poor mama a run for her money when I first was born.  That first six weeks I about put her over the edge!  Put we've more than made up for it and I have her wrapped around my finger.  I haven't quite learned how to roll over, but I can arch around and almost turn from my back to my stomach.  I love my bouncing seat and I'm enjoying tummy time cause I can prop up and see the toys my mama sets out.  I still have a head full of hair, my mama bathes me each morning and just combs it up and it stays just like you see me below.  My dad has tried comb overs, but the ladies at church don't seem to like it.  I went to the doctor yesterday, and they gave me some new stats:

17lbs.

24.3 inches long

When compared to my three older brothers at their four month check, I'm the shortest, but weight wise I'm right up there with them:)

I had my first taste of solids, just a little rice cereal...I think I did pretty well.

Final Days

We are trying to soak up the final days of summer.  School starts this Wednesday :(.  I'm so thankful for these four health and happy boys!  I love to catch them playing together, and just minutes ago, I found them playing in the back yard with the hose and water guns.  I know they won't be this little much longer and these simple things they play will be no more.

Me and Bryce are staying indoors, trying to stay out of the water fight.

Can't decide

I've done a few posts like this before...I periodically like to find photos of all my kids around the same age to figure out who looks like who?!!?  I often can't decide...what's your opinion?

Seth

Bryce

Jake

Max

Summer Catch Up!

This summer is three days from being over, school starts this Wednesday :(...it's totally flown by.  We've had fun, but I must say it's been one of the hardest summers for me as a mom.  It took me longer to get back on track and to feel like I had a good handle on things since having Bryce...I feel like I bounced back quicker with the other three.  I'm just thankful for a great husband who helped me so much and the boys who were as patient as they could be with me and this new little one.  Here are a few pictures to sum up our summer fun!

This was the morning of Fathers Day...we made Ben breakfast in bed.

Max and Seth completing their swim lessons back in June.

I dressed the boys up real nice for our Primary's Pioneer Day Activity...and yes, they won a best dressed award!

I love this picture (below)...it's my screen saver right now!

We made it to the northern shore...wish it could have been a beach down south on the ocean, but with a new little one and have four, Lake Erie will have to do...and it's just 3 miles from the house, doesn't get much better than that!

 You can just call us suburban rednecks...Ben got a four wheeler this summer and the boys love to ride the thing around our neighborhood...I'm sure the neighbors just love us!

Bryce got to go to his first Indians game...he did pretty good...GO TRIBE!

Max and Seth completed a week long soccer camp during the first week of August...I think they really enjoyed it and learned a ton!

And here's our little fella...he just turned 4 months on the 16th of this month...he is such a chunky thing...we are loving him to pieces!

We've also spent many days at our city pool...here's the boys going down the slide at Seth's Birthday...more of those pictures to come!

We've really had some great days this summer despite all the changes that have happened in our family these last few months.  I love these guys and we're looking forward to our new school year.

Growing Like Weeds

Look who's three months old today...it's Bryce!  Bryce has really transformed into a delightful baby.  It was a little touch and go there those first few weeks, he gave me quite a run for my money.  Now he is so happy and content.  He is 14 lbs and 13 oz.  He loves to smile, talk, take naps, and sit in his bumbo and bouncy seat.  So happy to have my little Bry Guy around.  The boys are really enjoying him and love to help me when he cries...thanks boys!

Bryce isn't the only boy growing like a weed around here.  Jake has grown to love finding and playing with little critters around the yard.  You can see here, Jake has found a worm and in the picture below a three legged frog.  He also enjoys chasing rabbits and birds in the back yard.  He has really become aware of the world around him...everything is new and exciting for him!

Look who's learned how to ride without training wheels...that's right, Seth!  He is such a great bike rider, I knew it wouldn't take long for him to figure it out, thanks to his determination and a great daddy!  He rides that bike everyday.

 And my first little weed, Max.  I was so sad to hear he had a loose tooth.  I think I was more upset about him loosing his first tooth than him going off to kindergarten last year.  Loosing teeth really changes a kids look for good...it's all over after that...in my opinion anyway.  He was thrilled and thrilled that I was sad about it.  He was practicing his piano and suddenly stopped and shouted out that his tooth fell out.  That boy has really grown up this summer!

The good thing about little ones growing up is that you can enjoy spending time and talking with them.  We spent the evening catching fire flies the other night...it was fun watching him catch his own.

 I'm trying to enjoy all these stages in my little boys' lives.  It's so easy to forget how fast it's all going by!  Wish I could put my four boys in a mason jar like those fire flies in Max's hand and keep them small forever.

All the Help

We had so much great help, love and support this last month.  Here's to wonderful parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.  You've helped to care and mold us into the parents we are and hope to become...thank you!

 Thanks Grandma and Opa for being the first on the scene.  Thanks to you, my kids were fed every night,  I was able to take a nap every day, and I never saw dirty clothes in the hamper!!

They Do Look Alike

Everyone that has seen my new little one (Bryce) within that first week of his birth, said something to the effect, "He looks so different from the rest."  I truly think they all look similar from day 1.  I think it throws everyone to see one of my boys with dark hair and a head full....they all started out that way and then grew their golden locks.  Here's a newborn shot of each one....I think it makes it easier to compare, what do you think, can you tell which is which? My goodness they grow so fast!