Happy Anniversary!

Eight years ago today I married my amazing husband! Happy Anniversary Babe - I love you even more now then I did then!

Oh my.........

My mother-in-law raised 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls. Not only raised them, but homeschooled most of them right up thru High School. So I think its safe to say she has seen a lot when it comes to the antics of children.

And yet....

She had my kids today and when she brought them home she had a story about something Dakota had done. A story that she finished up by saying:

"You raise several kids and you THINK you have seen it all!"

Oh my - Dakota's only 3 - I think we are in for quite a ride!! :)

Sweet Potato Pie

Ali's teacher asked me last week if I would be willing to make some Sweet Potato Pie for her class to go along with a book they were reading. I had never made one but was certainly willing to give it a shot. Her teacher provided the recipie and making them was very easy. I also made an extra for us and it was delicious! The class loved them and made me this sweet thank-you note. Obviously written by the teacher, but the wording was mostly provided by the kids! I have been helping with Ali's class all day every Tuesday since October so I have gotten to know these kids fairly well and I just truly enjoy the time I spend there! And her teacher is WONDERFUL!

Family Love

My kids are such cuddle bugs - I love it!

with Daddy

with Cousin Portia

with Daddy again!
with Aunt Dani (or as Coda says "Aunt Dan-ee-yell)

with Cousin Christy (they were playing dress up at Grandma's house - that being the reason that Ali has on a summery Mexico inspired dress when it was December! :))

Not a great pic but it was Coda cuddling with my Dad watching a parade.

Notice mommy is not in any of these being cuddled. Alas, as the mommy I am the one running the camera so when I am cuddling them there is no one to capture the moment! :)

Two Down!

Ali has lost two bottom teeth so far and has discovered the fun of the Tooth Fairy!

Psalm 113:3

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised"
Psalm 113:3 (King James Version)

What an awesome challenge!

Dakota's Favorite Shirt

Dakota loves his Thomas the Train shirt! As you can tell by how proudly he puffs out his stomach to show it off for the camera! It cracks me up that my 3 year old son asks for certain articles of clothing to wear when he gets dressed in the morning. He should be way to young for that!

Mr. & Mrs. Bart Leman

My cousin Bart got married Saturday and it was a beautiful wedding and reception which was enjoyed by many! We pray God will bless them as they join their lives as one!

It was a family affair, my Mom made the wedding cake, my Aunt Margie did the sheet cakes and Danielle and Mom catered the event!

On a side note: Dakota has a double ear infection and a sinus infection so we could use some prayers for healing and patience in our household! :)

Trick or Treat aka Christmas Tree!

For some reason Trick-or-Treat Night in our town is always on a Saturday, so this year it was set to be on Nov. 1st. We had a wedding to be at that day (I'll post on that later!) so we took the kids to Aunt Kayla and Uncle Aaron's on Oct 31st and did our Trick-or-Treating in their neighborhood! The kids love any chance to go visit them!

Ali was Minnie Mouse and her costume was actually one that I wore when I was about her age! My mom found some of our old costumes in her attic and passed them on to me. We had a terrible time keeping the head part of the costume on her though! If I had it to do again I think I would actually tape part of it to her forehead to keep it in place. Dakota was a dinosaur this year and he loved it! He has worn the costume several days other then halloween!

The kids enjoyed it! We did get a good laugh about Dakota tho. For some reason as people would open their doors and Ali would say "trick-or-treat", he would very enthusiastically say "Christmas Tree!" It was so cute! They do sound a bit alike! At least he was trying!

All ready to go!

A view from the back!

After the first house Dakota decided he needed to be carried. Thankfully, after a few more houses he decided to walk again!

Time On The Farm

Dakota is obsessed with farm vehicles! He has been begging to ride a combine so, since Ali had a half school day yesterday, after we picked her up from school we headed to my Mom and Dad's to give Dakota some farm time! He and Ali both got to ride in the combine AND the semi so they were quite thrilled. Unfortunately I didn't get any close up pictures of them riding the combine, but they are in there!

After the semi ride

Watching the beans being unloaded from the semi!

I tired to get a picture of the kids and I as they piled on my lap to watch but it was a little difficult to get a good angle! And it was alos more then a little windy, as evidenced by my and Ali's flying hair!

Thanks Dad, for letting the kids experience the farm!

Fun Times

In August we went to South Bend to spend a few nights at Nate and Natalie's and for some reason I never got around to posting my photos from that weekend! We had a great time and have to do it again sometime! We packed alot into one weekend but it was a blast. Here are a few photos from it!

Even Paul enjoyed the play area at the South Bend Chocolate Company place!

Dakota tried his hand and pushing on the swing. I think he enjoyed it more then she did as he was a little overzealous and it was more like he was shoving her then just gently pushing her!

