osh kosh baloche

the best christmas tree...that didn't last

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

it was the perfect shape, perfect (huge) size...we picked it and had it cut down...

but slowly, it started to fall apart before our very eyes.

after a week or two, we started sweeping up piles this size every few days...

to the point where the bottom of the tree was bare, brown branches...

if you touched it, brushed it, bumped into it, or even walked to heavily near it...

a shower of dry pine needles came trickling to the floor.

we even debated getting another one the week of christmas because it was so sad looking...

but she stood firm to the end...christmas morning was picture perfect (the darker lighting and presents help a lot)

but christmas night, she came down!

after all ornaments and lights were down, this was the sad sight...

i seriously felt bad for the tree!

and out the door, leaving a green carpet behind

so long tree

you were perfect

you just couldn't last

(next year we're hoping not to pick the same kind!)

christmas in pictures

2012-01-03T20:49:00.000-05:00

getting ready for christmas

2011-12-23T08:26:00.000-05:00

isaac seems to have a think with climbing in to boxes (see below...)

and the boy can turn literally anything into a drum set!!

reesey still loves to eat

my camera-shy girl, looking so cute!

elise and the rest of the 3, 4, and 5 year olds making their debut singing in church. it was adorable!

while wrapping presents...we found this...the wrapping role is his bow and arrow in case you were wondering :)

thanksgiving

2011-12-01T16:26:00.000-05:00

having fun on pie night

my girl and her leggings and tights...she's wearing them all out!!

help to make pie crust

"helping" from the living room :)

the result!

karen and i made it till the end (which was midnight!)

kitchen closed

until a couple days later, when did thanksgiving at our place

yes, isaac is asleep. before even eating anything, he just dozed off on justin's lap and slept completely through dinner

mimi and grampy

tear that thing up, babe!

pumpkin picking

2011-10-26T23:59:00.000-04:00

our kids may not know the ins and outs of an official pumpkin picking hayride, but they do know where the best road side stand is for getting pumpkins! and because we're not paying an arm and a leg, we can get a whole bunch in all different sizes! we love supporting these local farmers and benefitting from cheaper pumpkins!

round the kitchen table...

2011-10-24T23:59:00.001-04:00

pregnant!!

2011-10-22T20:48:00.000-04:00

yes, it's true. we are pregnant again. in some ways, i knew it had to be. in other ways, i'm still in surreal-can-this-really-be-true world. that plus sign came up quick and strong! there's no doubt about it! i've already had many thoughts running through my mind with this pregnancy. in some moments, i think of course we'll have four. the next one will fit right in and our family will be complete. in other moments, like tonight, when utter chaos is erupting, i wonder how it will all work out. but to be honest, the first set of thoughts win out most of the time. with each addition, there's been a sense of ease that's come with it. not that it's been easy per say, but a sense of comfort, familiarity. it makes me look forward to the arrival and introduction of #4 to the rest of the family, with excitement and not fear, joy and not anxiety.

though i had to admit there is already cause for some potential anxiety. as many will recall, the two older kids and i got hand, foot, and mouth disease last summer (aka: the coxsackie virus). because of it, i was deemed high risk and went through quite a roller coaster of emotions, wondering if i'd ever meet my little boy at all. i can't tell you how many times i rock maurice now, holding him tight against my chest, and praise God i get to hold him. God protected him from that virus crossing the placenta. Yet, now, nearly 11 months later, my little reese has the horrid hand, foot, and mouth, as does isaac. reese has it worse though. but the thought occurred to me tonight...God spared him from it in the womb, and allowed him to get it now, that he's strong enough to fight it off. what a wonderful God we serve! and yes, the inevitable thought is then...what? do i have it? so far, so good. i have no signs of it. i'm praying it stays that way. whether just exposure to the virus or actually getting it AGAIN while pregnant...at least the Lord has already walked me down this road once before. i pray i don't lean on a self-sufficient mindset and think i can get myself through all by myself. but there is that familiarity again, that God has given in holding my hand down this road once before.

i can't wait to see this new little one in my belly...and just catch a glimpse! june (or may) will be here before we know it. until then, i pray my boys heal quickly from this blasted virus, the rest of my family is spared from it, that God would prepare all of us for the transition of another baloche, and for tonight...that all would sleep uninterrupted until morning. good night all.

new favorite

2011-10-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

can't get enough of this stuff...

it's been a while

2011-09-26T00:38:00.000-04:00

as for updates around here, here's the latests in pictures...

justin has been working with Trader Joe's for two months now...

don't you love his cabana wear?! seriously, he does look handsome in them, but then again i think he looks handsome in anything. the job is going very well. the schedule is the hardest part to get used to, which we knew would be the case, but it still has been tough at times. but he is enjoying working with food and interacting with customers again. it's so fun going in there and getting to see daddy! what a blessing God has given us in this job.

this about sums up isaac...climbing, throwing, building, knocking down, wrestling, you name it...he's all boy!

still love this camera!! isaac and i went out one morning early to water the plants and found dew and bugs everywhere. it was a sweet time with him.

oh my baby girl...where have you gone? elise is transforming into a little girl before our eyes.

she sings, she dances (and i mean dances...everywhere! in the grocery store, at church, in target...everywhere!), she loves school, loves her brothers (most of the time)...she's so smart and observant, she remembers everything, she loves to color and create, her imagination is busting at the seams, she loves to help cook, i could go on and on. what a gift to have her in our lives.

oh my izie boy! you're a nut!!! and i love you for it! he truly is all boy...i am amazed at how children just lean towards interests and hobbies, without them ever being fostered. he came down from a nap a week or so ago, and found justin watching football. he jumped up and down, ran over to the chair, and asked, "i watch football dada?" he was genuinely excited! he spots every baseball or football game we drive by, every sports field we pass...not to mention every dog, bike, motorcycle, horse and plane too. but the unique balance of boy rough and toughness balances out with a gentle, sweet, kind, caring side too. he's the first to ask, "you ok mama?" if i hurt myself. he loves taking things to people and helping. and many times he's content to just snuggle in my arms. someday, that won't be the case so i try to soak it up now :)

justin and i joke at what an outdoorsman he has become since we got married. here's our heat source for the winter. i feel like little house on the prairie as we tell people he has to split wood to get ready for winter. i feel like i should be canning and preserving things...

