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?

New distractions

So you may have noticed that there has been some time off in between posts and I have to admit that I have found yet another distraction...facebook. It's a fun little social network where I can leave quick little comments and feel a bit connected to people. Don't get me wrong, I love to blog about thoughts and ideas but I am finding I lack the time, energy and creativity at times. I would rather read about the lives of everyone on my blog reading list and that leaves little time for keeping up on my own but you may get a snippet every once in a while.

With the holidays and our first bout with winter illnesses over, I am actually looking forward (do I dare say it?) to a little snow. There are lots of things I want to do this winter like ice skate, go sledding, play in the snow (more) and go visit some of the museums in the area. Have you heard of this neat deal that the libraries in southeast michigan are offering? You can check out (just like you would a book-for free!) a 2 or 4 person pass to various museums in the area. I really want to take advantage of that. I think we all need our dose of culture every once in a while. Anyway I don't want this winter to pass me by before I get to do some of those things.

In a couple of weeks, we will be leaving cloudy, cold Michigan for sunny, warm Arizona to visit my mom and sister. As much as I want to enjoy the winter fun, I am excited to leave it behind for a week and spend some time outside.

Oh and for the latest kid quotes: when Caleb is asked whether he wants a little brother or sister he responds by stating that he wants a big sister (like Josh W. has). And when we tell him he can't have a big sister, it just doesn't work like that, he said is God all out of big sisters?
And Nolan, he has some favorite words as well namely mommy (makes my heart smile), pizza (who doesn't love pizza?), and Elmo. He is at that cute stage of acquiring words every day and surprising us with new things. Aaaahhh what fun it is!

The latest

We are about 21 episodes into the first season of Heroes. We've watched all of those in the last 2 weeks. It is pretty much what we do when the boys go to bed. We are regularly watching 2 and a couple times 3 episodes a night. It is a fun show with all the characters and the cliffhangers at the end of each episode. I like the whole comic book scene. At this point, I would still have to rate it #3 in the list of my favs, though, just after Lost and 24. We'll see if it can surpass them as time goes on. I think part of it is that I feel like I can find serious flaws in the storyline but I'll hold out judgment. Or maybe it is that I am not having dreams of Heroes like I did with both Lost and 24 so it isn't seeping into my subconscious thought life as much (maybe that is a good thing though).

Decorating the Tree

Nolan searching for the perfect tree.

Placing the ornaments perfectly.

The destroyer was in full effect.

Everyone got in on the decorating action (it only took a small pumpkin spice latte bribe).

Caleb lovin' the nutcrackers.

Lovin' the nativity. He pretends they are like action figures. One of his favorites is to pretend the angel is telling everyone to worship God, but not you sheep only the big mans.

What handsome boys!

Fall Fun

Thought I would post some pictures of the fun things we've done this Fall.

Nolan and Jack at the apple orchard.

Caleb on the tractor at the apple orchard.

Pumpkin carving fun!

The lion and tiger at the Zoo Boo!

The boys trick or treating with Ella and Lauren!