One of Abe's traits that I admire about him is that he is such a BIG helper.  Here you can see Abel helping with taking out the trash.  Other things that Abel loves to help with is the dishwasher, and picking up the toys.  Thanks Abe for being a big helper!

Moments like these.. make my heart melt.

Love these three more than words can describe.

Grandpa's Birthday Party

We had everyone over for dinner and then cookie cake.  It was a beautiful day out so we spent the evening outside playing with all the toys.. YEA for family birthday parties!

We got ourselves a new fridge.. Here we are watching the people from Lowe's unload it!

Here is how I found Halle today after nap time!

Here are all the siblings enjoying a milk break!

Our life my be crazy busy.. but it is a great great life!

Before church fun!!!

Big brother.. little brother

cherish these moments

Today I experienced one of those moments I want to never forget...
The moment started out not so great but ended with me and Alan having tears in our eyes.

We were all outside enjoying the weather and toys in the front yard.  Halle was having a little bit of an attitude and starting throwing a fit.  Alan and Abel were just about ready to go for a walk and Halle made some bad choices that made it so that she was not able to go on the walk.  So she was in the front yard yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs, and Al and Abe went on their walk.  About four houses down Abe looked back and saw Halle.  He made a dash back to the house.  He went and picked up the different toys that Halle had thrown around, while in her rage, he put them all back in to her shopping cart and then brought the shopping cart back to her.  Then he went looked at her with concern and leaned in to give her a hug.
Alan and I watched in amazement that kind service that Abel gave to his sister.  It was one of those moments that we literally felt that love that Abe has for his big sister.  Halle was grateful for Abe's kindness and did give him a hug and stopped with her fit.
Thank you Abel for your lesson of kindness and service today.

big girl bed take two

Halle came back from the cabin today and we have changed her bedroom.  She no longer has a crib.  The first time we did this.. it was not successful at all.  So we were having high hopes that this time would go smoothly. and it has gone smoothly thankfully!
Halle is loving her new "big girl" bed!

SHE'S HOME!!!!!

and this mommy missed her ALOT!

She had a great time with her cousins and Grammie and Grandpa.

It was not the best weather but they still  had the best time being together!

They went on boat rides, four wheeler rides, went to the park, went to spooner, watched movies, had a unicorn party, and just had fun being together!

Here are some pictures from her week away....

Halle said that she had a great time at the cabin.. but was ready to come home!

We missed you Halle and we are so glad that you are home again!

dear friend

Kelsy came over to help this momma out today.  I have mastitis and it is the sickest I have ever felt in my life.  Grateful for a friend that will help out when I am in need.  Kelsy and Abe went on a nice long walk... they tried to go to the park, but Abe was having a fit about getting out at the park, so Kelsy just took him on a long stroll around the neighborhood.  Once they returned we had lunch and then naps for all parties involved.

10 days old

and still melting my heart...

the men in my life

Love these boys...

and especially love that Man!!!

Abel and Noah.. make sure to be like your dad.

He is pretty much amazing... and I am beyond grateful that he is mine for eternity!

brothers

There is no doubt in my mind that these two will be inseparable...

Halle's away... Mommy and the boys will play!

Abel is starting to adjust a little bit more to Noah.

He was actually quite distant from me since we brought Noah home.

Today, 8 days later, was the first time that Abel really wanted to cuddle and snuggle with me!!!!

I have been missing this snuggles all week long..

Snuggling up with a newborn... nothing better... loving this little man!

and their off...

These little ladies.. Grammie and Grandpa are on their way up to the cabin for the week.

Mom, Abel, Noah, and Dad will try hard not to miss Halle!!!!

Have so much fun Halle and stop growing up!

This will be Halle's first time away from Mom and Dad.

Not going to lie... I cried when I said goodbye to her!

4 days old...

I can hardly resist his cuteness!!!!!

sibling love

Halle and Abel were excited to meet their little brother.

Halle was overjoyed to see, hold, and kiss baby Noah.

It took Abel a little bit to get excited to hold him.. but eventually he did.

Abel loves to kiss Noah's head and "touch nice."

Noah you are pretty lucky to have some pretty AWESOME siblings.

So excited to have you grow up with them!

my loves

Grateful to be a mom to these three...

our piece of heaven.

Thank you Heavenly Father for sending Noah to us!!!

Labor and Delivery Story

Well... Noah is here and he is perfect. 

Once the epidural is in... this momma is feeling TONS better!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!!!!

Grateful to have him here safe and sound!

I am so tired mom...

Nothing better than newborn snuggles.... love this little dude!

Noah Spencer Blake... we love you!

