In Color

Here are some more photos from our little photo session.  I read this quote today and I thought it was SO applicable to how I have been feeling lately... "The days seem long but the years go fast."  Some days feel like a bad version of Ground Hogs Day (think Bill Murray).  And at other moments I feel like the luckiest person in the world.  Oh the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood.  Right now I feel all "lovey dovey" about my sweet, beautful, wonderful children as they are all passed out in their beds sawing logs.  But this morning I was NOT feeling so "lovey dovey" while Isaac rammed his head into the backs of my legs and pulled on my shirt trying to prevent me from leaving to go to the store.  (he did not want to leave but wanted to instead keep watching Super Why).

Building in my heart and stomach is the fear of sending this little girl off to Kindergarten.  I mean, SERIOUSLY, when did this happen?!?!?  I know I will be fine.  I know she will be fine (in fact I think she will LOVE it).  But my motherly instinct overrides and I send myself into near tears when I wonder,  "Who will love her as much as I do, who can scold her like me but then turn and give her a sincere kiss on the forehead, who will protect her feelings when someone says something unkind, or who will help her to make sure she is including everyone and trying to make friends?"  I love her, and I have a feeling this is all natural.  It will be nice to have one less human to haul on errands with me, but at the same time she provides entertainment and help with her little brothers.  I am losing my little mother hen helper!

And then I feel pure gratitude that I still have this little guy to snuggle and kiss on.  He brings the kind of happiness that only a baby can bring, and despite the fact that he is now 15 months old he is still 100% my baby.  He still ins't walking, loves to crawl over us like a bridge when we lay on the ground, and has taken a strong liking to playing with Star Wars & GI Joe guys.  He loves his momma, and really refuses to say Dada, although he can.  He loves to be with big brother and sister and just beams in the morning when I go in to his room.  Such a sweet guy!

Swim Time

Texas is HOT!  And the number one activity of choice is swimming.  Thankful despite the fact that we don't have a pool, we do have fabulous friends who do.  (man aren't we lucky)  So at least once a week if not more we load up with towels, snacks, sunscreen, pool toys and head out to beat the heat.  I just got these floaties for Isaac...and I LOVE them.  So does he, he wants to wear them all the time.  Even when we are not at the pool.

Photo Shoot

Spencer Chase: 15 months

Isaac Roger:  3 (almost)

Natali Lynn: 5

I love these three little kids.  They keep getting bigger.  They are full of life and keep me on my toes.  Thanks so much to Meghan for taking these pictures marking the kids milestones.  Love them!

Isaac

Sometimes he just makes me laugh!

Quiet Time...

...is NEVER really quiet.  Okay, maybe sometimes, but not on this particular day!

Besides the mess, when I walk in he says, "I poopy mama."

Quilt-Boys Room

So knowing eventually while here in TX both boys will be sharing a room I wanted them to have matching bed spreads.  Ideally I had this vision of a beautifully crafted Pottery Barn bunk bed, with the top of the line Pottery Barn for Kids matching bed spreads, pillows, and decor.  AND then I woke up! :)  One can dream right!

So instead a bunk bed from IKEA.  Then, I decided use the piles of denim I had already started cutting out and got some random plaids, stripes, colors, etc and attempted to make a quilt.  This has been a on going project for a LONG time now.  With the help from my mom we completed both tops of the quilts while she was here.  I finally sewed the back on, tied it, and now it's officially on Isaacs bed.

Now I need to finish the one for Spencer to go on the top bunk (although Spencer will not be joining this room for awhile).  I  would like to use the left over material to maybe make a sham or something for the window.  Ambitious, huh!

Found some fun things to hang on the wall in the boys room and a lamp at Hobby Lobby (love that store)!  I think we are just about done with the boys room.

First Texas Visitor-Grandma!

This past week my mom made her voyage to visit us here in Texas.  I warned it would be HOT & HUMID.  I told her we would go to splash pads and play in the sprinklers.  So, of course the minute I pick her up in Austin it starts raining....then pouring!  It continued to rain off and on the entire time she was here.  (it had not rained once since we moved here prior to her arrival)

In between rain storms we got a lot done.  We HAD to take her to some authentic BBQ.  So down to Salt Lick we went.

