Where have you been?!

Hmmmm, where have I been you ask?  I have just been a busy mama trying to adjust to the new normal that is a new school year with one in kindergarten, one in preschool and one snuggly little baby.  Every time I think I have a handle on life and schedule, the house seems to explode or I get buried in laundry or I am trying to come up with a good strategy to stop the bickering between two little boys or I am just having a hard time staying awake.  Makes me tired just writing about it (and looking around at my living room).  But we have still managed to enjoy trips to the cider mill, soccer and just playing with each other amidst all the craziness.  Here are some pictures of our journey from this fall...

Caleb's first day of kindergarten!  He was one excited little guy.  With his backpack and snack in hand, he went off to that great big school (Greenfield Elementary).  I think I had more butterflies than he did.  He has a great teacher and is loving it.  I am super glad that we went with the half day kindergarten, it is working well for him.

This is Nolan on his first day of preschool with Mrs. James (love his preschool!).  He was so excited and ready to go.  He had been asking for days (weeks) when he was going to go to school and I would leave him there.  No tears (at least from him) or clinging to my legs, just super happy to be there-what a big boy!

Caleb playing soccer for the second season.  He is becoming quite the skilled soccer player.  Oh and Ty was the coach for his team which was very fun (interesting) to see.

Nolan got to play soccer this time for his first season.  Let's just say he ran well.  Didn't so much go for the ball.  He did manage to score a goal, however, and he was the only three year old on his team that would 'play' the whole game.  So all in all a successful season.

Getting their first taste of donuts and cider at three cedars farm-yummy! (sorry Finn, next year)

Griffin loves playing (eating) the leaves.  It sure is fun to watch him grow bigger, but does anybody know of anything I can feed him to keep him little?

Another cider mill trip.  This time we went to Spicer's.  They have my vote for the best donuts and cider of the *ahem* 3 places we have visited.

Every morning when Finn wakes up from his nap, Nolan runs in his room, climbs in his crib and 'plays' with him.  I think it is great brother bonding time, as long as Nolan doesn't step or fall on him in the process, of course.

It has been fun to have a little time in the mornings with just Nolan.  We have done art projects and cooking projects.  Here we are making pumpkin spiced playdough.  I think his favorite project so far has been making applesauce.  Because he got to eat it, of course.  We also made a bunch of baby food for Griffin and have it in the freezer.  Ty loves it (or thinks I'm a wee bit crazy) that I have added this to my schedule.

Which one is the real pumpkin?  We are carving pumpkins at the Gramer's.  Great fun!

Scooping out the pumpkin guts!  Eeeewwww!  This is shortly before Nolan gagged because of the smell and threw up (just a little).

Caleb at his class Halloween party.  Doesn't Wolverine look menacing?

Yeah for coupons!

The dutch-ness in me was very excited after my trip to Target the other day!  Now many of you know that I love finding good deals and am not an extravagant spender but I do love shopping.  I think if I were more decisive I would have some stacked some major debt due to shopping.  But I digress...  The other day I decided to take some coupons to Target inspired by the sale on Edy's ice cream (3 for $7) with a printable $1 off coupon for each.  I was able to score Edy's ice cream for $1.33 a container.  Then when I was there, I also picked up 2 packages of disposable razors (they were on sale for $6.49 each and I had a buy one get one free coupon and each package had a $1 off coupon).  So, I got 6 razors for $5.49!  Score!  After all was said and done I saved $15 (which isn't a lot compared to some of the coupon pros out there but I am learning.  I am one happy dutch girl :)

Raising Boys

We went for a walk/bike ride the other day.  We are quite the sight, let me tell you:  Caleb and Nolan on bikes, Griffin in the stroller and me wrangling all of them plus Caspian.  Everyone we pass shakes their heads, laughs and says something like, "Wow, you have your hands full, 3 boys and a dog".  To which, I just smile and agree.  

I know I have my hands full (as well as my mind and heart as well) but while I know that life is crazy and chaotic now, they will grow up and become more and more independent.  So, I choose to embrace the craziness (at least today) and not worry about the laundry or the messy house and just play games and hold my baby because they grow up way too fast.

Speaking of growing up too fast, Caleb graduated from preschool.  Aaaahhhh, watch out kindergarten!

And since I love poetry, here is a poem I came across that made me smile:

Raising Boys (Roberta I. Teague) I scrub the wall of fingerprints, Pick up the mounds of clothes. I sweep the dirt that shoes track in- Wish I could use a hose! Meals are served from dawn to dark, Dirty dishes crowd the sink. Just when they're washed and put away- Everyone wants a drink! The washer pulls the dirty grime From pants worn thin and patched. They look so very neat and clean- Yuck, look what the pockets hatched!

Broken bones and bloody knees, I should have been a nurse. I take it all in shaky stride- Just grateful it's not worse! Screams and shouts and arguments Test the keeping of my cool. They left the neighbor's faucet on- See their new front yard pool! A soothing bath is ecstasy, A reward at the end of my rope. Raising boys isn't really bad- But first I must wash the soap! A rose can say I Love You, Orchids can enthrall; But a weed bouquet in a chubby fist, Oh my, that says it all!

