Photo update

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been a huge slacker lately as I feel sick most of my days. By the time I have time to blog, I really just want to sit on the couch and watch Dancing with the Stars. Here are a few photos of our latest happenings.

My parents rock! They should give lessons in being awesome for reals. About five years ago, they bought me a white Kitchenaid tilt head mixer for Christmas. I use it several times a week to make bread, cookies, pizza dough, and other goodies for my family. Well, it started having issues in that the tilt head didn't want to stay put and it even bounced right off the counter, denting the kitchen floor! My dad tightened some things up for me and Jared also gave it the once over and it was working adequately. So, to my surprise, this baby showed up on my doorstep earlier this week! My dad decided I need a bigger, sturdier version of my mixer. This is a beautiful, red model where the bowl lifts to the mixing apparatus. I think this will solve the problems I was having with the tilt head. Thanks so much to my amazing parents! This baby will be used regularly and each time I will think about how much you love me!

Landon was showing off his Lego creation at breakfast. The computer made my photos into a GIF. I thought he was super cute, so that is the only reason it is included here. Landon is so sweet. He misses his brothers now that they're both in school and has become my little shadow. I love him.

Ethan enjoying an ice cream cone on our DQ date after Open House. I am so proud of this little man! He really tries his best with every challenge he is given. His teacher had nothing but positive things to say about him. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Grayson learned to ride his bike without training wheels. I am impressed a four year old could master such a skill. He loves being outside and now has a new, fun thing to do outside. This is a video from his first solo ride. He's definitely improved on steering and staying on the pavement/sidewalk.

Bedtime Blessings

I am a blessed woman! I am blessed for many reasons, but last night I was feeling especially blessed that my husband is home every night and puts the children to bed. I have many friends and family members who do not have this blessing in their lives due to husband's work schedules, school schedules, military schedules, etc. There was a time when Jared was often not home at bedtime back when he was a full time employee and a full time student. Maybe that is why I can really appreciate this blessing for what it is.

After a long, hard day of growing a baby and raising four children, I was laying on the couch. I could hear Jared's baritone from the bedroom reading a story and the chatter of little voices. Even though I was exhausted, I had to get up and take a picture of this sweet moment. I love that this is the norm for my children. Not only does it bless my life to have a husband who is willing to give me a small power nap. It blesses the lives of each of our little ones. These are memories I hope they carry with them throughout their lives: that they had a dad who was there and read to them and talked to them about their day and tickled them and snuggled them and loves them. I'm weepy and extremely grateful every time I think about it. 

Baby Wars

Since Miriam's "birth" day,  Jared and I have been engaged in what he has affectionately dubbed "The Baby Wars." Going into my fourth pregnancy, we had both silently determined that this would in fact be our last child. It was a bonus that we got a girl after three boys. It was even more of a bonus that we had been blessed with four healthy, happy children. Quit while you're ahead, right?

Well, as I was laboring in the hospital with Miriam, a voice clear as it was in the room simply said, "This isn't the last time you'll do this." I did tear up, but decided I was a little busy and just pushed the counsel aside. Over the next several months, I continued to feel uneasiness with the decision to be done having children. I voiced my concerns and shared my experience with Jared. I really think he thought I was kidding. He is happy with what we have and didn't want to go through it all over again. Honestly, I didn't really want to do it all over again either. Being pregnant is hard and painful and tiring. Not to mention feeding another Krause! Some days it feels like all I do is cook and clean. Jared, especially, was ready to move on with our lives. Being done with the baby stage is so tempting.

But, the impressions to have another wouldn't leave me alone. Therefore, I wouldn't leave poor Jared alone. We prayed, we fasted, we counseled together, we even argued! I hated that part. It was the first time in the ten plus years we've known each other that we were not on the same page. Heck, we weren't even in the same book. It was frustrating and heartbreaking and hard. I prayed to  do it Jared's way and just be done, but I knew that wasn't right. I wanted Jared to come around in his own time, but I also was afraid that maybe I was misreading the Holy Ghost. It truly was an internal, spiritual struggle for me.

In the end, Jared asked me in a very heartfelt way if I was 100% sure this was the right path for our family. I told him I could not deny it and that I was 100% sure. He agreed to have another baby and move forward with my faith. I felt honored with his trust and hope that I do not disappoint him. So, without further ado, a new little Krause will join our family in April of 2015.

Jared's Phone Pics

Jared recently uploaded his phone pictures to the computer and there are some goodies in there. I just had to share! 

Landon circa February 2011. I think Jared and I were watching basketball and Landon was just so snuggly and cute.

Grayson fell asleep in a lap of a Sunday at church. Love him. 2010, I think.

Landon and Daddy playing on a walk in late 2011 or early 2012. 

Jared, Gordon, and Cooper hanging out pre-wedding (Gordon's) in San Diego.

Ethan enjoying cereal in 2012.

Ethan showing off his Ninja moves in 2012.

Meeting baby Miriam at the hospital in 2013.

Sweet baby girl in 2013.

Grayson at pre-school in early 2014.

A cute, crawling baby girl in 2013.

Amazing bath time hair for Miriam earlier this year.

First Disney trip with Miriam in 2013.

Jared and Ethan went fishing on Saturday morning across the street at our neighbor's house. Here's the fish Jared caught! Any one know what kind of fish this is?

Miriam dressed up as Spiderman yesterday.

Landon being super cute in 2012.

18 months

I've gotten a little behind. Miriam turned 18 months in August and I wanted to record some things about our sweet girl. She weighed in at nearly 27 pounds and is 31.5 inches tall. She is growing pretty well considering she is my pickiest eater. She loves carbs and yogurt and dislikes pretty much anything else. We did serve chicken wings recently and she loved those. Guess we need to start grilling all of her food.

 

Miriam has started running. It is an essential skill around here or else she gets left in the dust. She tries to feed herself and ends up wearing half of it. Peekaboo and following her brothers around are her favorites. She is quite the climber and has gotten herself into a few precarious situations. Miriam also loves to be outside and to swim. Her hair is a constant worry for me as it is ALWAYS in her face. I try putting it up and she just pulls it out. It's almost long enough to tuck behind her ear and I just can't bear to cut it. So we have a girl with crazy hair most of the time. Her curls bounce when she runs and it is the cutest.