A Peek at the Poulsens

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY!  epic air hockey (Austin won both games he played) Three years of STOCKTY. This boy has given us so much joy and love. He was such a chill baby and still maintains a lot of that composure, playing contentedly for a long time without being interrupted. If you try to force him to do something, however, prepare for your doom. It is near impossible  to get that boy to do something if he doesn't want to. Example: putting on shoes. The worst. Last year we went to Lost in Fun on his birthday, so we decided to stick with tradition and go again. Family met us there, along with the Birdsalls, and it was a great time. It was especially fun to see Jack having such a good time since he's always been too little to really enjoy the place until now (we haven't been since before he was one). The bouncing pillow was a hit, as always, as was the ball pit and bubbles. Letting kids roam free, doing as they please, taking their time or rushing from thing to...

FRIENDS GUYS. We went to Texas to visit our pals! Ross and Aly Welch lived in Lincoln for the past two years and just moved to Fort Worth upon Ross becoming a Master in mechanical engineering. We cried for three months and then dropped everything and drove 10 hours to see them over Labor Day weekend. It was joyous and delightful. (Except that Stockton slept HORRIBLY and kept us up all night and it was the worst. Blah.) Jack and Ella were basically best friends. (They are six months apart.) It was so fun to see how much Ella has changed! She is just so dang cute. Um, they have a LAKE in their neighborhood. It was perfect. The Dads // everyone asleep (except Natalie, Stockton and I outside haha)  View from the parking lot // some really cute stroller babies TATER HOLE and ICE CREAM. Basically all is right in the world again. They introduced us to a yard game called Kubb ("koob") where you toss batons underhand to knock over blocks, basi...

Intelligent, curious, silly, loving. That's our beautiful girl!  stomping around in her new boots a picture she drew for our missionary brothers entitled "Carwash" haha Purchase of the first backpack! // still loving Peppa // playdoh creationing The Great Natsby. A fitting title for someone so magnificent! She LOVES to learn (her teacher called her "inquisitive" which is just perfect), and she is VERY concerned for the welfare of others. She always tells me if one of her friends had an owie or was sick, and she does the most tender little pat-pat on the arm of someone who isn't feeling well or is sad, while looking into their eyes with a little half-smile. How is this four-year-old so...mature? She is very special indeed. I have to remind myself that she is still just 4 - I give her responsibilities like "go check on Jack" or "make sure the boys don't dump the cereal out while I'm in the shower." Then I remem...