The Face

and we wonder where she gets it from!

Birthday

Growing up, I always wished I had a sister.

Someone I could play with, share clothes with, someone I could talk about boys with...

all of my friends had sisters and while I knew there were times of fighting, I also knew that a sister was a different type of friend that you would have for life and I was a little sad that it was something I didn't think I would have.

Instead, this was the baby brother the good Lord gave me.

He didn't want to talk about boys and I didn't want to share his clothes.

But, we had a lot of fun moving around the world growing up together.

And, it is because of him that I can finally say I have a sister.

Bobby and Lauren were married five years ago this past October.

There are so many things that have happened in those five years

and one of them is that I have been fortunate to have Lauren in my life.

Today is her birthday and as I thought back on the last five years
I thought of all of the things she has brought into my life.

So, I thought I'd make a list of what I've gained,

because my baby brother got married...

1)I now have someone who loves my kids as only Greg and I can.  She has taken the time to get to know each of them and celebrates exactly who God has created them to be.

2) I also have someone who will come to my home for a visit.  Then one day at midnight start pushing the furniture around, rearranging and styling the whole room and all of a sudden the room will just work and make sense.

3) And, I have someone who at 1 in the morning will take all my pictures off the wall and start hammering in nails as she arranges a new gallery wall.  All while the men play golf video games and the 5 children sleep.

4) She is someone who feels comfortable enough with me to periodically, throughout the day just pick up my glass of diet coke and take some sips, no questions asked, no harm done.

5) She will talk with me about cute boys.

6)She also lets me borrow her clothes.

7) She is also someone who encourages me to look for the the fun in life, my family, my faith, my clothes and in my home.  She helps me to recognize the possibilities of the day.

8) And, she is someone who will ask me about my walk with Christ,  my life, things I hope for and things I struggle with...and will listen with intention.

Lauren, I know how Bobby feels about you, but I am truly blessed to call you sister.

I hope you had a fabulous birthday!

Leader of the Pack

Hannah Grace hanging out after Lily's soccer game

Lily, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to victory! She loves the game so much and even had a home run during the first practice! This Wednesday will be her first game, she is so excited!











Update 10/27/11  I just found this draft, I'm not sure when I put it together.  Clearly, Hannah Grace was just a baby, probably Oskar's age so this must have been put together 3 years ago.  I thought it was time to finally publish it!

DREAM IT!

I've been wanting to post new stories and pictures of the kids on the blog

but I somehow can't download pictures from the camera.

I realized that I tend to update on nights when Greg is at the library or at class,

so, my tech support is not available.

Until I get new pictures on my computer, I thought I'd share some things 

that this little one wrote for an assignment at school!

The assignment was called "DREAM IT!" and was for Red Ribbon Week

the directions were

In the space below, make a list of all the 

things you have ever wanted to learn or be.

The sky is the limit when you're drug free!

Don't leave anything out!

               I'd like to learn....                                                                I'd like to be....

                cersev (cursive)                                                                      a police girl

                how to play hobcky                                                                a docter

                about gases                                                                             a vetranareen

                about soshoil studes                                                               a soccer player

                about life cicels                                                                      a tenis player

                how to play hooky                                                                 a teacher

                how snakes shed                                                                    a reading teacher

                  their skin                                                                              a presedint's wife

A couple of things I love about these two lists are that

she (1) clearly had just come from science class where they've been learning

about the life cycles of insects, (2) brave spelling can at times be tricky to read but is always fun for a laugh, (3) her carrer choices suit her spunky personality and my personal favorite is her last choice!

oh, how I love this little chick-a-dee!

Chicago, bootcamp style

Two weeks ago

...was it really just two weeks ago?...

The Heuber Jrs came to town

We had such a fun time together

One of the days we spent downtown

in Chicago.

It was a beautiful windy day

I of course, never took my camera out

so, I've stolen every picture in this post from

here!

We were four adults with five children

each of the adults pushed one stroller...

no children walked.

I think we covered about 5 miles 

of Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive that day.

 When I saw the following picture I laughed out loud.

There were many moments that day

when I looked down the street to see

Greg and Lauren with their strollers at least a block and a half 

ahead of 

Bobby and I and our strollers.

Hadley and Hannah Grace were happy just to hold hands while being pushed.

 

Bobby and I look as if we've been walking for days pushing hundreds of pounds

down the grueling streets of Chicago just trying to keep up...

whenever Bobby's biting his tongue like that you know he's either 

exerting a lot of physical effort or thinking really hard.

 And, one of my favorite pictures from our time together...

all the girls!

School Days part 2

This is what happened the night before I went back to school

 Both of them were soon shipped off to their own beds.

This is what the little ones did that first day while I was gone.

Went "sailing", quite fittingly, in the Moses basket

and then pulled all of the books out of the bookcase.

And, everyone had a fun busy day!

School Days

I realize school began well over a month ago....

the sad thing is I actually just wrote 

"school began over a year ago..."  

then realized my mistake!  

This month has felt like a year for different reasons, but I digress....

while the first day of school is long past gone, I never posted our back to school pictures from that first day!

 They were so excited and proud

 Although, they're both looking a little apprehensive....

which might be because I was getting a little snappy here, 

trying to make it to school on time.

 Lily asked to have her picture taken in front of the tree.

And, little miss followed suit...

Lily, of course loves second grade and her teacher.  

She's forgotten her homework twice, 

been spoken with about slowing down and paying attention 

when she packs up her materials at the end of the day, 

and learned the valuable lesson of having a good friend in your class 

who will read the spelling list to you over the phone 

so that you can study for your spelling test,

and in her own words
"she didn't even think I was crazy!?!"