5 YEARS OLD!

Amelia, unbelievably, turned 5 years old this last Tuesday. I can't even believe it. Her sparkly eyes and sweet disposition have been a blessing to us each day, and I am still in shock she is 5! I remember when I turned 5, and now my baby is turning 5! It comes so quickly.

Over the last several weeks Amelia seems like she has matured so much. Helping me more and more around the house, saying "it's okay Mom, I can do that", as she runs off to get Drew's shoes or comb her hair or get ready for bed all on her own. She wants to hang out and help fold laundry or have some little task to do around the house while the boys are taking naps. She can't wait to learn to read and to ride a bike without training wheels. It is wonderful to have her do more on her own and sad all at the same time. She needs me less and less, but it is so great to see her grow and learn as well, new adventures are around each corner and it is bittersweet!
On Tuesday we had a family birthday with just our 3 short ones, Chris and myself. It was fun times as Amelia could hardly wait through the day to open presents. She and I had a great time through the day, making her birthday cake, snuggling on the couch to watch the "Kit Kitridge - American Girl" movie at rest time and visiting about what her birthday presents might be. This year Amelia requested a "Diamond" party. Wow, big dreams for a little girl. She wanted a blue diamond cake, and even though I wasn't sure how I was going to pull that one off, I did finally come up with a plan. She was great help explaining exactly what she wanted, and in the end I think she was pretty happy!


The best part of the day though was the presents. She had been asking for "Ruthie" the American Girl Doll that is the friend to Kit Kitridge in the movie we watched. She has poured over the catalog for months talking about Ruthie, and so Chris and I decided that Ruthie was the obvious choice. Her face was spectacular when she got the wrapping off and realized what was in the box, and Ruthie and her have been together since. Thanks to all our family and friends who also helped by giving extra clothes and accessories for Amelia to have even more fun with Ruthie with.
On Friday afternoon we had a little party with Amelia's friends. It was again a "Jewel" party and so all the little girls left with fun little necklaces, rings and sparkles. Oh to be 5 again! Actually sometimes I do feel 5 again and it is so fun to re-live all the excitement through her eyes.


Amelia, you are the sweetest and most precious little girl we could have ever asked for. You are smart and kind and sometimes even a little silly. You are the obvious older sister and you love your brothers. You are kind and tender with them, but at the same time can wrestle and tug and hold your own with both of them! Your voice is almost always in song, singing sweet little songs from church or that you learned in school and many that you have made up on your own. You are the best snuggler ever, and I look forward to you crawling in bed with us each morning, snuggling up to us before we start our day. Your sparkling eyes and cute giggle make me realize why being a mom is such an amazing gift. We love you Amelia! Happy 5th birthday!

And last but not least....my famous "almost picture". Taken while she was sleeping, and still 4 on the night before her birthday. Snuggled up and as sweet asleep as she is in person. We love you Amelia!

Swimsuits, sprinklers, ice cream and children....

Don't you agree....swimsuits, sprinklers, ice cream and children all go together. At least they did at our house yesterday. With the temperature rising quickly here in Boise, the kids suggested some cold water in the yard and ran to get their swimsuits on. They spent the entire afternoon and evening running around in swimsuits, including dinner, as we sat on the patio. You gotta love the decrease in laundry in the summer, especially when swimsuits are worn half of the day. We tried our best to only give Drew part of one of the "Drumstick" ice cream cones, but he would have absolutely none of that. He wouldn't even look at the bottom half or the top half of one that had broken. So, he ended up with a whole one and ate the entire thing. Obviously he is the 3rd child.....I would have probably offered Amelia a few licks of mine just 3 years ago.

Mitch and Amelia totally enjoying their ice cream. Sitting still, next to each other long enough for me to get a picture...a very infrequent occurance!

Life is good for Mitch and Amelia. How much happier could one be?

And Drew....about 30 minutes later from the one above. Shoving the last part of the ice cream cone into that little mouth. Ahhh.....I am so glad warm weather is here!

And thank goodness that children are washable!

An Old Friend

I am not one to write about sad things, but today, I feel the strong need to, maybe to help me grieve. I have had a heavy heart since 1:30 pm last Thursday when I realized that it was finally time for my little Reebok to move on to a more restful place. His little body was causing him so much pain from the inside out. For 13 years he has been by my side, long before Chris or the kiddos were in the picture, my shadow and my loving companion. Greeting me at the door each time I arrived, chasing squirrels endlessly along the back fence, licking the tears from my face when I was so sad, and jumping all over me when I was happy. I even miss him licking the lotion off my legs each morning, gross I know, but he still did it every day no matter how much I scolded him. He hogged the bed each night, snuggling under the covers with Chris and I, and even in our king sized bed could find a way to take up way more room than any 14 pound dog should.

It is amazing to me how lonely the house feels without him. The jingle of his collar coming to look for me, his little body lying at my feet wherever I sat, his stuffed wooly "baby" lying on the floor of our bedroom waiting for him, his leash hanging on a hook behind our bedroom door. You don't really realize how many reminders there are of your doggie until he is gone from you life.

The last few hours of my time with Reebok was spent with him resting in my lap. His gentle little body lying across my lap, letting me stroke and pet his soft little fur, a ritual that had occurred almost everyday for the last 13 years, it was just that this time he peacefully went sleep for the last time. All the while, I bawled my eyes out then and have cried a lot over the last several days.

I know, he was just a dog. Not a human, not my child or sister or parent or husband or even long lost relative or friend. But he was my dog, my companion and my friend. Some might not understand my saddness, others will. Time will help me feel better, I know the pain won't be so raw forever, but I don't think I will ever stop loving or missing him, even though he was a dog, he was my dog, my puppins', my Reebs', my Reebok. So thankful am I that I got to experience such a devoted companion as Reebok for 13 years....

Happy Birthday Grandpa Ray

Happy Birthday Grandpa! A little song from "3 Short Ones".

This version is like the 9th take....3 small children trying to sit still and sing is quite a challenge.

Almost 4 months....

It has been almost 4 months since I posted last. Eeeekkk....where does the time go. Do you like my new background....a little 80's retroish to catch your attention.

Enjoy the following 2 posts, the kids are growing up too fast.

Mitchy

Just a few little funny pictures of Mitchy. He is getting to be quite the big boy.

Eating a banana, on the counter, with wild hair and a medicine

dropper in the front of his pants (his sword for the day).

Fries and a corn dog......

Hanging out in the swing,

one of his favorite spots in the yard (and house for that matter).

Drew and Amelia

Drew and Amelia were quite the pals today.

They are so much a like, Drew is starting to try to color, he loves to read and even squaks and squeals like Amelia did.

Amelia working on a birthday card for a friend.

Drew trying to help Amelia....he was so curious as to what she was doing.

Drew in his newest position...a little squat.

The Haechrel Catch Up!

Hi Everyone,

I just posted lots of stuff....so make sure to scroll down, I was a little behind!

Thanksgiving

We had a grand time with the Haechrel's and extended family and friends at Thanksgiving. So very thankful we could all be together and especially thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with

Grandma Agnes, who had only met 1 of the 5 Idaho/Washington great-grands!

Grandpa Bob, Mitch, Great-Grandma Agnes (Bob's mother), Chris and Amelia

Great Grandma Agnes, Amelia and Cousin Paige

The "5" Haechrel Grandkiddos

Amelia steeling kisses from Uncle Eric

Aunt Stephanie starting to wonder if she has some competition with Amelia.

Grandma Sandy and her two baking helpers! Making fabulous chocolate mint cookies! Which we quickly gobbled up!

Cousins Reece and Paige wishing Amelia and Mitch goodbye.

Brooke and Drew enjoying a few quiet minutes together.

Thank you everyone for a great holiday! The drive was well worth it.

The food was great, and we so enjoyed our time together! We must do it again soon.

Ahhhhh.....Amelia

Well, Amelia has had a few adventures in the last week.

First, she cut her hair.

She gave herself a mullet. It wasn't pretty.

But it turned out okay. The bangs are a little heavy, but it will grow.

It is choppy in a couple of places, but it will grow, right?

Then she gave herself a shiner. Yes, a big ole' black eye.
Whew....it looks terrible and is still healing.

She was chasing with the cousins and Mitchy at Grandma and Grandpa Haechrels over Thanksgiving. Slipped on a rug and ran into the corner of a wall.
Ouch. She cried, a lot.

But she isn't so distressed over it anymore, as you can tell.

It is still painful for me to look at though.
I am glad we got the mullet fixed before she got the black eye though. She would have looked like she belonged in the backwoods of the Appalachians with it all going on together.

Happy Birthday Drew!

So, on Wednesday November 19th, our littlest baby turned 1 year old. I can't even believe how fast the year has gone. Too think that just over a year ago, I was 5 days overdue with our 3rd and last baby and was convinced it was a girl (no proof on the girl thing though...). WOW, how things change in such a short time. Who couldn't love this cute little dimpled baby BOY!

Drew had a fun little birthday with just our family.

Poor kid, I think his sister and brother overwhelmed him just a little bit with their excitement. I remember when both Amelia and Mitch turned 1, they just seemed so grown up and big, and Drew just seems so little.

Drew had a great time though, really liked the cake, although the frosting was his favorite. He mostly just sucked it off the cake and then through the rest on the floor.

As for presents, he didn't hardly have a chance to open them. We practically had to tie the other two down so Drew would have a fighting chance and even getting to them. But all in all, he got lots of his very favorite thing....balls or toys that have balls associated with balls and toys to push too! And he has played with all of them.


And last but not least...the "almost" picture. Ironically Drew, this almost picture is taken while you are sleeping on Mom and Dad's bed, where in all reality you have spent a better part of your first year either sleeping in our bed or in our room. For some reason, I just haven't been able to move you out as quickly as we did the other two. Some it is is due to lack of space, and trying to get Mitchy sleeping a bit better, but other of it is just cause you are the baby.

As I think on this last year, I think about all that you have brought to our family. We have settled into a family of 5, and Drew, you complete us. You are a precious little babe. You have been an easy one from the get go. Sleeping through all the noise and chaos in our home, nursing like a champ and toting to the office with me for so many months on the days I worked.

But the first thing I remember was seeing your little face and thinking

"Wow, that baby GIRL sure does look a lot like Mitch".

And then we realized you were a little boy.

And then we saw your dimples and heard your cute little cry.

Your little dimpled grin, your quiet but not to be forgotten disposition all are so perfect. You are such a laid back baby, not much to say, but determined to get what you want (a bit like your daddy I think). You are the baby, and we love to treat you like the littest of the "short ones". But that doesn't mean you don't demand to keep up or put up and you have no problem sassing back to Amelia or Mitch when needed.

We forget that you should be getting close to walking....we just carry you everywhere and don't even make you stand up to try. But I am really okay with carrying you, cause I just can't rewind and make you little again, and soon, you won't want me to carry you at all. So, I will just carry you as long as I can.

We love you Drew Baby and can't wait for many more fun memories to come!

The BIG "3" for our Mitchy

Mitch turned 3 this last Wednesday, the 12th, and well we just had a blast celebrating with him! He totally got that it was his birthday, and was most excited for cake, and then for presents.

But what kind of fun cake do you make for a kid who specifically requests, "chocuate, mom, I want chocuate mom, wif chocuate frousting."?????

A football cake of course! And even better, the kid sat and helped me make the cake, pretty much from start to finish. He does love to cook, and we had fun doing it together.

Powertools, flashlights and jerseys were the name of the game this year! Thank you everyone for the great gifts!

Using his new jigsaw to cut his cake (well at least pretending too).

And lastly, every year, on the night before their bithday, while they are sleeping, I take a picture of my kiddos. For some reason I just have to capture that last moment before they are officially a year older. I can't believe how much they change. The pictures aren't always great, but I love the memory of doing it. Chris thought it was corny at first (which it is), but now he reminds me and brings me the camera.

"Almost 3"

"Almost 2"

"Almost 1"

And best of all....the things we love about Mitch at age 3.

You are wild and crazy! You keep us hopping, always into something and yet so smart and inquisitive. Just when I think you are not listening, you have absorbed way more than I even thought possible. You love to wrestle, jump, and tackle. You pick on your sister and brother and they both give it right back. You love to play with tools...whether out of dads tool box or out of moms kitchen.

You love to be outside, the fresh air calms your little spirit and yet gives you a new energy at the same time. Your cheeks are always flushed from either the heat or the cold, and with that I know you have had a good time. The love of being outside is something I hope you never loose....whether playing ball or raking leaves, you are there!

You are the PERFECT middle child and God certainly knew what he was doing by giving you to us when he did.

You love the book "Where the Wild Things Are", so as the book says

"...let the wild rumpus start"!

We can't wait for all the fun to come!