What's Up Wednesday 6.25.15

I am joining some lovely ladies today for a little look into our lives! I realize today is Thursday..a day late isn't so bad, is it?

What we're eating this week

I had planned out meals for this week....and then I realized it was harvest.  So we have been having picnics in the van when we help take food out to the field!  I made Zach's favorite chocolate sheet cake for Father's Day, so we've been snacking on that when we make it home.

What I'm reminiscing about 

My niece and nephew are turn one today!  A year ago we were wondering how long they would hold out before they made their debut, and praying they would be as healthy as possible at 8 weeks early.  What a difference a year makes!

Look how little Summer was!

And look how big they are now!  Granted this picture was three months ago...

What I'm loving

Lemon Lime Water

What we've been up to

Combine riding and outside playing

What I'm dreading

Baths every night.  I will admit giving baths are not my favorite, and in the summer when the kids are all sweaty, dirty, and covered in sunscreen and bug spray, there isn't much avoiding it.

What I'm working on

A few baby gifts (I will share after they have been gifted!)

What I'm excited about

We find out if my brother and sister-in-law are having a boy or girl this week.   I am SO excited.  SO EXCITED!!!!

Stephanie holding Aria at Christmas.  Can't wait to hold her baby this year!!!

What I'm watching

So many of our seasons are over (sob), and we finished watching all the seasons of Castle (another sob), so we are enjoying summer television:  So You Think You Can Dance,  American Ninja Warrior, and The Bachlorette (this season is a TRAIN WRECK-but I can't help myself).

If any of you watch The Bachlorette, you HAVE to read these recaps by Pinterest Told Me To.  They are the FUNNIEST thing ever, and she says exactly what we were all thinking!

This is my favorite quote from today's post: Nick had 10 minutes to get dressed, so he threw on a pair of sensible green jeggings...

We also love to watch shows on Netflix/Hulu.  We are currently watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.  Anyone have good suggestions of a new show for us to binge watch this summer??

What I'm reading

The Girl on the Train

The Power of a Woman's Words

What I'm listening to 

In need of suggestions!  I'm tired of everything on the radio and on my Pandora/Spotify stations. 

What I'm wearing

Scrubs during the day and athletic shorts and a t-shirt in the evening.  Nothing too exciting over here! 

What I'm doing this weekend

Zach will most likely  be in the field, so Saturday morning the kids and I are planning to head up to Wichita to meet up with one of my good friends from college.  Our church has a pastoral candidate coming for the weekend, so they are having dinner with our Sunday School class Saturday night, and the Preschool board is in charge of serving breakfast Sunday morning. 

Planning on a breakfast burrito bar...my favorite!

What I'm looking forward to next month/4th of July Plans

We have Friday off next week for 4th of July, so we are headed up to Kansas City to hang out, and go to Kodi's baby shower on Sunday.  On the agenda is the zoo (Lyle is PUMPED that they have polar bears there.  We've been watching them on the zoo cam!), pedicures, donuts plus lots of other good food.

What else is new?  

We have flowers planted in our front flower beds for the first time in...well...ever.  Since we moved in six years ago.  I love them!

Happy Thursday!

Father's Day Weekend

 

We had such a fun, summer filled weekend!  The weather is definitely warming up (okay, it's hot!!), so Lyle and I had a little "pool" time in the backyard.  Sandbox toys also make great water toys!  Please don't mind our glaring white skin.

 

 

 Next up was a visit to the field to check out the combines.  Harvest is in full swing, and the guys are picking up canola right now.  Lyle loves to help drive the combine, and I'm pretty sure Papa loves having him help. 

And of course you can't farm without your cut-off pearl snap shirt on.  Just like Papa. 

We even busted one out for Aria to wear.  With a bow too of course.

 Sweet girl was totally content to watch everything out of the big windows.

 Unfortunately, I didn't make this kid nap at home and he fell asleep in the car on the way out to the field.  He was a bit grumpy, had itchy eyes from allergies, and rubbed them with dirty hands.  Game over, folks.  I got him cleaned up and home and convinced him to take one more picture for the evening.

 Sunday we went to church and then grilled steaks with Papa and Grammy for lunch.  So grateful for all the fathers in our life.  They are each so amazing and special to us.

Zach went back out to the field, and Lyle stayed to play at Grammy's, so Aria and I went to visit Grandma Glenda. 

We helped take lunches out to the field, and I drove the combine so Zach could eat his lunch.  I use the word "drove" very loosely.  I kept it going (fairly) straight on the rows, then panicked and had to have Zach help me navigate the turns at the ends of the field. Too many things to do all at the same time.  I guess I'll keep my day job.  Just let me ride shotgun and I'm happy.
  

