Go Mary go!

There's no better way to start the summer than with swimming lessons! Mary was quite timid the first lesson and what would the first lesson ber like without a few tears, but she did great. The video is from the last day of her jumping off the board and swimming to the side. Way to go Mary:)



As always she took with her friend, Campbell. I had a terrible time getting them both to look, but it was REALLY bright outside..and HOT!

Boot camp

I know what you are thinking....WHAT A DORK!


Ba ha ha! I think I amuse myself more than anybody. This picture may be silly and show my photoshop geekiness (not sure that's a word), but it is a very accurate description of how I feel right now! My sister , Em, asked me to do bootcamp with her for 4 weeks in May at 5 am, five days a week. I never thought I would be able to get up that early for 4 weeks. I did it!!! I only missed ONE day! Can you tell how proud of me I am?! I'm so proud of you Em! Abbott is not even a year old! Here I am 7 years later:)

My friend, Amy and a few others I knew did it also, so the accountability was a HUGE factor. There were so many days I wanted to sleep in. This was the hardest thing I've ever done. I've done more push ups, crunches, and stair runs than I've done in my WHOLE life! I realized I can't make up for 3 babies in 4 weeks, but I feel MUCH better!

I had alot of encouragement:) Mary was my stretching partner. She told me one day..."Mom u not suppos ta bend your knees." Thanks alot my 4 year old rubber band friend!

It was only a matter of time...

RUN GARRETT RUN!

Faith

The girls are constantly drawing and writing things. I normally throw away a small collection of their "work" every day while they are not looking, but now and then one will catch my eye. I scanned this several weeks ago, but have had no time to post lately.

About a month or two ago, Hubs was driving Allie home from a softball game, and Allie asked him to turn the radio off and to listen to her as she prayed. She's been asking questions for a very long time about Jesus, but this was a little different:) After talking to her more since that time, we both believe she has begun her journey with our Lord. Her prayers are so sweet. Yes she still yells at her sister, and yes she argues with me from time to time, but generally I have seen a softening of her will, and she does have a strong one.


I found this lying around recently and so I asked her about it. She had learned this song at school and said she just wanted to write the words down, so she could think about them a little more. What a perfect song for where she is right now. I am so thankful for His work in her little heart.

Below are some clips from this past week. Two are from her spring concert...obviously you can see she's still very "INTO" singing. The first, however, is a clip from her awards ceremony. Each child is "awarded" a character quality. Allie received from her teacher the quality of "faith".

Two fun

My boy can eat. I guess most boys eat alot, so he is no exception. At his two year check up he weighed 32 pounds and was exactly 3 ft tall. He is my "big" little boy, and he was a baby yesterday. It's just how it goes. I'm sure my "moms" think the same thing about their boys.

I love you Garrett. I love how you wake up bursting with excitement (usually). I love that you call Faber, "babe" about half the time and "daddy" the other half. I love how you hug your sisters. I love how you've started to make a "scowl" face at me when you get in trouble and say "SORRY" the next second. I love your tender little heart. I love how you make people light up with your contagious greeting....HEYYYYYY! I love that your first sentence was "What's up?" I love how you readily say "Thank you mamma". Most of all I love your smile:)

More cake PWEEEEEESE!!!

a big Nanna hug.

already "done" with looking at the camera.

Slam dunk

Enough is enough...no more pictures:)

Happy Birthday TWO You!

It's a bird, it's a plane....it's Zach!

My bro-in-law, Jason has had his pilot's license a while, but now he has a "bird" to fly. Zach has no idea that it's not an everyday thing to fly. I didn't fly for the first time until 7th grade! He just jumps up in his carseat.... all ready to go!

The trip is considerably shorter as expected by plane, but the weather has to be just right. Finally...a weekend where the weather was perfect, the kids were well, and the hubs was off of work! The girls especially were so excited to see Katie, Jason, and Zach. It has been a while!

It was a busy weekend. Katie and I took the kids to the softball park the first night, and we were supposed to play Friday night too. My sweet friend Becky took Allie while we went out to eat. It's so nice to have dinner alone!

Allie was at school on Friday, so for once Mary was able to "lead." These boys never stopped!
Thankfully it wasn't too hot! Katie is doing and looking GREAT!

The big boys played tennis at the park.

COLD!!!
We set up the pool which was a big hit, however, we had to drain it the next morning. Garrett and Zach who as you can see are plenty tall, both stumbled while in the pool and weren't quite sure enough to put their feet down and stand up. I can't watch the Gman 24/7, so that was the end of our patio pool for this year!

Saying good bye! See the chapstick in Zman's hand! He kept up with it the WHOLE weekend. It was hilarious. Apparently he got the chapstick gene from Katie who also is never far from a tube! What a sweet sweet little man. He's very loving; he tried to hold Mary's hand a few times and is so polite! I heard yes ma'am and no ma'am...a real gentleman.

What a family. Their smiles remain. Their baby girl would have been 9 months old today. Not a day has passed that they have not been close to my heart as they have walked through grave illness and the loss of a child. I have seen first hand a faith that has not faltered, a faith that is for real, a love for a Saviour who never fails and has certainly not failed them. Their faith has increased my faith as I have seen very specific prayers answered in the life of their family this past year. Our God has taken care of this sweet family in the midst of the deepest heart ache. They have clung to Him. He has sustained and granted new life. Colson Allen Rowe we cannot WAIT to meet you.