Family Slumber Party

Last night we had an impromptu family slumber party due to an active weather system in our county.  It began around 10:15 p.m. when Kevin received an alert on the computer that a tornado warning was in effect.

Around 10:45 p.m. the first siren went off.  We got the girls out of their beds and brought them downstairs into our bedroom closet, strapped on their bike helmets, and hunkered down.  Mommy sang songs, told stories and even taught Sofia how to count by twos.  Daddy continued to go outside and check the sky. After 25 minutes in the closet we had everyone climb into our bed even though the warning was still in effect.

The sirens continued to go off until 11:30 p.m. when at that time the warning was downsized to a watch.  The watch would be in effect until 2:00 a.m.  Kevin and I decided it would be best to keep the girls downstairs in our room.   Our first family slumber party.   And the way things have been this summer, this may not be the last.

First tooth...to come out!

Last week I took this picture of Sofia.  It will be one of the last pictures of her with a full set of teeth for years because this morning she lost her first tooth!!!  

This picture, taken a couple of days ago, shows the tooth very loose.  It is the bottom tooth on her left...see it leaning towards the lip.

A couple of nights ago Daddy tried to pull it out but it just wasn't quite ready.  The front roots were still in there pretty tight.  Then this morning, Selah reached up and just pulled on the tooth.  Well, that manuever pretty much loosened the tooth pretty good.

Daddy stepped in,  took a hold of the tooth, and out it came.  Voila!!!!

This is one happy 5 year old.  She is so excited about losing her first tooth.  Hopefully the tooth fairy remembers to come tonight.

And now there are six.

Isaiah (7 wks), Oliver (15 mos), Selah (2.10 yrs), Kendra (3.5 yrs), Katie (4.11 yrs) Sofia (5.8 yrs)

Last week my dear friends Wendy and Julie came for a visit.  Being that Wendy lives in San Bernardino, CA and Julie lives in Nashville, TN, our once a year visits are pretty special.

Over the past couple of years our numbers have grown.  This year it was my turn to add to the gang.  AND NOW THERE ARE SIX.  As you can see from their ages above, we had a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 yr old.

As former roommates who enjoyed doing many fun things together, we now enjoy watching our kids play together.  And play they do.  This time they had loads of fun building sandcastles, swimming in the lake, riding bikes, and playing on the playground.

These gals and their kids are more than friends to us.  As we say in our family, they are "friend cousins".

Here are a few pics from their visit.

Grandpa Sheck meets Isaiah.

Last weekend Grandpa Sheck came for a visit and to meet Isaiah.  Isaiah is his 10th grandchild.  Here is a picture of their first meeting.  I'm thinking Isaiah was telling Grandpa that momma hopes he is a left hander like him (and like her).

I love this pic of our three blessings with their Grandpa Sheck.  

Ahhhh....six weeks!

(in his beach outfit))

Isaiah is six weeks old. Ahhhh....

I don't about you but reaching six weeks truly is quite a milestone. It is amazing how once the baby turns six weeks old things get so much better.

Isaiah is sleeping longer (4-5 hours straight at night, eating then going back to sleep, LOVE IT), eating better, holding his head up more and more, and is giving BIG SMILES to mommy and daddy all the time now.  

We just love this little guy!  

(in his Cubs baseball outfit)

(just chilling...see his daddy's chin?)

Summertime playdate.

Today we met up with the Dancas at the Grayslake Park.  The girls enjoyed running and playing in the splashpark, swinging and climbing at the playground, and of course, having a snack.

Lovin' the cheeks.

Isaiah meets more family.

Aunt Kerri (daddy's twin sister), Uncle Todd and cousins Hayley and Jordan came over from Michigan this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July with us.  Isaiah got to meet them for the first time.

Beach playdate.

Sofia and Selah with a couple of their friends.

A perk to living in our subdivision is the private beach. It's a great place for the girls to play during the week because hardly anyone is there. It's an even better place to play when friends come over. Last week we had a playdate with quite a few families from our church. The kids had such a great time. We moms also enjoyed the hang out time but you won't see any pics of us (it's an unspoken agreement :}).

Isaiah enjoyed being at the beach in his stroller and in the shade.

Group picture of all the kids minus a couple little ones who were too busy playing.

Craft for baby brother.

Don't know if this true or not but years ago I remember reading how newborn babies see mostly black and red objects.  Then when Sofia was born we received a 5x5 card with black and white patterns on it from a baby store giveaway packet.  Sofia loved looking at it when getting her diaper changed. 

I didn't think much of it when Selah was born (poor middle child) but right before Isaiah was born I remembered it.  So I had the girls create one during our craft time.

Isaiah loves it.  He, too, enjoys looking at the patterns while having his diaper changed.  There must be something to it.:)

VBS

When Kevin became children's pastor 3 1/2 years ago, neither of us had served in VBS let alone attend one in over 30 years.  Here we are, four VBS weeks later and LOVE IT!  VBS really is a wonderful week of investing in children, teaching them Scripture and having opportunity to present the gospel in an age appropriate manner.  And there definitely is a lot of fun!

This summer, like many of you, we headed to Saddle Ridge Ranch for Vacation Bible School.  It was a fantastic week of "roundin' up questions and drivin' home answers".  The verse for the week was James 1:5.  133 kids attended and four accepted Christ!  The only snag was we had to cancel VBS on Wednesday due to a power outage from the severe thunderstorms the night before.