Riding with Zach always takes me back to when we were dating, and I would ride for hours in the tractor with him.  I love those memories. 

 The kids and I ended the evening in the backyard.  I can't get enough of this girl's cuteness. 

 We took a little walk around the neighborhood and went on a "leaf hunt."  And got bitten by a thousand mosquitoes.  Next time we'll load up on the bug spray. 

I took Aria up for a bath first, and came down to a huge pile of "treasures" on the couch.  Lyle's favorite activity right now is to make piles (of any and every toy, blanket, and pillow he can find) and pretend it is some imaginary boat or spaceship or such.  While we were cleaning up he made shapes with his crayons and was a "machine helper" while he talked like a robot with a cup on his mouth.  Was he stalling picking up his toys and taking a bath?  Absolutely.  But I love it anyways. 

It was a rough Monday morning, waking up after late nights and full days.  But we are ready for wherever the week will take us! 

I am going to take this passage from my devotional, Jesus Calling, into this week with me.

I speak to you continually. My nature is to communicate, though not always in words. I fling glorious sunsets across the sky, day after day after day. I speak in the faces and voices of loved ones. I caress you with a gentle breeze that refreshes and delights you. I speak softly in the depths of your spirit, where I have taken up residence. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me above all else.  

Aria Grace: Six Months

Six months.  Your half-birthday is here and I can hardly believe it!  So many smiles, cuddles, and precious moments since that great day in December.  God is so good!

Dedication at church

Weight: 18 lbs, 8 oz
Height: 27 inches
Wearing size 9-12 month clothes.

(For curiosity sake, I looked back at Lyle's stats.  At his six month check-up, he was 19 pounds and 27 inches.  So pretty close!  Although you plot higher on the growth charts since you are a girl!)
 

Visiting Grandma.  Sorry honey, this is not the most flattering picture of you! LOL

Sleep-  Still doing great.  We moved you into your room at the beginning of the month, and you transitioned without a problem!  Typically you take a couple short naps in the morning, and a little bit of a longer one in the afternoon.  Sometimes you'll need a short one when you get home from daycare at 5, otherwise bedtime is 7:30-8ish.  Up twice a night to eat usually- I keep thinking I should cut these out, but honestly it seems more trouble than it's worth.  When you are up at night you take about 10 minutes to eat, then go right back down without any rocking or fussing.  So to go back in several times to give you a pacifier or fight through the crying isn't worth it at this point. 
 

The sound that accompanies this pictures is a high-pitches "whooo!"



Eating-  Still all Mama's milk!  Work has been a little crazy lately, making me miss a few pumping sessions, so we've had to pull some milk from the freezer.  Glad I spent the time early on, getting stocked up.  By this point I think we were supplementing Lyle with formula, so I'm pretty proud we made it to the six month mark on just breastmilk!!

 

Aria's version of a sleep mask.  Gone are the days you leave your bows in place!

Giggles with brother!

Likes-  Little girl, you are wanting to get up and go!  You can turn yourself in circles on the floor on your tummy, and are scooting backwards.  Sometimes you will pull your knees under you, but get so mad when you can't get anywhere.  I have a feeling you will be working hard on that this next month, so you can get your hands on Lyle's toys!  We got a new johnny jumper for the doorway, and you go to town!  It is so much fun to watch.  The other day I put on music while I was cooking in the kitchen, and you were jumping and dancing to the music with me! So many smiles!  We are back on the pacifier love, although you don't need it, it just helps when you are fussy. 

Paula sent this to me from daycare, and said you were happy singing!

Lunch with family!

Fun Firsts- We have two teeth, and they make your grin the cutest thing in the entire world!  You are almost sitting by yourself, just a bit wobbly at times.  We sat in the kiddie pool in the backyard for a few minutes one night, and you were having a ball splashing.  You also went on your first zoo outing.  Even though it was pretty sticky and hot, you didn't fuss at all, just laid in your stroller the whole time.

Lyle Update: Your brother gets the best giggles out of you.  It might be my favorite sound in the whole world.  You've got some grabby hands, and sometimes you get ahold of your brother's toys.  We are working with him on trading and giving you something different instead of just taking his toy back.  Honestly you couldn't care less at this point, just give you something you can chew on.  But I'm sure you will care soon enough. :)



We are looking forward to some fun this next month.  Father's day is next weekend, and we will be going up to Kansas City for July 4th weekend.  And hopefully we will be able to fit in some rides in the combine for harvest!  I can't wait to dig out Lyle's pearl snap cut off shirts for you! :)  We love you sweet girl!