It's been quite a busy week- a good thing since it's most likely our last week of nice summer weather! I started the week out at the spray park in University park with all three kids. Bennett really enjoyed it, as it was his first time there. His favorite part was to sit next to the sprays that shot up from the ground and try to "catch" the water as it shot out. In the picture to the left, he had wiggled his way ON TOP of the spray and was giggling at the fact that he was getting sprayed in the bottom with water!  He is such a little clown! The older two also enjoyed themselves, and they got to take a break from the water every so often and play in the playground next to the spray park. Sophia can go all the way across the monkey bars without any help! I've always said my kids were half-monkey, half-fish, but now I really know that's true! Bennett and I would take a break  occasionally too and sit on a towel in the shade and watch the older two play. We stayed for almost TWO hours (a feat in this seemingly ADD family), and by the end, all three of the kiddos were playing with the spouts (see left). We all had such a good time, and the kids had fun playing with some older kids there as well. It was a perfect way to spend what I knew would be one of the last summer days of this year! It's terrifying to think that by the end of next summer, my baby will be 18 months old, my Noah will be nearly four years old, and my sweet Sophia will be starting kindergarten! It sounds so cliche, but time really does go by so quickly. I remember bringing Sophia home for the first time like it was yesterday, now she has two little brothers to play with! We must be having a lot of fun, because the days are flying by!

The Wevers family bike train!

 Tuesday through Friday days and evenings were spent pretty much at work (with the exception of our co-ed kickball match on Wednesday~ it still feels silly to tell people I'm on a kickball team!), where it is the busiest I remember it being for many years. I try not to work both Thursday and Friday if possible, because B works every Saturday through Wednesday and then I don't get to see him very much. Yesterday, we all rode our bikes to the park that is about six blocks away from our house. Bennett rode in the pull-along behind B, and the other two kids rode their little hearts out, super-excited to get to "the park!!!" After playing for about an hour, we all packed back up onto the bikes and rode on- all the way to Happy Joe's, which is another 6 or 7 blocks away! We enjoyed a nice family pizza buffet and rode ALL the way home! I was so proud of the kiddos, they didn't complain once and had so much fun. (Not to mention, they all took GREAT naps when we got home!) I'm trying to really enjoy all these little moments we have together, because I know that they will get less and less as the kids grow. It's funny, ten years ago when I thought about my future, THIS is not what I imagined. Believe me when I say, it is SO much better!

Oktoberfest!!

  We walked in the door about an hour ago, back from a weekend in Pierz, MN for the famed "Oktoberfest" with our friends, the Kahlhamers. We stayed at Max's parents' house (Kathy and Dennis), along with Max and Erika and their two children... meaning there were five children under five (as well as six adults) in one house! Kathy and Dennis had turned their finished attic into "Casa del Wevers," complete with a mattress, an air mattress, a made-up couch and a crib for Bennett! They even installed a window air-conditioner that night for us so we were more comfortable. What a wonderful little get-away for us!

  We left Friday afternoon (after I had worked two night shifts and had a short nap, making my patience level less than stellar!). After touring the house, which was EXACTLY as I imagined it would be, we all ate supper together. The Wevers' have eaten many a Kahlhamer meal from when Max lived with us, so we were excited to again partake in Kathy's delicious cuisine. We went on a walk around town that night (only Kathy and Liesel stayed home) and got to see where Max grew up. It's such a quaint little town! We were off to bed before 10 pm, and everyone in the attic but me and Bennett slept all night!

Noah and Sophia looking out the plane window!

  Saturday found B and the kids heading to the airport with Dennis, Max and Henry to see Dennis' airplane. B and the kids even got to go for a ride! They flew over the house twice and the girls (and Bennett) were out on the porch watching and waving! The kids loved it, and B got some great pictures from above. Not only did everyone have a great time, the trip reignited B's love for aviation and now he's thinking of buying an airplane as well! We'll see how that goes for him; but we have also decided to budget so that B can get up in he air at least twice a month and stay current. He is happiest when he is flying, so it would make me happy to know that he's doing what he loves to do!

  After the boys' (and Sophie's) return from the airport, we had a quick lunch of brats (of course!), hot dogs, chips and fruit and it was nap time for pretty much everyone. By the time everyone fell asleep and took a decent nap, it was 5 o'clock.

