Summer Recap

Later this week we will experience the official change from summer to fall.  It probably won't be too different for the first few days but cooler weather is on its way and college football is already here!  On that note, I thought I'd send out a quick summer recap.  Clearly Hazel's arrival was the biggest news of our summer but we had several adventures and I managed to actually snap plenty of photos of the kids.  I apologize if this gets too long but I'll try to keep the words to a minimum.

Summer days at home......

Learning how to be big brothers.

Putting the boys to work.

 

Hanging out with friends.

 

 Molly next door even taught the boys how to properly host a tea party.  Ha!

Summer selfies.

Fun in the grass.  These boys love their daddy!

 

Rockin out to some tunes on a lazy weekend morning.

Today was Zach's first soccer game of the fall.  He is officially part of the "Blue Whales" and he played his best game yet today!

And mixed in with all with all of the above were a few trips!

Mercer, WI with the Breault family.......

Lake Anna, VA with Mamaw's Clan

A fun day at an amusement park.  Zach just kept saying "This is awesome!"

Finally, a great trip to Kansas City to visit the Nielands!  Unfortunately, I didn't get too many photos on this trip but we at least got a group shot.  

Sorry this has been so long but I'll just leave you with a goodbye from our little bull rider......

3 Months and 1 day!

Oops....we forgot to snap Hazel's 3 month picture yesterday.  So young and as the third child is already getting left out.  She didn't really seem to care though.  Here is our Hazel at a whopping 3 months old!

I'm back to work and Hazel is getting lots of Gloria time and loving it.  Time flies!

And here are the links to Zach and Gunnar at 3 months.  They were both so much chubbier!

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2011/02/3-months.html?_sm_au_=iHV1MjN71WZqtTWP

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2013/08/3-months.html?_sm_au_=iHV1MjN71WZqtTWP

First Day of School

Zach and Gunnar started school this week!

Zach's first day of Kindergarten was yesterday.  He was a little nervous but very confident that we would like Kindergarten once he got used to it.  Zach is in a Spanish immersion program where eh teacher (Ms. DiFrisco) will be speaking Spanish for roughly 90% of the class once the first couple of weeks of adjustment have passed and they are all settled in.  We were worried that if Zach didn't understand some of the language at first he may be adverse to the situation but it doesn't seem to phase him at all.  Apparently he had a lot of fun and was super excited to tell us all about it on the walk home yesterday.  He was even excited to return for a second day and picked up his pace a bit on the walk to school.  We love that his school is just a few blocks away!

Gunnar's first day of preschool was today!  He was quite excited to get going this morning even though he wasn't a fan of having to wear a polo shirt today.  He walked right into the school and classroom like he owned the place and started playing on the other side of the room immediately.  I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have cared if we just turned around and left without a goodbye but we made him give us a hug and kiss.  Ha!  He is still young enough that we can do that.  

Getting details out of this guy is going to be tough though.  We got a lot of "I don't know" out of him today when we asked what he did or his classmates names.  And we also got mixed stories.... There is 1 girl in his class.....no 2 girls in his class.  He didn't have snack.....oh but he ate yogurt.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure we will never really know what is going on and this is just the beginning!

Stats

Just a quick update........

Hazel weighed in at a solid 12 lbs and was 25" long at her 2 month check-up.  Here she is sound asleep after the doctor checked her out.  Unfortunately she was in for a rude awakening of a vaccination shot in each leg.  Ouch!

2 Months and Already a Travel Pro

Hazel is 2 months old today!!  She is still pretty good at eating and sleeping although she has recently begun smiling at all of us.  She's pretty cute when she flashes you a sweet grin!  In two months she has managed to do quite a bit in regards to social activity.  Hazel has been to work luncheons, Zach's baseball games, the boys swim lessons, several trips to the pool and the Herm's, a day at the beach and has now gone on several long car rides to spend vacations in Mercer, WI and Lake Anna, VA.   We actually just got home from our vacation in VA this evening.  Whew!  I'm tired but she seems to be taking it all in stride just like her brothers. 

Here are her 2 month photos!  I'm a little bias but I think she's awfully adorable.

Here are the links to Zach and Gunnar's 2 month photos.  I think she looks like a mix of the two of them.  And wow....Zach's hair was really red!

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2011/01/2-months.html

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2013/07/so-big.html

10lbs of Sugar and a Buzz Cut

Hi Everyone! 

We are counting down the days in our house until family vacation at Lake Anna.  I hope you are all as excited as we are!  I haven't been great about updating the blog this year but I'm hoping to improve so everyone can see Hazel grow as much as the boys do.  I thought I would post some photos of our summer fun since I'm sure the boys will be telling stories about some of their activities when you see them.  I'm on maternity leave all summer and so far it has been fun to experience the boys on a day to day basis.  Recovery from having Hazel has kept me from doing as much playing as I'd like but the boys adore her and have luckily been pretty patient with me.  I wish I had every summer off!  For those of you out there that are teachers.........well played!

We wrapped up Zach's baseball season in June.  He definitely improved!  We found out that if he actually focused he was pretty good at hitting and throwing.  It is all still a work in progress but he discovered that standing out on the field in the sun is exhausting and sweaty.

Boppa Bill convinced one of his buddy's to take us out on his boat and our boys LOVE boats and the water.  We are destined to live on a lake!

We made it to the 4th of July parade...

Have gone on many bike rides through the neighborhood so Hazel can get a ride in the stroller....

And of course have regular superhero missions.

The boys love to help with Hazel when they can.

Here is how Hazel spends her beach days.  I can't say I blame her.  I can't seem to get this picture to rotate but you get the idea.  We took her in for her 1 month check-up and she is getting big!

9lbs 14oz

24" long

Nana says she a 10lb sack of sugar!

And finally.......we gave the boys a haircut last night.  They were getting a bit shaggy and with their thick hair and the hot weather they were constantly sweaty.  Rich played barber and got the clippers out for some summer time buzz cuts!

Yay for summer!!

Near or far, we hope to see you soon!

1 Month Already!

Hazel is 1 month old today!  I can't believe she has been part of our family that long already.  The boys were excited to tell her "happy birthday" and I think Zach even gave her a "Good for you, Hazel!"

I realize I didn't post a photo from when she was born so I've included one of those here too.

Minutes after she was born.....

3 days old (and a professional photographer).......

1 month old!!!

Here is a look at the blog posts for Zach and Gunnar at 1 month old.

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2010/12/growing-fast.html

http://zmakesthree.blogspot.com/2013/06/1-month.html

We don't know Hazel's stats yet on size but I'll update the blog with that info after her doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  And I'll try to put in some photos of all the fun we've been having in the last month.