after the hurricane, we found out it was a fallen tree that took out the power on our street. fallen tree = more wood for us! so the day before we left for vacation, he took two trips down there with his chain saw and came back with this...

it should be noted, he's getting the rest of it (which is still there) tomorrow :) he takes such good care of our family and works so hard. i couldn't ask for a better man!

her first day of school this year! how did she grow up so quickly??!!

first day of school photo shoot!

i like taking pictures while they're eating...guess it's because they're actually sitting still...

reesey boy...he's moving, crawling, standing, laughing, teething, smiling, playing, eating...the best word to describe him is joyful. i pray that word marks him for the rest of his life. he finds joy in everything and rarely cries. it's hard to remember what life was like before him. what a treasure he is.

mama's gotten lazy with the third...he either gets a shower with one of us...or ends up bathing in the sink :)

playgroup the other day. what a blessing to get together with so many wonderful moms and dear friends. and what a blessing to have our children grow up together.

new way to have fun, learn, and pass the time...homemade water table (aka: the bathroom sink)

round here

2011-08-06T21:36:00.000-04:00

round here...

summer is in full swing,

we are enjoying lots of time home,

kiddos are growing, changing, (fighting), playing, hugging, creating,

justin is loving his new job working with food and people once more,

we are spending lots of time with family as one of the patriarchs is in his "twilight days",

and mama...

well, mama is watching it all,

soaking it all in,

trying to enjoy it all,

trying to wrap her arms around it all,

trying to see her Savior in it all...

flowers elise picked for me from the front yard

isaac when his poor eye swells up. he has allergic reactions to stuff and just rubs, rubs, rubs...

elise discovering we have dolls from nanny and when i was a kid...little girls and dolls...

drawing a picture of her beloved cousins, eva and mara

reesey doing what he does best...chillin'

isaac banging on stuff. doesn't matter what it is, he'll bang it

justin found him like this one morning, not long after moving to his big boy twin bed. if you can't quite tell, he's sleeping horizontally inside the headboard

and another one caught sleeping...elise fell asleep while actually coloring. the marker lid is still in her hand!

and yet another one found sleeping in an odd place. went up to check on him after putting him down for a nap...yup, found him in his chair.

rock band with aunt mare mare (elise put that costume together herself!)

love this face!

kissing daddy as he leaves for work. we are so thankful for his new job at trader joe's. what a blessing. God's hand and planning are all over this. within two months of being laid off, he was starting at tj's. after years of applying for job whenever he'd get laid off and never hearing anything back from companies, this opportunity came through in less than two months! Thank You loving Father. it's so nice to see my husband enjoying what he does again. there is no price tag on that.

everyday moments

2011-07-12T13:47:00.001-04:00

i've been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp lately. this book has been rocking my mindset and heart, which is what i need when i only get a few moments here and there to read! the section that has been sticking with me is the concept that God is in our everyday moments. He is "I AM" which is present tense. So in all the everyday moments of my days, He is there, I AM making each moment holy. Not looking ahead and not looking back, not caught in my rush, full attention here, in this moment. so here are some of our every day moments, i'm praying and asking God to help me soak up and savor.

isaac falling asleep with his books

the kids dancing around in animal masks we made (she's a kitty cat and he's a monkey)

loving the exersaucer. it's the perfect perch to watching his siblings' craziness

there really aren't words for this, except to say, this sums up isaac's perfect balance of roughness and gentleness in one picture

his other favorite perch...the bouncy seat! (p.s. he's laughing, not crying)

all three kiddos awake at the same time, no one crying, no one screaming, no one fighting, no poopy diapers, just playing...a sweet moment

izie needing to be with daddy while he finished the lawn

reading before dinner

stuffing a cooler full of colored pencils and baby dolls (add that he climbed up there himself!)

getting soaked and sand-covered outside before dinner in the kid pool our awesome neighbors bought us

painting nails

2011-06-26T15:19:00.001-04:00

only aunt mare mare would let her favorite niece paint her nails :) you're the best mare!!

elise's careful precision and focus was adorable.

can't forget to add the hello kitty sparkles!

beautiful!!

what do pretty girls do after they've painted their nails?? have a tea party, of course!

our children are so blessed to have their aunts and uncles as such an integral part of their daily lives. thanks mare for keeping family such a priority. we love you!!

brothers

2011-06-26T00:06:00.002-04:00

father's day

2011-06-19T15:49:00.000-04:00

years ago, i posted a pretty heart-on-your-sleeve post about the emotions stirred up in me on father's day. but today, i rejoiced and praised God...for the first time, i did not dwell on my earthly father this father's day. to be honest, he didn't even cross my mind until we were in church. that may sound sad and even a bit bitter, but the truth is, that God has done and is doing a work in me. for the first time, father's day was first and foremost about justin, and the father he is to our children. and i was resting in the Lord, my heavenly Father, and looking to Him this morning as we sang in church. so i'm rejoicing that the Lord is renewing my mind. when i was in college, i went through quite a bit of excellent Christian counseling to work through things with my parents' divorces and my relationship with my father. i remember wishing the raw emotions would just disappear and fade away. the Lord is working that all out and i am grateful. i will still call my father today and he still holds a special place in my heart. but i am thankful for my Lord, my husband and my family, and how the Lord is changing the focus of my heart. what a blessing to have a joyful father's day and not have the sad tug on my heart. thank you Father.

seasons

2011-06-17T21:08:00.000-04:00

some seasons are full of rejoicing. you go from one blissful, fulfilling moment to the next. yet the temptation is there (and i often fall for it) and you end up feeling self-sufficient and forget to thank God.

other seasons are marked by trial. you feel as though you're walking through the fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. the flames are kicked up 7x hotter, you're bound and thrown in. yet one who looks like the Son of God is in there with you, protecting you, so that when you come out of the furnace you are not singed, there's not even a smell of smoke on you. but your heart is changed. Lord, may that be true of us in this season. it could be much worse, my heart knows that full well. but that doesn't negate that this is indeed a furnace season for us. when will work come? what work will it be? strengthen our faith to persevere and not give in to fear, anxiety or unbelief. you take care of the sparrows, the lilies, and you've taken care of our greatest need: saving our souls. this is a piece of cake for you. strengthen our unbelief, loving Father.

