Bedtime stories

Happy Monday!

The kids and I went to the park today for the first time since Isabel has joined the family. Isabel slept the whole time in her carrier. It was great to be outside and back to our usual activities.

Isabel was awake a little more today than she has been, so I was able to get this fun wide-eyed picture:

And some more sleepy newborn pictures because she is just too sweet!

One week with Isabel

What a special first week we've had with Isabel. We've done our best to take it easy and enjoy this fleeting newborn stage.

Our new normal

Chris went back to work today, so today was the first day of our new normal, and it was a really great day. The kids are adjusting to life with Isabel so well. I would say that so far the transition from three kids to four has been the easiest. 

Isabel took a nice long nap in her swing this afternoon, the big kids played "art class," and I just soaked it all in. Life is good.

 

Model Baby

We had a fun morning taking Isabel's newborn pictures. Pam has already shown us a few of the shots she got including this one of all four kids that is probably my new favorite picture of all time:

We're excited to see the rest!

After sleeping most of the morning at Pam's, Isabel came home to snooze away the afternoon. The life of a model is a rough one. 

8 Years

July 23 looks a little different today than it did eight years ago!

We had a great anniversary. Natalie and Max surprised us with a breakfast of peanut butter toast in bed this morning. Chris is home for a few days to help us settle in with Isabel, so we spent most of the day relaxing at home. We finished up with pizza and dessert on the patio in the 80 degree weather. These eight years have been good to us.

Monday with Isabel

We had a wonderful day relaxing with baby Isabel!

Isabel Rose

Meet Isabel! 

We have been so excited for Isabel's arrival, and she finally joined us at 12:37 pm on Friday, July 19. She weighs 8 lbs 14 oz and is 20 inches long. 

We just can't quite get enough of her! The three big kids absolutely adore her. Emma was SO excited and eager to touch and hold and smother little Isabel at first. This afternoon and evening she was much more calm around her though, so hopefully Isabel won't seem so new and out of the ordinary to Emma for much longer. 

We have been enjoying our time with Isabel so much. Everything has gone smoother than I could have hoped. We can't wait to get to know more about our sweet little girl!

Caterpillars

Our neighbor brought the kids this jar of caterpillars yesterday, and they have been having so much fun watching the two caterpillars climb around and eat the parsley. We hope to see cocoons soon!

Baby Week!

Baby Sister is coming this week! She will be here Friday if not sooner, and we are all so excited!

Chris' Birthday!

McPherson Water Park

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July from our firecrackers!

We had a fun little ice cream party at our house, and the kids had a blast with some day time fireworks. We stayed in town this year because baby sister is coming soon!

Stringing beads

Emma worked really hard at filling this string with beads the other day at the library.

Last Game

Max really enjoyed playing t-ball this summer. He learned a lot and had a lot of fun. Tonight was his last game because somehow June is already over. This summer is flying by!