Summer fun

James loves those kits where you dig out dinosaur bones and then you get to put them together. Through lots of trial and error, we finally found a brand that takes him more than 5 minutes to dig all the bones out. He loves the challenge almost as much as I hate all the dust. But its a good outdoor activity for him.

Baby snuggles!

Our neighborhood annual pool party - always a good time!

Madeleine loves crazy leggings - and so I got her a couple of pairs of LuLaRoe leggings. Never heard of them? Me neither until a few weeks ago but they have been a big hit and apparently they are a huge thing that I totally missed!

 

Matthias is officially sitting in his highchair and eating solids. He has only had sweet potatoes and bananas but both have been a huge hit.

There have been several times when Matthias falls asleep like this - and well, its pretty hilarious.

Matthias loves the water just as much as the other two.

The last week in June, I took the kids up to Columbus. It was a fun quick trip.

The last few days, we stayed with one of my best friends Leanna and her family. Her boys Max and Zak are such good friends with James and Madeleine and they always have the best time together.

One of the days we took the kids to the zoo - the Columbus zoo is so much fun!

This was our last night, and they were all pooped! It was also the only picture I was able to get of all five of them... and four of them didn't even know I was in the room!

I cannot believe you are now 4 years old and living life large. There is a part of you that so very reminds me of Uncle Stephen – Barbies in the playroom, diva-type attitude that takes no hostage, temper tantrums at the drop of a hat and without shame in a public setting but I digress. Perhaps the best comparison to Uncle Stephen is the long beautiful hair you both have – it may have taken him 18 years to grow it to respectable length as yours as is now but let us not be consumed by the details. Perhaps my favorite moments are watching how tough you are. When James was born, your mother and I made a conscious effort to not baby him as he grew up. With you, we were not so sure what to do – but you quickly showed us that you were two-of-a-kind. You hardly need us to pick you up or to be coddled, you are one tough cookie and we love this about you! love your squeaky voice and genuine reaction when I come home from work or from a trip. I hate to say it – and I know your mama will not be happy – but I find your stubbornness and attitude to be quite comical. Some would say this is a fault but between you and I, we will worry about this fault at a later date. It is clear to me that you are very much like your mama and having had to train her for the past 12 years I know we can do the same with you!

 

I find it weirdly ironic that the things that James does that upset me, make me laugh when you do them. I am not sure why but who gives a shit, between your mom and I we can play good cop (dad) and bad cop (mom). Let’s be honest – since you cannot read yet – I will say this, you can do no wrong in my eyes, and I recognize that this is a danger for me. I realize that I must tread carefully, because a 13 year old Madeleine with no boundaries is a recipe for disaster… I will prepare for this day eventually – but now is not the time. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about the love you have for your older brother – you two are such good friends and so much so that many observers ask if you two are twins. I am jealous of this bond you two have – my brothers and I were spread so far apart that is was difficult for us to have a similar bond at such a young age. Thus, I can tell you that the most important part of my letter to you on this 4^th birthday of yours is to never lose your bond with James, it is utterly priceless and makes me smile each and every day.

 

It is amazing to watch your growth and innate sense of care – James wants nothing to do with changing Matthias’ diapers or his clothes but you are ever so attentive to Matthias’ every need and ever so willing help. Your mother and I appreciate these little things and are grateful that you want to mother your younger brother. As the middle child you will have perhaps the most difficult path of all, but you have the attitude and demeanor to take it on at 100 miles per hour. Rest assured little girl, we will always be here for you and will guide you along the way. No matter what you may think of us, no matter what happens as you grow up, no matter the trials and tribulations presented before you or the difficulties you may have in our relationship, never forget the bond you have with James and never look past the need that Matthias will have for an older sibling to guide him along. Your path is set sweet pea and while it will not be easy, it is there for you to conquer much in the same way you destroy your room every night. It pains me to think that this day marks a timeframe in which you are ~20% closer to being moved out of this house and onto your next phase of life. Nevertheless, today marks a momentous day for you – the big 4 – one step closer to kindergarten, your mother balling her eyes out and your daddy ever so proud of how far you have come. On this 4^th birthday let us celebrate the fact that still you are so very unique in the Siefert Family Chain – the only granddaughter and only girl in the immediate family. Your mother and I love you ever so much and cannot wait to watch you grow into your unique role in this family. On this 4^th birthday we love you, and are so very thankful to be blessed with a wonderful and beautiful daughter with an attitude and personality to fill the room! Madeleine Sue, your mother and I wish you an-ever-so-happy 4^th!

