The Bartel's Est. 2004: October 2009

I am so sad to say goodbye to yet another summer.

It continually amazes me how fast time can fly. I posted previously that I would try to post more frequently....obviously that plan back-fired. So, here I am again, preparing to write another novel about our summer family happenings and post a million and one pictures. Most of the pictures will have to wait, due to the fact that we just bought a new computer and I don't have access to them as of yet.

The kids had an absolute blast this summer. McKenna & Zander didn't want swimming lessons to come to an end. Gage was lovin' the beach as well. The water, sun, splish-splashing around....it really was an awesome summer. It took McKenna and Z the full 8 weeks to jump off the dock by themselves as they were so timid. I'm so proud of how far they've come! Hopefully by next summer they will really know how to swim. I can't even imagine missing "this" and being at work. I am so lucky to be at home with them.

McKenna never lets me forget how happy she is that I'm her mommy. She just melts my heart. She's learning her ABC's and starting to write them as well. I really need to work on this with her, seeing she starts school next year. CRAZY! She is such a girly girl. I don't see a spec of baby or toddler in her anymore. (cry) Her obsession with Ariel and the other Princesses continues. She's getting so tall too! She's already in a size 5. Stop getting bigger and stay my snuggle bunny forever McKenna! I was talking with my friend last week and we were saying that theoretically McKenna could be off and married in 15 years.....that thought made my stomach turn. Could it be that someday I would actually have to "give up" my little girl so she could go on and start a family of her own? How do parents do this? With the rate kids are growing up these days, I may send the kids off to a secluded island so they can stay innocent and protected for a VERY LONG time. McKenna is such a caring little girl. If someone is ill she will always remember to to add them into her prayers at night. Such a gentle and nurturing spirit she has.

Zander, like McKenna is growing up so fast too. He only has a spec of toddler left in him, and I'm not sure how long it's going to hang around. He has always been my "wittle wover", but now he has his "L's" down pat, so he's now my little lover. He's also extended his love to all insects, bugs and any other creepy, crawly, furry thing he can get his little hands on. (Ahh!)

Over the summer we've adopted the worlds HUGEST butterfly (aka Alien Butterfly), worms, countless baby frogs, one of which got lost in our vehicle (RIP really tiny frog). I'm not sure if it was a raisin I tossed out that day, or something else....hmmm. One day he just walked into the house with a baby bird in his hands. He was so gentle with it. (Yes, eventually the mommy bird came back for it.) Our latest pets were 3 furry caterpillars he brought back from "the farm". Holy crap those things are worse than our fish. I never knew how much caterpillars ate and pooped....a lot! They eventually turned into butterflies and flew away one night while he slept over at grandma's house. (or at least that's what we told him...don't worry, no caterpillar murdering going on in this household...they were put on a tree in our backyard. Lord only knows how they're going to survive this winter, but that is not weighing in on my conscious.) Zander has reached a HUGE milestone. No more pull-ups at night! YEAH!!! Only big boy undies for this little man. 2 down 1 to go.

Z and Kenna had their 1st Dentist appointments this past month. I had them watch an episode of Loser and Kate plus Eight (Booo on you Jon!) when the kids went to the dentist to prepare them. I must say they did amazing! They might have even liked it. They handed their "ticket" to the Dentist for their 1 free ride on the Dentist's chair. Before getting on McKenna looked at Z at told him it was going to be like riding on a roller-coaster.....okay, so I may have pumped her up a bit too much, but she still thought is was a pretty cool chair. No cavities for both....YEAH for great dental hygiene!

Gage also experienced a first of his own. His very first haircut! He didn't seem to mind it too much. I swear he looked so much older when he was done. He went from mullet baby to fro hawk baby. Soooo cute! (he's already due for another!) Gage went in for his 1 year well-baby check-up. He measured in at 32.25" and 25.8 lbs. Seeing that was over 2 months ago, he's grown even more. He's transitioning into size 4 diapers and 2T clothing. All of my kids had chubby patties, so it's no surprise that Gage is already in a size 6 for shoes. He still only has 4 top teeth, but a third bottom left tooth poked through 2 weeks ago, so I'm assuming the bottom right will follow. I swear Zander had a full set of chompers by this age. (His 1st tooth poked through at 3 mos.) Gage knows so much more in just the past couple of months. His 1st word was ball, which he has graduated to "backaball" (basketball) and "bolball" (for football). He is a sports fanatic already! Gage plays catch constantly. We're thinking he might be a lefty. He and Zander now share a room. Gage wakes up every morning at 7 am (or earlier) and yells for me. He can see our room from his crib. It's so cute when I look over and see his chubby little cheeky grin smiling back at me just waiting for me to pick him up. It doesn't even phase Z that his little brother is yelling "MOM!" I laugh because he's sort of dropped the mama thing and I'm already just mom. As for the baby in him, it's quickly being replaced with "toddler". I swear I was just preggers and here I am getting rid of all baby items already. Just unbelievable how precious life is and how truly fast it goes by. Patrick Swazey's wife Lisa Niemi was on Oprah this past week & she mentioned that we tend to forget that our life is on loan to us. It's so true. We just go through life on auto pilot to get supper made, cleaning done or whatever it is, and just like that the day has gone by. I'm really trying to make an effort to live in the moment and really soak up this time I have staying at home with the kids and Jason. It is so worth the sacrifices made.

Because the kids are growing up so fast we decided to invest in some family portraits from a professional photographer, Sarah Gwidt Photography. (click on name) Besides the fact that she's an awesome friend of mine, she also happens to be an A.MAZING photographer! I highly recommend her if you are thinking about getting portraits done. It was only 43 degrees out when these shots were taken and you can't even tell!!

I can't forget to include Halloween pics! Gage HATED his froggy costume!