Nolan and Nora

This past weekend our entire family traveled to Indianapolis (Noblesville) to celebrate Nolan's 3rd birthday and meet his brand-new baby sister, Nora. Zach has the bad habit of getting sick before our road trips, but he stayed healthy long enough to join us on this one.  Randy usually is in season with the Wings and has to miss out on our fun, but with the current strike, he was able to join us too.  So Friday afternoon, we began our five hour trek south.  We stopped for a quick dinner at Subway, because Helaina insists that is the only place we can eat when we travel.  We arrived at the hotel just after 10 pm Friday evening.  Zach slept for awhile in the car, but woke when we arrived.  It took us awhile to unload, settle in, and get ready for bed, so it was just after midnight before we all were snoozing.

Saturday morning I think we were all a bit groggy from the late night, but Randy took the kids for a long morning swim at the hotel pool while I showered (uninterrupted) and got all our things together.  We finally arrived at the Cobb house around lunchtime.  Helaina couldn't have been more excited to see her friends, and I was ready to meet baby Nora. 

The kids napped in the afternoon, and the adults spent time visiting and preparing for the party.  Nolan's party was in the evening.  There was a bounce-house with a slide and the kids spent a lot of time outside jumping and being crazy.  The party was filled with fun, laughter, crazy kids, and some tired parents...but it was a wonderful night spent together!

The Cobb family

Birthday boy, Nolan

The three amigos...can't believe how fast time is going and how big they are getting! 

        

Count those kids, seven, yes seven kids in a matter of 3 1/2 years.  Whoa...guess we've all been a little busy making babies.  

And this guy...you just can't take your eyes off him for a second.  I was with a twin, Randy was in a big group of people, and I think we both lost track of him for a couple minutes.  He found the birthday cake and didn't skip a beat.  Thank goodness Nolan had already blown out his candles or we would have felt really bad!

Randy with the sweet baby girl.

A little adult fun in the bounce house!

Saturday evening the Cobb family welcomed us for a family sleepover.  Helaina slept in Nolan's bed, and Zach was in the pack-in-play in Nora's room. Randy and I had the air mattress downstairs.  The kids slept like champs!!! Randy and I watched the Tigers game into the wee hours of the morning, and woke up to a homemade breakfast.  Around lunchtime we started our trip back home.  The trip home was great!  The kids were wiped from the busy weekend and slept for most of the time.  After another stop at Subway for lunch, the kids entertained themselves for a couple hours before we eventually arrived home.
I am so thankful that we continue to have the opportunity to spend time with our "family" in Indy.  We love you all!

Sibling Love

Lately, Helaina and Zachary have been playing together throughout the day.  Helaina is usually trying to be his mom or thinks she can tell him exactly what to do and he should listen.  Zachary believes he can do whatever his sister is doing and eyes her every move.  Surprisingly, they play rather well together.  We kind of set up shop in our basement, and Helaina goes down there to paint 2 or 3 times a day.  She always invites her brother, and always ends up begging me to come get him because he is eating her paint or playing in the water.  There are definitely some things she can do alone, but Zachary needs eyes on him at all times.  

Helaina feeding her brother breakfast.  And yes, that is ketchup on his eggs.  Don't judge, it's delicious, just ask the kids!

Watching Aladdin together.  Sorry Zach, this Christmas we promise to buy you everything in blue and green and brown and black...no more pink and purple hand-me-downs.  For now, he asks to use the "Dora" blanket while watching the tube with his sister.

My First Field Trip

Hello friends, this is Helaina and I would like to tell you about my first field trip for school.  I didn't have to go to the classroom on Tuesday morning, instead, we went to Plymouth Orchards.  I was very excited that my friends from class and my teachers were going to meet me there.  It made me happy that my mom and brother were able to come too.  After just a couple weeks, my closest friend at school seems to be Delaney (she is the one in the pictures below with the ladybug boots).  She cried for the first few weeks of class, but is doing better now.  I didn't ever hug her when she was sad, but I used to tell her that "it would be ok and her mom would be there soon."

At the orchard, we listened to a short presentation about apples and bees.  Then we went on a hayride around the orchard and apple trees.  Unfortunately in Michigan, there are no apples on the trees this year because of the weather this spring.  My mom only let us buy one half gallon of cider this year because it's too expensive!  At the end, we all ate a cinnamon donut and had a small cup of cider.  My brother was begging my mom for more, but instead, we ate apples together.   

It was a very fun day, and I'm excited to go to school again tomorrow morning.

Bucket List

It's been a couple weeks since we've made our last entry.  It's the fall and we're definitely into our weekly routine.  Helaina absolutely loves going to school, two mornings each week.  That has allowed Zach and I to have some one-on-one time, and we both enjoy our couple of hours together.  Helaina also swims one night during the week and in the Fall II session, she'll be moving up to the next level...something she is very proud of.  We try to hit up the open gymnastics at least once a week.  It's the perfect place for Zach to run, climb, slide, crawl, and jump.  We've considered signing Helaina up for an actual instructor led class this winter.  On Friday mornings, Zach and I end the week with the 45 minute "Music with Joy" class, while Helaina attends the "Kids Quarters".  I love schedules and routine, so this has been a great month for our family! 

Zach's new toy from Daddy 

Helaina and her silly sunglasses that Grandma brought with her this weekend

Zach is quite the hunk in his hat, however, he can't stand wearing it!