happy birthday dear isaac, happy birthday to you

2011-06-05T19:37:00.000-04:00

happy birthday my sweet izie boy. we are blessed to see your personality come out each and every day. you are full of energy, joy and laughter. you are gentle, kind, thoughtful and helpful. you are athletic, physical, strong, and agile. you love your sister and love to torment her too. you adore your brother and are so quick to help him when he needs it. you are snuggly and still love to play with my hair each and every time i hold you. you are such a blessing to our family. we love you izie boy.

lisey and i made ball decorations since that's one thing he loves...footballs, baseballs, basketballs, and soccer balls have been hanging around our house for the last three days.

two-year-old photo shoot. izie, you have the best facial expressions!!

that night we realized it was time to convert the crib to the toddler bed. he was thrilled. note the awesome old school phillies pajamas he's wearing. izie, those were your daddy's!

the next day, we celebrated with a family party.

we celebrated isaac and aunt mare mare's birthdays. he thought we were singing twice to him :)

his faces while opening cards and presents were priceless! he made such expressions, such joy, such shock, such excitement! the batman card was a particular favorite. he opened and reopened it at least half a dozen times!

loving on mimi and grampy

trying to sneak back for more cupcakes!

lovin' on his cousins...

loving on oma and papa (told you he was snuggly...)

YEAH!!!! family photo that actually looks good! only took about a dozen attempts!

one of my favorite chaotic ones!

i love my little boy. everyone told me there's a special bond between mother and son...it's so true. i just love this guy more and more every day.

and of course, reesey was there to enjoy his first birthday party. he tried out the walker to commemorate the occasion. best part of having older siblings is that he gets rides all over the house now.

reese

2011-05-27T21:53:00.000-04:00

some have asked what we are going to call this little guy. he's maurice, but when it does get shortened it's reese, reesey boy, and even reese's pieces :) he's got two teeth now, chewing on everything, grabbing and holding things (including his toes), laughing, watching his siblings every chance he gets, sitting for short stints by himself, and even rolling! he continues to be low key, easy going, and a great sleeper! (and he loves playing with hair like his brother) he's our most "compact" little guy at this age. they were all chunkers in their own rite, but he seems to take the cake. he's 5 1/2 months and wearing size 4 diapers and size 18 month clothes. yes, i know...as the pediatrician said when she walked into the room..."now there's a breastfed baby!" amen!

(notice the drool mid air)

can it be, i have a little blonde-haired boy!? the other day i told elise that he looked older to me. "old, like mamere and papere? (justin's grandparents)" i told her, "no, just older...more like a little boy"...how quickly it happens...

izie boy

2011-05-27T21:45:00.000-04:00

what a precious and rugged mix he is! mama's boy, gentle spirit, helper, thoughtful, and giving mixed with rough and tumble, dirt digging, climbing, wrestling, and banging. daily, i find myself squeezing him thinking i just can't get enough of him!

elise was in the sprinkler, but he would have none of it. he hung out by the sandbox, told me a story about something i couldn't quite make out, and then resorted to climbing up and down the slide :)

elise

2011-05-27T21:39:00.001-04:00

she's such the little free spirit...trying new things...growing into her skin...such a joy...always coming up with new ideas...playing make believe...being a helper...loving her daddy and brothers...i can't believe how grown up she is...

we were at a friend's birthday party last weekend, and she was bouncing with one of her favorite people

playing dress up in the basement

my sweet girl. there is something so special and so gut-wrenching about having a little girl. moms out there with daughters, i think you know what i'm struggling to describe. i love, love, love our girl time together. i love thinking of all the mother-daughter things we'll get to do together, the girly things i'll have the joy of explaining to her as she grows up, being there for her and telling her again and again (as i already find myself saying) "you can tell mama anything." yet there's this gut-wrenching part of our relationship as i look at her and wonder if she'll struggle with the same struggles i did with image and identity. will she compare herself with every other girl she comes across or will the Lord grace her with confidence in who she is in Him at a young age? there is something strange and magical about a mother-daughter bond...and i'm sure i'm just touching the tip of the iceberg. i look at her every night in bed, pray for her and almost tear up each time. i love you pumpkin.

playing in the sprinkler this afternoon. last year she wouldn't go near it. what a difference a year makes!

jailbreak!

2011-05-27T21:28:00.000-04:00

scroll through these somewhat quickly to get the full effect!

so proud of himself!! mama was so proud too...a little nervous that we may need those bunk beds sooner than later...but proud of her strong little climber!

elise of course had to get in on the action...

also, quite proud :)

new camera!!!!!

2011-05-17T20:43:00.000-04:00

follow along the progression of our day...with our new camera!! thanks to everyone who contributed to my new favorite gadget! happy birthday to me!

our three

2011-05-06T21:40:00.001-04:00

little boy blue, as we call him sometimes, continues to bring us such joy! what a sweet, content, and happy little guy he is. i could just eat him up! he loves his brother and sister. he's a great sleeper. he's sitting better and better these days, teething like a mad man, smiling more often than i can count, drooling like it's his job and growing up way too fast! with each child, i wonder how i will be able to love another one with all my heart and yet the Lord makes it happen each time. love you reesey-boy.

isaac's second birthday is just around the corner. i am looking forward to celebrating him. what a joy he is. he's nuts, that's for sure! but such a joy! i had so much fun watching him climb at the park today. he's got his daddy's strength and perseverance for sure! he's so tender hearted amidst his rough and tumble side. i just love him.

