Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Young again!

JZ who is half way through her 13 year! straightened my hair. We had an absolute blast! She thought I looked so much younger. Just wait all you mom's who have girls...you are doing their hair now but it may change someday! She went to youth group that night early since she was singing in the praise band but she wanted to see dad's expression when he saw my hair straight....he hasn't studied me that way for quite some time! Which is probably a good thing!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Nobody's Birthday

"Happy Birthday to you. Nobody's birthday is coming up. Happy Birthday to yooouuuuu."

So Happy Unbirthday to EVERYONE!

Baby Z's first time eating baby cereal at 5 months.

CZ's love for legos and for his cousin who loves dinosaurs. He built this for him months ago and asked me to send him the picture. Way to be on it mom! Hope you enjoy the picture little Stego cousin....I think it changes every day!
Palentologists digging for bones....I didn't know what that was until our nephew confidently told us...he is 4 mind you! I'm sure he knows how to spell palentologist correctly!


AAAHHHH! To be young and carefree again!




MZ's 3rd b-day! Someday he'll fit in that shirt! Oh My!




CZ loves his cousin. He made a dinosaur picture for him. We are discovering that CZ's love language is gift giving! His little love tank was full over Christmas.

Baby Z shows his excitement by opening his little mouth up wide. It makes us laugh each time!


One of 2009's Christmas pictures!



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Brown eyes vs blue eyes


My brown-eyed girl! Baby Z's eyes are pretty blue...wonder if they will ever turn brown like his daddy's!

Big Brother loves to sing!

CZ absolutely loves his baby bro! He is taking his role very seriously and spends a lot of time holding him and singing songs about Jesus to him. He says he has a lot to teach his baby brother!


Great Grandma

Great Grandma with the boys. I guess baby Z doesn't like sharing the attention!

Great Grandma

Baby Z met great grandma Zaugg for the first time this September! She is the only living great grandparent.

pictures

I wonder what babies think sometimes! Baby Z 11 weeks old!
MZ helping daddy pick apples at the farm. We finally got done making applesauce...I think 45 quarts! We will be thankful this winter.



Little boys looovveee being silly!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Baby pictures!

7 weeks old! Getting chubby! Baby Z is starting to sleep 6-8 hours straight!! He is a very good baby that just goes with the flow! We've taken him quite a few places and he just sleeps...great age to travel!
Each birthday we take a picture of the boy's in a special shirt bought for them that fits their daddy. Someday it will fit them! CZ turned 5 in June...I know, I'm really on the ball!

Still lots of hair and still very blonde!!


Friday, July 24, 2009

Fun Family Activities

Just wanted to share some activities that we do in our home to be pro-active in character training. Most of these ideas we got from others and I would love it if you would comment on some ideas that work for your family!



Chore cards- We started chore cards a few months ago and it has been a big hit with the boys. It's a very simple index card system. I chose about 6 green colored index cards for MZ and 6 blue for CZ and I wrote on each card a different chore...like make bed, brush teeth, get dressed, as the every day chores. Then I wrote Monday (and so on) on one card and I put a daily chore on that card like separate clothes, Tuesday dust end tables, Wednesday.... This is different for each boy since they are at different stages. I had JZ draw (or you can get print pictures) of each activity since they can't read...for brush teeth she simply drew a toothbrush and toothpaste. So, they feel really great being able to "read" the cards. After each card they flip and go onto the next one in the pile. MZ (the 2 yr old) loves to run and flip the next card...he excitedly says FLLLIIIPPP! The last card is a picture of mom and they run to tell mom that they are finished with their chores. I love to see the huge smile on their faces and the sense of accomplishment. I throw in a see mom for a treat card once a week. They obviously love that card! It's a good idea to set a timer on how long you think it should take to help with diligence. This is a training time so I am right there directing and encouraging diligence!! They get easily sidetracked at this age! (I got this from Growing Kid's God's Way)



Jesus Time- Usually after the chore cards are done I take MZ and we have Jesus Time while CZ looks at books or plays with Legos. We go through a short devotional and sing songs as we rock. I pray at the beginning and the end for their salvation and character. Then MZ has his blanket time and I have Jesus Time with CZ. It's a special time with each boy individually! Carla Link (parent educator) gave me this idea. It helps them learn that we should spend time with Jesus everyday. If you start this young it will be a part of their lifestyle. When they are older they can read bible devotions to you and then eventually transition into having their own quiet time.



