We are thinking "spring" around here - even though we were just dumped on by about 10-12 inches of snow over the weekend. But this afternoon they are calling for potential thunderstorms, and hopefully our fresh layer of white melts about as quickly as it came down.
Winter is slowly showing up in our rear view mirror, and we are so glad about that. For obvious reasons - we have a baby joining our family this summer, and that's pretty much all we can think about. But after the first cold season in this home, we are missing our beautiful backyard we enjoyed thoroughly last summer and fall, and we can't wait to reconnect with the outdoors and all that comes with it. It was quite the winter. In some ways, it seems like it sped on by - in other ways, it seems like it was the longest one yet. I spent the first half of it and the entire holiday season feeling so blessed by news of our baby but also feeling incredibly sick. I spent about eight weeks taking winter hibernation to a whole new level, not having any energy and not feeling good enough to leave the house unless necessary. Right in the midst of my sickness and about three weeks before Christmas, we had all new windows installed throughout our entire home. We love the results (not the process), and it has completely changed the look of our house. And since only about three of the older windows actually opened last summer when we moved in, I'm so excited to be able to open up every single one of these new windows when the weather allows - and completely air out this space. I'm especially excited to enjoy our four seasons room on a whole new level this warm weather season, and cozying up with the babe in our comfy sun room chairs while the sun sets around us.
One week before Christmas, Cody started a new job - one that had really been in the works for a few years and was definitely a good move for him and for us. But with any new job comes new adjustments and of course a little bit of stress. Couple that with a really busy basketball season, me taking on a little bit extra work in my job for a few months... and it's no wonder that we're ready for a seasonal change. Not because life is slowing down - quite the opposite! We have begun our basement remodel, have a host of house projects to complete over the next three and a half months, and I'm getting increasingly pregnant - and short of breath. ;) I'm anxious to get this camera of mine outside, and I am excited about a "slower" summer - with both boys opting out of playing baseball, allowing us to spend some extra family time at the pool, taking walks around the lake, and going out for ice cream whenever we feel like it. I'm looking forward to the simplest of things - like snuggling a baby on the front porch while my three boys shoot hoops in the driveway, pushing a stroller up the street to James and Cassi's house... and a maternity leave that I know won't be long enough (it never is), but will be treasured immensely.
So -- before we move ahead with Easter pictures and our first track practice next week, here are just a few final pictures of our first winter in this newer home of ours. (Speaking of which, next week marks the one year anniversary of putting our old house on the market. When I think of how much has happened in the last 12 months, I am amazed at how God worked through so. many. things).
Anyways...
School continues to go well for both boys, and they both absolutely rocked their parent/teacher conferences a couple of weeks ago. We are so proud of them and love how they are thriving at Lincoln Elementary. They are both very happy there, and I thank God for this answered prayer. It was a big one.
These new windows - what a difference! We made sure to have big deep window sills in every room, and Brandon has taken full use of his by displaying all of his Star Wars stuff. ;) Though it may look cluttered to some, his room is so perfectly him, and I know it's a space that makes him very happy.
Jaden's current room will soon become baby girl's room, and he will be moving into a bigger room in the basement later this spring once it's all complete. Baby girl has a big picture window looking out over our neighbor's beautiful backyard with a pretty view of the sun set each night, and plans are in the works for a sweet little window bench in that room once Jaden gets moved out, too. I have some fun plans for decorating Jaden's new basement bedroom over time, and though this house remains a work in progress for the foreseeable future, we love it here.
We had one unseasonably warm day in January that just made our hearts sing. Tim and Cody completed the interior trim work around the windows, the boys were able to play outside all day, setting up their new soccer nets and reconnecting with the trampoline and the tree swing... and we wrapped things up with a fire in the backyard and some steaks for supper.
Brandon is enjoying cub scouts, had a special field trip to tour the Cedar Falls police station with his group... and has an April hiking adventure coming up next month.
We enjoyed Ninja night at our church one Saturday night while Jaden attended a basketball team sleepover. Brandon loves watching Ninja Warrior on TV and on the iPad and absolutely stunned all the organizers of this event when he completed all the stunts in the gym without any help. Including racing to the top of the climbing wall and pulling himself up to the top with just his two strong arms!
He also reached the 2nd grade milestone of our church's kids ministry program, being presented with his own special Bible up on stage in front of the congregation. He keeps it in the drawer by his bed and made a sweet note to himself to remember to read it every morning before leaving his room. He also called me out recently when I had been failing to do our nightly Bible story readings during my two sick months, and once we started up again, he told me "it feels really good to be back in the Bible."
Jaden's been all about basketball, as has been well documented, but also is becoming pretty good buds with the 6th grader, Ian, across the street. They play basketball outside whenever the weather allows, and I'm getting pretty used to Ian ringing our door bell at about 4:30 after school on most days. Ian has told him that there's a neighborhood tradition of playing capture the flag at night in the summers, and I'm looking forward to both boys getting to know the neighborhood kids a little bit better this year.
We enjoyed a lot of sports watching gatherings in our home, including Super Bowl Sunday, and Brandon is always a patient and kind host to his little cousin Ivy.
We made it to the sledding hills just one time, and it was kind of a disaster to be honest. Brandon had a blast, but Jaden was cranky and impatient, and since Cody couldn't be with me to help haul sleds up the hill over and over again, we cut our adventure short and came home to play on our own front yard snow mound instead.
Valentine's Day came and went without a whole lot of fluff, but we did make sure the boys received some nice gifts, and we are all looking forward to setting up our new badminton net from my parents in our backyard this summer. And with the new outdoor movie projector and foot golf set we received from Christmas, I see a lot of outdoor party nights in our future!
And of course, the biggest news of our winter. A little sister is on her way.
She is the tie breaker in the Ubben family. ;)
Okay spring... come at us!