My parents came to visit for the weekend, which allowed Randy and I to try another visit to Cedar Point.  We went with our friends, Jeff and Julie, and this year turned out to be 100 times better than our trip last fall. It was a beautiful fall weekend, we purchased the "Fast Lane" pass, and the four us rode about 10 coasters within 7 hours.  It was quite fabulous.  We finally rode Top Thrill Dragster, something that every thrill seeker should do in their lifetime.  It was awesome, it was on our bucket list (near the bottom, but none the less, still on the list) and yesterday, we checked it off.
This afternoon was filled with quality family time.  Seedy and Teta brought dinner for us, my parents, and Nate and MaKayla.  The kids were running wild, and it's always fun to have the extra hands and spend a Sunday afternoon together.

What we've been doing...

After a summer filled with events, celebrations, and activities, it was quite refreshing to enjoy an entire weekend at home, just doing everyday things around the house.  Normally, this would be the first weekend of the Red Wings' training camp, however, because the CBA expired, the NHL and its' players are currently on strike.  So as of right now, Randy will be home with us just a bit longer. Even though we're soaking up every minute of his time, we are looking forward to the start of season, whenever that might be. 

Today was the start of Sunday School at our church.  This is the first year that Helaina is able to go to an actual "class."  She was excited to attend, and lucky for her, her cousin and Godmother, Emann, is one of her teachers!

Our little man isn't so little anymore! Daddy dressed him this morning to cheer on his team, the Lions.  Will we have a future Stafford and QB? Who knows, but he sure does look handsome!

And I've been quite busy with an exciting and new ministry we are bringing to our church!  Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that is gaining popularity throughout the country and has been adapted for various religious affiliations.  Myself and two other women from church have committed to 90+ hours of individual training to become a trained catechist.  I feel strongly that this program and approach to religious education will provide our children and the children of our parish a unique and personal relationship with God and Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  Please keep us in your prayers as we need a lot of support to make this program successful!

1st Day of Preschool

After 3 loooong weeks of the sick bug going around our house, we are all finally feeling better and getting into our new fall schedule. Uncle Omar visited us over Labor Day weekend. It had been awhile since the kids had seen him, so we were super happy to have him home. We're hoping to take a family trip out to Pittsburgh someday soon!

Today was Helaina's first day of preschool!  Last Thursday she had orientation, and any doubt I may have had about her going alone was subsided when she said to me, "Mom, why are you coming with me today? I just want you to drop me off because I am going all by myself now."  She did great!  She'll go two days a week for just a couple hours in the morning.  So we'll still have lots of time with her at home.

An unsuccessful attempt to get a picture with the two of them

Daddy was able to go into work a little later today and helped us drop off Helaina for her first day at school. When she found out that Randy was able to come, she said to me, "Mom, you can just stay home. Dad can take me. You came with me to orientation, so it's Dad's turn now." She sure knows how to make her mom feel special, huh!

Seedy and Teta came to wish her well on her first day!

The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Jon Theophilus

And just like that, it's over.  The much anticipated wedding of the summer has come and gone, in the most one of a kind fashion.  The weekend definitely did not begin as we had expected.  Early Thursday, Zachary spiked a temperature of over 102.  I was concerned that he wouldn't recover in time for our departure, and my intuition was correct.  Thursday night into Friday morning, our "good sleeper" was waking every hour, on the hour.  I was starting to come down with a cold/sinus infection myself and together, the two of us were up the entire night.  His temperature was high, his coughing was fierce, and his breathing was severely labored.  By 8:30 Friday morning, he was at the doctor...diagnosis, left ear infection and croup.  A steroid shot in his leg to help reduce the inflammation in his lungs and a round of amoxicillin allowed him to feel better within the last 24 hours.  Unfortunately though, Helaina and I had to leave Randy and Zachary at home while we made our way to South Bend early Friday morning. 

  

The festivities began Friday afternoon with pedicures at a nail salon. 

Friday evening and the rehearsal at the church

The flower girls and ring bearers

The rooftop rehearsal dinner on the campus of Notre Dame

The "kids play zone"

The bride and groom, Megan and Jon

Saturday morning, Helaina and I met the girls at the hair salon for our appointments

She sat so well for the thirty or so minutes it took to put her hair up

My mom and dad came to the salon and picked up Helaina after her appointment.  The girls and I then headed over to Megan's hotel for lunch and to begin prepping for the ceremony.
The four of us girls just hours before the wedding.

Helping Megan get into her dress

Helaina and her flower girl dress

The wedding was perfect, went off without a hitch.  The kids did great walking down the aisle.  Nolan walked with his mom Erin, while Aiden and Helaina held hands and walked together down the aisle.  Larson slowly made her way with the help of her mom, Amy.  This picture just cracks me up...trying to get a formal photo with the bride and groom and all the children.

At the reception

My gorgeous friend on her wedding day. I couldn't be more thankful to have shared this day with her and allowing Helaina to take part in the ceremony as well.

So this is the kind of picture you can take when you have 3 bridesmaids, 1 of which is 9 months pregnant, 9 week old twins, and 3 three year old children in the wedding party.  Thank you Megan and Jon for your patience and God Bless these mommas.  We did it though!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Theophilus

One of my slow dance partners for the evening

Grandpa dancing with his girl

Grandpa dancing with another one of his girls

This was a very emotional weekend for our family.  We our thankful that both of our children are finally recovering from all the sick bugs going around our house.  It was hard to leave Zachary and Randy behind as it's not easy to leave a sick kid, and we had been anticipating this trip for many months.  I am thankful for both sets of our parents and the unconditional support they give our families.  Happy Birthday Teta and thank you for helping take care of the boys while we were away.  And thank you to my mom and dad for making the trip to South Bend to help celebrate with Megan and Jon and helping take care of our little flower girl.
Lastly, thank you to my dear friend, Megan, and her new husband, Jon.  Thank you for including Helaina and me in your wedding party and for a weekend of memories we will never forget.  I know you will have a lifetime of happiness, and we love you both!!!