Picture Overload

Monday January 18th, 2010

We had a great week.  Starting on Monday with a big ole carpet picnic!  Connor had the day off of school for Martin Luther King Day...and Craig didn't go to work until late...so we enjoyed our little family.  We asked the boys what they wanted to do.  We walked to Rockvale...visited the playground and the Thomas store.  Then came home and....

picnicked!  The boys picked the menu...hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries...and dessert of m & ms.  Yum!

Tuesday January 19, 2010

Connor went back to school...and Craig went to work at the regular time.  So it was just me and the little ones.  Jackson and Sawyer had a fun time watching a movie...building train tracks!

The cutest moment of the day was when Jackson came into the rec room to show me his trains.  He said look Mom...I have freight cars as wings!  Then he held the train cars to his side and flapped them up and down.  I have no idea where he came up with this, but it was pretty darn cute!  Love this guy.

Wednesday January 20th, 2010

We were all pretty tired. So after dinner we went right upstairs to take baths...with the promise that after baths, we would stay up and watch a little bit of the Curious George movie our cousin Brittany brought over.  The boys did great...in and out of the tub in a jiffy....then down to watch a bit of the movie.  (it is really cute!)

The boys really enjoyed it..as you can see from their total focus on the tv.  Connor and Sawyer shared the end of the sofa...and Jackson stood and watched (though usually not standing as close as he is here!)

Mitchell wasn't too into the movie, but he was too cute not to include in the picture overload!  He's getting so big!  No crawling yet...but he does get up onto all fours and rock back and forth!

Thursday January 21st, 2010

Daddy was getting ready to take Connor out to the bus...when Sawyer decided he wanted to join the crew.  He grabbed his jacket and Connor's old back pack and headed out.  It was so cute to watch them head to the bus.  It won't be too long until my boys are walking out the lane together.  Time flies!

Go little man..go!

Friday January 22, 2010

Wow..what a week.  I tried to document a lot of it.  This may be the cutest picture of all...

The boys were getting ready to hit the tub and asked if they could all get in together.  Hmmm..I wasn't so sure it was a good idea...but....

they loved it!  They were so good and cute.  Connor was very protective of Mitchell..he kept holding onto him and making sure he wouldn't topple over.  Craig took about 15 pictures until we finally got one where you could see everyone.  These boys sure love bath time...and each other.

Saturday January 24th 2010

Get your game on

Connor woke up bright and early...ready for his first big Upward basketball game.  Craig helps coach the team, so the two of them left the house around 8 am...we followed about an hour ( and two loads of laundry!) later.  Connor did great!

He scored the first basket of the game...and two others.  He made some great shots...and we were really impressed with how well he listened and how much defense he played!  It was so much fun to watch!

He had to defend a girl...with a  blue wrist band just like his...he told me she was so fast...and beat him up the court a few times!  Craig said she was pretty tall and pretty fast.  Connor says he has to "train" more!  We're excited to see what the rest of the season has to offer.

After basketball, the boys  had choir and we headed home.  We wanted to get outside since rain was predicted for Sunday...so Craig put together the digger the boys got from Aunt Lynn and Uncle Dwight

(I hate to admit they gave it to them last Christmas !)

Here they are under the sand box..digging!  The little seat fits right under  playhouse.  The boys did a great job sharing and taking turns.  Connor was great at helping Sawyer learn how to do it...

We wrapped up  the week Sunday by going to church...we were in charge of early nursery...then Craig taught Sunday School.  We ate lunch at Park City and played at the indoor park before heading to the Mennonite Home to celebrate Craig's Grandfather's 92nd birthday.  It was great fun...with ice cream cake!  Sorry, no pictures...I forgot the camera!

Ten Months...

This handsome little guy is 10 Months Old.

Yipes!

In honor of his 10 month mark, he got to try something extra special this week.  Can you guess....

Yup....vanilla ice cream...with whipped cream.  Yum.  He loved it.  As my mother-in-law would say...he gets it honest.  All the Esbenshade men love their ice cream!  He's no exception.

So, at 10 months...my little fellow is still super cute....and full of smiles.  Check out the blonde-blonde air...I especially love it when it stands straight on end...which is just about always these days!

