Sunday, September 18, 2011

firsts...

Somebody's started preschool around here! Miss Maddie is officially a preschooler now...attending Apple Country Preschool (mom's preschool.) She just has to waltz downstairs with her backpack on and voila, she's at school! She's loving it and her class of ten 3 & 4 year olds is a fun one! Girls way out number the boys 7:3, so there are lots of "little mothers" in the classroom. I love this age and as their teacher, I'm learning just how long they can sit at a task, complete a project, and that many breaks and transitions for these little ones helps pass our two hours/2 days a week together quickly! Singing is Maddie's favorite part of preschool. I love having the opportunity to teach her and I don't know if I would have been ready to send her out to a preschool at 3...hence, another reason I'm teaching preschool now! Two sessions actually...with a total of 20 kids coming here, 2 days a week. Yes, it's keeping me busy.She is fortunate to have her two favorite cousins, Kylie and Jill at preschool with her...
These two boys started school three weeks ago...we now have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner! They're doing fantastic and love their teachers. It's nice having them both in school...our days without them home are really quiet and Maddie and I have had plenty of one-on-one, girl time together which is nice, since baby will be here in 6 weeks! This picture depicts their personalities to a tee...our smiley, silly one and mister serious.
Cade also has cousin Randi Kay in his class...these two are quite the pair and really good buddies. We've learned how shy Caden really is this fall. He tends to stand back, watch and wait. Luckily, his cousin is more outgoing which is great for him, we're crossing our fingers that Randi can help Cade get out of his shell a little more this school year. He's doing awesome academically and we love seeing the work he's completed at school--Cade's a bit of a perfectionist and his papers show it with his beautiful writing, coloring and drawings. He's a bright boy and school is a great fit for him. He starts soccer tomorrow!
And his Kindergarten teacher??? Mrs. Stewart (aka Aunt J). He adores her and has already earned enough gold coins to trade in for her comfy, spinny chair one afternoon :) We're so grateful to have her...what a nice transition into formal school, having your aunt as your teacher! It's especially comforting for mom, knowing my little guy is always under her loving care and watchful eye.
Jace with his teacher, Mrs. Vermeer. What a wonderful teacher she is! He also has two cousins in class and lots of his buddies. I'm amazed at how much he accomplishes in a day in 2nd grade...he's doing great and is loving school too. Jace is also playing soccer this fall and started Cub Scouts as well. His schedule keeps us hopping!
And another first in our household this fall is "balallay" (ballet). Our tiny dancer waits all week, eagerly asking when she has ballet class again. This girl LOVES it. She tends to do her own thing though, gracefully moving her arms and standing on her tippy toes while admiring herself in the full-length mirrors. It's precious and I think she could acquire a talent for it with how much she practices at home :)
And #4...what a mover this baby is! I've felt belly-bruised this pregnancy from all of the kicks, rolls, and jabs! We do not know what we're having and I have no clue or hunch this time!!! I go back and forth on it's sex. We are still discussing names, trying to come up with two that we both like and agree on :) I'm really looking forward to this little one and eagerly await it's arrival--the c-section is scheduled for Nov. 1st. I had some cramping & contractions Friday morning for about 6 hours and after laying for a couple of hours, they quit and have not returned. After talking to the nurse, it's best that I drink more water and try to rest/sit down more...which is a bit challenging for me. But I'm taking this advice seriously- we don't need this baby arriving yet!
Here he/she is showing off one of those fierce kicks...how cramped it must feel in there! We're so grateful that this baby has been healthy, it's been healing for me knowing this and has also caused me to reflect quite a bit on my pregnancy with Maddie. I've been able to enjoy this pregnancy so much more, with little worry and stress (though I've probably complained more in the last month than I ever have with my previous pregnancies, yes, shame on me.) When I was pregnant with the boys, I took it all for granted. I am truly blessed with this baby and look forward to meeting this little one. The kids are also very excited, the boys are voting for a baby brother and Miss Maddie talks incessantly about her "baby sister" and what plans she has once it's out of my tummy. She can't wait to be a big sister and I look forward to watching all three kids with this baby. We have so much to look forward to and our surprise will be here before we know it!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Covey Run!