We still played outside, just in our rain coats.

My mom helped me make the tops of the quilts for the boys beds.  Spencer is still in his crib, but I figured I better make matching ones now for the bunk.  I think it will take her awhile before she ever wants to hear the sound of the sewing machine again.   We shopped for new home decor, and put some finishing touches in the kids rooms.  It's always nice to have someone who will give you their honest opinion and ooh & ahh at all the right things.

We toured Temple, showcased the local 7-11,  indulged in Shipley doughnuts, made our ritual visit to Cracker Barrel and really just enjoyed being together.  Her time here always goes way too fast.  I tired to get a verbal commitment on when she would be coming back.  I sure hope sooner than later.

Thanks Mom for the fun trip!  Come back soon...please.

Rain Gutter Book Shelves

For a long time I have wanted to display my plethora of children's books.  Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I love pulling out themes of books, dinosaurs, holidays, back-to-school, rocks & minerals, etc etc.  I long for my book displays in my classroom.  PLUS I am a firm believer that "displaying" books encourages more reading from kids.  It's more enticing to see the cover of a book than just its spine.  I hunted the local antique stores in Iowa to find my treasure, but to no avail.  I googled.  Nothing.  Then the heavens parted and I came across these online, rain gutter book shelves.  I knew that this was it!  But there was not point since I knew we would be moving in a year.

BUT...now that we are in our new place and will be for the next three years, it was time.  We made the family trip to Lowe's picked up the supplies needed and viola!  My very own rain gutter book shelves.  Do I love them...yes!  Do the kids love them...yes!  Do I have big plans for these all year round...yes!

I filled the lower shelf with board books, and the top shelf was filled with themed books...currently back to school/being kind.  Isaac can reach the lower shelf and Natali can reach the top.  I LOVE IT.  We also put a little one along Natali's bed.  It was a fun project.

Hanging Around

Garage Sale Swing ($7) + 2 eye hooks ($5) + 5 min's of Daddy work = HOURS OF FUN (Priceless)

Natali loves to push her brothers.  Isaac is a little heavy for her to get him as high as he wants, but she LOVES to push Spencer.  Spencer loves to be in the swing.  He stays cool in the shade (really you are NEVER cool if you are outside) and just watches the kids run around, blow bubbles, and jump.  Oh the life!!

Keepin' Cool

Our first outing to the splash pad was a success.  Honestly the only time we feel cool is when we are playing in the water/sprinklers!  Yay for Splash Pads!

Backyard Fun

Thanks Grandma for providing some backyard fun!  ALL the kids love it, even Spencer.  Poor Isaac gets off looking like he stepped out of the shower.  Ya, it's hot in Texas!

We love it...thanks Grandma!!!

SALT LICK

So despite the fact that I still find myself day dreaming about Iowa, Texas has some nice perks.  We LOVE our house, the idea of a "warm" winter, and so far the BBQ!  Seriously, I have never had BBQ like this.  We tried out Rudy's (divine) and then SALT LICK.  It was so good.  The one we went to was in Round Rock.  It was the BEST bbq I have ever had.  The kids loved it, Ben loved it, I loved it!  5 stars from the Fluhmans.

open smoking pit in the restaurant...it was AWESOME!

Happy 5th Birthday

Today my sweet Natali turned 5!  We had a fun filled day.  It started waking up bright and early and enjoying some brotherly love! (These two monkeys are currently sharing a room)

Natali requested pancakes for breakfast.  I happy obliged.  After, she was EXTREMELY patient as we waited to open presents until Dad finished some needed shopping & mowing the lawn.

After making her wait long enough, we finally let her open her gifts.  She got some fun new stuff, but her big gift was a bike!  To be honest I think she is a little scared of the idea.  Hopefully she will warm  up with a little practice.

(new princess helmet)

(dress up skirt from Grandma Gerry)

After naps/quiet time we headed out for a family outing.  We went up to Waco to the mall where Natali got to experience "Build-A-Bear".  She loved every minute.  Sorry no picture of "Miley the Bunny."  After that we headed to Rudys.   A BBQ must we had been told.  It was AMAZING!!!  After all the hype I was worried I would be disappointed, boy was I wrong.