(and he loves to go pantless any chance he gets!)

our girl. she's such a girly-girl, and i still shake my head not knowing where she got that from! she has to wear leggings or tights, with a skirt or dress every day. she loves pink and purple. she carries her baby wherever she goes, nurses her whenever i stop to nurse maurice, puts her down for naps, you name it. she's going to make a great mama someday and i tell her that. lately, we've been going head to head with some things. i pray that i can be thankful amidst the hard moments with her, grateful i get to be home to teach her and point her back to the Lord in those moments. i love you louie.

if you give her the chance to choose what to do, you'll get something along these lines every time.

egg hunts, Resurrection Day, & too much candy

2011-05-06T21:29:00.001-04:00

our first of four egg hunts...this one at julie's house. she did an amazing job setting up two egg hunt areas, one for each age group, as well as getting the bags together and making us all feel so at home.

this is Easter morning. we so enjoyed doing the resurrection tree this year and really focusing on what Resurrection Day is all about. amidst that though, we did manage another fun egg hunt. seriously, i'm convinced we could have put anything in those eggs. it still would have been fun just to find them!

Easter at Oma and Papa's

this is elise playing "Little House on the Prairie" (somehow that includes wearing studious glasses and reading very old books!)

girls' easter tea party sleepover

2011-05-06T21:23:00.001-04:00

elise was looking forward to this night for weeks! she cannot get enough time with her cousins and her oma! thank you oma for creating this annual tradition and for all you put into it!

yes, we had a tea party crasher! isaac woke up from his nap to find far too much girlyness surrounding him. as the picture indicates, he was not happy.

papa came home, but only for a few minutes..."don't leave me, papa..."

"there's a boy at the table!!"

catching up

2011-05-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

i've been taking lots of pictures, but slacking in getting them uploaded and on the blog! so here's lots of posts updating baloche life of late...

Easter Resurrection Tree

2011-04-11T22:40:00.002-04:00

so last year was the first time we had done a resurrection tree. it is an awesome way to build up to and celebrate the real meaning of Easter with your children and family. this year, i've done a bit more preparation in getting it ready though. here's a picture i borrowed from a blog i stumbled upon that shows a great example of what it can look like.

each day for two weeks, you read through a passage of scripture leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection, and then put an object ornament on your tree. the tree then becomes a constant visual reminder of what Easter is about. i've put together two weeks worth of scripture passages and objects. i'd love to pass it on to any who are interested.

elise's little book, What Is Easter?, by Michelle Medlock Adams, sums it up well by asking is Easter about egg hunts, bunnies, jelly beans, pretty dresses, hats, dress shoes, parades?

"NO! That's not what Easter means.

Easter means much more than that.

It's all about God's son.

See, God sent Jesus down to earth

To die for everyone.

He had to die upon a tree

To save us from our sin.

But he was only dead three days,

And then he rose again.

Now, that's what Easter really means!

It's quite a special day.

Jesus our Savior rose again.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Today, he sits right next to God

In Heaven up above.

He wants to live inside you too

And fill you up with love!"

the many faces of being sick

2011-04-08T20:34:00.000-04:00

after a few days of many bodily functions, we finally got a reprieve and the kids had some energy...

enough energy to roller skate old school style with a blow up guitar...

isaac's phrase these days after getting his diaper changed is, "no pants"...

how can i resist? his legs are so cute!

i told him to say "cheese" and he puffed up his chest (close enough buddy)

this was just hours before she came down with the bug...

love this boy

she went down hard. we've watched more barney, berenstain bears, veggie tales, and PBS kids than i dare to admit.

another moment of energy

what a difference a year makes! her painting last year would always end up as a large finger-painted, purplish-brown blob. this picture was intentional, neat, clean, organized, and rather beautiful! she was so proud and so was i.

i never thought i would have inside jokes with my kids before they were two years old, but with isaac, that's just the case. all i have to say is, "you can't eat that dog-dog" in a gruff voice and he'll crack up! don't you wish you knew the whole story?!

there aren't words to describe how stinkin' cute and sweet this little boy is. reesey boy has been spared of this illness thus far and we pray it continues that way. he sleeps like a champ, endures smothering hugs and kisses from his siblings (when they're not sick), and overall is just such a gift. love you little man. (p.s. if you couldn't tell from the excessive bib and towel on the exersaucer...he's a SPITTER!)

little boys

2011-03-29T22:04:00.002-04:00

so i thought he was watching a movie with elise while i put clothes away upstairs...

i came down to find this scene...

view from our kitchen window

2011-03-26T07:28:00.000-04:00

this morning justin is at work, the kids and i are going to attempt our first trip to trader joe's by ourselves, and i had just paid a few bills online. but as i stood at the island, i was hit by the blinding light of the sun rising outside our window. i turned my face and felt the warmth of the sun pound on my face. whether it's the wind blowing or the sun shining, these moments always take me back to the Lord and His love for me. thank You Lord for reminding me once again.

maurice's baby dedication

2011-03-21T13:42:00.000-04:00

maurice & maurice

elise was in heaven having the cousins at church, in her sunday school class, and driving back to our house in our van.

his name could seriously be changed to "juice man"

our classic baby dedication pic that with have with each of them

oma and papa and little man

our now most recent family photo

a day in the life

2011-03-20T19:19:00.001-04:00

justin has been working long days and many days lately. i would be lying to say it's been no big deal. we miss him so much. it seems as though these six day weeks with some ten hour days mixed in aren't going anywhere any time soon. i have to be honest and admit that as i go through the days, there are moments sprinkled throughout where struggle to embrace the joy of these days. though for the most part, the Lord has been gracious to give me the perspective and joy i long for. lately, i've been reminded of two simple truths: life is not all about me; it's about God. and second, my time with my kids is a gift, and i want to embrace and enjoy it all...even the hard moments.

so here are highlights from one day...above was elise's first attempt to write her name. i love it!! below, i caught isaac reading to maurice. he's such a book bug!

i struggle with feeling guilty if maurice has been in the bouncy "too long"...i worry about his head getting flat and other silly things. but here's our sweet, totally chill little guy. love his blue eyes. love his sweet, gentle nature. love him!

after morning fun, Super Why, a nap, and elise doing school time, isaac needs a snack. his latest favorite place to be is sitting on the counter or on a stool at the island. i love how independent and capable he's becoming. just this morning, he's started using short 2 and 3 word sentences. so cool to see his speech develop one moment at a time.

this scene is by no means normal at our house. but twice this week, elise has crashed while watching cinderella...and i mean CRASHED! both times i looked in to see her head falling to the side, snoring...with isaac right next to her, oblivious.

so while elise and maurice napped, isaac and i took advantage of rare one on one time and acted silly.

then our littlest man woke up...he's just so handsome! i'm allowed to say that out loud, right?

later that night, the kids "helped" me get dinner ready...i firmly believe isaac would try to open the oven if i didn't stop him...

who's who?

