May?!

How did that happen?!  And where have I been the last few months?

We are officially 1 month away from d-day (aka due-day) and are SO EXCITED to meet this little girl.  She has been very gentle on me and this is the first pregnancy that I can honestly say 'I would totally have another' if they were all this easy (and if we had double the income).  Scott just croaked at that thought...

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 is my self-given life verse because I get so anxious about how everything will work itself out.  This verse is a constant reminder of what I should do when those anxieties arrise.  For the last 10 weeks or so, the baby has been measuring big (as in 6 weeks big) and we've had a lot of worries about all the unknowns.  After a very helpful ultrasound yesterday, it looks like we are still pretty much on schedule to deliver late May to early June.  It was awesome to see a healthy baby and to hear her heart beat.  The sonographer could even see her hair!  And, although I don't know everything, I felt  like this was God's way of telling me to just chill out!  He is in control. ALWAYS.

These AMAZING kiddos are what have been keeping me busy...

and, as you can see, Mr. C doesn't get any attention from all three mother hens at all!

We went to Fredrick Meijer Gardens in March to see the butterflies

I truly delight in watching this man with his daughters...he is absolutely smitten (and likewise)!

Best sisters waiting to see the butterflies

Both kids would stand with arms outstretched just waiting for a butterfly to land on them.  So cute!

We participated in the neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  The weather was PERFECT!

As compared to the Easter egg hunt of 2010 when we were freezing.

By the way, where did our babies go?!

The task of filling all 26,000 eggs (a slight exaggeration, maybe it's more along the lines of 300) goes to a different neighbor every year.  This year, before the hunt began, the neighbor in charge told us there was a note in a white egg that deligates next year's fillers.  All the other kids were avoiding the 2 white eggs.  Each of our kids came back with a white egg in their baskets.  Oh joy.

And she was SO proud.  :)

The girls also got to do an Easter egg hunt after an Awesome Easter service with their cousin.  So much fun!

We have been so impressed with everything that Paitin is learning in Kindergarten this year.  She will read to anyone that will sit still (which is usually NOT her sister).

Just this past weekend, Oma surprised the girls with tickets to see "Pinkalicious" at the Civic Theater

And each girl got a cupcake before the show. 

You have never seen so much pink in one place before!

But they loved their first play!

     We feel so blessed to be able to do all the things we do.  The girls are getting so independent, fun and smart, and we look forward to welcoming one more little girl into this crazy mix.  Her parents and sisters are definitely ready to meet her!! 

Praying this finds you well and happy!

~Kristen

So...

I'm officially less than 4 months away from my due date!!

Meet baby (Byron Center)VanDusen #3

And here is the only face-on picture we got...apparently we have a very active little one!

And... 

Yay!  We feel so blessed to have a healthy little girl to add to our family in June.  Scott and I just giggled for a long time when we found out.  I think we were both a little surprised (and Scott was DEFINITELY thinking about another wedding to pay for), but we have been on cloud 9 ever since. 

Braylee got to pick out her baby sister's take-home outfit and was really excited about that!

Leggings in newborn size are SO CUTE!!!

I know I said that I was going to keep the gender a secret, but within a half hour of the ultrasound I slipped and called her a girl.  I figured that I wouldn't be able to keep it for 4 more months!! 

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!  We can't wait to meet her!

Celebrate!

We have been celebrating like it's 1999 over here, how about you?!

In December, another one bit the dust and turned 30 (but we're not mentioning names)

We celebrated Paitin having peeled off her boarder by re-paining her room...(notice how opposite she and her sister are when it comes to, well, everything?  I don't think she got a drip of paint anywhere other than the wall.)

Scott and the kids celebrated the snow by shoveling (and playing in/eating/throwing) it!

And we did LOTS of celebrating Baby Jesus!!!  We were able to see most of our family and enjoy the reason for the season.  We are so blessed!!

Braylee even got a slide so that we can finally have a quiet 'quiet time'.  That was wishful thinking...now all we hear is thud, thud, thud from her hitting the floor after she slides down.  This picture shows her using it like the parallel bars swinging back and forth.  I guess the good news is that she hasn't broken any bones on it. yet.