How many kids can you fit in a little sandbox!

Portia trying to get away from the water at the splashpad...........
While Ali would stand underneath the bucket and wait for it to fill...........

and then let it dump on her!

Ali trying to get Portia to look at the camera

Grandma Beth taking Ali and Christy through the splash pad

7 Things

Let me just say right off the bat that this was not easy for me. Finding 7 things to say about myself shouldn't be that hard but everytime I tried I just drew a blank as to what I could say. So, after much deliberation, here we go....... :)

7. I am easily stressed. (As evidenced by the fact that the simple task for this was a stresser!) I love having people over but don't do it very often because I get so worked up and stressed out about getting things ready that I make myself almost sick. Pathetic, I know!

6. I have a hard time opening up to people. I love to talk. (I am sure that isn't new information for anyone!) I can talk quite a bit about general, superficial things, however, when it comes to deeper, personal issues I clam up. I think it stems from a fear that something I reveal about myself means I won't "measure up" to what others think I should.

5. I like my personal space bubble. (This does not apply around Paul and the kids - I don't have a personal space issue with them!) I think this has to do with #6 also. Letting people physically close has to do with letting them emotionally close in my book.

4. I am NOT a morning person! This is not news to anyone that has lived with me (right Sandra? :)) but for the rest of you it might be. I am generally not pleasent until after 10 am. Maybe if I could acquire a taste for coffee it might help but I personally do not like the stuff!

3. I like to color with my kids.......or by myself. :) I find it very soothing!

2. For those of you who have ever wondered....... When I laugh really hard my eyes do shut entirely and I can't see. This is especially hazardous when driving!! So, moral of the story, don't make me laugh to hard when you are riding in a vehicle that I am driving!!

1. I LOVE laundry! Something about it is so refreshing. To see all the dirty, haphazard piles and be able to turn them into nice, clean, folded stacks. There is something so nice about the orderliness of it. Dirty clothes in the washer, mov'em to the dryer, fold them and put them away. Such an organized system! Maybe I like it because as hard as I try in other areas of my life I CANNOT seem to stay organized!

Well, there you have it! Have a great weekend everyone! I am looking forward to spending it with some of Paul's family and celebrating my niece's 1st birthday!

Fall Fun

Instead of carving our pumpkins, we take the easy route around here and paint them! The kids love it!

Success!

I think its safe to say Dakota is officially potty trained! Yay!!

He still has accidents every once in while, but they are rare and because he waits to long to run for the potty, not because he doesn't realize he has to go.

Way to go Dakota!

Our First Pets

We purchased our first pets this week! We now have 3 fish! Ali has been begging for some fish for a while so we set a goal for her at school with the deal that when she accomplished it she could have some fish. She loves to feed them everyday after school. Dakota did try to feed them some candy on the first day but has since been very well behaved around them.

A few updates:

Ali has her first loose tooth! She is quite excited about it.

Dakota's potty training is going very well. In fact he hasn't had a #2 accident all week!

Always good for a laugh.....

Potty Training.

Just saying those two words makes me a little anxious.

I really, really, dislike this part of child rearing. It was a long process with Ali so I decided with Dakota I wasn't going to push it. Which lead to the fact that I have tried off and on to train Dakota for over a year now and ended up giving up every time. About a month ago I finally decided he's old enough that it needs to be done and I set my mind to it.....and then "life" got in the way! Imagine that! First we went away for a long weekend, then something else and so on and so forth. We finally really got down to it but things weren't going so well. Until last night, and then this morning, when I thought I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. (a very LONG tunnel I might add:))

Last night he got out of the tub with no prompting to go... that was great. Today he had one accident but made it to the potty before it was huge mess! He was even telling me when he had to go some of the time, it wasn't always me telling him its time to try!

So far so good!

I was a little leary about getting too excited thinking, maybe he is psyching me out and this will be a fluke day. And then this evening............

I found him peeing outside! WHAT! Where did my little son learn this!

He was even out back behind the house like he knew this wasn't something to do in the front yard where everyone can see. (Thank heaven for small miracles!) And not only did he do this once, the next time he had to go he threw an absolute fit when I tried to make him go in the actual potty. Then I found him twice more AFTER that out back again. And its even funnier because he has this one spot that he does it in. I am seriously baffled as to where this is coming from! (although we did think of this evening that maybe he learned it from the little 5 year old boy that lives across the street and comes over to play)

So.... to add a new element to potty training! At least he seems to have figured it out........now we just have to figure out how to make him so excited to go in the toilet!!!

And also - this was just one good day! Who knows what I will wake up to deal with tomorrow!!

Have a great weekend all!