We packed up the kids and headed down the the "swimming hole" for a bit of Pierz-style swimming. Of course, by this time the sun was going down and the bugs were out, so we stayed less than an hour. The kiddos had fun though, going down the slides and shooting each other with the squirt gun. Even Bennett had a good time splashing his feet in the cold water! Needless to say, we got out of there pretty quickly. Upon our return to the house, we looked at Sophia's back and it was COVERED in mosquito bites! Even I had about 10 on my legs. That poor girl is like me- every bite makes a huge welt. The boys had a few bites each, but we could barely tell (they, luckily, are like their father in that respect).

We got home and threw them all in the tub before eating some of the best spaghetti I've ever eaten! The kids played for a little while Max headed off to the store for some supplies. When Max returned, he made the four of us some Pink Squirrels (yum-o!) while Erika and I got the kids ready for bed. We enjoyed our adult drinks :) and headed off to bed with the kids pretty early in anticipation of the exhausting day we had before us the next day!

  Sunday morning found us early! Sophia woke me up once, almost peeing her pants in the process, and Bennett-bear woke me up twice to eat (I have GOT to get him out of that- he's almost eight months old!), so I was exhausted at 0730 when we had to wake up. We all showered and got ready because 10 am brought Sunday Oktoberfest brunch, and about fifty people to share in it! The house was hopping for a couple of hours, then we all headed out front to watch what was probably the best parade I've ever seen... and it went right past the Kahlhamer's house! The kids got a bunch of candy, and I got a sunburn on my feet. There were awesome floats- we even got to throw water balloons at some people on a float at their request (I hit one guy in the face through the fence!). After the parade, we all got situated and hopped the shuttle (a school bus, which Noah thought was the coolest thing EVER) down to the park for the Oktoberfest festivities. The kids rode ponies and a camel, fed a bunch of different animals, got their faces painted, went down a huge slide, ate some brats and candy corn, and won some tickets for prizes. B also beat me at a baseball-throwing booth, so I had to change all of the diapers for the rest of the day! We got everyone tuckered-out and took the shuttle back to the house. Since the kids were exhausted, we packed up quickly and headed for home, after thanking Dennis and Kathy for their hospitality. We only stopped once in Fosston to eat at the A&W, and finally I am in my own bed, documenting the fun we had. It was the best weekend vacation I've had in quite some time, and I hope we get to go again someday. How wonderful that we have friends that are willing to include us in their family functions, and Pierz sure knows how to put on a party!!

Getting so big!

     It's the end of summer already! This time next year, I'll be getting my sweet Sophia ready for her first day of school. I can't believe how fast this is all going- it feels like I just brought her home from the hospital. B and I were just talking last night about how it's so neat to be able to have real conversations with her now- how she gives her input and actually makes sense with what she's saying. Noah is getting bigger and easier to understand now too, though you do need to be slightly fluent in "Noah" to get what he's saying most of the time. He's got his own ideas and tries to share them often with us (after a few moments of trying to decipher what he's saying). And my sweet Bennett... he's getting closer and closer to crawling and is turning into a very vocal little boy. He squeals and talks constantly (mostly when he is eating, much like his brother) and gets on his hands and knees and rocks now. I wish I could just freeze them where they are now and keep them this way forever, but I'm also curious and excited about who they will become! No one told me it would be this hard to be a parent- to watch my babies grow and have no control over how quickly it goes! I'm glad that Bennett will always be my baby, but I will really miss the "newborn" stage, where they're so tiny and totally rely on you for everything. I love every stage my kids are in right now; I just don't want it all to end.

Noah and Sophia watching the planes

  On a lighter note, the restrictions have been lifted at the tower, so we can go visit B at work again! They restricted visitors the last year because an ATC in NY (I think) let his 6-year-old talk over the radio (granted, the ATC was controlling the traffic and told his son EXACTLY what to say, but still...). Apparently, they didn't want that happening again, hence the restrictions. Needless to say, the kids were ecstatic about being able to bring Daddy lunch and see the "airpanes!" Noah was super-excited and kept jumping around trying to look at all of the UND planes and the "heckticopters" take off and land. I think it's great

