Friends

Have you ever met someone who you instantly knew would be your best friend? From the start it felt like you'd know eachother for so long? Well, I have been fortunate enough to have made that kind of connection with a great new friend. We have so much in common, we are both striving to be better daughters of Christ, wives, mothers and friends to others. She is just so crazy sometimes that I kind of want to shake her! Ya know? One of the things I most admire about her is she is PASSIONATE...and the main focus of her passion lately is universal healthcare. It has brought up many strong feeling, on both sides of this issue, within our group of friends. This woman is well educated and has done her research so that she can discuss intelligently this current topic...but all the "discussions" still sound like close-eared arguments to me. I have managed to stay out of it with her, mainly because I value our friendship too much to have it damaged by this. I fully support her right to free speech, her right to her opinion, and her right to use any forum to reflect those. Having said that, just cause you say "No offense" doesn't mean it isn't offensive to someone! Love you sister!!

Mornings around here

OWWWWW!!!

We were on our spring holiday last week in Hilton Head, SC, and halfway through the week I hurt my shoulder. I'd love to say that I did it playing tennis or golfing, maybe riding my bike and doing a gnarly flip over the handlebars....no. I think I slept on it wrong...sounds like me, right? Well, now a week later it hurts even worse and I'm pretty sure I've got a pinched nerve. Not exactly the best thing for a mom-yoga teacher-grocery bag hauler-something as simple as opening a door-kind of person. Garrick heated up the beanie pillow for me and reminded me to take some Ibuprofen, he's so sweet! He's working the midnight shift for the next couple of weeks...so the evenings are very quiet around here. So, after following the above treatments and saying goodbye/goodnight to Garrick....I made a strong mango daiquiri. Then another.

Fast forward to 6:25 a.m. the next morning....Jack and June on either side of me in bed
Help coordinate clothes for Jack (mental note that he needs new shorts)
Drag self downstairs to make coffee (not at all hungover, just regular tired)
Apply liberal amounts of various cereals to above mentioned children
Clip some coupons for a trip to Target today
Sit outside with Jack to wait for school friend to come out and catch bus..kiss goodbye
Bring more cereal (dry) to June who is vegging on the couch watching Handy Manny before school
Sit with her because I really like Handy Manny too

Soo....how was the first hour of your day?

Happy New Year...yeah I know it's April.

Okay, so it is no great news that I have been really bad about keeping up this blog. I have all the great intentions and then..blah! I promise not to blame my husband, three kids, pets, four hour a week job, couponing, facebooking, craft projects, or anything else as an excuse.
However!!!...I feel a stirring to document my life (and the lives of those in my charge) so that I can look back upon it someday and marvel at what we managed to do with what God has given to us. So, it may not happen every single day...the level of interesting things around here doesn't follow a particular calendar. There will be something though..and that will be enough.
Love, me

The Graduate!

Jack graduated from preschool at the end of May. It was quite the event, there were bouncy houses and food and proud, proud parents.

Raaarrrrhhhhh!!!!!

Leaps & Bounds

Jonah is growing up too fast. It seems like yesterday that I had to bathe him with a washcloth while he laid on my bed...now his is sitting up in his bathtub. He is cruising along and gets where he wants to be really fast. Of course, then there's the crash....it's tough being a big boy. He likes to play with the big kids toys (Jack's gears are a favorite). Of course, not to be outdone...June likes to play with baby toys.

Jonah...

Loves to wrestle and eat! What else is there in life?

Easter 2009

Easter was a wonderful day to spend with great friends and family. The kids joined a Egg Hunt the day before at a local celebration. June decided early on that she only wanted pink eggs, so she kindly gave all other colors she found to Jack. Worked out pretty well for him. Jonah and I stayed clear of the hubbub and commented to each other on the aggressive hunting technique of the older kids. Then on Easter Sunday, after a lovely service, we had a great lunch with our dear friends the Essig's. All of the kids enjoyed a more relaxed egg hunt on the front lawn and were thouroughly covered in melted chocolate on the car ride home. What a blessed day.

June & her buddy Peter

Ms. Ashley rocked the egg hunt.

Kids and dog run amuk.

Jonah says he's just fine staying in the stroller for now.

Daddy helping out with the chaotic egg hunt.

Birthday party with school friends

Jack had the unusual fortune of celebrating his 5th birthday THREE times this year. Something I have assured him will never happen again. Since we spent the actual day in HHI, we had a party at the house a few weeks later when all of his school chums could come and bring their general mayhem. Lots of boys (moms and sisters of friends we're graciously allowed to attend), good weather, pizza and cake and growling....what is it with little dudes???

Jack turns the BIG 5!