Family Time- On Sundays we have a blast with Family Time. It teaches biblical truths in ways kid's can understand...very hands on. You can go http://www.famtime.com/ and sign up for free monthly activities. I ordered the books at Hearts at Home but you can order them on the website. Very fun, easy to plan and cheap activities! I just used a family time activity that we did 8 months ago with CZ the other day when correcting. The activity was to have a cut out of a person (we traced CZ on white roll out paper) and taped it on the wall. We took turns talking about kind words and put those words in a hat. We then took turns writing down bad and hurtful words like "I don't like you" and put those words in a hat. We each took turns pulling a bad word out of a hat and each time we tore a piece off of the cut out person...first a foot then a hand. Then, we talked about how hurtful words can be. Next, we pulled out the good words and with each good word we taped a piece back up. When it was all taped together we talked about how you can still see the tear. So even when we say sorry for hurtful words it still leaves a scar on that persons heart. CZ had said something mean to his little brother and since we had already talked to him about how hurtful words are, it made sense to him and he was more sensitive after that. That is just one example of the fun activities that are teaching them God's truth.



Cooking with Mom- I just started this since baby Z has been born- they are having a great time! CZ helped me make an Olde World sandwich from their wonderful cookbook the other night and he was so proud at dinner! MZ chopped olives in an eggslicer and talked about it all night! They love baking as well. I've been meaning to have JZ plan a meal each week and cook it....I think we will wait for fair to be done to get that started.



Dates- We each take our kid's out for a special one on one time each month. It is so important to connect and build trust as you talk to them. This will be HUGE when they are pre-teens and teens! It has helped so much with communication with our 13 year old! (Carla and Joey Link)


Goal Charts- Make a list of what character qualities you want to instill in your child and write it or print it out on cardstock/construction paper. With a ruler make rows of squares to fit the size of sticker you want. I let my kid's decorate the chart the way they would like. This gives them some ownership. Each time you see this positive behavior they get to pick a sticker and place it on the chart. When our children have 10 stickers they get to choose a little toy or candy at the store. When they have filled up their chart we take them some place special. I love this because it keeps me focused on what I am trying to teach. Also, it is so GREAT to catch them doing good. It's so easy to get busy and tired and tell our kid's NO all day! It really feels good to say great job!! (Growing Kid's God's Way)

Family Core Values- This is something my husband and I thought up together. Our pastor went through a series on family fitness and suggested each family comes up with a family plan on their values. During family time one night we sat as a family and talked about what we want to be characterized as a christian family. We wrote those down (they are at the bottom of the blog). Then my hubby worked on getting verses that backed up those characteristic traits-we used 3 verses per trait. Sounds good but where is the practical? Well, we thought it's easy to have a list but how are we going to live it out? I really don't want another list!! We got a jar at the Dollar Tree and also gum balls. Each time we see one of those character qualities being displayed we put a gumball in the jar. When it is all filled up we get to go some place fun! The only rule is that you can't point it out yourself..other family members have to point it out. We just started this summer so it is a progression. We plan on taking the values and verses that back it up and talk about what that means practically in everyday life and have that a part of our dinner talks.

Quiet Time Talks- Sunday Mornings during breakfast we get our journals out and talk about what spoke to us during the week in our quiet times. It's great to hear what spoke to my husband and our 13 yr old but it also keeps us accountable to eachother. The boys enjoy telling what they learned about in their Jesus Time. (Carla and Joey Link)


I would love to hear what your family does! As I type this out it seems like a lot! But during the corse of a week it really doesn't seem like that much at all. These are activities that we have implimented over 3 years. We didn't just start them all at once. It does take a lot of time and energy to disciple (not discipline..well that, too!) our children- Ever thought of your children as your disciples? This is my ministry. My hubby's and my heart is that we want to give it all we got and not look back with regrets when we do have time!!! It is worth the sacrifice to us.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

More Pictures

Baby Z with his eyes open! He's starting to get more and more alert.

3 weeks old!
MZ fell asleep during blanket time. He had a fever of 102 with Tylenol. He's feeling much better today!



Having a blast with big sis!




Loving snuggle time!


Friday, July 10, 2009

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa came for the weekend of 4th of July. We had such a great time-even though the weather didn't feel like July weather!
We were so blessed with Paul's parents coming to visit! Grandma brought her famous cinnamon rolls..yummy! Along with lots of other desserts and frozen meals! She even did all my laundry! The kiddos had fun reading books with Grandma and wrestling with Grandpa!