Making Applesauce

Five women, 4 kids age 3 and under and 5 bushels of apples to be made into applesauce! Has the potential for fun OR disaster! Fortunately for us it went towards the fun side!

Dakota and I spent yesterday up in South Bend making applesauce with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. We (Beth, Dakota and I) drove up after I dropped Ali off at school in the morning and got back home around 8:30 p.m. so it was a long day but worth it! I have lots of applesauce in the freezer and I got to spend time catching up with family, which is always good!

Dakota entertained himself by squeezing into Portia's excersaucer.

Enjoying an apple - he looks like he was trying to be sneaky by hiding by the apples but I am not sure why becasue he did have permission to eat one!

Amber's first applesauce making day.

Dakota spent some time being helpful by stirring the applesauce but it didn't last long when his idea of "helping" started to include flipping applesauce onto the floor.

We had to take turns feeding and entertaining the little ones.

Portia seems to be enjoying her cheerios!

After School Drama

So, we are settling into our school days routine around here! Ali rides to school with a friend and I pick her up after school. Things have been running pretty smoothly.... until today! I was going about my afternoon just fine, until I looked at the clock and realized time had slipped by and I had FORGOTTEN TO GO GET ALI FROM SCHOOL!

I am a bit of a dramatic person so I, of course, panicked a little. I grabbed the phone to call the school and the conversation went something like this....

Secretary: "Hello?"

Me: "I forgot to pick up my daughter!" (no Hello or anything, I just blurted it out!)

Secretary: "Who is this?"

Me: "Mrs. Virkler, I mean Miranda Virkler" ( I never call myself Mrs. Virkler, not sure why I did this time!)

Secretary: "You normally pick her up?"

Me: "Yes."

I am pretty sure at this point she was thinking I was a lunatic! Anyway - she had someone look to see if she is waiting outside and at this point I am near tears because feel so bad. She was just waiting outside so they said they would bring her back in until I got there. I raced around finding clothes for Dakota, becasue of course he was sitting in just his underwear ( a whole other story :))

We get to the school and she comes out,

"Mommy, where WERE you?"

Me: "I am SO sorry honey! Mommy forgot! Were you scared?"

Ali: "No - just sad."

AAUUUGGGHHH! As if I didn't feel bad enough already, when she said that my heart just broke!

I bet for a while now I will be watching the clock like a hawk in the afternoon because I will be paranoid about doing that again!

One very happy little boy!

Dakota seems to have adjusted well to not having his sister around to entertain him all day. In fact, he is so quiet I often have to seek him out to make sure that he's not being mischevious!


To help keep him entertained, a few days ago my good friend Amanda, a volunteer EMT here in Remington, was nice enough to take Dakota and I, and another friend Heather and her little boy, up to the fire station to see the ambulance and the fire trucks! Dakota was LOVING it! Like most little boys he thinks fire trucks and ambulances are too cool!

Trying out the front of the ambulance

All smiles outside the fire truck!

Of Course.....

A gazillion toys in the house to play with and what do they prefer to do? Pull apart the linen closet!!! :)

And She's Off!

Well, we all survived the first day of Kindergarten! Ali went very easily and settled into her class. She even said she'd go back tomorrow!

All ready to go!

Showing off her Strawberry Shortcake back pack!

A picture with mommy!

Stop Time, Stop!

2 Days! That's all I have left before I have to send my baby girl to Kindergarten! I am so not ready. I never would have imagined myself the type of mom that would struggle with this but I am! Please pray for us. For Ali that she would settle into the new routine and enjoy it. For me that I can let her go and trust God that He will protect her and that I can remember that His plan for her is perfect!

Extended Family Fun

This past weekend we were with my Dad's side of the family for a few days. Out of a family total of 54 we had 46 of us show up for at least part of the weekend! Some zoo time, swimming, family team Olympics, lots of talking and ,of course, food were all packed into the weekend! We also had awesome weather. It's a wonderful thing to grow up as part of a family heritage that includes a belief in Christ and being raised to have a relationship with Him! We are SO BLESSED! Here are some pictures of our time together!

At the penguin exhibit they had a spot where you could watch the penguins swim under the water through a window in the floor.

Paul and Dakota waiting patiently in line.

A tired Ali getting a lift from Daddy for a while.

Dakota's first ever roller coaster ride!

Some of us stayed in a hotel and some stayed in a rented house. The house came with a great playground area, shuffleboard, basketball court, horse shoes and picnic pavillion.

Ali found a new use for the shuffleboard sticks - terrorizing Uncle Jesse!

The fam watching the free throw part of the family olympics.

The newest family member - Ainsley (4 months)

Dakota testing out the water temp!

Getting ready to start another game in the Olympics

Ali and Paul were on the team that won the silver medal!