More Cousin Fun!!

We got a special visit from family last week.  My mom and sister decided to join us at Mother's of Faith.  It was fun having them there, especially since it was the first time my sister was able to come.  I was teaching, so that was different to have family there listening.  It was just a short lesson on a few mother's in the Bible with lots of opportunity to discuss and think.  After the lesson we all got to do a craft!  We made resurrection eggs.  The moms were excited to do something a little different and to just have the fellowship time.  (I'll have to get some pictures of the eggs up, didn't think to take pictures of us doing them... bummer!)

After group, we all headed back here for a healthy lunch (5 guys--- not so healthy, but grammy's favorite!) and some quality hang out time.  We had no agenda for the time, just to sit around and visit.  That's a thing to treasure, we Stansberry girls seem to have it running through our blood that there must always be something productive done.  But sometimes, the sitting is more productive and just what really needs to happen.

While we enjoyed our coffee and chat time, the boys kept busy playing and napping.  Thomas pulled out the tent for he and Ethan to play with and when Ethan went down for a nap, Thomas got a chance to hold Andrew.  Can't you just see the love of Thomas on Andrew's face.  Thomas' love for his cousins just warms my heart!!

Thomas & Aleeyah

Two peas in a pod!

T & A are just 3 weeks apart and have the best time together. His cousins don't live very close, but with Grandma M. here in town they've been around somewhat frequently. So over the past year these two have really grown to love eachother. We spent Friday helping them pack up then the following Sunday we all headed to Mt. Hermon. These two spent the entire week together. In the same cabin, playing at child care, spending most free times together, with almost no problems. We didn't have to break up a single fight. They found all sorts of things to do together all around the camp, it was so sweet to see. And to listen to them, well that was just entertaining!! Here are a few pictures of their week together:

Heading off to Day Camp, by the end of the week they were leading the way!

Eating S'mores we made halfway through the week with all the families

Playing games during free time. They were very serious about this one:
I love these two!!
Encouraging one another on wall climbing:

Their traditional matching Mt. Hermon shirtsHanging out with one of their favorite persons, Grandma

Crossing the creek, their favorite adventurePlaying on their beach

A Toy Story Pair

I had to post this picture. When Jared's sister was here for Father's Day, the kids decided to dress up. A is Jesse and then we have T as Buzz. They were having the best time until we asked to take their picture. : )

Learning to Share

These two little ones are just weeks apart. They have always played nicely together. Well, up until now anyways. Suddenly they have developed their own opinions and are showing their ownership of toys. Benjamin has always been considered the "bully" because of the difference of their sizes. Ethan's always been small, Benjamin big. Well, Ethan has certainly caught up and more than capable of standing up for himself.

Here they are with the ball

The piano:

The birthday ball:Poor Ethan was a little confused with this one. Mom and Dad had just bought it at Target and he got to play with it all by himself. Then he was informed it was Benjamin's new ball. What gives?

It's going to be lots of fun watching these two grow!

Sweet Cousins

This picture deserved a post all by itself. Can you believe it! All 5 kids looking at the camera at the same time, it's gotta be a record! These are definitely my 5 favorite boys!! They'd just finished playing in the water, napping or getting covered in birthday cupcake! (thus explaining the wardrobe choices)

Brothers & Cousins

I love watching these boys have fun together!!

They were so excited to sit on the futon with Thomas as he shared his snack. Like a flock of ducks... give them one and the move in for more!!

Happy Boys!!
Thomas and Benjamin thought it was great fun to hang out with Bailey on his bed. They sat there just laughing and being silly.
This was after they had finished playing in Thomas' room. They came to see what else they could find. Thomas sweetly helped Benjamin get some letters and keep the music going. (no, he's not always sweet about it!!)

Post-morning nap fun. Thomas still likes to hangout in B's bed after his nap. though it was so sweet until i saw he had stolen all of b's blankets, filled it with his toys and just left b a corner. oh well, they both had fun!

My Sister

Here's my sister's family. Such a sweet little family that I love watching. It's been so fun watching them figure out this whole parenting thing. Funny to remember what it was like to be a first time mom and see how I've changed with number 2. Our boys are only 4 weeks apart, wo we really are walking through all of this together.

They are great parents and really concerned about disciplining this little guys heart. They are getting started with that already and God has blessed them with a really sweet little guy.

Just look how happy he is! He has always looked like such a little man, but now that he's chunked up a bit (check out those cheeks!) he's actually looking more like a baby! He's as much fun as he looks and you can already tell how smart he is. What a blessing he is to the whole family. It's going to be so much fun watching E & B grow up together. I'm sure lots of trouble lies ahead, especially with an older cousin like T!!

These 2 already have lots of fun together! They are checking out toys together and all ready wrestling. B has always been so much bigger, (but they're pretty much the same size right now) that we expected him to push E around. He's gotten in a few friendly smacks (the baby kind where they're checking one another out, not the mean kind), but Audra was admittedly a little proud when E knocked B over! (again, not on purpose!!!) They have lots of fun ahead!

