The start of a new school year

Ethan started 1st grade and Lauren began Kindergarden on Thursday. We are very thankful for their amazing teachers and the tear free drop off, at least the kids were tear free. After a successful first day of school, we pulled out all the stops and sent them on the bus for the first time ever on Friday. They have to transfer buses at the high school, which is the part that mom could do without, but they made it to their school safe and sound. We had them take the bus home too, but Ethan assures me that he won't be doing that again. Mom says that they will take the bus in the morning but that she will pick them up after school on her way home from work.

All about Gavin

Now days Gavin is into eating everything but loves rice cakes, graham crackers, and cheerios. He also enjoys playing outside, chewing on everything especially his Little People toys, and crawling up the steps. He has a beaultiful smile, claps with one hand stationary, waves bye-bye, wrinkles up his nose and snorts while he laughs, and loves being near his mommy, daddy, and big brother and sister. Enjoy the recent pics!

You can't catch me!

Once Gavin began crawling he just didn't stop. By the end of the week, not only was he crawling but he was pulling himselft up and crawling to the top of the stairs. It may have been a slow start but now he is going like crazy. It has truly changed my life. We headed to Walker for Labor Day weekend. One last hurrah before school started. Ethan and Lauren slept out on the pier with Mike in a tent. Gavin slept inside the camper with mom. We set up Gavin's pack-n-play outside during the day and he had a blast playing in the great outdoors. The picture above is Gavin with his cousin, Parker.

Gavin's Gate

I said that we needed to baby proof the house and the first thing that needed to happen was a gate blocking access to the basement stairs. Daddy went to the shop a couple hours on Saturday and a few hours on Sunday and came home bearing his new gift to Gavin. Here is Gavin showing off in front of the artistic gate.

He's a crawler!

Gavin started crawling at the beginning of the week. He would rock back and forth, then a couple of arm, leg, arm, leg, and now at the end of the week...He is crusing! Since we haven't had a mobile baby in this house yet, we have lots of baby-proofing to do!

A weekend at the lake

Our family took off for a weekend to Lake Amelia. Gavin, Ethan, and Lauren enjoyed the outdoors. Champ, our black lab learned how to swim and retrieve a stick in the water. Even the short pontoon ride that ended with another boat having to tow us back to shore was memorable. After a couple days at the lake we headed to Willmar to celebrate Owen's 6th birthday.

Another New Friend for Gavin

Very early on the Fourth of July, Kelsey Ann Peterson was born to my best friend, Rebecca in Colorado. She is adorable and we can't wait to meet her. I was able to visit the day after Rebecca's third baby, Delaney was born and it was such a memorable trip. It makes my heart yearn to be there to hold that precious baby girl. Our families try to get together at least once a year, so Gavin and Kelsey are sure to be buddies from across the miles.

Gavin's 1st 4th of July

It was another big day for us. While Grandma, Grandpa, Ethan and Lauren rode in the Waldo's VW Bug through the 4th of July parade, Bethany, Mark, Daddy, and Gavin watched from the sidelines. Gavin sat and smiled with glee tensing all the muscles in his body as the floats, bands, and people strolled by. Jen and I were manning the first ever Waldo's tent in the park where we helped hundreds of people cool off with our Smoothies and Iced Lattes.

Lauren's Pajama Party

Lauren had a couple of friends over for a pajama party. The girls arrived in their jammies and we had a whole evening planned with girlie things. A movie and popcorn concluded the evening as they all snuggled in the make shift cozy bed that Lauren created before her friends arrived. It was a fun night filled with many little giggles.

A Big Day at the Niemeyers

Today proved to be a big day at our house. We were able to celebrate three of the greatest children in our world. Gavin was dedicated to the Lord at our church service. Lauren turned 5 years old on June 27th and Ethan will turn 7 years old on July 19th. In an attempt to simplify the celebrations we decided to do it up big on June 29th. Everything was perfect. Gavin was a little angel during the service. Lauren loved her Mariposa cake and all her girlie presents. Ethan finally got what he has been wishing for...Lego Star Wars and a Wii system! Almost all our family was able to be there for the fun day. We thank God for our children and look forward to seeing what God has in store for them all.