2011-03-15T21:44:00.001-04:00

can you name these faces...

justin? isaac? or maurice?

amazing, isn't it?!

recent winter pics

2011-03-14T21:08:00.001-04:00

me and my other mama's boy. maurice (or "reesey" as elise has been calling him) is such a laid back little guy. he's our best sleeper yet (by far!) he's so chill. he has fallen into our family's groove so well. we are just loving him more and more each day. he even laughed for the first time last night!!

izie wearing daddy's old phillies shirt...i love that justin's mom saved some of his old clothes because now they get to wear them!

elise has been taking gymnastics for a little over a month now. it has been so good in so many ways for her. can you tell she LOVES it?! our entire week revolves around, "is it tuesday, yet?" and every week she gets sad when it's over because she doesn't want to leave. so grateful for this opportunity for her.

izie wearing daddy's old pj's. all he needs is a hat and i swear i'm looking at a "where's waldo?"

our dear friend, renee, and her husband just welcomed their first baby, chloe, into the world today. here was our crew celebrating with a shower a couple of weeks back. what a fun time of celebrating and living life together. i love these ladies!

ascribe glory

2011-03-07T14:06:00.000-05:00

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name...

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders...
And in his temple all cry, 'Glory!'...

the Lord is enthroned as King forever...

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."
psalms 29: 2, 3, 9b, 10b & 30: 5, 11, 12

To "ascribe" is to attribute something to...we are to attribute to the Lord, the glory that is due His Name. Why? David, the writer of these psalms, identifies one reason: God's voice. His voice alone is over the waters, it thunders, it is powerful, majestic, breaks trees (v.5), strikes with flashes of lightning (v.7), shakes the desert (v.8), twists the oaks and strips the forest bare (v.9). And that is just His voice! Ascribe Him the glory due His Name!

David goes on. His anger lasts only a moment but His favor forever. This is true for those of us who call ourselves "saved," meaning we believe that Jesus died once for all, to save us from our sins. His favor is on us forever because He sees Jesus when He looks at us! Though we weep, we can rejoice! We wept when we weren't saved, and we weep even now. But the truth applies to both...rejoicing comes in the morning. On nights when I have cried over various things, I always find there is a distinct difference in the morning. The darkness is gone. There is light. And the same is true for my emotions. It's as if I've almost, for a moment, forgotten what it was that I wept about the night before. Rejoicing does come in the morning.

Lord, You have done and continue to do so much for us. May my heart sing and not be silent! You were God, are God, and always will be God. There are so many reasons for us to ascribe to You the glory due Your Name. May that be the scarlet thread that weaves its way through every situation I go through today: Praise You for You are worthy of all glory.

our morning in the basement

2011-03-01T20:00:00.002-05:00

most recent family "photo"

2011-02-25T22:23:00.000-05:00

elise has started drawing people and today, all on her own, she drew our family.

(morgan was included in there in case you're counting)

she is so sweet. i find myself yearning on a daily basis to just enjoy her more. when i stop to just look at her face and see the joy she has for life, i find i could sit there all day and soak her up. i don't know if that makes any sense. but as the days go by, and i realize more and more that i can't gain those days back, i don't want to miss the sweet moments with her or the boys, that i know i will treasure in the days to come. and even if one day, my fear of having dimensia comes true, and my mind can't hold on to those memories any longer, at least i can treasure them now so as to hold that perspective now, through the ins and outs and ups and downs of the ever-unfolding story of our days, and enjoy these sweet times of staying home with young ones all the more.

valentine tea party

2011-02-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

our three

2011-02-03T14:21:00.002-05:00

snow day

2011-01-27T14:05:00.000-05:00

'round here

2011-01-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

being that it's winter and being that we are adjusting to life with three kids, we spend most of our days here at home. and i must admit, i'm loving being a mom more than ever. when i was a teacher, i loved what i did and often thought, "i was made to do this." now more than ever, i find myself reading books with a child on each knee, or nursing a newborn who grows chubbier by the moment, or kicking a semi-deflated volleyball around with a little boy who couldn't be happier doing it, or taking an old credit card from a three year old in my mom's old wedding heels with her elmo purse in hand asking me to give her $40 of regular...and i think, "i was made to do this."

when i clean these days, i give them jobs to do...it helps...really!

he's still not thrilled with being bathed...but don't you just love those chins!!

"yes, he's so sweet...but please don't squish him!"

and some ask who he looks like...

january and life with three

2011-01-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

adjusting to life with three kids has been much, much better than i could have expected! (thank you Jesus!) here are some pics of what we've been up to...

for new year's eve, we had a tri-birthday party for elise, elias, and nora. here's aunt mare-mare with izie boy...

all the girl cousins in their matching dresses

this is where you'll find isaac anytime daddy is doing work...on his shoulders, right behind him, or as in this case, on his stomach :)

loving his new baby brother

my best brown sugar measurer ever! she loves licking the beater when we're done making cookies!

like father, like son...justin teaching isaac how to dip his cookies in milk

he was quite proud of himself!

my littlest baby and me...he loves the sling and i'm sooo glad! (he really wasn't going to have a choice in the matter, but it sure makes it easier that he does)

early morning shots..."don't take my picture, mama!"

so sweet...and getting quite chubby all of the sudden

as we took down all the christmas decor today, justin pointed out that we had a picture of elise with christmas lights when she was about this age...so half a dozen pictures later...here he is...i hope i can get one of all our kids like this...

elise (age 1)

three years old

2010-12-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

she requested an esther cake (from veggie tales). so after we iced it, she wanted to play with the leftover icing...

our girl is three. there aren't words to describe how much we love her, how quickly the time has gone, what a privilege it is to watch her grow and learn, how much i love being with her, how much i cherish her sweet laugh, inquisitive nature, and caring spirit. i can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you sweet girl.

yeah...that's a "1" and a "2" candle...i forgot to buy the "3" this year, so we did a quick math lesson on 2+1=3

she has just learned how to do "i love you" in sign language and it's so stinkin sweet!

isaac has become so attached to daddy these days. here he is in daddy's sweatshirt, going outside with him to warm up the van. love it!

merry christmas

2010-12-28T20:44:00.000-05:00

the story of our tree

2010-12-19T07:56:00.001-05:00

so the saturday after we got home from the hospital, justin bundled up elise and isaac and took them to a local tree farm to get our christmas tree...

then isaac "helped" daddy and papa set it up...

while maurice had a christmas photo shoot...

and there the tree sat...

it's been up for a week now, and on friday, mary and mom put the lights on for us...

while elise made funny faces for the camera...