The girls in their ranch outfits.

A group picture of the kids and volunteers.

Now how about you?  Are you going to Saddle Ridge Ranch this summer?  I'm sure there is one near you.:)

My month is this world.

This is Isaiah and I've been living in this world for one month as of today.  And wow!  What a world this is.

My first week of life I was introduced mostly to my family and a few friends.  Actually, I didn't interact much with anyone except my momma.  She and I spent a lot of time together due to her being my milk supply.

My second week of life, however, I got to interact quite a bit with my daddy and grandma because I needed more than just my momma's milk and they were able to help give me a bottle.  I guess being that I'm a big boy I am more hungry than momma could handle right away. Now things are back to her being the one who supplies the majority of my milk.  That second week I realized that I have two big sisters who love me very much.  They like to kiss me, tickle me, and hold me whenever they can.  Mommy has them used pancake hands (instead of pointy fingers) whenever they touch me.  Sometimes Selah forgets. But that's okay, it's better than when I was 4 days old and she used a marker to put spots on my face.

During my third week of life I began to see more of this world.   I like looking around and I really like tummy time.  Baths aren't so great but I put up with them.  The highlight of that week was going to church for the first time.  I was able to meet many of daddy and mommy's friends.  They are very loving and kind and pray for me and my family.

Things got pretty crazy around here during the fourth week.  Mommy says it is like that every year around that time because of Vacation Bible School.  We spent quite a bit of time at church so mommy and daddy could prepare for this week.

And that is what this week has been about...VBS.  Every morning we head to church.  Over 100 kids are coming to learn about Jesus.  Some day I will be able to go and learn and not just hang out in my sling while mommy tends to things.

So, that is my month in this world.  Oh yeah.  One more thing.  I went to the doctor yesterday.  Dr. Fisher said  I'm very healthy and strong.  He also said I hold my head up really well (you would too if you had two sisters you wanted to keep an eye on at all times) and am progressing developmentally.

Here are my stats:
Weight 10 lbs 11 oz (80 percentile)
Height 22 1/4 in (74% percentile)

It's hard.

If you have a toddler you know that sharing is not always an easy thing to do.   And it is really difficult to share daddy when you haven't had to do so much before. :(

p.s.  And yes, that is Sofia with a fat lip.  She busted it up pretty bad doing "gymnastics" in the house.

Happy 80th Grandpa Sheck!

Kevin's dad turned 80 years old on June 4.  The family celebrated on Saturday with a fish fry, game playing, and of course cake.  Mommy and Isaiah needed to stay home but daddy and the girls headed over to Michigan to help celebrate.

Grandpa Sheck continues to be an active man.  Every morning he gets up at 4 a.m. so he can mow the greens at the local golf course.  He does this for his "fishing money".  Every Fall he heads up to the U.P. and spends a month fishing on Lake Superior and the Two Hearted River.  His real love, however, is his family and the Lord. 

We love you Grandpa Sheck!!!!

Jim (#1), Glen (#2) Grandpa Sheck, Paul (#5)

Kevin (#6), twin Kerri (#7), Bruce (#3), Tom (#4)

Buggy, where are you?

Lately the girls have been interested in bugs.  More specifically ladybugs.  Each morning they go out in the back and "make" a ladybug nest hoping to attract them.  It doesn't seem to work so the other day I bought them each a bug catcher at the dollar store.  

As you can see, they take this bug collecting serious and you cannot do it without the right outfit.  

Unfortunately this hasn't helped bring the ladybugs around either.

Feeding time!

The flower girl.

A couple of weeks ago Sofia had the privilege of being the flower girl for Miss Sarah (who is now Mrs. Vorgious).   The above picture is Sofia with the ringbearer, John.

Sofia did a great job of throwing the petals.

But she enjoyed most the dancing!!!!  She actually stayed at the reception two hours longer than mommy and daddy.

Double Digits

Today Isaiah turned the big 1-0...10 days old!!

We just love this little guy.  He is a great sleeper and a very hungry boy.  He is also earning the nickname "tootie pie" from his sisters.

Yesterday his belly button scab fell off so today he experienced his first tummy time.  He actually seemed to like it.  We were able to capture on camera his first attempt at lifting his head.  Another first today was a bath.  As you can see, this wasn't his favourite activity of the day.

We look forward to many more first with you Isaiah.

We love and appreciate Gramma so much!!!

Gramma (Keri's mom) arrived on May 22 just in time for Isaiah to be born on the 24th.  We are so thankful to have her here.  She took care of the girls while daddy and mommy were at the hospital.  Once we got home from the hospital she has taken care of all of us.

The girls have been enjoying special times with Gramma.  For Selah the highlight is going to the park.  For Sofia the highlight was Gramma taking her shopping for all of her Kindergarten supplies which included a princess backpack.

Mommy has appreciated Gramma taking over after the 3:30 a.m. feeding (the first couple of days at home Isaiah thought this should be his awake time), her housekeeping, but most of all just the times of relaxing and conversing.  Daddy has appreciated being able to just be with the girls upon coming home from work and not having to worry about cleaning and cooking for mommy.

Gramma, we have loved you being here.  And when you leave on Saturday we sure are going to miss you!!!