August

August began with a Bridal Shower for Aunt Nichole. Tim took the toddlers to the "train park" in Waterloo. Almost 9 months later (yes, that's how backlogged the blog is), Simon still talks about the train park. Unfortunately, with coronavirus in the air, it doesn't look like it will be open for play again too soon.

What could be better than watching trains pass as you play?

The pretty girls cousins were all together at the shower.

Our summer days were winding down - school was starting back up again soon. It was crunch time for fun. First, off to the lake to catch baby fish and bob around in the water.

A trip to our favorite splash pad with Aunt Bridget and the kids.

Walks, picnics, popsicles...keep the summer days coming.  (See those underwear? No, potty training wasn't/isn't going well.)

Aunt B and Uncle E invited us to spend an afternoon at the lake with them. We don't have a boat, jet ski, or kid kayaks at our lake place so it was a real treat to play with all these toys! Felicity took a bit to get used to maneuvering through the water with a paddle but once she figured it out it was hard to get her back on land.

We celebrated a 50th anniversary at the "pool park" in Coldwater, Ohio and got to swim again. 

The last night of summer break was family date night. We took the kids to the restaurant where we had our first date and told them the story of how we met. We even ordered the famous bread pudding we ate on that date! Still so delicious.

Then it was back to school...and the rush of the mornings, busy-ness of the afternoons, and earlier bedtimes. 

First Day of School 2019-20

Simon misses his sisters so much when they're gone all day. Mommy, in her third trimester, became his playmate. "Push me in the laundry basket!" "Play trains with me." "Push me on the swings!" "Let me spray you."

Mommy missed those girls more than ever! Playing at the zoo with Aunt Bridget, Elijah, and Veronica helped Simon pass the hours.

And when Mommy tried to rest, he often found her and stayed close.

Daddy found a fun app to entertain the girls...

Check out that bump!

Miriam's 4-H club worked the cruise-in and parade for the ACD Festival. Tim was pretty thrilled to work the event with her and check out all the classic cars up close.

We closed out August by adding a bit of beauty to the home. We brought in a few a Felicity's beautiful sunflowers.

Mommy finished Simon's quilt for his big boy bed...the night he decided he was done with the crib!

One step closer to being ready for baby #5 to arrive.

April

NEW BABY COUSIN ALERT! We got to meet our newest little family member at the beginning of April: Veronica Marie. The girls knew we were expecting our own little baby at this point and were thrilled to hold and cuddle her and dream of the day when they would get to hold our little one.

Elijah is a very proud big brother. Perhaps you can't tell be the expression on his face, but this is actually his smile!

Maybe Sarah is the only Mom in history to feel this way, but knowing a baby is on the way puts time into hyper-drive. So many projects to get done before baby is here and we're nursing for 8 hours a day. (That's only a VERY slight exaggeration. Nursing is a full time job!) So, among other things, she got busy quilting for Simon's big boy bed.

The other thing about baby-on-the-way is knowing the Current Baby in the house won't be The Baby much longer. And that little person's world is about to be tipped over a bit. It makes being the Mom of Current Baby a little more precious. We have to hold onto these times together, Current Baby, because even though you don't realize it, they're coming to an end. We're about to have a New Baby who we'll love and will both want to smother with kisses. So right now, Mommy has to soak up every minute with you.

Maybe other Mom's and Dad's don't know this feeling. And maybe they do.

April is Felicity's birthday. She's the ONLY ONE to not have a fall birthday! Which she doesn't mind at all because she doesn't have to share her party with anyone! Except her best friend Olivia who is only 10 days older. They had a best friend birthday party with the most delicious chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache icing. Olivia's mom is a master cake maker and decorator...don't believe us? More proof coming...

 Felicity and Tim got dressed up and went to Bob Evans for their birthday date.

 Because PIGGY PANCAKES!

And for her birthday party a week later, she wanted a Barbie Birthday. Ridiculously beautiful cake designed, created, and delivered by Jill (Olivia's mom - see we told you she's good at this!). So much frosting and edible glitter. It was a Barbie dream for this 6 year old!

Felicity with her godparents Aunt Bridget and Uncle John

Easter weekend was especially fun this year because we went wedding dress shopping with Aunt Nichole! But you can't see any of those pictures yet, sorry. Instead how about one of Aunt Maria in a veil?

Speaking of Aunt Maria, she turned 21 on Good Friday. Ouch. So Easter Day was more of a celebration than her actually birthday.

And we took her out to a brewery with the extended family. All's well that ends well.

Back to Easter, the kids colored eggs at Grandma's on Holy Saturday, per the dictates of tradition.

We dug into our Easter baskets before 8 AM Mass Easter morning and had a big Reece's egg to celebrate the Savior Risen from the Dead. Also a very important tradition. 

More important Easter traditions: Nana made the cutest bunny cake and put together a color coded Easter egg hunt for the kids!

Odds and ends of April: Tim took all three girls to the school's Father Daughter Dance. Simon was extremely jealous.

So he and Mommy stayed home and ate ice cream with sprinkles. It's the right stuff for curing broken hearts.

And Miriam had two wins in April - finally found and bought an eye mask for sleeping in. She'd been wanting one for a while and found one on clearance in the girl's department at Von Maur. She still sleeps with it on every night!

AND her Mini 4H group had a presentation by a local group that saves owls and eagles. She got an up close experience with her favorite animals!

 So there's April - many moments to be grateful for!