I had to include this photo. After a big day, Lauren fell asleep with her Princess Bible that she received from Grandma and Grandpa and her Wacky Bear Una by her side.

Our Wacky Bears

Ethan and Lauren got Wacky Bear gift certificates for their birthdays from our friends the Petersons. Ethan, Lauren, Gavin and I spent the morning at the Wacky Bear factory creating Rex and Una. As you can see they had a blast and the final products are definitely lovable! What a fun and memorable experience. Gavin even got in on the action as you can see.

A trip to the pool

After a long hot day in the house with a mom who is crazy about trying to conserve energy, a trip to the city pool was in order. After a quick dinner, the five of us packed up and headed to the pool. Gavin splashed his feet in the water that felt refreshing at first, but as the weather cooled down and a breeze came up, the kids started to shiver. We were successful though, by the time we stopped for a Waldo's smoothie and got back to our house, nature had cooled it down.

Gavin is 8 Months

Gavin turned 8 months old in June and he has also gained two new friends this month (by default because their moms are my friends :)) Miss Mackenzie Lynn Groth was born to my grade school/high school friend Jamie and her husband Aaron on June 4th. She is adorable and we can't wait to meet her. Mr. Benjamin Harley Stuewe was born to my friend Tracy and her husband Bill on June 19th. We were very surprised by his early arrival and we will be visiting them later today! I know I will look back on this when they are all running around playing together and wonder where the years went. Enjoy your amazing time with those precious new babies Jamie and Tracy! Love you all!

Our Little Mermaid

We had a little accident at our house on Tuesday evening. As I was turning to the sink to dump a pot of sweet corn water, Lauren stepped toward me and we bumped and some of the very hot water spilled onto her back. We took her to the ER where they fixed her all up. It was a pretty sad evening, but she is doing so amazing. She has a two week old scab on her knee that she has complained about more than her back. Many of her friends and family have been praying for us and we know that she has been pain free because of God. While she is getting her bandages changed she says "here comes the mermaid" because Mike wraps the bandages around and around her torso. She has been a trooper throughout all the dressing changes and extra showers to clean her wound. Thanks for your prayers!

Here is the actual burn area. This was still about four days ago before all the dead skin flaked off. It is really looking great. I found a swimsuit shirt that has 50 SPF that she can wear to the lake/pool this summer. It will protect her back and still give her that cute factor :)

My first Tractor ride

Ethan and Lauren started riding on the lawnmower with dad early and still love it. It would be only fitting to get Gavin riding too. On this beautiful evening Gavin sat with me on the porch and watched Lauren go around and around with Dad. Then when Lauren was done, daddy took Gavin for a couple of spins around the yard. He loved it!

Ethan's realization

The first day of summer vacation started with a sleepy eyed Ethan walking into the living room where I sat feeding Gavin. Ethan's realization was equipped with a cute statement: "I don't have to go to school today, so I get to spend the whole day with Gavin."

The End of a School Year

Gavin was a tropper during the month of May as we sat through many fun milestones: Lauren graduated from Preschool...Ethan had his Awards Night at AWANA...Mom's softball team had their last game...and finally Ethan had his last day of Kindergarten. Bring on summer!!

My favorite day!

I love Mother's Day. A day to revel in the amazing task that God gave me of raising three beautiful children. I bought these outfits for the kids last July when I took a bunch of youth to Florida for a conference. Gavin was a bulge in my tummy at the time. I couldn't even imagine, as I was buying the outfits they would wear the summer after he was born, what an awesome addition he would be to our family.

A True Bubble Bath

Ethan and Lauren enjoyed a bath full of bubbles and I snapped a few pics to remember.

My brother and Me