Grandpa holding Baby Z for the first time.


Thursday, July 9, 2009

Nana and Papa

Nana loves her grandbabies!! Nana and Papa came on June 24th and stayed with us almost a week! What a huge blessing! We had Nana's great cooking. CZ especially loved the infamous fried chicken meal! It was so great having extra hands to help with the boy's as we were getting adjusted to a new little one!
Nana holding baby Z for the first time.




Proud Papa! We are so thankful for Papa and his love for his grandchildren. In June, Papa prayed and fasted all day for baby Z- just as he has done with all of his grandchildren. What a wonderful legacy to leave! He keeps record of the prayers and it is treasured in the baby's book. We believe in the power of prayer and know eternity is impacted because of the sacrificial prayers Papa prayed. We look forward to re-reading the journal when the children are all grown and seeing how God faithfully answered his prayers!



The boy's love their Papa! He is famous for his Rascal Rabbit and Wiley Wolf stories that get more and more animated as the story unfolds. I wish I would have taped them all these years because a story will never be told the same way twice!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Glad Life Isn't Fair!

Just wanted to share a God thought with you...mainly because they don't happen as often as I would like them to!! After obviously watching too much Fox News I started to feel a lot of doom and gloom about where our country is going and what it is going to mean for Christians. I felt an urgency to teach my children that life isn't fair and as Christians we aren't going to be treated fairly. Our rights and freedoms may be taken away. Although being a good thing to teach, God gave me a different perspective one day. As I was driving, I was listening to Mercy Me...I think the song is called God with Us. The lyrics "We are free... in ways that we never should be...." hit me! Even though in the future my rights and freedoms may be taken away as a Christian (freedom on the airways and in what can be said at church, even having home based bible study). I am free in ways that I should never be in Christ. I am free from guilt of sin, free from eternal death and so much more. So, instead of teaching my children that life isn't fair, I want to teach my children to be thankful that life isn't fair. Fair would mean a life separated from God. I would think it would be enough for us to barely get into heaven but God doesn't stop there! Rom 8:17 says we are co-heirs with Christ. That definitely isn't fair!! I still can't wrap my brain around that one!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Little Feet

I think baby feet are so sweet!
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JZ loving little bro

JZ has been such an awesome help! Her sweet and servant attitude has made the transition so much easier! She is so much fun to be around- I treasure our long talks together. One of the greatest joys is to watch her grow up and see God working through her.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Pictures of Baby Z!

I love this picture because it captures the genuine smiles of Baby Z's siblings meeting him for the first time! I'm finally blogging more pictures! We are getting adjusted to a new little one. Baby Z is really doing great. I'm trying to hold on to every moment (even though I'm tired) because I know how quickly it goes!

Pictures of Baby Z!

Coming home from the hospital

One week old!

Beautiful Baby




CZ holding baby for the first time



Sleeping as usual!






CZ's 5th B-day! Nana made an awesome pirate cake!







MZ loving on his little bro!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Baby Boy


Baby Boy! Baby Z joined our team yesterday (June 25) at 1:39 PM. Weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/4". He is so precious. Him and mom are doing great. His big sister and brothers love him so much already. We truly feel blessed.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Baby Z tomorrow!

Tomorrow we get induced! I can tell I am big and ready not only by the waddle but also by my 2 year old saying "Faster mommy, Go, faster!" We spent the night getting the house ready...as if the baby cares but it makes me feel like, okay, I can have a baby now! My parents arrived tonight and will watch the kiddos and bring them to the hospital as it gets closer to delivery. We leave for the hospital at 7:30 tomorrow morning to get the paperwork done and then I'll get my water broke and hopefully that will start contractions without any meds. I'm dialated to 4 and the baby is so low so hopefully that means a quick delivery. We'll keep you updated on Baby Z!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Parents are like God

During lunch today CZ asked, "Mom, are parents like God since they teach us what's right?" I said, "Yes, you are right, parent's are like God in that way." Proud! He's getting it! Then he added, "Except God doesn't fight." Humbled!

Actually, the thing I love about this child is also so frustrating...his memory! He doesn't forget a darn thing even if our last real argument was months ago. In my mind I'm thinking...please oh, please don't talk like that infront of your sunday school teacher...she'll think we have a bad marriage! Thankfully, right now his sunday school teacher's are Nick and Tricia!