The Covey Run was a success! We've raised almost $2000 for CHD research and had 25 participants on our team running or walking in the 5K and 10K races. Team Maddie Moomer's rocks!
We're missing a few in this photo...Patti K. and Izzy's family. Some of the kids had a ball in the park during the race getting their faces painted and jumping in the bouncy house. Thanks Savanna and Reilli for babysitting!
these 2 decided to walk the 5K with their parents...good thing Mommy's pregnant because it was a slow pace and they could keep up. Maddie actually rode in a stroller (borrowed from Emily since Bry forgot to load the front tire of ours after airing it up) most of the way but insisted on getting out a few times. She ran across the finish line too, which brought us to happy tears. Amazing what she's went through and how far she's come! She's got heart, that's for sure.
Not a fan of the Mascot Quails...the race is sponsored by Covey Run Winery
Got Heart? was the logo on the shirts Aunt Lesa created...we all looked sharp and dry-fit shirts are the best, especially on warm summer days :)
What a lucky girl to have so many love and support her! Thanks everyone for participating in the run & sponsoring our team!

it's great to be 8!

Somebody turned 8 last week...opening his Nintendo DS...I'm not a fan of video games but gave into this one...
we celebrated a day early with a "backyard camp-out theme" with just family
roasting--scorching marshmallows. These boys loved catching them on fire. Jace wanted to have a "boy-cousins only" sleepover that night so cousins Braydon and Wyatt spent the night here, camping indoors with sleeping bags. They decided that would be more fun...hey, whatever works!
quite proud of themselves after building his new Indiana Jones lego set while watching Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade, of course
On his 'real' birthday, we drove over to the west side for the Covey Run. We ate at Red Robin with friends & family and he LOVED having them sing to him! No embarrassment here...someone likes to be the center of attention.
Earlier in the week, we hit the Grant County Fair. It was the centennial celebration. The kids loved the pigs and got to see some of their Stewart cousin's 4-H animals.
while Maddie snoozed in the shade on Nany's lap, I took the boys to the carnival. Not my favorite part of the fair but they loved it, even in the heat. I love that these two are good buds.

Suncadia Family Vacation

We enjoyed a super fun and relaxing family vacation up at Suncadia with Bryan's family. The cousins had a ball together...riding bikes, playing on this very cool playground, swimming and water sliding, and chasing chipmunks. We had a great house that fit all of our families & fun memories were made!


swimming lessons

These boys turned into fish this summer...Maddie isn't afraid of the water and her green hair proves it!
fun times at the little pools with cousins Kylie & Grady!

cherry harvest






Thursday, August 18, 2011

Update & Team Maddie Moomer's!

Summer is flying by! We've been so busy...I just haven't had time to update the blog. We're all doing great and enjoying these last days before school begins. Maddie's doing awesome and had a cardiology check-up last Monday proving just that. Her O2 sats have settled now between 85-88% and she's really grown since surgery, weighing 34.8 lbs and 39.5 inches tall which puts her in the 73rd percentile for weight and 83rd for height! She was such a big girl for her appointment, the hospital hasn't left any "damage" that I can tell...Dr. Chun even got a great big hug when he walked in the room. It's great going back with a healthy little girl and getting such fantastic news on her heart. We won't return to cardiology now until after Thanskgiving and we'll be toting a baby along by then too! We're getting so excited for the arrival of this little one. He/she proves to be a go-getter--my bulging belly feels bruised from all of the kicks and acrobatics done in there. The boys have played so hard this summer...I love listening to brothers play and cherish these days. They're growing up so quickly...Jace turns 8 tomorrow and Cade is pumped to start Kindergarten in a week. I can't believe it.

We're gearing up again for the "Run for Children's Covey Run" this weekend over in Woodinville. Maddie's Aunt Lesa has organized our team, ordered our t-shirts and it looks like Team Maddie Moomer's will be represented well again this year! If you would like to join us, the race begins at 8am Saturday. The entry fee is $40 which benefits Seattle Children's Uncompensated Care Program. Our team is raising funds for CHD research again through the Seattle Children's Heart Guild. All donations are 100% tax deductible and can be made on-line through our first-giving website. Click HERE if you're interested in supporting our cause and sponsoring our team. Thanks and I promise to update soon, I have lots more to share!!!