Three handsome boys!

Caleb graduating from preschool! *sniff*sniff*

Soccer Star

Yep, Caleb has become quite the soccer player.  While it took him a little while to become comfortable, he is now quite the star out there.  It has been so much fun to watch him improve from week to week.  It is a little strange to be a soccer mom.  I don't think I have it down just yet.  Today I was just happy to get all three boys dressed and to the game.  I didn't have chairs or even a blanket to sit on but I think everyone had fun anyway!

I don't know which he likes more:  playing or wearing the uniform!

Memorial Day Mayhem

Having three boys is completely unpredictable.  Our plans can change very quickly based on moods, naps and/or health.  So, over Memorial Day, we planned to go to the cabin for a little family, food and fun!  Unfortunately, Nolan's asthma was acting up and we were back home in less than 24 hours.  Of course, he started feeling better as soon as we got home, so out came the monster truck!  What fun!

Griffin really did make his first trip to the cabin!

Caleb showing off his driving skills!

Checking the engine.

 

Nolan thinks he is big stuff!

Welcome Griffin Scott Lemke!

Griffin Scott Lemke was born on Friday, April 24th, 2009 at 8:37 AM. He was 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long.  We are adjusting to life with 3 boys, but Griffin is a very easy baby so far.  I keep saying if he was my first, we would probably have a dozen children.  We are waiting for that day when he is going to really wake up and make his presence known.  We feel so blessed to have him as part of our family!

Meet baby boy Lemke #3 (sort of)

This is a picture of our third little boy at 29 weeks! We can't wait to meet him! His name is still up for debate, it depends on the week. Maybe we will just have to see him to figure out the perfect name!

Lovin Summertime

We are having one of those busy and fun summers. I always remember summertime being really laid back. My sister and I did a lot of playing at our house and my grandparents' house. We wouldn't go a whole lot of places, but we just enjoyed being outside most of the time. Our family on the other hand has been enjoying lots of trips and visiting the various parks and the zoo and having a fabulous summer. Caleb at 4 has been a great, much easier and very fun and Nolan at 2 has been super cute but also a bit of a stinker at times. Here are some pictures of our summer fun!

What's better than Lake Michigan in the summer?


Fun in the backyard pool


Yum!


2 year olds and sparklers-what a brilliant idea!


Fireworks at the cabin


Mr. Adventure


The captain at the helm


Playing at the barn park

Birthday Fun II !

Caleb turned four in April! We went to Rainforest Cafe' for a yummy birthday dinner of dinosaur chicken nuggets and then played in the play area. He brought cupcakes to his preschool, got a fabulous crown and enjoyed opening his presents. Over the weekend, we went to Grandma and Papa's house for dinner with some friends from church and they had farm and fishing fun. It was a little boys birthday for sure!

I feel like it was some kind of rite of passage for me as a mother to make cupcakes for his preschool class. Caleb wanted a dinosaur theme, so here he is with one of the chocolate ones with crushed Oreos for dirt and he also had vanilla ones with green colored coconut for grass-too fun!




Who doesn't love big tractors?


Feeding the cows at Uncle Al's Farm! We loved everything but the smell!


Feeding the calves at Uncle Al's Farm!



We asked Caleb if he wanted to go fishing or open presents first, i love that he chose fishing over presents!



The birthday boy catches a fish! (But I don't want it to touch me!)



Dinosaur cupcakes being enjoyed by all the boys!



Caleb's birthday concluded with dinosaur cake and presents at Grandma and Papa's!



One of his favorite gifts!

Birthday Fun!

We have had a busy couple months with the boys' birthdays being in back to back months. I am now getting used to saying I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old! Wow, time really does fly!

Nolan celebrated #2 with a trip to Rainforest Cafe' with family and an Elmo birthday party with some buddies from church.

Here is the big man on his big day! He is my smart, easygoing, silly, super lovable, cutie pie!



Rainforest Cafe' with cousin Jack (who believe it or not turned 2 16 days before Nolan-he's huge!)



Nolan sporting some of the dress-up clothes he got for his 'birfday'!




The Elmo birthday party-gotta love Elmo! I don't know what it is but most 2 year olds love that furry little red guy!



Playing at the party with some buddies from church, too much fun!

You better sit down, I actually posted!

I'm so over the music, so I had to post. Lots of stuff going on in Lemke Land. We are trying to work on a bunch of house projects because we would like to try to sell our house. I am trying not to get too excited because I know how the housing market is, but this winter the house seemed to close in on me. It just got smaller and smaller. Maybe it is because the boys are growing bigger, I don't know, but in the cooler months especially, I could use a little more space. But even if we can't sell the house, having all the odds and ends projects completed will make me feel better (I like order, what can I say?)

In kid news, Nolan is talking like crazy with tons of new words every week. One of our favorites is his rendition of the word 'fox'. Caleb is enamored by heaven. Every few days he must ask questions about what heaven will be like, who will be there, what toys are there, how do we get there, what do we eat there, etc. He's probably got a better picture of heaven in his mind than I do

Why do we live in Michigan?