"What a bad resolution-er"...I know, I'm thinking it too. Good intentions, busy mom of three, teaching yoga, ignoring the dog...all the reasons I haven't posted as promised.
On to the business of actually posting pictures and stories.
Jack turned 5 in March. We have been blessed to spend this time of the year in the beautiful and refreshing Hilton Head. Garrick's parents have a condo there and we get together for one week each year and it usually includes Jack's birthday. Each year has brought something brand new. On his 2nd, I was quite pregnant with June. Third birthday June added to the mix. On his 4th, little sis was getting into everything around. This year Jonah was kind enough to join our motley crew. Thankfully we won't be bringing anymore babies to the house, cause it won't fut too many more of us!

Jonah and Mimi

You should see the excitement on Daddy's face over this present!

"You're really not going to share that, Mimi?"

Big wish, big breath...and the Heitman tradition of a toy on the cake.

Is it just me, or does this look like the wind-up?

Resolution or plain old resolve?

The new year is well under way and while I am the biggest opponent of resolutions...I made one. I always thought if you couldn't do it at anytime during the year, why now? Well, I am going to be SOOOO good at blogging this year. So I'm not going back, just starting from now and moving forward. How's that for positive thinking.

Trying to catch up

It's been a crazy few months since Jonah joined the family. The next few entries are just to show what we've been up to. Thanks!!! K

Gram visits

My Mom came to visit about a month after Jonah came home. To say that she was excited is an extreme understatement...she probably could have run here if she could see at night! She came just in time for Halloween and was a tremendous help to all of us. Her visit went by in a flash, we sure do miss her.

Bikes

We went to visit our friends in Charlotte recently...they are the kids "Aunt & Uncle & cousins". Luke is almost 8, rides a skateboard and is super cool! The next day (after almost a year) Jack said he wanted to ride his bike. So, of course, June had to get in on the action too. He did a great job, actually pedaling for the first time. June just toodled around pushing with her feet, but had a ball none the less.

Soccer anyone?

Like there isn't enough going on, Jack also began soccer this past week. His team is the Foxes and is made up of 4 & 5 year olds. Only one kid played the prior year, so it's fairly even skill set. Jack did great during practice and then had a bit of performance anxiety when it came time to really play. We are confident that each week will get better and he'll have lots of fun.

GO FOXES!!!

Jack's in Preschool...

Jack began Preschool this September and is now ready for college. He is in Mrs. Kathy's class at the YMCA and LOVES IT!!! Each day is filled with lots of fun activities and a yummy snack, of course. On Tuesday's the class gets to spend time in the pool learning to love the water. The kids are learning letters and shapes and get to practice using a pencil and scissors. There are special days when the get to bring in items to "show and tell", like a picture of their pet or their favorite toy. Jack is so eager to get to class everyday that he must be reminded to say goodbye to his mommy and give me a kiss ....and so it begins.

Last few weeks...

Okay, so most of you know that it has been a crazy few weeks for the Heitmans. September began average enough. I was still teaching at the Y and looking forward to my last class on the 18th. We had a scheduled C-Section planned to deliver our 3rd child on the 30th, with an earlier possibility of the 24th. Mimi had already changed her air travel plans to accomodate that, and things were looking good. So, we head to our regular Saturday morning outing at Panera on the 6th and God had a different plan for us that day. Jonah was born at 5:21 pm on September 6th by a hurried C-Section. As he was 5 weeks early, he hadn't learned all of his important things yet....like breathing normally and eating without getting tired. Jonah spent 18 days in the NICU being taken care of by wonderful nurses and doctors. We got to bring him home this past Tuesday and have been settling in nicely. Mimi rushed out to help, which was truly a gift from God. She was Mom, Grandma, maid, cook, chauffer, referee and countless other things during the three weeks she stayed with us. Sadly, she only got to spend three days with Jonah at home....but it was quality time for sure. Jack and June had a blast with Mimi and I counted have managed without her. Thanks Mimi!!!

Black Mountain 2008

Well, we made it! We recently went on our, now 2nd annual, Black Mt. camping trip with our very dear friends the Essig's. Last year June was just over a year old and not walking yet and Jack was not very adventerous yet. Well, what a difference a year makes. Jack is officially a WILD MAN! He and Garrick tromped through the river almost everyday, getting thouroughly wet and dirty (and a bit cold). June, not so sure about walking on the rocks was perfectly content to hang on the edge and throw rocks and things into the river....or whatever happened to get in her line of fire. She left each time dirtier than she was upon arrival....which is saying something. I have never seen my kids so dirty and happy before. It was AWESOME!!!!! Enjoy our pics and we'll talk again soon..K

Daddy takes a day off...

Daddy happily took a Friday off work and we all went to the zoo for the first time since June was teeny-tiny. It was incredibly hot, even though we went early, and incredibly crowded...that's not new though. We had a great time, of course. We (and by that, I mean Mommy) fed the goats, and we (and by that, I mean Daddy) sat on the big Turtle. The best time was had (by all) in the Penguin house...because it's so nice and COOL!!!

Dinner Date?

We recently had some good friends over for the evening. They had two boys about Jack and June's ages and a darling little girl who's almost one. June and Peter had a lovely time taking a break from the craziness of the older boys..who moved to fast to be captured on film.

K