(thanks you two!)...

this evidently wore elise out...

and maurice...

but not isaac (no surprise there)...

then last night, we finally decorated the tree with our gazillion ornaments...

isaac was more interested in the boxes and paper the ornaments came in...

justin was the ornament hander-outer...

elise was adorable and did a great job...

the kids stopped to read the Cat in the Hat book ornament (it's actually the entire book!)...

while morgan decided to take a nap on the bed elise made for her baby...

elise putting one more ornament on the tree...

all finished (so we thought)...

justin got the kids ready for bed...

and not long after, the tree took a tumble, crashing to the ground, smashing who knows how many ornaments...i admit, i cried...

so back up it went...with justin tying it in two spots...

and somehow, we still have a ton of ornaments (who am i kidding, thank you aunt ruth!!)

merry christmas!

maurice david is here!

2010-12-11T13:17:00.001-05:00

maurice david baloche arrived early Wednesday morning at 5:14 am, weighing 8 lbs. 13 oz. and he was 20 1/4 inches long. here's the quick break down...

1:15 am - woke up contracting; went downstairs to watch TV thinking they would taper off like the night before

2:45 am - texted justin from downstairs that he should come down; contractions had been 5 min. apart for last hour and half

3:10 am - decided to start the phone calls to have his parents and sister come down because contractions were now 3 min. apart at times...this wasn't stopping!

4:20 am - we are loading kids and dog up to leave with oma and papa; vanessa arrives and her kids are loaded to go with oma and papa too; my contractions take a dramatic turn and start to increase in intensity and are now 3 min apart consistently...maybe even less

4:45 am - leave for the hospital now contracting A LOT

(imagine us flying down 295, then onto 73...and all three of us wondering if this baby was going to have to be delivered in the car as i'm starting to yell, "i have to push!")

5:10 am - pull up at the ER; water breaks; justin is flying down the hall pushing elevator buttons, vanessa is running behind him pushing me in the wheelchair

5:12 am - arrive in labor and delivery

5:13 am - continue pushing (not start...we've already been doing this!)

5:14 am - maurice is born!

whew! just writing it is amazing...i can't stop reliving this in my mind...

we are now a family of five!

and while we were making our mad rush to the hospital, 8 of the grandkids (and our dog) were hanging out with oma and papa (thank you both so much!!)...and here's what isaac was getting into (yes, that's powdered sugar)...he was evidently quite proud of himself

we came home from the hospital on thursday, but oma and papa gave us one night just the three of us. so the kids returned yesterday. here's proud big sister calming her new little brother down by holding him and singing to him...

thank you to all who prayed and have played a role in helping us prepare for this new little guy. we are so blessed to have him in our family and things are transitioning well thus far. big question is...

who do you think he looks like???

little man 2

2010-12-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

isaac has been my little man...but soon we will meet little man 2. oh, contractions...they are such tricky things...as i sit here, i'm having them off and on...and i have the desire to post just in case this is the last time i get to do so before this little bundle makes his grand entrance. the night before elise was born, i was awakened and couldn't sleep and blogged as well. it was funny to look back and see the timing of it all. anyway...this little guy has already been very different than his siblings. for one thing, i think he's going to be bigger than either of them were! (and that's saying a lot!) his time in the womb was marked by lots of ultrasounds and extra watching that the other two did not have. he's evidently "overly active"...which just makes me laugh. but even as far as his entrance...he's taking his time. he seems laid back, if i can even dare to say that already. contractions will come...then they go away. pressure increases...then it disappears. it's like..."hey mom, i can't wait to meet you guys..."... "oh, but it's really nice in here too..." Lord, give me patience. he will come when You have deemed it time. these are random ramblings from a mama one week out from her due date with her third...anticipating great changes...trying not to get too excited but lay low until labor is totally evident...and seeking to trust the Lord with it all. this little guy could have gotten hand, foot, and mouth and died months ago...but God protected him. God, You have a plan for him. i will rest in that tonight.

our two

2010-12-05T20:26:00.000-05:00

while waiting for little brother to make his arrival, we're still busy getting in the christmas spirit. the kids have been to the mall twice in the last two days (one time with each of us) to pick out gifts for jay and me. seeing all the lights and decorations, while hearing bing sing in the background...nothing like it.

isaac, we have discovered, loves wearing hats (as you can see). he gets more compliments on this hat... and the best part is that i got it at the free table at Homeschooler's Day Out (Thank you to whoever put it out there!)

then today, while isaac was napping, elise got to make her gingerbread house. we got this kit at Trader Joe's and it's adorable! everything was pre made (free of artificial everythings) and all we had to do was mix the icing. a great first gingerbread house!

i'm trying hard to enjoy this time with our two kiddos, before they become our three kiddos :)

it's the most wonderful time of the year

2010-12-04T22:24:00.001-05:00

christmas decorations are up! all we need is the tree...and as long as baby boy doesn't come before tomorrow afternoon, we'll have our tree! but in the meantime, here are some shots from around our house. i just love christmas. and thank you mom for your help in learning to make bows! martha stewart, i am not...but after watching a you tube video at least six times, i can now boast that i can make my own bows! it's a worthy accomplishment.