Spencer waiting patiently for the food.  I think he ate more meat than both Natali & Isaac combined.

After dinner we headed back home for cake & ice cream with friends.  The kids ran through the sprinklers to keep cool while we all enjoyed "not unpacking boxes" for an hour or so.

When I asked Natali what kind of cake she wanted her response was: "A chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, and a rainbow on it."  That's what she got.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!  

(All day long she kept saying, "This is the best day EVER!")

First Lost Tooth

A few days ago Natali woke up saying her tooth was "wiggily".  She complained that it HURT.  I don't remember loose teeth hurting.  A few days later at dinner she bit into her strawberry and burst into tears.  "It hurst, it hurts!" were her screams.  Finally she was dismissed from the table (I refuse to eat dinner and listen to crying kids).  She moaned & wailed.  Suddenly there was silence.  She came back to the kitchen with a GIANT grin and a small tooth in her hand!  She did it all by herself.  Plucked that loose tooth right from her mouth.  That night the TOOTH FAIRY made her first of many debuts to come at our house.  She left a WHOPPING $1.  Natali ran into our room the next morning shouting, "She came, she came!"  (I kind of felt guilty.)  She has been so excited about this milestone in her life.  

Side note:  Today Natali was with me as I ran into 7-11 for a Super Big Gulp (my first in 4 years).  As I was checking out Natali leans into me and says..."Mom she lost a tooth like me!"  No Nattles...she is just missing her front tooth, and the one that is there looks like it should be lose."  It was one of those moments I just prayed that nobody else heard her.

Machine Shed Fun

One of our Des Moines favorites is the Machine Shed.  The atmosphere, service, and food are all just plain old FABULOUS!!  So with out a question, with Ben's folks out for graduation we knew we had to go out there to celebrate.  I still remember the first time we ate there.  We both looked at each other and said, "Your Dad HAS to come here!"  It is just SOOOOOO  Dad Fluhman!

We went our to eat the night of graduation.  The Machine Shed did not disappoint.  When the lingering waitress (she actually wasn't our waitress but was in love with our kids) found out we were celebrating a "graduate" she wrote a "Med. School" song and brought over a dessert.  So kind. (Ben's reaction, "Becca your DEAD!  It wasn't me...she did all on her own.  Ben is completely ANTI any form of extra attention...especially singing in a restaurant!)

After dinner we went on a tractor ride.  The kids were in HEAVEN.  Spencer loved every second (as did Natali & Isaac).

DMU Graduation

Today was a big day in the Fluhman house.  Ben graduated Des Moines University with a doctorate in Podiatric Medicine.  It was amazing.  I am so very proud of him and all that he has accomplished and sacrificed over the last four years.  I wish I could say that the hardest part was behind us but I am pretty scared of what lays ahead with residency.  Despite the LONG 3 hour ceremony (with 3 kids), I was overwhelmed with happiness, joy, pride, and sting of sadness.

CONGRATULATIONS 

Doctor Daddy!  We love you so very much!

Waiting for the ceremony to start

This was our view from the VERY back

Ben getting hooded

(The family in front of us stood up right as they read Ben's name.  I was busy trying to get them to sit down so I could take a picture that I didn't even really see Ben walk across and get hooded.  Really people?!?!?  Of all the times to stand up.)

Our proud little family!

Ben & his wonderful parents!  We were so happy that

they were able to be out here with us to celebrate.

Preschool Graduation

It has been a busy week full of milestones.  It started on Monday with Natali's Preschool Graduation.  She was very excited as this marked that soon she would be a "big kid kindergartner".  But she was also sad when she realized she wouldn't see her friends or teachers at school anymore.  Truth be told we have LOVED Natali's experience at St. Timothy's and I only wish that Isaac could have the same opportunity there.

Natali getting her "diploma"

The Graduating Class

Natali and her carpool buddy Austin

Natali & Mom

Natali & Matthew

We were told often that her and Matthew were going to get married.  She would come up with some of the funniest "Me & Matthew" stories ever!  I think my favorite thing was when one day she came to the conclusion that Matthew and her brother Isaac looked alike (olive skin, brown eyes, buzz cut).  I thought it was pretty interesting.  

Congratulations Natali!  We love you very much.