Owen Starts Kindergarten!

Owen has been ready for this day his whole life!  The boy would love it if we'd just give him a key so he could walk home from the bus stop all by himself (very independent type).  It makes me so happy to see him loving school so much.  He adores his teacher, Mrs. Serafini.  She's amazing.  He's in great hands!  This makes a momma happy!!  

 I think Owen really loves that he leaves for school at about the same time dad goes to work.  This makes him feel EXTRA big. :)

Scott and I have been so excited about him starting school.  It's just crazy to see a child go from infant to being gone 7 plus hours a day in 5 short years.  Where did the time go?  We love this guy so much.  He really is an amazing kid, and great brother!  Picking him up from the bus stop is the best part of our day.  We love you, Owen!

Jeremy is 3 Months Old...and Other Happenings

 Just thought I should post some pictures of Jeremy before he goes off to college!!!

  I'm terrible about taking pictures lately, and REALLY terrible about posting the ones I have.  I hope Jeremy doesn't look back and think that I loved him any less. ;) 

Look at that boy!  He's growing well I'd say:)  Every time we go in for a check-up they do his measurements twice.  This funny guy at church came up to us the other week and said, "Look at him...he is a MOOSE!"  I was dying!  That's his nickname now, "Little Moose".  

We're loving all of his SMILES (not for the camera, of course).  He is so, so precious!!!  I can't believe what a good little guy he is.  He's the most happy/pleasant baby on the planet!  Serious.  The only time he makes a peep is if I ate something other that veg, fruit and meat (yes, you heard me right)...then he's in misery.  Dairy, grains, nuts and legumes have been booted from my present diet (a bite or two is all he can handle).  It's a hard adjustment, but easier than watching him be in so much pain.  I really wish my boys didn't have such sensitive systems, but it's just the way it is.  What do you do??? 

Other things going on...Owen starts kindergarten next week and I'm dying!  It's so crazy, and so exciting all at the same time.  Kindergarten is all day out here.  It's going to be weird having him gone 6 plus hours a day, 5 days a week.  I do think it'll be great for Weston, though.  Don't get me wrong, they're best buds.  It'll just be good for him be the big brother of the house.  

Weston is doing Joy School again, and I'm really excited about it.  We're doing it with 3 other families.  I think he'll get a lot more out of it this year, and I think I'll do a better job at teaching, too.  I was just getting my feet wet the first time around. :) 

So that's the scoop.  Scott is really enjoying his work, and I'm loving being home with the kids, and having play dates with our friends.  It's been a great summer.  We just got back from a family trip to Pennsylvania.  We spent two day at Sesame Place (it's like a Sesame Street themed Disneyland)--and a little time in Philadelphia so that we could see the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall.  

Sesame Place

Liberty Bell

Independance Hall

Oh, and my sister Brooke just moved out here!!!  She's living with us while looking for employment and housing.  We're so excited to have her.  The boys are GLUED to her.  Kind of feel bad sometimes--ha ha.  But then I just tell myself, enjoy it while it lasts!!!  :)

Photo Shoot Time!

My cute friend Candis took these adorable pictures of Jeremy.  She did such an amazing job!  He was three weeks n' two days old at the time, but looking more like a two or three month old.  This kid was putting on about a pound a week in the beginning.  I'd love to know how much he weighs now.  

He's so cute and fat--I ADORE HIM!

He was such an angel for the shoot--putting up with all our silly poses.  I don't blame him for having a little melt down.  I'm so sorry, baby Jer!

Jeremy Milo Sundberg

You may (or may not) have noticed it's been about 9 months since my last post.  Pregnancy has a way of slowing me down.  Productivity can be little to non-existent.

We've  been very anxious for this little guy to get here, but it would appear that he was more so.  He was supposed to wait at least until my mom flew in on Saturday before he made his big debut, but that wasn't in his plans.  Early Monday morning (the 21st), around 4 am, things were starting to seem like they were happening; contractions getting a little more noticeable and a little more often than usual.  I told Scott we might be having a baby in the next couple of days if this keeps up.  However, I was confident that  as soon as I got going for the day, things would stop.  That's how it goes for me.  I never seem to be lucky enough to have a baby in the day time.  It's always an all night ordeal leaving us red-eyed and beyond exhausted.  Well, like I said, Jeremy was anxious, so the contractions (although slowed initially), kept coming.  Still, I didn't think we'd be having a baby that day.  I asked Scott to take Owen to preschool on his way to work.  When it came time to pick Owen up, I asked Scott to use his lunch break to bring him home (still in denial of what was happening).  By the time Scott got here, I had decided I wanted him to take the rest of the day off.  Dealing with contractions with Weston around was proving to be interesting.  If I had to close my eyes and focus he'd say, "Don't close your eyes, Mom!!!"  At one point I was on my hands and knees (because it seemed to be giving me the most relief), and Weston comes over to dangle himself across my back saying, "Look at dis, Mom!  Look at dis!"  Then he wanted a piggy back ride...