my crazy preggo mind

2010-12-03T20:35:00.001-05:00

this pregnancy has been odd lately...and for lack of any other appropriate response, i just have to laugh! i've been slurring my words, emails and fb messages to the point where i feel like an awkward teenager. the other day at the doctor's office, while giving a urine sample (i really dislike doing those this late in the pregnancy)...i dropped (yes, dropped) the entire cup into the toilet! come on, kegels, come through for me so i can attempt another cup!! and then today, while getting my primping-pre-labor pedicure and waxing, i almost cried as she ripped the hairs off my upper lip...you know...where the tears are there and she's asking me if i'm ok...and i'm trying to blow it off saying, "oh yeah, my eyes are just watering..." ridiculous!!! but like i said, i have to simply laugh. and hopefully in sharing this to the blogger world i'm not crossing the too much information line, but simply giving you all something to laugh about too. we'll see you soon, little man!! 10 days and counting...until then though...g'night!

thanksgivings

2010-11-29T21:33:00.000-05:00

care group thanksgiving

pie night pics

cousins all watching charlie brown thanksgiving

thanksgiving day at mimi & grampy's

he makes a nice pilgrim lady doesn't he?

there's nothing like mama's cooking!

thoughts running through my mind...

2010-11-28T07:11:00.001-05:00

our little boy is due in just 15 days...that is simply amazing and mind boggling to me. i put that countdown up over 150 days ago. i'm hoping he comes early but was reminded yesterday not to set myself up. i think i may try acupuncture. we'll see. if he's as big as they tell me he is...well...we'll just wait and see.

justin has been sick since yesterday. it's just no fun watching your strong husband go down for the count. i pray it's short lived (and that the rest of us don't get it).

it's officially ok to be in the christmas spirit (though i have been since halloween). i've had the music playing, decorations going up, and christmas shopping nearly finished. i LOVE christmas. can't say it enough. and this year we get to celebrate with another baby! another "baby's first christmas" everything...love that stuff!

and lastly in my brain this morning...we had a great time last night with the baloches. since justin was sick, the kids and i went solo. it was a great way to give justin some quiet rest time while also allowing the kids awesome time to run and play with their cousins and family members we haven't seen in a while! elise can now play "angry birds" on the ipod, thanks to aunt rita. that was so sweet watching them sit and play that. isaac got to run around with his same age second cousin, clayton. david read the girl cousins books, cherie was caught red handed wearing a princess crown and cooking in the kitchen with elise...and uncle paul got engaged in more than one lengthy conversation with our little girl. everyone was asking when little boy was due and seemed surprised it was "so soon already!" i'm so glad we have these opportunities to all get together. thanks oma and papa for hosting :)

christmas cards, etc.

2010-11-08T21:36:00.001-05:00

i cannot get over how stinkin' cute this picture is. getting the two of them to smile is nearly impossible! way to go, oma!! if i made christmas cards, this would be the picture!

this about sums him up...

my baby is getting so big...

halloween fun

2010-11-03T07:05:00.004-04:00

my little monkey...this outfit could not have been more fitting more our little boy who loves to climb

can you tell she didn't want her picture taken..."oh, mom..."

this would have been an awesome family pic, but elise had just woken up from a nap in the car, and did not want her picture taken...it's still so sweet...

waiting for the parade to start

she was finally ready to smile for me, as she held on tightly to her catches from the parade

and then...daddy accidentally knocked over my water glass...right into my lap!! it was so cold...and so funny...i got to use the line, "no my water didn't break..."

after dinner, we went visiting at aunt margie's house...we finally got a pic of the two of them...he's such a ham! and i forgot the cool pumpkin bag oma had made for them to collect their candy...so elise was collecting candy in oma's travel mug (until it got to be too much and we starting using my extra bag)

twins!! what will little brother look like compared to these two...i wonder...

jonas' birthday/costume party

2010-11-03T07:02:00.000-04:00

we celebrated jonas' 3rd birthday with the cousins and the rest of the fam via a costume party this past weekend. here's daddy with jael. (getting ready to hold another little one!)

oma and papa may very well be the only grandparents i know who can fit into their high school (yes, i said HIGH SCHOOL) cheerleading and football uniforms!!)...and some may argue they look exactly like then did then too! if i can age like them, that'd be awesome!

i love this monkey suit on him!

the sells. happy birthday jojo!

i think joel was actually milking himself in this one...

who else gets to play recorders with their great-grandmother!?

izie and jael...too sweet.

laundry basket fun

2010-10-28T20:04:00.000-04:00

enjoy the progression of "fun in a small laundry basket"

pumpkin picking

2010-10-25T08:26:00.001-04:00

pumpkin picking lasted two days for us this year. on saturday, we discovered that elise does not like hayrides, so that idea got scrapped. so, instead we went to a local farm stand and let the kids wander and pick pumpkins that way. way more fun...and way more cost effective! we got 9 pumpkins for $7!!! if you want to know where it is, just let me know! if we had gone to the other farms in the area we would have spent $20-$30. after picking those pumpkins, the kids painted them on saturday. justin and i carved that night after they went to bed. and then on sunday, mimi and grampy came over and painted the rest of the pumpkins with us. very fun times. oh how i love fall.

(and p.s. lisey learned how to wink as you will see :)

thankful for albuterol

2010-10-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

as many of you will remember, last winter was a hard one for us. every time elise caught a cold, she battled her newly-diagnosed asthma as well. nebulizers and eventually inhalers became a constant in our house. we have tried homeopathic herbs most every day since last winter to help build up her immune system in hopes that this winter would be different. just last week, she got a cold, and sure enough her asthma returned. thankfully though, it was mild and only required her inhalers for a short time. i thank God that we have them. though i'm not a medicinal person for many things, i am quite grateful we have these and grateful God has humbled me enough to use them. my heart would break listening to her get into coughing fits in her sleep that she couldn't get out of. and then just yesterday, isaac also came down with the same cold. he also had an ER trip last winter for wheezing, and was also prescribed an inhaler. just this morning, his wheezing returned as well. he's had his inhaler twice this morning, and i stand amazed at the instant change in his breathing even after one treatment. Jesus, thank You for medicines like this. Thank You for working in my heart and relieving the anxiety i was already starting to feel thinking about what kind of winter this is going to be. it's in Your hands.

sibling fun

2010-10-19T15:16:00.000-04:00

i have looked forward to the days when they would be old enough to "play" together...and well...those days are here. recent fun times have included chasing each other around the house (which is usually started by isaac), playing bumper shopping cart and bumper stroller while running around the house, and this fun ride just started last night. i love having our kids so close in age...give it another 18 months or so, and another little boy will be in the mix...what will he be doing during these fun and crazy moments, i wonder...

baloche family dinner

2010-10-11T20:59:00.001-04:00

we got most of the baloche crew together for dinner the other night and it was quite fun just to hang out and catch up.

mom has not been able to sell this carousel horse (if you're interested, let me know!)...meanwhile, the kids love riding on it! i absolutely adore this picture.

eva and mara got the two younger ones playing dress up with them. they were all characters from Little House on the Prairie. jonas was "pa" and at one point, elise said she wanted to hide a toy so that pa couldn't get it!

