Twice as Nice

Kayla's Big Board

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:30:00 +0000

Kayla's currently on a few billboards throughout Michigan-- she calls it her "big board"-- way too cute to correct. The other day, my mom and I headed out to see one of the ones closer to our home in person... it was raining so the boys opted to stay in the car while I jumped out and video recorded and took pics of Kayla (and Julie) in front of the 'big board'. Excuse the poor quality photo's... we plan to return on a nicer day with a better camera.

BTW, Kayla actually still rides in a 5-point higher weight harnessed carseat (probably for another year or so), but we were pretty happy she was chosen to participate in a campaign that our family feels strongly about.

backyard project

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:39:00 +0000

Peter's been hard at work, and is a total hero when it comes to home renovation projects. I am totally in love with our backyard now (and for a not outside person, that's a pretty great compliment to his work!).

dedicated

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:23:00 +0000

So I'm really hoping that my lovely sister Jenn got some quality dedication type pics, since we totally didn't on our camera. So here's one of my fav's of my sweet boy from Charlie-boy.

Movie Night

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:28:00 +0000

We love to have occasional movie nights around here-- they're a kid favorite. Although the weather is beautiful outside, I'm feeling crummy, and Peter's working late so before my mom and sibs come over to hang out (after the kiddos are in bed) I declared a movie night. Even Isaac (whose supposed to be practicing tummy time) decided to tune in (Heidi, he barely watched any ;) ). Back with more updates later, but these pics were too cute to not share.

* It's an inbetween hair day for Kayla (we're rebraiding tomorrow after swimming lessons).

Cousins!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:18:00 +0000

Matt/Zac/Kayla/Odin(Papa)/Keely/Andrew(Grandma Lois)/Brendan/Julie/Luke/Cooper

Cousins with Grandma and Papa (Luke and Cooper are actually grandkids- not great grandkids, but since they're all buddies we had all the younger cousins in the same pic!) The kids all had a blast playing together, chasing Franklin, playing ball, and swimming and sprinklering it up together.

Growing up, I was always pretty close with my cousins. I fell sorta in the middle on my mom's side, and on my dad's side I was the oldest. I loved hanging out with all my cousins, and have developed close friendships with them as well. Since Peter and I were the first to have kids on both sides of our families, I'm so happy that I'm close with my cousins so they can enjoy the same type of close relationships with their 2nd cousins. Franklin (my dog nephew) is unpictured, although I'm not sure how, as Matt usually won't leave him alone for even two seconds. Anyway, Anna, Angie, Carrie (and Aunt Jet!)... thanks for living life with us! BTW, still excited for more first cousins for my kiddos, but thankful for what we do have now!

few week catch up.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:29:00 +0000

Matt gets his first job... 'bout time kid. (Just kidding). He had a blast... South East Michiganders, be looking for him on a TV near you coming soon. ;) He also finished basketball, and accepted his metal as if he were an olympian. Way to go buddy, can't wait till next season. Baseball is in progress... pic's coming soon (I think).

Julie "Grandma Sue" hamming it up with 'real' Grandma Sue during our *mostly* weekly Honey Tree lunch with Grandma Sue, Uncle Mark, and occasionally a host of other family members!

Kayla Pom'd her heart out to Gitchya Gitchya Goo (while her sister danced in the audience...next year, peanut, next year). Kayla also lost her first tooth, and conveniently already has her permanent tooth 1/2 grown and now moving into place. Could she get any cuter? Nope, didn't think so!

Isaac has become a drool monster and now sleeps through the night (finally I have been given a 'good' sleeper-- if I could only get Julie to sleep through the night!). He met Grandma Lois for the first time, and really loves her! Here he's attempting to get her attention with his monkey toes, fitting with his outfit that Grandma Lois sent for him while she was in Florida.

So that's what we've been up to (you know, that and a million other things!).

3 Little Pigs

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:43:00 +0000

Matt was retelling the story of the three little pigs using the scenery and characters he had made in school. When he got to the end, he told us the big bad wolf climbed down the brick house's chimney and went into a boiling pot of water and then the pigs ate him.

Thinking this was a rather gruesome end, Peter asked Matt if he was sure that was the way it really happened because that he didn't think the pigs would eat the wolf (I think Peter was looking for the ending where the wolf runs away)...

Matt looked at Peter and said "dad, this is not a true story". I love this kid!

Hey Julie, The Duggar's Called...

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:12:00 +0000

and they want their kid back.

yes, she dressed herself. and no, she will not be seen in public like this!

Kayla's hair

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:42:00 +0000

I'm considering starting a hair blog primarily to compile some info and ideas helping people (specifically adoptive parents) doing their black daughters hair. I feel that is a big need in the adoption community (but that's an issue for another post)... until then, I thought I'd share a cool style we did last week.

I did twists into Zulu/bantu knots on top, cornrows into a four strand braid in back.