We celebrated Scott's long vacation between Christmas and New Years by going to the Children's Museum with the girls...this picture doesn't look forced at all, does it?!

Another one from the museum, Braylee the fire fighter!

As of January, we have been celebrating a new guest at our house during the week.

And I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the girls are doing with our 'test run' of sorts!

And we celebrated our baby turning 4!!!!

I can't believe it's been 4 years since she looked like this.  

She was loud immediately out of the womb....and hasn't stopped since.  :)

Braylee Kay amazes us daily with her intelligence and sweet nature.

She's always been independent.  She started walking at 9 months!

And hasn't wanted to be told what to do since then. 

Where did my baby go?!  (Easter 2009)

For her birthday this year, Braylee got her ears pierced!

Doesn't she look old?!!

We had a family party for her...who wants cake?

Braylee talked Scott into making her a red velvet cake for the party!  This is the 'before'...

And the after...

And what would be better than talking her teddy bear, er, I mean dad into red velvet cookies to bring to preschool

Braylee is such a blessing to us.  Yes, she is also a challenge, but I can't imagine life without her.  She has made the last 4 years brighter, filled with many laughs (and tears). There are days where I promise to be more stubborn than a 4 year old, but she is so loved and a joy to us!! She has such a tender heart and we are SO thankful that God gave her to us. 

Hope you were able to celebrate lots of occasions this season, too!

~Kristen

Time flies when...

You're having fun!  And boy are we having fun!

Halloween was great this year.  Braylee dressed up as a peacock, and Paitin as a mermaid and little S joined us for some trick-or-treating fun!

AND, we found out that we are expecting our 3rd little miracle in June!!!

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Or at least it did for one day back in November.  But, nonetheless, the kids had a ball in the snow! 

Scott, Braylee and CB worked on a snowman lovingly named "Eye Carrot".

While I worked on a little snow family of VanDusens. 

And P, B, and CB thoroughly enjoyed hot cocoa and marshmallows afterwards!

Paitin and Braylee helped me decorate the bottom half of the tree the day after Thanksgiving while Scott did the outside of the house.

Since Braylee is going to be a big sister, we decided to move her to a different room to open up what we'll call the nursery.  And she "helped" me paint her new room...look, she doesn't even have to look at what she's painting next! 

I think in the end, more paint ended up on her hands and feet than on the walls.  :)

Here are the big sisters standing against Braylee's fully painted wall showing off the shirts that I made them.  They each have a little '6-4-12' on them which is my due date.  This is how we told our families.  Who figured it out first? 

And here I am at 13 weeks (which was last week)...Scott swears it's twins.

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for this year (and every year).  I pray that this finds you well and happy.  Have a Blessed Christmas!!

Good-bye summer...

Scott wanted to wait 'til the Fall Equinox to make it official, but I'll jump the gun:  We went a whole year without a hospital visit!!!  This was something that we were really excited about!  It's almost unbelievable that we are already back in the groove of school and work after a fun and busy summer.  Here is just a quick overview of the last month or so:

We tried blueberry picking again...this time went a lost smoother than when the kids were younger!  I think CB ate her body weight in blueberries in ~45 minutes.

We enjoyed lots of popsicles on the deck.  This is one satisfied customer! 

Braylee loves everything baby.  Scott found her sleeping like this and had to get a photo.

Paitin looking like Mitta.

Paitin showing her excitement over her second lost tooth.

My babies went to school! 

If you remember me saying in a previous post that this swimsuit matches Braylee's personality...I felt obligated to make her a skirt for her 1st day so that her teachers knew exactly what they were in for!

Braylee's first day of 3 year old preschool.  (and she didn't get kicked out!  yet.)

Paitin's first day of Kindergarten! 

And first time off the bus. 

Eating breakfast before their first dance class, buns and all! 

I love these girls!!! 

Cousins having a snack together.

We are so blessed.  We have many things to be thankful for...God is SO great!

Praying this finds everyone doing well,

Kristen