2nd cousins...isaac and clayton

the boys (make way boys, they'll be another one in 9 weeks and counting...)

the girls...so sweet...miss you norsey and stella!

she's cracking me up lately

2010-10-11T07:46:00.000-04:00

Elise: mama, i want to watch Barney
me: ok, which one do you want to watch? (we have three VHS tapes to choose from)
Elise: it's On Demand, mom.

-----------------------------------

me: Ok, let's pray before we eat lunch.
Elise: (after we prayed) You have nice teeth, mom.

four generations

2010-10-07T20:34:00.002-04:00

hoodies

2010-10-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

these two were cracking me up at breakfast yesterday with their hoodies on. she loves her daddy.

fall festival

2010-10-04T07:26:00.000-04:00

our church has a table at the fall festival each year. this year the kids were old enough to really enjoy it. elise got her face painted (thank you, mr. chris!), she got to climb inside a fire truck (twice), hold a bunny, and even got a butterfly tattoo. isaac finally got to have some fun too inside the fire truck...he gripped onto the side for dear life when it was time to come out. it was a nice morning and so nice to be welcoming fall!!

father son bonding?

2010-09-15T14:58:00.000-04:00

and yeah, that's a 10 foot ladder, not a 6...

it should be noted...isaac made it up there by himself for the most part

i loathe mosquitoes

2010-09-13T21:51:00.001-04:00

he was outside for no more than 10 minutes! by the time i saw the welts on his face and got him inside, he had five bites swelling on his cheeks, side of his face, and one on each eyelid. just when i was beginning to think it was cooling off and the mosquitoes were leaving...

that's exactly how i would feel, bud...

the next day, they swelled even more. the poor kid was such a trooper though! he didn't mess with them at all which amazes me! and he even took some good naps despite his crazy swollen eyes! i felt so bad for him, every time i looked at him. we joked he was our own little Rocky! today, i'm grateful to report, the swelling is down and the bites are subsiding.

girls' day getting haircuts

2010-09-09T19:40:00.000-04:00

elise did so well today. it was her second real haircut, but her first time actually getting shampooed and everything. she was awesome! here's the photo recap of the day :)

not a waste of time

2010-09-08T23:07:00.001-04:00

if these are an encouragement to others, wonderful. but i have to admit, i'm posting them simply so i will not forget the truth that lies in these words...these are from the girl talk blog.

"I think I find most help in trying to look on all the interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one's work. Then one can feel that perhaps one's true work--one's work for God--consists in doing some trifling haphazard thing that has been thrown into one's day. It is not a waste of time, as one is tempted to think, it is the most important part of the work of the day--the part one can best offer to God. After such a hindrance, do not rush after the planned work; trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet heart about it."

~Annie Keary, 1825-1879 (qtd in Keep a Quiet Heart, p. 9)

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

~G.K. Chesterton

visit with grace & miss julia

2010-09-05T20:26:00.001-04:00

last week, three of us and our kids got to visit our dear friend julia and her daughter, grace. julia holds such a special place in my heart. there are just some people that you connect with quickly, and can bridge the gaps of distance and time each time you talk or get together. she has been so faithful to always speak truth into my life and point me back to the gospel and Jesus, no matter what...even in her own struggles. we miss you, friend! but i am simply grateful God did not call you guys further away :)

here we are braving the heat of one of the last hot summer days, on the playground.

then it was so sweet to watch the girls play together in grace's room. it looked like a slumber party and i had flashbacks of my younger days just watching them.

to add to a great day, we also received some lamps from my friend, that she painted herself. she's been kind enough to hold on to them for me for quite some time now. julia, thank you, and here are some of them! three are now bringing new (and much needed) light to the kids' room! i love them!

before-bed-fun

2010-09-02T19:37:00.000-04:00

not sure what you all do before bed time, but we play with magnifying glasses...

wrestle until our we're sweating and our bellies hurt...

saunter around and find things to climb...

and eventually wind down and read books. our evening routine is one i cherish and trust our children will always remember with smiles.

papa's birthday

2010-09-02T19:33:00.000-04:00

to celebrate papa's birthday, we ate like crazy! it started with justin's homemade fish and chips and followed with charlotte's homemade ice cream sandwiches. we were stuffed!! and of course, papa had a birthday crown to wear, compliments of elise :) (she, however, did not want to sit and help blow out the candles until the last minute)

waiting for the ice cream truck

2010-09-02T19:30:00.000-04:00

we have never actually gotten anything from the ice cream truck...but since calling it the "music truck" all last summer, elise has grown to love the sound of it and watching it drive by (often stopping at one or both of our neighbor's houses). when the music starts, she will make a bee line for the window and of course, isaac follows suit. so here they are in their evening ritual. but of course this night was even better because of her rain boot attire :)

the Father's love

2010-08-27T06:05:00.000-04:00

emotions and feelings swirl in my head and heart this morning...tiredness, temptations toward pity parties because i've been up so long already and it's only 6 am, fear, anxiety...but Lord, You are faithful to use Your active and living Word to draw me back to the truth on which i stand...my prayer today is that You would give me glimpses of Your love and Your heart towards me all the day long...and to begin, You have this song playing in my head...

It's Heaven's perfect mystery
The king of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Father's song

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart