Sunday, November 27, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time where we reflect on all that we are thankful for, and this year as with every year we have so much to be thankful for.  As I reflect on all our blessings of 2016 I realize so many of those things I am so grateful for also have many other people in the back ground.

I am so blessed to have three wonderful children and as I continue my journey as a stay at home mom I am fully realizing it takes a village to raise children; so there are several people I want to call out.

I am so thankful for my wonderfully supportive husband who sacrifices day in and out to provide for us and make sure we have everything we need and want and does so without hesitation. Who comes home exhausted after a long day  and immediately takes on the role of "best dad in the world." I am forever grateful for all that he does and admire his patience and dedication to our family, even when he has given so much of himself outside the home.

I am thankful for my wonderful mother who has been a life saver, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I know that the last year has had its struggles but she is always willing to take the girls when I need a break; and She is always a phone call away when I need someone to talk to. There are truly no words I can say that will express my gratitude to her.

I am thankful to my Dad, who despite his health scare earlier this year keeps going and complains less than a rock (literally the man never complains) and takes what life deals him and does so with optimism, gratitude, and a smart ass remark. I look forward to our Thursdays together and the girls always enjoy their "Papa time"

I am thankful for my In-Laws, who are willing to drop just about anything if we need something, from a 6 AM phone call to come sit with the girls when I went into labor, to helping me clean my house because we have visitors coming and it has been a crazy week, and everything in between.

I am thankful for my friend Susan, who over the last year and a half I have come to rely on more than even she realizes.  She is my much needed adult conversations and evenings out when the days all blur together. I always enjoy our conversations, her positivity is something I envy, but at the same time it is the exact type of person I want to be around.

I am thankful for our Doctor and nurses that work tireless hours and give up time with their family to make sure that mine is healthy and well taken care of; and for never making me feel like the over bearing parent who brings their kids in for every sniffle (even if that is exactly what it is) :)

Last, but certainly not least I am thankful for my Children - There truly are no words I could use to express how amazing they are to me. I love watching each one of them develop their own personalities, I love that they are strong headed and opinionated (except when they use it against me), I love the sweet innocent way they discover the word, the way that they love each other, and they way that they trust and love so easily - even when I may not deserve it.

There are so many more people I could and should mention but there would never be an end to this post, so to all who have touched our lives Thank you, and we appreciate all you do for us.

Happy Thanksgiving
<3 Jacque

Monday, November 21, 2016

Happy 6th Month Birthday Paige!

WOW! Where has the last week, not to mention the last 6 months gone?! It is so hard to believe my little peanut is 6 months old.

Paige turned 6 months last Wednesday, November 16th.  We celebrated with shots for the whole family. All three girls did excellent, Emily's response was the best; they gave her some stickers and as she is sitting on my lap examining her stickers they give her the shot.  They are midway through and she turns to the nurse and says: "HEEEYY!" it took all I had not to burst out laughing.

Paige weighed in at 13 lbs 10 oz and 24 inches long, according to growth charts she is still a little peanut but growing nicely, especially since we started small (5 lbs 8 oz and 18 inches).  Paige was a trooper for her shots too, but when we got home she needed some serious Mommy time!
This is the only picture of her for the day as she was not having much of being on her own for the monthly milestone photo... Hopefully this week (I know only a week late)

We started solid food with her this week and I also attempted making my own baby food.  I would say the first time was a huge success.  She devoured the squash, and managed to get it ALL over her face.
First taste of Squash - YUMMMMY

Paige is a good combination of Quinn and Emily when it comes to milestones, Quinn was a one hit wonder, and Emily was, well... lazy. Paige can roll from her tummy to her back, she has done it several times, but despite being able to, she still gets mad if she is on her tummy for too long.  She hasn't rolled back to front yet but we are so close.  In her defense she doesn't get a whole lot of floor time as her big sisters think that is the perfect time to close in and even attempt to pick her up. She is a tripod sitter, she is doing really well on this and loves to sit up. 

If I had to pick a favorite baby gear item based on what my kids have liked, I would say hands down the Bumbo seat. We use it for everything, feeding, hanging out with mom while I work in the kitchen, and watching big sisters from a safe distance. All of them have loved it. So for any new parent wondering if you need one, I would say YES! Quinn and Emily even love it for their dolls, so much so that they are getting one for Christmas so they stop stealing Paige's!

