Sunday, September 17, 2017

Family-palooza


We have had sooooo much fun over the past few weeks!  We had Cousin Camp 2017 Part Dos with the Gilberts at the end of August, my parents were able to come visit us for a whole week over Labor Day; and just a few short days later, our party of five headed to the Eastern Shore for 5 days with almost 30 folks from Pete's side of the family.  The only reason Sus and John (and I) didn't have a sobfest when PopPop and Dizzy left was because of the promise of cousins and beach and FiggyPop just around the corner.

I'm pretty sure by the end of our week with my parents my dad was an expert at hiding from scary beasts and Bergens and my mom was completely crafted-out.  If Susannah and John weren't warning PopPop about how THE SCARY BEAST IS COMING AGHHHHH, they were asking Dizzy what craft they'd be doing that morning/after lunch/after nap/before dinner/after dinner/tomorrow/a little later/in five minutes.  There is no shortage of fun or willing playmates when PopPop and Dizzy are present.

While at the Eastern Shore, specifically Kiptopeke State Park, we had the best, most fun-filled and laid-back vacation.  Post Labor Day bay vacation is for real where it's at.  Calm and shallow water, cool temps, empty beach...it was so great.  We got to reconnect with some of Pete's cousins we hadn't seen in a long time, as well as some I hadn't even met yet!  I am so thankful for the amazing family I married into when I became an Acker -- I have yet to meet a family member I did not immediately fall in love with.

Pics!

Flying lessons 

Dizzy is the most fun bath giver!

Mary's fav toy

Perks of the padres being in town: DATE NIGHT!

Hanging out at our land

Dolly Baby or Mary Baby?

Labor Day cookout snoozin

Sweeties

Crafting with Dizzy

Like father, like son!

We went on a walk the other night and got out of the stroller to throw rocks in the creek; the kids automatically assumed the position we take anytime I'm walking with all three of them on anything paved for cars (i.e. Walmart parking lot). 

SO MUCH LOVE

Smiley Mary!

Ice cream after church last week!  DON'T YOU JUST WANT TO EAT HIM?!

BEEEEEEAAAACCCHHHHH!!!!

We were concerned that John might not like the beach because of the sand sticking to his skin, but boy were we wrong. 

I brought all the tricks to get Mary to nap at the beack: tent, sleepsuit, paci... nope.  She's a sun child and wanted to be out with the rest of us!

Just missing our Than Man!

Pete gave the kids canoe joy rides

Not a whole lot cuter than that.

These two are the sweetest buddies.  John LOVES Hannah so much.

My big girl!

Mary shoved quite a few fistfuls of sand in her mouth


Baby toting on the beach with Oksana and sweet Baby James!

Chunky girlie!

And we're zonked.  Less than 30 minutes down the road from our beach lodge, all 3 babes were out cold.  Bless them, they didn't have an ounce of energy left after that fun week!
And now we're back home, starting Mary on cloth diapers.


Monday, August 14, 2017

A Hippo Named Boo-Boo Butt


If you've been around us anytime in the past month, you've heard all about the hippo named Boo-Boo Butt.  John is obsessed, and Sus thinks it's hilarious.  Boo-Boo Butt comes from a book that the kids are in love with called The Book With No Pictures - the premise being that this book requires grown-ups to say silly things.  John now says "Boo-Boo Butt" approximately 47 times a day.  A few weeks ago we had some friends over for dinner, and I had a talk with John about not saying Boo-Boo Butt at all while they were here.  I was so proud of that little buddy because he only let it slip past his lips ONCE at dinner time and immediately covered his mouth with his hands.  Shortly after dinner, however, I took him to his room to change his diaper.  As soon as we crossed the threshold and were officially away from our guests for a moment, John, overcome with the urge to speak the best words he's EVER KNOWN EVER, worked Boo-Boo Butt into our 2-minute private conversation 17 times. I love him so much.

Another fun factoid about John: HE'S POTTY TRAINED!!!  John Boy has been in undies for 3 weeks now, and is doing amazingly well.

Susannah has recently been making up stories and songs, many of which have made up words and/or are combinations of stories she's heard.  Tonight's song was enlightening: "I loooove youuuuu.  I looooove youuuuu.  But I reeeealllyyyy love your boooooat!"  Must be all those Jersey Shore re-runs she's been watching.

And our sweet Mary...I've never met a baby as polite as Mary!  She's the easiest little thing to love and care for.  She smiles so much and loves watching her siblings play.  She's sleeping through the night now (7:30ish - 6:30ish) and is happy as a lark upon waking.

I know I'm biased, but I swear I have the best kids in the world.  They love life, most of the time love each other, are sweet to their friends, and are SO sweet to me and Pete.  I cannot hug them tight enough for the love that I feel for each of them!  I know you other parents out there know what I'm talking about.  This baby love is just so unreal.

And so is the amount of pictures you snap of these chirren.  Here are a few from the last couple months!

Got to see some of our favorite Auburn friends while in Harrisonburg back in June!

AUNT KK CAME TO VISIT!!!!!

Mary @ 3 months old

Twinsies

Mary seems quite taken with Fake Mom

Male model on the loose, showing off his big boy undies!

Celebrating his successful potty training with a yummy Frosty 
Our favorite game: pretend sleep.


SUP.

Our new sleep trick with Mary Girl: the Magic Sleepsuit!  

Four months old!

SUCH a happy baby (AND such a handsome hubby...Mmmmhmmm!)

A cup of milk and a magazine 

Front porch picnickers

Sus is getting pretty good at photography!
This is where the pics get out of chronological order, as you'll see as you scroll...
We've been doing some preschool stuff at home (only things that require < 5 minutes of prep). Ice cream cone counting!

More preschool!

So much sugar 
Twins


Just felt like sitting in the dress up box for a bit

Potty training be like...  

Got to see the Gilberts and FiggyPop for a bday celebration, and these buddies are too funny!

WATER BALLOON READY!

Trying to take a good pic only to be ambushed by kids with water balloons

So thankful for them! 
MAKE ROOM!


Mary was made for this life

Cow Appreciation Day -- Pete and I have only missed one of these since its beginning.

Aunt KK is SO CRAZY

Just a boy and his Pop.  (I LOVE THIS PICTURE SO MUCH.)

Crafting is fun....

Why not?