Bennett's first time in the Tower

that B has a job that he loves and that my kids can take interest in as well. How fun for them to be able to go see what Daddy does! This was also Bennett's first time out to the tower, so he was looking around with wide eyes trying to take it all in. I'm sure at least one of my kids will have some sort of interest in aviation (there goes my retirement fund!), since B has been hammering it into their brains since they were babies! Any time we are outside and Noah or Sophia hear an airplane, they drop everything and look into the sky to try and find it. I'm sure Bennett will be the same way when he gets bigger.
     Anyway, I'm just getting a little nostalgic lately, watching my babies grow before my eyes. I bought all of the stuff for Noah's 3rd (!) birthday party not too long ago. The two of us went back and forth for days trying to determine if it would be a Cars 2 birthday or a "Thomas" birthday. He decided on Cars (finally!) only to tell me after everything got here than he wanted a "twain birfday." Nope, sorry buddy- now we're sticking with the Cars theme! I think I get more excited about the parties than my kiddos do! That's all the craziness in my life so far- we're in for a whole ton more craziness soon- so stay tuned!

Happy birthday to me!

  Well, it's finally arrived. Today I turned 29. My sweet husband continually played "the Final Countdown" on his phone today, reminding me that in just one short year, I will be 30. I'm not sad, though. I always said I wanted to be done having kids by the time I'm 30- check! I feel like I've really accomplished so much in my short time on this earth- I try to live for Jesus each and every day (and fail miserably, but I DO try!). I found and married the most wonderful man in the world and was blessed to have three beautiful, joyous children with him. We have such a blast together! I have found the job that I know God made me to do and I do it well and with I passion I always dreamed I would have. I truly believe that I have the greatest job in the world- who else gets to see a miracle each and every day they work? Even the sad parts of my job are rewarding, and though it gets frustrating at times (what job doesn't), I do love my job.
    Though my wonderful family lives far from here, my husband and I have formed a pseudo-family here with our friends, and we know that we are never alone. I'm not saying all of this to brag or anything- I am truly amazed each day at how blessed I really am. This is more of an illiteration of all of the great things I have in my life, and an attempt to keep me looking up, instead of wishing for the the things I don't have. I can't think of much that I don't have anyway.... I am just so thankful the God created me and put all of you glorious people in my life. What a happy life, and a happy birthday to me!

Sometimes I just wonder...

 It has again been an eventful few weeks in the Wevers household. A couple of weeks ago, we got a call from my mother-in-law that Brandon's dad had fallen at work and broken his right clavicle, and had some other injuries as well. Long story short, he was misdiagnosed and, though told initially he would not need surgery, found a week later that he did indeed need surgery and that his bone would have to be re-broken to align it correctly. Needless to say, both he and Brandon's mom were quite upset about the diagnosis and had a decreased trust in the medical system as a whole.

  We were able to visit with B's parents, both B's brothers and sister-in-law, some family friends and Brandon's grandparents for a few days at a family friend's hunting lodge. The 10-hour trip to WI with three kids under the age of five was actually worth it, and the kids did a pretty good job considering. At the lodge, we were able to go swimming in the indoor pool (with a slide), watch movies in the theater, play outside on the tennis and pickle-ball courts, and go for rides on the 4-wheelers and rangers. The kiddos had a wonderful time and we were able to spend some quality family time together, which has been sparce lately.

  Bennett is getting bigger and stronger every day, and now is rolling around the house and even sitting up on his own for a few minutes at a time! He is still the happiest baby I've ever seen and continues to amaze me each day. He loves to watch his older brother and sister, and I know it won't be long until he is keeping up with them. However, with him getting so big and strong, his siblings now think that he can be carried around without issue. This poor boy is getting so tough! Those kids love their "baby Bennett" a little TOO much sometimes!

 We got home from our vacation (the last big trip of the summer) on Sunday night. Monday Brandon stayed home to help me get squared away after being gone for so much this summer. We all went to my softball games and then we headed back home and got the kids ready for bed. B went to bed early that night too. Around 1145 pm, I was sitting downstairs looking at some recipies I wanted to try when I heard a loud thud followed by some loud crying. I ran upstairs to find Sophia lying on her hardwood floor in tears and favoring her arm. Mind you- we had just recently moved her to a twin bed and that night was the first that I hadn't laid pillows on the floor in case she fell. She kept crying that her neck and shoulder hurt and she wouldn't let me touch either. She kept telling me she didn't want to go to the doctor, and she didn't want to get a shot. I convinced her to come sit with me on the couch and watch some TV to calm down. She got some tylenol and some water and, after debating whether or not to take her into the ER, decided that if she could sleep I would leave her alone and call the clinic in the morning. She finally fell asleep around 2 am.