Happy 1/2 Birthday Paige, I can't believe how much you have changed in six months. We love you so much and can't wait to watch you grow!

Love,
Mom


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Birthday Weekend - Nov 12, 2016


A long harvest finished up just in time to celebrate Craig's birthday and the marriage of two good friends.

We started our weekend by celebrating Craig's 31st birthday with his favorite meal (Roast, cooked carrots, potatoes, mushrooms and rolls) with his parents and his four favorite girls :). Due to the price of cards the girls opted to color Daddy a sign - I think it was more of a hit with Quinn and Emily than anyone! Then came presents - Emily was extra excited (inwardly) as she got to go with mommy to pick out the present. Emily likes to go shopping with me, she doesn't however, like when the cashier "takes her stuff" so she wasn't overly thrilled when she had to give her daddy's present to the strange lady behind the counter; so when Craig opened the present she had to try it on - after all, she picked it out!

Saturday meant it was wedding day.  Our friend and old babysitter is going to cosmetology school near the wedding location so we detoured up there so she could do my hair, it was great to see her, and she did an awesome job! Thanks Taylor!

Then it was time to celebrate.  This wedding was the first time in 8.5 years that all of Craig's college roommates (and Kleiss) were in the same place. It was so awesome to see everyone again.  Hopefully we don't have to wait so long between the next meeting. Luckily the last of the five roommates gets married this spring. Unfortunately it is the same weekend as Quinn's dance recital, so we may be doing some major juggling that weekend! 

Roommates 501 S. Duff - Kyle Shipley, Chris Blome, Matt Dolch, Craig, Dale Sturges

The whole gang with spouses - Allison and Easton and Kyle Shipley, Chris and Abby Blome, Matt Dolch (missing Dana) Sarah and Dale Sturges, Kayln and Adam Kleiss, Craig, Jacque and Paige

It was a beautiful wedding and in true Dale fashion he managed to thoroughly embarrass Craig by getting the DJ to pull him to the middle of the dance floor after the reception and have everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to him. The night was way to short for the amount of catching up we all had to do, but it was wonderful to see everyone and I look forward to the next time.

A huge thank you to my mom who graciously kept the older girls all weekend so we could have an adult weekend.  Paige got to come, only because she threw a fit every time my mom tried to hold her, next time :) Oh well, she was a very well behaved baby all weekend (of course mom was holding the whole time so what was there to complain about)

Until next time....

The start of our Journey

I have been toying with the idea of a blog for a while and have decided to make the leap.  I wanted a place to document happenings and still be able to share them with others that wasn't Facebook.



Craig and I have been married for 6 years, we met when I was still in high school and got married a month after I graduated college.  After living in Des Moines for a year and a half, Craig accepted a transfer to the Cherokee Pioneer Plant which moved us closer to home.  Prior to this year, we had celebrated each of our wedding anniversary's in a different house.  We have so much to be thankful for and we start with our three biggest blessings!
Quinn Catherine is our oldest, she is a beauty inside and out (but I'm biased). She is dramatic, she is loud, she is loving, she feels deeply and she is a great big sister.  She loves to read stories, Curious George is her favorite, she enjoys playing with all her cousins, and she likes going to sporting events and church with me.  Quinn is so much like me some days it is CRAZY, but her eyes are 100% daddy!

Emily Justine is the middle child.  She is all 2! She is a cheeser, and so darn cute it is hard not to laugh at her on a regular basis.  Emily has the best facial expressions, you know exactly where you stand with this one.  She is also a brute, she is rough and tough and loves to get dirty and is a 110% Daddy's girl, mommy will do only if daddy is not around. She is loud and energetic and has a smile that can light up the room.

Paige Michael is our baby.  There is no other way around it, she is a Mommy's girl!! She is a snuggler, she loves you to talk to her and she loves watching her big sisters; although their noise level terrifies her some days (not that I blame her). She is a relatively easy going baby - until you try to take her from her mom :)

I love my 3 little blessings that make this journey so much more fun, crazy and full of laughter.

<3 Jacque


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