Life with three...

...is ever so BUSY! I'm learning to slow down though. We just cancelled our cable television and I am hoping this will help us not to be so distracted and focus on more things that are important in our lives...like our kids!
Oh how easy it was when all Hosanna did was sleep! Now she is starting to be awake more and she thinks she needs attention too!
We have been doing really great. The kids and I have been making some new friends, trying to catch-up with old ones and just loving fall. I think we go to the park more often now than we did in the summer. The kids love playing in the leaves, swinging and going down the slides. Alison is my hat girl. She loves wearing her fun winter hats...and sometimes that's all she is wearing! Jeremiah is doing awesome in school. He recently had a very special "uncle" visit him at school with his big red truck (if you're wondering-Uncle Mark and it's fire safety month so they are visiting all the schools). Also, Daddy showed up to get him this week and he was still wearing his police uniform with duty belt, "arresters" and all- 'twas the icing on the cake for the little guy! Jeremiah and Alison are learning to play nicely with each other.....and mommie is learning not to go crazy!
We are preparing ourselves for the holiday season and looking forward to it at the same time. I can't wait to start baking more.....beware of the pounds! I am also very exciting about heading up to Wallowa Lake with my mom in a couple of weeks for a refreshing 4-day weekend of scrapbooking! Hosanna and I will be enjoying the scenery and the chance to be creative (Thxs Mom!).
We love you all and hope you too are doing well....please let us know! God Bless!

Our latest is not so interesting…we’ve just been trying to work at being a family again now that John is home from Academy. We are enjoying the great fall weather that has started here. If makes for nice evening walks and playtime at the park with the kids. John and I have been enjoying quiet afternoons with our coffee and football- the best combo!
We are experiencing terrible twos with Alison! She has the loudest shriek I’ve ever heard and the largest lung capacity ever! She has taken to torturing her little sister, something that is sure to continue for a lifetime! Jeremiah is doing so well in Preschool. He is learning much faster than I expected for such a little guy. Our latest fav thing to do is sing songs. Hosanna continues to be the champ at eating, sleeping and pooing! She is really starting to fill out and today she cooed at me for the first time! I totally forgot how quickly they change.
It is so amazing how we are reminded each day of God’s love. We have these precious little beings on loan to raise and teach His word. What’s more amazing is that the love he has for us can and is greater than the love we have for them –and I love mine a whole lot!
We hope you are all having a great beginning to your fall season as we are! Keep us posted.

The big arrival....

She’s here! Our precious baby girl arrived on Sunday, September 2nd at 10:39 pm.
Hosanna Elizabeth Thorndike is 7 lbs 11.5 oz and is 20.5 inches long. Her first name is one that makes us smile. Her middle name is among both sides of our family, so it fits perfectly. She is a sweet girl who is excellent at what she does –eat, sleep and poo!

Her delivery was the easiest and quickest of the three…I think I told the doctor at one point that I actually had fun! She came at 37.5 weeks which is the longest I've ever been pregnant! We are all home now and adjusting well. Jeremiah and Alison LOVE their sister. Jeremiah is always singing to her and making sure she is okay. Alison thinks Hosanna is her personal doll and showers her with kisses while also trying to drag her away to play! (-we’ll be keeping our eye on her!)

Thank you to all of you whose prayers and thoughts we felt. We love you all and hope to hear from you soon!

The end is near...

Just a quick note. The kid and I are doing well. I will finally be 36 weeks this coming week and it will be safe to deliver this baby girl. I have had lots and lots of contractions and it will be nice when they will all actually amount to something. It ahs been difficult with John gone, trying to manage the kids and rest and clean and everything...but with lots of help we are doing it. We'll keep you posted and hopefully have new baby pics soon!

Curb your curiosity...

...the answer is no. No, we have not decided on a name for the new baby. And no, we aren't sharing the ones we've discussed...sorry. I have gotten that question just about everyday for the last few weeks, so I thought we'd just answer it :). This little one may have to wait till she's out of the oven before she gets her name!

The kids have had a week of "firsts". Last week I took them on their first trip to the public library. They both enjoyed it, although Alison has yet to learn what "sssshhhhh!" means. Jeremiah is loving the adventure of finding new books to read and it has been a special treat to bring them home.

Today was their first trip to Till Taylor pool, a tradition from when I was little. My Grandma, Yvonne has taken all of us grandchildren for our first trip to the pool and she decided that the great-grandchildren shouldn't miss out. We had a blast! It's so much fun to have a Grammy(what the kids call her) that will get in and play with the kids. She was showing them how to float and being silly and everything! She's definitely the best!

This weekend will be our first trip to see Uncle Dan and Aunt Beth at their new home in Bend. John will be meeting us there from Salem. It should be a beautiful weekend and Jeremiah can't wait to see his Bella (the dog).

My belly is now growing very round and is often lumpy, due to the lack of room baby now has. She enjoys camping out in my rib cage and I find myself trying to coax her out of there! Our next check-up is on Friday and I expect everything to be perfect. the countdown to our more realistic "due date", based on my history of delivering a month early is set for Aug 22...only five weeks left! The time is just flying by!

Have a happy, safe and not too warm weekend! We love you all!

Hot, hot, hot...

...it's been oh, so hot! Obviously I have been more sensitive to the heat being pregnant, but I sure would enjoy less heat! Our family has been doing great. We have been busy with weddings, summer parties and friends having babies. We are also still on the hunt for a new house.....such a process! john is home this week for a little holiday break. It is so great to actually talk to him in person and hug him, and see him. The kids are in heaven, I think he may be fairly worn out and happy to go back to school after all the playtime he is getting in! The downside of him being home, other than the fact that he will have to go back to school this weekend, is just that he has to work while he is home. The kids and I have been growing...tons! I think Jeremiah has grown like three inches in the last few weeks. Alison has decided to start taking her diaper off whenever she can so we have slowly been starting the potty training. Her vocabulary is expanding on a daily basis. Jeremiah loves to take pics with our camera and he is actually not all that bad! (The below of me was taken by him.) We are hoping to cool off in the pool a few times this summer, although it feels like it will be over before we know it. I am still looking for a 36 week-ish delivery and that puts it at about 7 weeks away! We love you all and please drop us a line and let us know how your summers are going.