Here's a look at what you're up to

• you have 8 perfectly beautiful, white, (sharp as a razor) teeth
• you love all food...ice cream, fruit, veggies, graham crackers, yogurt...anything we throw your way you usually try.
• you love your brothers and laugh out loud when they entertain you (which they love to do)
• you smile whenever mommy or daddy walks into the roomyou are extremely content and sit through church on mommy's lap without a peep!
• you like to get up on all fours and rock back and forth...but are not crawling yet
• you like to stand up...but aren't stable and quickly tumble to the ground
• you love your toys...especially your mailbox that sings to you
• you take two naps most days...one in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon
• you babble all the time...we have no idea what you're saying, but we're sure you know!
• you wear size 3 diapers...and size 6 month clothing (though you had a 3-6 month onesie on yesterday)
• you're still nursing...and pop your pacifier out as soon as I pick you up
• you are the perfect completion to our family...and we thank God everyday that you are in our lives
  
  

buh bye 2009

This post is a little late, but as I looked forward I couldn't help but look back. This last decade has been huge.....

It all started with New Year's Eve 1999....the Y2K scare...I had just started a WGAL.
Craig and I celebrated an early 1999...I had to work early on January 1, 2000.

Bought my first house in December of 2000.

Got engaged to Craig in 2001

Got a promotion at work and became the weekend evening anchor.

Got married in 2002

Moved to the farm...and had thyroid surgery in 2003....and Ovidio left a lasting impression at our house during his visit.

Celebrated my mom's 60th with a surprise party at the farm in October

Welcomed our first son, three weeks early, in 2004. Oh my, Connor..you changed our lives!

Lost our brother-in-law Dan to a car accident in September...then little Jackson joined the crew in november 2005.

In 2006, Craig's company went bankrupt...he lost all his vacation and benefits...but kept his job.

Enjoyed a week in the Outer Banks with Craig's family.

Sawyer came along at nearly 10 pounds in 2007.

In 2008 we installed a geothermal system into our 1833 farm house.

2009 brought pay cuts, furloughs, and our sweet Mitchell.

I can only pray that the Lord will continue to bless us as much in the coming years as he did in the past 10!

2010

As I mentioned before, I love resolutions...setting goals...seeking to attain the very best. So with that in mind, here are my specific, intentional goals for the coming year.

1 - Take better care of myself...(I have a goal weight in mind, but I'm not sharing!)

• run on a regular basis.....I completed my first 5k in 2009, now I'd like to do it again. My goal is to spend 30 minutes on the treadmill 4 times a week.
• Limit my intake of soda...I'm working to switch from the high octane stuff (Cherry Coke) to diet...and at the same time drink more water. My goal is to drink one glass of milk each day, one soda each day, and fill the rest with water...at least 32 ounces a day
• Eat one piece of fruit a day
• Take a vitamin each day
• Get more sleep...we've been pretty good at getting to bed on time...i'd like to consistently be in bed by 10 each night!

2 - Date night with Craig at least once a month

3 - Family fun

• do something fun with the boys once a month
• limit their television time - goal...one hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon
• be "fully present" when with the boys

4 - Community helper

• get involved in ways that can make a difference
• donate food to the church food pantry on a regular basis...have the boys been involved.

5 - Take at least one picture a day

• I want to document this little life of ours...too many great things happen, and I don't want to forget a one!

6 - Put my faith first

• Make time to read the Bible, do devotions, and pray intentionally....and this is the hardest one, take time to listen to the Lord's leading.

7 - Be a better friend/family member

• reach out to my friends...goal...make a call, drop and e-mail or a card to someone I care about once a week!

okay....so this is a start...and since its on paper, I've got to follow it...right?

2 Cute

So I had to share some pictures of my cutie patooties. Mitchell and Sawyer were wearing the outfits their Grandma E. got them for Christmas. It was a really cold day here...so I thought these were perfect.

They looked so cute and snuggly I couldn't resist pulling out the camera.

(sorry for the sidways shot of Mitchell..I didn't have a chance to turn it...you can get the idea though!)

2009

So...it's 2010. I love New Years. It's a great chance to start fresh, clean the slate, recharge. As a list making addict, I start making my resolutions...or as I prefer to call them goals...for the new year weeks ahead of time. I set goals for myself, my husband(like it or not honey), my family, my house, my time, my giving, my parenting, my career....

I may only reach half of them, but that's better than achieving nothing. I'm excited, imspired...and ready to make myself a better person in the year to come.

I'll share my complete list next time...but for now...the cliff notes version. My top priority, my faith...then my family...and rounding out the top 3...my fitness (physical, mental and spirtiual!)...next up, my friends. That pretty much sums it up.

More later