Life Is A Vapor

You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14 NASB

It has been over three now since I have last attended to this blog, but I have been impressed of late that I could and should find the time to write. For quite some time, I have struggled with finding the balance between living life on this earth to the fullest while keeping an eye on eternity. How do I live like today could be my last day on this earth or I could live to be a hundred?

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Gracie is a bit bewildered as to what to do with this thing on her tray.

After a little experimenting, she decides it is fun to play in the cake.

Ah, now there's my girl!

Growing Up Too Fast

Gracie was 8 months old yesterday, and time isn't slowing down at all! She seems to be growing up faster than the boys did! Her hair is past her eyes already too. It has been a challenge to keep it food-free during mealtimes. Here is a pic of her crazy hair after a bath.

Gracie loves standing now and also feeling her bottom teeth with her tongue. The top ones are causing her some grief right now--hopefully they'll pop through soon.

We have been playing outside as much as possible during the intermittent warmer and non-raining days that we've had.

What baby doesn't like to sit and bang on a piano? Gracie is no exception!

I've come to realize that life with three kids is busy just because there are now three small bodies that all need feeding, clothing, bathing, and loving and sometime all at the same time. Just getting a grocery list made and getting to the grocery store can be a huge undertaking! Then after carting it all home, I think, Wow, I won't need to go back for a whole month! Of course the next week, we are back again. =)

Then add to life with three home educating Ethan and now Cade with a baby crawling around in the mix, church activities, basketball, Wednesday Bible Study, several piano lessons and you've got a busy week for the Wassenaar family. I thank God that He is giving me contentment and joy to be at home with my children and also the desire to be responsible to teach and train them during these very formative years. Brady's and my desire for them is that they would "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men".

Giving Thanks

"I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:3).

Ethan & Cade say, We're thankful for...
~ our house
~ our family members, near & far
~ toys
~ Gracie Beth
~ the Bible

Baby Update: this month, Gracie has found her feet, started eating cereal, jumping in her jump-up, exercising in her exersaucer, and is getting ready to crawl.

Morning snuggle time.

jump-up time

exersaucer time

Happy Thanksgiving!

October 2008

What a busy month for the Wassenaars! A 6-day trip to the Midwest for a wedding in Racine, WI, two special birthdays, and a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Lachmann in Tennessee. Gracie continues to grow and get even cuter--as if that were possible! ;-) She was 13 lbs, 8 oz, and 24 3/4" today at her 4-month check. The reason I am able to finally post these pics is because she is taking an extra-long nap because of all her shots. Yes! View the slide shows to the right to see more pics.

Brady & Ethan, the birthday boys.

We had so much fun with G&G; they will definitely have to come again soon!

Ethan's birthday morning. Big brothers are so great at making sure little brothers smile and look at the camera.

Ethan and Cade really had to work hard at Grandma's house.

I don't know why everyone doesn't have one of these. They're so much fun. And so practical too.

Ethan's Baptism

Sunday, October 5, was an awesome day for our family! On January 22, 2008, Ethan had made the decision to ask Jesus to be his Savior. This past Wednesday, he decided he was ready to be baptized in order to make a public profession of that faith. It was all his own initiative and he was super excited about it! Brady was able to do the baptism and it was a blessing to see Ethan take this step in his walk with Jesus. Brady's family came to support Ethan and witness this special occasion.

All smiles!
A moment with Mom before the event...
I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Three months old and loving it!

Gracie Beth has turned a corner!. Now that she is three months old and rolling over, she is able to occupy herself for much longer periods of time. She is also very entertained by Ethan and Cade and is almost always happy if they are playing near her. She loves to sit in her swing and watch them do school or sit in her reclining high chair and watch their antics at the dinner table. She thinks she's a big shot. Observe the following pictures...