  The next morning, I went into Sophia's room to wake her. She awoke with a smile: "My arm doesn't hurt so much anymore, Mommy." Then she moved. And so came the tears. "Nevermind, it still hurts a LOT Mommy. I think I need to see the doctor today." She was still very tender on her right arm, and now there was a big blue bruise on her right shoulder. I called and made an appointment for that afternoon. I dropped all the kids at daycare and gave the girls instructions to watch Sophia closely due to her arm. That afternoon, I picked up Sophia and off to the clinic we went. We got in to see Dr. Swank and she ordered the standard x-ray.

  Down in the radiology waiting room, we checked in and were waiting for our turn. While there, I saw a friend of mine come from ultrasound. I knew she had an appointment that day to find out the sex of her unborn baby. Unfortunately, she and her husband got some bad news about her baby and she said she thought of me right away (because of all I went through with Bennett, and she remembered all of the stuff I went through with Sophia as well- I couldn't believe she remembered that!- and how I had been so blessed as to have healthy babies, even with relatively bleak outcomes). We hugged and I tried to reassure her that God has a plan and His plan will bring good from this situation. I hate that anyone else has to feel the way we did when we first got the news about Bennett. I remember the guilt and the ache in my heart just wanting my unborn baby to be perfect and not suffer. When Sophia and I went back to x-ray and were waiting for the tech, the two of us said a prayer for my friend, her husband, and her precious baby and they have remained in our prayers daily since then. When the tech returned, she brought the machine over and Sophia remarked "that's a really big camera!!"

 After the x-ray ("Mommy, I think it is so neat that they can take a picture of my bones. Can you take a picture of my bones, or is your camera too small?") we went back up to talk to Dr. Swank again. She showed me the x-ray and there it was- a clean break at the end of her right clavicle (same one as Grandpa!). So Dr. Swank sent the nurse in with a Snoopy sling. We went from the clinic to Dairy Queen (for some chocolate ice cream for my tough girl), then to Wal-Mart to buy a RAIL for her bed! She's doing great now and we're just waiting for the next act in this circus we call life!

My crazy life!

 I cannot believe it. Six months ago, we welcomed my sweet Bennett into the world- with both excitement and fearful anticipation of what was to come. Now, every day is filled with wonder and joy knowing now his heart is as perfect as the rest of him! It is crazy to me that just 10 short months ago, we learned of what was to come, and now it is all done and we just have to live the rest of our lives. Bennett went back to daycare yesterday (to my dismay, but to the joy of Miss Kristina), so I've been trying to catch up from our crazy lives. I took all three of the kids home to Dickinson with me last week for my 10-year high school reunion. It was really fun to see some of my friends who have moved far away and it was great to see my whole family together again. The reunion really put my life in perspective... a lot of people were either still single or married without kids. Not that I think there is anything wrong with that- I just realized how much I love my life the way it is and that I woudn't change a thing! I thought I would regret marrying and having kids so young in life, but I really don't- God's plan definitely is perfect! It was a crazy-busy weekend and I'm glad to be home; however, I am NOT excited to get back to work tonight! Hopefully soon I can cut back at work and spend more time at home with B and the kiddos. My life really is a circus, but I wouldn't change a second of it. Praise God for His goodness and for the gift of my sweet husband and children!

Finally getting into a rhythm...

  We've been home now for almost a week, and it's finally starting to feel like normal again. Bennett had his heart surgery on June 3rd, so I've been doing most of my blogging on his caringbridge website for the past couple of weeks (www.caringbridge.org/visit/bennettwevers if you haven't seen it). It is so wonderful to be home! On Thursday night, B took the older two kids camping- in our backyard. He set up our huge tent, blew up the air mattress and hunkered down outside for the night. We all spent some time outside roasting marshmallows and visiting, and I got to sleep in our big bed all by myself! It is just so good to be home! Thankfully, friends of ours from church have been bringing us supper every night since we returned, so I haven't had to cook at all! All I have to do is worry about my sweet boy and getting him better. We have such a great church family- they are so supportive and always there when we need them (and even if we think we don't but really do). I can't believe how wonderful everyone has been. My friend Amanda even got a benefit set up for us on June 30 to help cover medical expenses. We just got the itemized bill from our hospital stay this afternoon- it's 20 pages long!!! We are just so thankful for all of the people in our lives- we are a lucky bunch, that is for certain!