Love Always, Your Daddy

Fancy Pictures

One of my best friends has been taking our family pictures for years and she FINALLY has decided that she wants to build her portfolio so she can officially start a photography business. I am so happy for her and truly hope she follows through because I know she would succeed - but in the mean time she has been using us to practice on! These are from several different times over the past two weeks.

Start of summer

Its only been officially summer for a week, but I think we are off to a great start. We do not have a lot planned for June, but once July hits we are nonstop with camps for James and Madeleine and lots of trips until school starts (as a matter of fact, James is missing his first day of school because we will be out of town!). So June we are taking it easy and just enjoying summer and our friends.

Now that James is out of school, he doesn't let Matthias out of his sight for very long. I think hes trying to make up for all the time he lost while he was at school.

Starting the Buckeye Love early!

Matthias hates tummy time - like seriously hates it. So we keep trying to trick him into it by starting on his back before rolling him to his tummy. He hasn't fallen for it yet but the kids like getting into his mat to play with him.

James is still very into dinosaurs - we made triceratops bones out of concrete and he is trying to draw and document them like a real paleontologist would do. And Madeleine is Princess Aurora watching him. I have several big dinosaur activities that I'm going to try and space out over the summer for him.

Matthias' first trip to the pool wasn't very exciting - he slept through it. But it was nice to snuggle with him while watching the other two swim.

Madeleine loves to help cook, whenever we are in the kitchen shes always checking to see if she can help and if she cant she always stays to watch. Its great to have her in the kitchen, James was always curious but he didn't really want to get involved like she does.

This summer there is a pick up soccer game on Saturday mornings at 8am. Since I'm up anyways, I walk James and Matthias down to let James play. Its only ever 5-8 kids but it is so much fun for him and a great way to kick off the weekend. By the time we walk home, Madeleine is up and helping John make breakfast!

Yesterday, our friend invited a few families over for a cookout - somehow there were 12 kids (we couldn't get all the kids in the picture) and only 5 adults, we were super out numbered but all the kids were amazing. Hopefully the rest of summer will be just as fun as the first week!

End of the school year

Two weeks ago, Madeleine finished up her last week of school. She has learned so much and is so sad that she wont see her friends for several months. It is hard at her age to understand the concept of summer break - especially since her brother still had two weeks of school left. She loved going to see her teachers and friends and couldn't wait to tell me what she learned. She has just amazed me this year with most random facts ("Mama, ladybugs eat aphids!"). This was the most perfect first year of "school" for our little girl. The picture on the left is her first day of preschool and the one on the right is her last.

Today James graduated from kindergarten. Everyone told me it would go by so fast, and of course they were right. He is so excited to go to first grade but it is taking everything in me not to yell at him to slow down. He bloomed into this amazing confident smart little man. When I was in kindergarten we colored and played with toy farm animals. We did not have homework, touch on foreign language, learn some of the nuances of math or get assigned a level based on reading ability. And somehow even with all that, he still loved going every day and was just so happy. All I want for James is to be happy, and he is. He is the sunniest, sweetest, happiest little boy. And he has the proudest mom. The picture on the left is his first day of kindergarten and the one on the right is his last.

Lazy days

As the school year is starting to come to a close and we are preparing for the crazy schedule of summer, we are enjoying our quiet time when we can find it. Madeleine is having a hard time with the concept of summer break and miss seeing her friends three days a week, hopefully we will be able to see some of her school friends over the summer to soften the blow. James on the other hand is very excited for the end of the school year because that means he will be in First Grade, which makes me cringe. How did he get that old?? However, he thinks that his teachers and classmates wont change next year and no matter what I say or how I try to explain it, he thinks I am wrong. So first day of school for him will be interesting!

Madeleine loves to read to Matthias, she makes up 99% of the words but its good for both of them and I hope this is something that continues.

Matthias is smiling up a storm now. Even though he is our third smiley baby, every smile feels like the first. And now there are 4 of us that crowd around him and oh and ah over it. He probably thinks we are all crazy.

Of course he doesn't smile all the time. He is a Siefert so he's got a good set of lungs on him.

Huntersville had a really fun Spring festival that had rides and music - but it also had a lot of fun science stuff this time!

James LOVES to hold Matthias, but he doesn't always want to be held.

Matthias is still at the age where he will fall asleep in any position whenever he is tired - all of a sudden I will look down and he is passed out!

Madeleine loves to brush and style my hair now - I need to find her a doll that she can use instead!

Brotherly love!

My mom and Uncle Ross came to visit and meet Matthias for the first time last week!

I cant believe the little man is already 3 months old, it has flown by.

Summer is finally here - and so is the hot hot weather! Good thing all the splash parks are now open.

James loves playing board game, Guess Who is one of his favorites at the moment!

All three kids!