Watch out, world, here I come!
It is only a matter of time before she will be tormenting her brothers by following them around and getting into all their toys. Ethan is already planning ways to play and keep her out of his way. =)

Recent Photos

Time to spend on the computer is a rare commodity for me these days. I just have to post a few recent pictures of the kiddos, though, before I get Cade in bed for a nap and finish up school with Ethan. Then maybe I'll think about all the dirty dishes in the sink and the piles of clean laundry in my room. But then again, maybe by that time Gracie will be awake again and want to eat. At least I have happy, healthy and mostly clean children. That's something, anyway.
Gracie at 12 weeks.
the boys & their princess
i can almost roll over from my back to my tummy, but not quite
uh-oh, it looks like it runs in the family

School Daze

Ethan, Cade and I have been doing school for over a month now. Ethan started his new first grade books after Labor Day and--for the most part--enjoys school and learning very much. Here are a few pictures of some typical things that we do during the day here at home.

Ethan working on his phonics workbook.

Cade sorting plastics coins in an egg carton.

The boys and their princess. They are getting very good at entertaining her.

Fat baby barely fits on Cade's lap, but he still likes to hold her.

Ethan reading to Dad in the evening.

Chunky Monkey!

Has it really already been two months since our sweet baby girl arrived? I can't believe it! Today Gracie weighed in at 11 lbs 4 oz for her 2-month check and was 21.25" long. That is heavier than both her brothers at that age, and she started out a pound lighter than them. I can't find Cade's stats right now, but at two months Ethan was 10 lbs 15 oz and 23.5" long. Here Gracie is in all her chub.

Gracie's Room

Gracie is going on 8 weeks old, and I've finally finished putting her room together... mostly. I still need to hem the curtains and a couple other things. But here are a few pics (see slideshow to the right) for those of you who don't live in Tennessee. A friend made the beautiful quilt that is hanging on the wall.

Soccer Time!

Ethan is *so* excited about playing Upward Soccer this fall. Today we are going to get him some soccer cleats and shin guards, which are required for him to play. He can't wait! His friend Emily is going to be on his team.

Cade had to get in on the fun too; unfortunately, Dick's Sporting Goods didn't have shin guards in his size and we weren't going to buy brand-new cleats for him since he's not old enough to play this year. So he at least got a pair of soccer shorts anyway, and now he and Ethan think they are world-class soccer players.

We have been watching some of the Olympics lately and so Ethan wanted to know if he was going to get to play soccer on "the American team". Well, not exactly, but maybe someday in the future...

Gracie's Hairdo

Keeping this kid's hair combed is a losing battle! Check it out:

But she is a cutie, despite the punk-rocker 'do. =)

Uncle Caleb stops by...

Caleb stopped by today on his way to Indiana. He, Dad and Obadiah are taking a week camping and fishing trip to the UP. Sounds like fun, if you like to sleep on the ground and skewer live bait on fish hooks. Anyway, Ethan and Cade had a great time being entertained by him for a couple hours. Caleb now the distinction of being the first member on the Lachmann side of the family to see Gracie Beth in person.

Peter, I just wanted to tell you that we had Cheddar and Sour Cream Lays with our meal tonight, although I don't think that can compare to "Seafood Mayonnaise" flavor. ;-)

My First Blog

Well, Lydia, I figured if my lil' sis could have a blog, so could I! Now I can post recent pictures of the World's Most Adorable Children and all interested parties can easily access them when they want and also see the latest Wassenaar Family Happenings.

Right now I am sitting outside in our driveway sweating profusely while the boys are playing the sprinkler. Got to love that Tennessee heat and humidity. I am looking forward to Gracie waking up so that we will have a reason to go back inside.

Yesterday the boys had me put dish soap in the pool and we created lots and lots of bubbles--better than taking a bath! Ethan and I have been doing school again every day since last week. He has a few more pages to finish in his Kindergarten workbook so that he will be ready to start on his 1st grade ones. His reading skills have also slipped a little over the summer with Mom's attention being mostly on a newborn for a while, so we are reviewing all the K5 readers in order to be "up to snuff" by the end of August.

Wow, blogging *is* fun. I hope that I can find the time to keep it up this year.

Ruth Ann

Gracie Beth's First Month

Gracie Beth at one month.

Gracie Beth at three weeks old.

Gracie Beth at two weeks old.

Gracie Beth's first Fourth of July. One week old.

Our first family pic, June 29, 2008.

Grace Elisabeth Makes Her Debut

Grace Elisabeth, a.k.a. Gracie Beth, arrived June 27, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. She was 6 lbs. 9.5 oz. and 19.5 inches long.