* by no means do I consider myself a hair expert, just a mom doing her best to take care of her daughter's hair

tummy time fail.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:21:00 +0000

Isaac doesn't really like tummy time so his new coping mechanism is falling asleep as fast as possible after being laid down. As expected he always wakes up as soon as transfered to his pack 'n play on to his back.

hop on over...

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:08:00 +0000

To Jenn's blog to check out pics of Julie and Isaac (Matt and Kayla were at a friends b-day party). Awesome talent meets super cute :)

http://jennwebberphoto.blogspot.com/2010/04/im-back.html

nothing, if not loved

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:47:00 +0000

by the way, this was their idea... not ours.

Some more baby love

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Had this little guy not been evicted, I would have been 38 weeks pregnant today.

I've got a feeling...

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:58:00 +0000

It might be awhile before I get a mommy and me picture with all FOUR of my kids at the same time, happy and smiling at the camera :)

brothers and sisters

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu

What a difference a week makes.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:09:00 +0000

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Thursday, March 4th, 2010.

Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Isaac Jeff is one week old! It's hard to explain the first few days of his life, when we were staring at a baby hooked up to machines to force air into his premature lungs. Watching an IV drip a TPN feed into his body because he could not eat, a tube into his stomach to release the air from the C-PAP machine. Hearing that he may have a hole in his lung, and that he needed to slow his breathing from 160-190 breaths per minute to 20-60 breaths per minute. I have to admit, I begged God to heal him, and quickly, because I was barely holding on. God answered our prayers, big time. Not only in Isaac's quick healing (even some of the nurses were surprised at his rapid progress), but also in giving us enough each day, each hour, each minute to get through this.

I'm not sure I'll ever forget the pain of those first few days, but I am so thankful that Zac is home now and doing really well.

And this little piggy went home...

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Isaac's heading home today... we're waiting on our walking (or being carried) papers.

Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Isaac's doing so much better we got to do the mini carseat test (to make sure he can maintain his stats while in the seat). Though we would NEVER drive like this, it was pretty cute to see his little self in the big infant seat.

Big yawn.
Sleeping peacefully 'line free' (with exception of monitors). We prayed hard for this!

Isaac Jeff

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Isaac: "he will laugh", and we do believe he will.

Isaac Jeff Webber was born on 2/25/2010, and weighed in a a whopping 7lbs 2 oz (amazing, as he was 35wks), and was 20 1/2 inches long. He's beautiful, and we already love him so much.

We know that family and friends are all excited to meet him, but since his lungs are not fully developed, most are having to wait. Right now Zac's biggest issue is that he is breathing WAY too fast, so prayers for him to regulate his breathing appropriately would be fantastic.

Though this time has been difficult we will choose to thank God for our miracle baby, and trust that He will heal him. Thank you for your prayers!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Aunt Janet and the trio

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:20:00 +0000

I've never been a big fan of giving 'aunt' and 'uncle' titles to non-family members. Personally, I've felt it can take away from the 'real' aunts and uncles and can be confusing-- but in the case of Janet the title 'aunt' can't be denied. She makes so much effort to be a part of our kids lives in big and small ways all the way from New York. I'm sure she'll always be in ours and the kids lives, and loves the kids like they are her nieces and nephew (soon to be nephews). Anyway, I'm sure we never tell her enough how much she means to us, and how much we appreciate her in our lives-- but we do. Love You Aunt Janet!

Julie Peanut: 3 Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:01:00 +0000

Our family birthday celebration was spent at Build-A-Bear (Julie built the 'mommy monkey, Kayla built 'Joe' the Jonas brothers dog, and Matt built 'Sparty' the dog, and bought a baby dog w/ his own money from Grandma Webber)... then we headed to Red Robin for birthday dinner, and headed home for Cookie Cake. Can't believe our Peanut is 3 years old!

Benefits of having a sister

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:33:00 +0000

New Dining Room

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:05:00 +0000

We got some new dining room furniture for Christmas to go with our new dining room that Peter built. We're still working on art work (I have the frames, haven't gotten to putting together the 'art' yet). The table has 2 more chairs and another stored leaf to grow with our family and/or for company. Thanks again Mom, Dad and Grandma Lorraine!

Kayla's Dance Recital

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Kayla's first Pom recital was 12/12, and she had a blast. Quick pics...

Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Aunt Janet requested Halloween pics, so who am I to deny her :)

Since we were all sick around or on Halloween, the quality and quantity of pictures is very limited. They were Anakin Skywalker (before he turned 'bad'), Big Belle, and little Belle.

Pics are out of order, cause I have no idea how to change them once I download...

Kids with the yummy cookie basket aunt Janet sent-- what a fun treat!

Julie and Matt holding hands walking back from our false fire alarm that happened 2 minutes after the parade ended.

Peanut watching the parade-- or getting ready to. Once all the scary kids started coming, she wanted nothing to do with being there.

Matt and Kayla as Anakin Skywalker and Belle- highlight of the parade! They had accessories, but we didn't send them to school.