Well it all started on Wednesday after I went to my doctors appointment.  While at the appointment the doctor stripped my membranes and he said that if this was going to work that I would probably be in labor by the middle of the night.  I honestly thought to myself that this was not going to work out so I did not get my hopes up.  Lucky enough for me.. contractions started that evening around 9:30pm or so.  They were not really strong but they did hurt and kept my up most of the night.  They were ranging from 7-10 minutes apart and really did not get any closer than that.  In the morning I woke up and they were completely gone.  DANG IT... so Alan went to work and made sure to stay around farms that he would have signal at.  Abel, Halle and I went about our normal day routine.  We headed to Fleet Farm after naps to get an oil change and sure enough contractions started again.  They were stronger than yesterday and were ranging from 4-7 minutes apart.  I thought FOR SURE that tonight was going to be the night.  We went to my parents house for dinner and I was continuing to have contractions.  We decided to have the kids stay at my parents house so that they would not have to come over in the middle of the night if things really got going.  So away Alan and I went back home.  Once home they were strong but then started to tapper off, and by 9:30 they were completely gone.  DANG IT.... so I went to sleep and got a great night of sleep.  Alan and I felt that he needed to take the day off so he stayed home.  Once we woke up we went and hung out with the kids at my parents house.  I took a nap and then we decided to go and play at a park for a while.  We hung out at the park for about an hour or so and then went and got lunch.  Then we came home to take naps and I decided to take a nice long walk on the treadmill.  Did that and then just rested until Abel and Halle woke up.  Alan and I decided that we needed to go and grad some things from my parents house that we left there in the morning, so we packed up the kids and away we went.  On the way over I started to have contractions... and they were strong and started to come on faster and faster.  We got to my parents and I asked my dad for a fathers blessing.  After the blessing it seemed like the contractions were starting to be right on top of each other.  I told Alan that we needed to go home and get the bags.  We did just that and my dad came over to feed the kids dinner and take care of them.  Alan and I were off to the hospital.  It was a long drive to the hospital and pretty painful to be sitting and contracting.  Once we got to the hospital we were admitted right away and I got checked this was around 6:15 or so.  I was at a 6 and 70% effaced.  I asked for an epidural and then just had to wait and endure the contractions.  Once the epidural was in... All things were much better!!!!  The epidural was in by 7:15pm and then it was the waiting game.  Dr. McKeon was on call and was able to get to the hospital  around 8:00.  She checked me and I was at an 8 but did not want to break my water yet because Noah was still pretty high.  So she said that she would be back in two hours and see where we were at.  Alan and I were able to hang out and then I sent Alan out to get some food for himself and also for me after I delivered.  Once Alan was back and enjoyed his chipolte burrito.. Dr McKeon came back and checked.  I was at a 9 and she felt comfortable breaking my water.  Once she did that she saw that Noah was face up.  So she suggested that I switch positions and try to get Noah to turn.  They brought in a "peanut" pillow and wrapped my legs around that.  It made me really sick and I started throwing up.  I felt tons and tons of pressure and was ready to have him here.  The nurse asked me if I just wanted to start pushing and I said that I was ready.  They helped me to turn back so that I was laying on my back again and the nurse checked and the laying on my side with the "peanut" pillow worked!!!! The nurse told me to start to push.. and then she said to stop so that Dr. McKeon could come in.  Dr. Mckeon came and with one more push sweet Noah entered this world.

Delivering children is the closest to Heavenly Father that I have ever felt in my life.  The veil is very thin and his spirit resides in that delivery room.  I am grateful that Noah was delivered and arrived safe and sound.  It continues to strengthen my testimony each time I deliver that we do have a Heavenly Father and that he does love us and that he knows each of us individually.  He is a part of each minute detail of our life.. and I am beyond grateful for that knowledge.
Thank you for coming to our family Noah.  We will try our hardest to teach you all that you need to know as you grow up with our family.

Noah had a great birthday party!!!!

Noah Spencer Blake

Happy Birthday Noah Spencer Blake.

Born 8/8/2014 at 11:07pm

Weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces

measured 20.5 inches long

and has totally and completely stolen our hearts!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD NOAH!!

We are beyond thrilled to have you in our family!

snack time

after a morning of playing outside...

all needed a break and snack.

Here Abe and Halle are enjoyed a juicy and fruit snacks while watching bolt.

I love lazy days like these!!!

Also looking forward to my doctors appointment this afternoon...

hoping that things are progressing and hoping we will have a baby soon!

service

To get my mind off of having this baby.. I went and picked up the girls.  We came back to my house. Baked about 5 dozen cookies and dropped them by the transplant house.  We also might have enjoyed McDonald's for lunch!!!!  It was a great way to spend fun time with my kids and my nieces and also serve others.  All the kids were very interested in why the people were living there and why they wanted cookies, but when we got to the house they were able to see that people were living there that were sick and some of the people talked with the kids and thanked them for their service and the yummy treats.  Great day spent with people I really LOVE!!!!

...and here is Abe stuffing his face with grapes!!!

Love this kid!

raising monarchs

My 7th grade science teacher would be proud!!!

My mom was able to acquire some monarch caterpillars.

She brought three over to our house.

Currently two are living.. and I hope that two will survive and we will be able to enjoy letting go two monarch butterflies.

Here's to hoping we get a baby before we get butterflies!

Due date has come

and gone....

but we are sure ready to meet you Noah when you are ready to meet us.

Until that time we will continue on and stick to our normal routines!!!

We love you and can not wait to meet you.

no need for cats here!!!!

Abel has figured out the cat door in the laundry room.

I was doing something in my bedroom and all the sudden I hear Abel giggling.

I go to see what is so funny and  there Abe is hanging out inside the laundry room.

The door knob is too high for Abe to reach so I am assuming the only way he got in there was through the door.

Little moments like these are my favorite.

thank you for the laugh today Abel!!!!

Later this afternoon we headed over to Austin to celebrate Grandma Blake's birthday!!!

We had a yummy lunch of BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, home made buns, coleslaw.

We hung out around the pool and enjoyed everyone's company.

For dinner we headed in to town and enjoyed the fine dining of Culver's!!!

It was fun to be able to spend the afternoon/evening with family and specifically celebrating Merilee's birthday!!!