Aren't they just so cute!!! B just woke up...

Cousins!!!

We are having so much fun with our cousins lately!!

My sister was here for the day a couple of weeks ago and we had so much fun. Thomas is an awesome big cousin and gets so excited when he gets to see any of them.

Here are the two little ones checking things out. They aren't too sure what to do with one another, but being only weeks apart they are sure to have lots of fun in the future.

Thomas is such a good big cousin and always willing to make sure both his brother and little cousin are smiling. Notice that he is holding their hands, one of his favorite things to do.

Last week, the boys and I got to go spend the night at my cousin, Molly's house. The four little boys had such fun together. Lots of laughter and very few tears or fights. It's so much fun!! Aren't they just precious!

These two always have such a great time together. Timmy loved to show Thomas how he can read. Thomas was so impressed!

Auntie read them a special story about George before they went to bed. They had their first slumber party. Such fun to see it carrying on to the next generation!Special lunch at the mall. They loved their prizes!!

Cousin Fun

The day after Thanksgiving we drove up to Jared's sister's house for some family fun. The gals got out for some shopping, while Grandpa and Jared stayed at the house, watched the kids and fixed some things around the house. Thomas had so much fun playing with his cousins and constantly asks to go see them. It's great!!

Here he is with Aleeyah. He's having fun, I promise. Just mad mommy made him stop his fun for a picture.

Aleeyah with Benjamin. She had so much fun sitting with him and talking to him, so sweet!

Kailyn and Benjamin hanging out!

All the cousins!! So much fun!!

Precious Baby

Yesterday I got to be part of God's precious miracle, the birth of my 2nd cousin. Jakob Paul Nelson was born to Molly & Jeff and big brother Timmy at 9:45am 19 inches, 7 pounds and 12 ounces. Everyone is overjoyed and healthy. I stood in awe of God as I was reminded of just how amazing His creation is. Our bodies, as women, were made to give birth. The body knows just what to do! And that little baby that comes out is a pure picture of God's hand in creation, right down to the smallest detail. I was so blessed to be a part of this special day!!

I joined Molly and Jeff at the hospital Sunday morning ready with breakfast for Jeff and something yummy waiting for Molly. I got to visit with them and hear just how the night had gone (she checked in around 10pm Saturday night). It had not been a comfortable night, but filled with rest, the hospital room-contraction-epidural kind of rest, and delivery wasn't too far away. She was progressing steadily, the doctor said at 8:10 but only at a "6". We chatted some more, made some phone calls and Molly even put on some make-up and brushed her teeth, it was a great distraction. 9:15 the doctor was back in and said it was time to push!! Uncle Allan (molly's dad) and I took our place behind the curtain and waited for that precious cry.

Molly amazed me through this! I could hear that contagious laugh of hers between pushes. The nurses kept her happy and distracted and God blessed her with strength (and a great epidural!). By 9:45 Uncle Allan and I had our eyes filled with tears at the screams of Jakob. The best sound in the world!!!

The next hours were filled with family and all the new baby check-ups. Big brother Timmy got to meet his new baby, which went just great and we all got to take turns holding him. I had the blessing of getting to stay behind with Molly and Jakob as everyone else left to get lunch. The room was quiet for a whole 30 minutes, no nurses, no visitors, just the three of us. Molly took advantage of this and slept, she so needed that!! I took advantage of it by holding the new bundle. I was able to pray blessings for him and all of our boys as they grow up, sit and bask in the glory God's creation, and just simply enjoy my new cousin. It was a great day!

Welcome little Jakob, your life is blessed already! You have wonderful parents, a great big brother and an extended family that loves you to pieces. God has blessed you with a house filled with laughter and love and I pray he will fill you will a love for Him, our Savior!! May the Lord truly bless you and keep you!!

Cutest Cousins

Thomas had a blast hanging out with his 4 cousins for the week. He and Aleeyah are just 3 weeks apart and got along so well. They laughed at eachother, chased eachother, discovered new things and even went to "school." together. Aleeyah taught Thomas how to swing on your belly, ask new questions and get things from her older siblings. He's talking so much more after having many conversations with his cousins. It was so sweet to watch them talk in their own two year old way. He loved jumping and playing with the older cousins to. I'm so thankful that he has such wonderful cousins that love him so much. Can't wait to see them all grow up together and see the new things they teach him.

Playing with the Cousins

Last week, Thomas, Grammy and I had the joy of heading to Fremont for a playdate with my cousin Nicole. We met up at Grandma's house so she could enjoy the fun, too. Nicole is mom to two sweeties, T 2.5 and P 4.5. We hadn't seeing them in at least a year, so we had lots to catch up on and the kids had lots of playing to do. The kids were quiet for awhile, but eventually had a great time playing with one another, especially outside. They played on the slide.

Picked some flowers to smell. Then, found the one small spot of mud to throw the oranges in.

What fun!! Then the sweetest part, gave hugs good bye!