Scott had left a project unfinished at work during his "lunch break" because he didn't know I was going to want him to stay home.  Finishing the project would mean he could be back in a little over an hour.  I told him just to go and then come right back.  He asked if I was sure.  I said yes.  Ten minutes later I changed my mind.  I called him just as he was getting to work and told him just to tell his co-workers he'd be out for the rest of the day.  He was home in flash and when he walked through the door I had changed my plan yet again; "Hurry and get bags packed for me and the boys, we've got to GO!!!"  We were out the door as fast as we could.  A sweet friend of ours offered to take our boys over night, I'm just so grateful that her house was on our way to the hospital, because we BARELY made it in time.  We walked in to the hospital at 2:00 pm and Jeremy was born at 2:29.  And I did it au naturale...no pain meds!  I can't believe it!   

Born 21 May 2012 at 2:29 pm. 7 lbs. 5 oz., 20.25 inches with brown hair and an adorable face!

Two very proud big brothers!

We're all so in love with this little guy!  He smells so delicious and I love the way he slumps over when you snuggle him.  The boys could not be happier.  They just want to look at him, and hold him, and talk to him.  It's too cute! 
Jeremy, we want you to know how very loved you are!  This family wouldn't be complete with out you!!! 



   

Family Vacation to Williamsburg

A couple months back we planned a wonderful trip to The Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The Outer Banks is a very long, skinny island covered with beach houses.  We kept our fingers crossed as Hurricane Irene moved up the east coast.  However, our vacation spot seemed to take quite a beating. The house may have actually been habitable, but the only road that connects The Outer Banks to North Carolina now has several breeches (you've got to check out the photo here).  My heart goes out to those whose homes were destroyed by this storm, and to those who rely on this road in their daily lives.  It will be a while before it is up and running again.

We quickly realized we needed a plan B.  Our friends, the Jenkins, have a time-share in Williamsburg, Virginia, so we decided we'd check out America's Historic Triangle--Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. 



Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg is one of the country's oldest planned communities.  From 1699 to 1780 it was the capital of England's North American mainland colony.  It was named in honor of William III, King of England.

You really feel like you're time-traveling as you walk around Historic Williamsburg.  They even have people role playing what life was like back in the day.

First signs of fall...

Madi, Owen, Weston and Elle were such great sports (you never know how much historical site-seeing four kids under age five are going to let you do).

How sweet...Weston and Elle are holding hands.  This is the little gal he was smoochin' in an earlier post.  Adorable.

Right as we unloaded the kids from the car, we saw some ominous clouds moving in.  We knew it was only a matter of time.  We enjoyed the rest of our visit from under a porch.

We finally sent the men to fetch the cars.  Weston DOES NOT like it when Scott leaves.  He had a deeply concerned face as he looked for signs of Scott's return.  "Daddy.  Daddy".

Historical Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in the New World.  

This was for sure my favorite part of the trip.  What an important peace of our history as a nation...and in the history of the world.  Their museum does an incredible job of telling the story.  It was the one time when I wished I was all alone, and could go at my own turtle-pace.

These three ships are re-creations of the original three that brought the colonists to Jamestown in 1607. 

Captain's quarters.

Cook's quarters--he sleeps and prepares food all in the same little room. 
You know I had to photograph the kitchen :)

 

This is what the Native American, Powhatan Indian's teepees looked like.  It was unbelievable how roomy they were.  They built fires in the teepees which kept them quite warm in the winter.

  

Taking a look around the English fort/settlement:

 The little ones were NOT happy about the musket going off.

Cruisin' around in the blessed air-conditioned museum.  It happened to be quite hot and muggy that day.  Owen kept saying, "When are going to see the air-conditioning?", as if it was the most desirable attraction in all of Jamestown.

Weston and Elle laughing it up in the stoller.  The air-conditioning felt that good ;)

Yorktown

The end of the Revolution!

We didn't have time to look in the museum, but went to the sweet army encampment outside.  Very cool. 

Hangin' at a nearby beach.  This is the first beach my kids have ever seen.  It was fun watching them figure out if they liked it or not.  Turns out...they love it.

As soon as Weston warmed up to the beach, like a machine he began gathering handfuls of sand and returning them to the ocean.  We didn't have the heart to tell him his efforts would amount to little impact.

   Oh, and don't forget to hit up Ben & Jerry's on the way back to the car.  We didn't!

Virginia Beach 

The last day of our vacation looked pretty promising (as far as sunshine and no rain), so we made it a beach day!!!

Owen loves, loves, LOVES building sand castles.  He's very devoted to his craft.

 

 Everyone joined in and together built a sand castle KINGDOM!!!

Weston spent most of his time returning sand to it's mother-ocean...this time with a shovel.  Back and forth, back and forth.

I'm sold on the idea of vacationing with other people!  We had so much fun with the Jenkins!!!  It was awesome that our kids had little friends their same age to play with.  We stayed in a two bedroom condo (each family had one room), which also makes it fun for the adults...when the kids are down, we get to hang-out.  We stayed up late every night, chatting and eating yummy treats.  

We took turns cooking dinner and that was fun, too!  We ate like KINGS (that Spencer knows how to grill)!

We had to get some extra time with the Jenkins since they're moving to the other side of the country next month.  We will miss them!!!

Here are some other random pictures from our trip (in case you haven't seen enough--ha ha):

Monkeys jumpin' on the bed.

Playing "doctor" was a favorite.  As you can see, Weston struggles with roll-playing.  Too cute.

Jenkins/Sundberg family dinners.