Mine's Bigger!

CZ is the typical "almost 5 year old, older brother." He likes that he can run faster, that he is taller and that he is stronger than his 2 year old brother. After watching Popeye on Boomerang, he took eating spinach seriously..really believing he would be as strong as daddy the next morning. One day when MZ was taking off his clothes to get into the bathtub and CZ had to use the bathroom, MZ said "Hey, CZ I have a wee-wee like you!" And, CZ said in his lowest 5 year old voice "Yeah, but mine's bigger!" As a mother of 2 boys I can't believe how many times I hear them talk of that anatomy!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Real Moms... Real Jesus

I got this great book from the Mops Steering team called Real Moms...Real Jesus by Jill Savage (founder of Hearts at Home). They are going through this book as a study this summer. I'm going to miss being on the steering team! I've been reading through it (mainly as I sit at my weekly prenatal doctor's appointments!) and it has really challenged me and inspired me! One thought in the book really got me thinking and gave me a lot of hope as a young mom. In Chapter 3 it talks about minisitries. I know as moms it is hard to be in minisitries when our little ones take so much of our time. Jill Savage points out a new concept for me. "Jesus captures the opportunity right there in front of Him. Ministry for Jesus was the person standing in front of Him. And ministry for you and me is the person standing in front of us: our husband, our child, our friend, our neighbor (pg 51)." It challenged me to see each time I serve a drink to my kid's, bend down and listen to their stories, pack my husband a lunch or take a few minutes to talk with a neighbor, are all ministry in the eyes of God. That was so freeing for me! And convicting-I need to view just sitting and listening to someone as a ministry opportunity. Be encouraged! Your life is a ministry!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

Just wanted to share one of my favorite jelly recipes. This is from my grandma. It is sooo easy (the only kind of canning I want to do a week before delivery!) You don't even have to put it in a water bath to process it. This was JZ's first canning project-she is taking it to fair this year so we'll see how that goes!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

4 cups rhubarb, chopped
3 cups sugar
boil together for 10 minutes

add one 16oz frozen strawberry, sliced (I only added 2 cups sugar since the strawberrries had sugar added)
boil 3 more minutes

Remove from heat and add one box strawberry jello

Put in jars and place seal on top. Flip the sealed jars over for 10 minutes, turn them over again and you will hear the seals popping shortly letting you know that they sealed. So Easy!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Favorite

This is one of my favorite video clips! Not only because it makes us laugh but also because it depicts what our life is like each day. I love capturing our every day moments on video. I know one day they will be priceless. Notice the wonderful background? It's amazing what a 2 year old can do during just one naptime!!! We bought more border last night and we are getting the nursery ready for Baby Z! I'd like to say this child won't tear wall paper down because my I'm a wiser mom by child number 4, but all I've learned is that I know better than to say that!

Don't Take Getting Dressed For Granted

Monday, June 15, 2009

Off to Camp

JZ took off this morning on the church bus for a 2 hour ride to East Iowa Bible Camp. I prayed extra hard for safety (and for sanity for the bus driver) when I saw twenty 7th and 8th graders (majority were boys) and lots of Mountain Dew! Poor bus driver! The boys were so sad to see their big sister go! CZ (who is almost 5 years old!) started a chant that JZ learned in softball but has become well-known in our family, "JZ we miss you! Come home! Come home!" They chanted it over and over, long after the bus had gone out of sight. Not ashamed, even as the mom's waving their children off, laughed. I miss her already!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Starting My Blog Finally

Well, we created this blog several weeks ago and finally I'm sitting down to get started! We have just two weeks left until Baby Z enters the world. But, I have a feeling it might be sooner! I've been feeling a lot of back pressure and contractions. Two weeks ago I was dialeted 2 cm. I'm hoping I don't go this week since JZ, who is now 13! will be at camp all week. In May we had a 3D ultrasound in Mason City on the way to the farm. We found out we are having another sweet little boy! The kiddos are so excited to meet their baby brother.

We are trying to prepare for the transition of adding a new family member. Last week the boys moved into bunk beds! It has been a blast for them even though we made a big rule that there is to be no talking after the door is shut. It is hard for a 4 and 2 year old to have that kind of self-control but after several nights of consistent consequences they are getting the hang of it!