10 years and 4 Babies Later.....

Well, we did not get a single picture on our 10th ANNIVERSARY!!!!!  Not sure how I let that one slip by.  We are planning to do some anniversary pictures this Spring so stay tuned! :)  It was a pretty regular day this Jan 2, 2014....changing diapers, breaking up arguments, cooking, cleaning, etc but we were together which makes any regular day an awesome day!

My mom watched the boys in the evening so we could go to dinner (with Ava in tow, of course!).  We took a little time to reflect on the past 10 years.  We've had lots of highs and few lows and through them all we've seen the Lord's kindness and grace in shaping us into the couple we are today.  Wouldn't trade a single day of the past 10 years!  Well, to be perfectly honest, there are a few I'd like to have a redo on.  I'm learning to seize the day, carpe diem!  It's all we're promised, right?  I don't know what tomorrow holds but I've got today to make the most of.......  I think that's what the past 10 years have taught me-to be present and be faithful in the here and now.  Simple yet so very hard!

I'm so thankful he chose me 10 years ago and that we get to do this life together!  I can truly say that I love him more now than I did then.  Kids have been very good for us...I guess that's why we keep having more of them! Ha!  We've learned to be less selfish, more intentional and to work as a team!

Cute little story I must note for Ava's sake!  So about this time last year Joe brought home an idea, a package to present to me, if you will.  He had a Hawaii itinerary planned for us for this January to celebrate our 10th anniversary.  Note that there are no palm trees pictured in this post! :)  At the end of his compelling presentation he said it was up to me....  Hawaii or a baby.  Really?  7 days on an island vs. 9 months of pregnancy, 3 years of diapers, 18 more years of child rearing, 4 more years of college to budget for...  I think in his mind he had me won over!  We were Hawaii bound!

Well, Hawaii remains on my bucket list, gladly so!  Could anything compare to this sweet 3-week-old face?!  I'll always be your biggest cheerleader Miss Ava!  And I'm going to remind you of this story when you are 14 and causing your momma some grief (I know you will never do that will you?!!!).  But I think you've got your daddy wrapped tightly around your little finger.  He'll thank me later for choosing YOU over Hawaii!  Although I've promised Joe that when the kids are in school and I'm back to work with a real paycheck, I will take him to Hawaii!!!!!         

Daddy becoming Mr. Mom on hid paternity leave!

Had to take a photo of this ornament before the tree came down.  Our Ava Joy has brought much JOY this Christmas!

The boys went with their daddy to the toy store to pick out a gift for Ava....

....they proudly came home with her very first baby doll!   

I LOVE how much they love her!

Tender Warriors!

I have absolutely loved seeing a TENDER side to these WARRIORS with having a baby sister!  I think she's softened each of our hearts already.  Watch out future boyfriends.....  you've got 4 men who must approve of you before you've even got a chance!

Two Weeks With Ava!

I am still pinching myself and waking up wondering if it's really true that I have a baby girl? 

Ava has the BEST big brothers in the entire world  Really, they all adore her and take such good care!  It was really funny because Wyatt was talking about Ava the other night and he paused and said, "What's that baby's name again?"  We laughed hard and then reminded him that his sister's name is Ava Joy.  I think I have most loved the boys flexibility in having a new sibling.  I was so afraid that their world would be rocked and they would 'miss out' on something by having a new baby around that demands a lot of our attention and keeps us confined to home during the winter months......  but there lives have been completely unaffected in many ways--they just keep right on going with their norm! And their hearts are so open and immediately full of love for their new sister (yes, even sometimes forgetting her name!)

Ava is still a great sleeper at night, mostly just waking once. There have a been a couple of nights that she woke twice.  She's super content but her 'fussy' time seems to be in the morning.  It will be interesting when Joe goes back to work trying to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door to drop Wyatt off at K..... Ava might be in the Baby Bjorn!  Otherwise, she's content and happily at ease in the swing or bouncer.  She does love to snuggle and lets us know when she's had enough alone time! :) 

And this captures our 'look' completely!  Been in PJs all day, never combed his hair and I think he actually put in his own hair gel.  Thankfully it's Christmas break and cold outside......  we will get ready again eventually! :)

Christmas, 2013

2012 Christmas the boys decorated the tree in the underwear....

2013 Christmas the boys decorated the tree in camo and warrior paint!  Never a dull moment!  I love it!

The tree got decorated and we didn't have to use fishing line to attach it to the wall this year!  Woo Hoo....We're making strides forward and growing up!   

Superheroes and wresting matches....

Decorating the gingerbread house

We made a visit to Crown Center

And on Christmas day, we spent the morning at home together having breakfast and opening gifts!  I love it that this daddy makes time to focus our hearts on Jesus and the gift He is to the world before opening our Christmas gifts!

Year of the motorcycle!  Motos add a whole new dynamic to being a boy mom!  This moto had been stored over at Wyatt's buddy's house.  Wyatt actually thought that this motorcycle he'd been riding belonged to his buddy Griffin.  He was very pleased on Christmas morning to find out that his daddy had actually bought it for him and his brothers!  Good father-son bonding time, for sure!  I've seen videos but haven't been brave enough to actually watch the boys ride.  I think the only words that would come out of my mouth would be "Be CAREFUL!"  I still cannot believe that my babies warriors are riding a motorcycle at ages 5 and 3.  And riding without training wheels, I must add!  Joe sold me on the moto by telling me it came with training wheels.  Who can get hurt with training wheels, right?  But you have to actually put on the training wheels and USE them to make training wheels effective.   

Good thing this momma read "Wild at Heart" this year which reminded me that every boy needs a battle to fight and an adventure to be had.  It's what make a boy a man! :) 

Reminiscing of days of old (remembering when he traded in his moto for a sparkly engagement ring!.  

Wyatt and Isaac got Micah a choo choo for under the tree.  Micah was SOooooooooo excited!

Micah telling Wyatt "thank you"

After naps, we went over to Auntie B and Uncle Trent's to celebrate together!  The cousins were having so much fun playing together that we could hardly get them upstairs to open gifts.  But when they finally made their way upstairs, they were ecstatic to get Razor scooters.  And Micah got a little motorcycle from Auntie B.  Whew!  He had been telling me in the weeks leading up to Christmas, "B got me a motorcycle!"  Thankfully B came through with the moto and Micah was over the moon excited!!!!!!! :)

Our sweet Ava Joy got lots of snuggle time with Poppy

and GG Sprague

Happy Boy!  He had such a fun day!!!!

There's B!  Finally got a picture of Ava with her precious Auntie B!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!  JOY to the world...........

Once we got home and had the boys tucked in bed, we were standing in the kitchen and Joe says, "I love this!".  I'm perplexed looking at new toys covering our floors, bowls still on the table from breakfast and our entire house looking like the bottom of a toaster and say "Love what?" in a semi-sarcastic tone.  He responds with, "This life. the craziness. the circus."  This is coming from Mr. Type A who only wanted 2 kids and once loved to take naps on Sunday afternoon!  I was a bit nervous that 4 kids was going to stretch him a bit too far and cause some tension.  But he is the one handling it all with so much grace and finding joy in the midst of the chaos! :)  The best.gift.ever!