Happy Birthday, Luke!

As we celebrate Luke's 5th birthday today - it's hard for us to believe how fast the time has flown by! He still is and always will be his momma's little boy (as much as he'd love to deny it!). We are so thankful for our little man amongst all these girls! We figure he's got a great training ground here for dealing with all these women - what a great husband he will be someday! He never ceases to make us smile, to make us proud (most of the time), and make us shake our head and laugh. I am sad that he is now getting too old/cool to give his mom a kiss at the bus stop - but am thankful for every sweet moment he gives us each and every day.

Trying out new tricks on the board

Birthday Hole in One

The girls are ready to pounce

Birthday Boy

I've Been Called a Slacker!

Apparently it has been quite some time since I have updated, and I have been scorned! So much has happened in the past 17 days, which may account for the lack of blog! For starters, my one and only beloved sister got married to her childhood dream man. They got married at the beach last Friday, and managed to grab the only dry hour of the weekend. Together they have 3 great kids and it has been wonderful to see them so happy together! We are looking forward to having them in the family!

Arik, Kari, Mark, Andrew, Ashley
The other three stooges

The following morning, Rich and I got to sneak away on our first overnight trip WITHOUT kids, since the triplets were born! Despite the rain, we enjoyed a wonderful weekend away to Traverse City with 3 other couples. The guys golfed (in the rain), while we did some retail therapy. Can you believe I couldn't even sleep in past 8am??? I was quite disappointed in myself - I don't have it in me anymore! But you better believe I could fall asleep at 8pm!! My, how life changes.
Old Mission Lighthouse

As for the little ones...................Hmmmm. They are all crawling, pulling up, cruising, and otherwise finding all sorts of trouble to get into! Everything seemed to have happened overnight- and now I have no gates that fit where I need them - AAAAGGGHHH! They enjoy standing up in their cribs staring and making noises at each other, when they are supposed to be going to bed. Let the fun begin!! Ava and Addison got their first tooth. Elaina still looks like G.I. Jane - and acts like her, too. You can not feed this girl fast enough and she is stronger and more solid than anything! Emma and Luke are enjoying school. Luke started playing soccer this fall and Emma is taking a Hip-Hop class. I have been back to work at Metro Health Hospital for a few months now, too. SO, life is in full swing at the VanTol residence. I hope to be able to update more often than I have been. It's a great way for me to remember where the year has gone!

Addison,Emma, Ava, Luke

Not sure about the grass!

The Green Machine
G.I. Jane (with Trouble behind her)

Luke's Off to School

Luke's 1St Day
The Big Yellow Bus

Luke's big day has finally arrived! He started DK this year and actually gets to ride the BUS!! This a major thing at our house - something his sister has wanted to do for years and hasn't been able to. Granted, we could walk to school faster than it takes to ride the bus. Nonetheless - he gets to ride. Yeah for Luke! He is enjoying his new class and teacher, Mrs. Kelly!

Another new thing at our house these days................landscaping!! Rich worked hard all Labor Day weekend and got it all purchased, planted, and mulched (7 yards) - all in 90 degree weather! Makes us feel like we're back in Texas (or is that why we left?). It is so nice to not have to look at the piles of mud anymore!

All the girls are crawling and getting into EVERYTHING now. I can tell these next several months are going to be a challenge keeping everything off the floor. The other day Rich swiped a nice big ball of electrical tape out of Addison's mouth after she had been coughing on it for a few minutes - NICE. Elaina has definitely become the social one of the bunch, and will gravitate toward, and pounce on either one of her sisters at any given moment. They are not as fond of this as she is! Poor Ava has the most hair and gets a big handful pulled now and again, too. So much to keep up with anymore. We're headed for trouble!

We Have Grass!!!

Rich's job well done!

Addie getting in trouble!

First Day of School

Emma started school today, which means summer is officially over at the VanTol residence. My very helpful second grader was missed tremendously by her mother and brother and sisters today. She seems so grown up already and I realized today (in her absence) how much she really does contribute to our family! We love you, Emma Bear! Thanks for being a great kid!

And..............We're Mobile!!

Yes, people.....we are mobile in more ways then one now! Addison is the first crawler of the clan! If you'd asked me, I would've thought she'd be last. Way to go Addie!
And........this weekend the "big kids" and I got to spend some good quality time with Addison as Daddy was away on a much deserved golf getaway weekend! He planned months in advance to have 2 of the girls cared for by his wonderful parents and sister. We all enjoyed being able to love on one girl at a time - and they loved it, too! The four of us felt very "mobile" as we jetted all around town with our very portable baby girl! We dined at my favorite restaurant - On the Border - with friends, we played at the mall, we tried on clothes, we went to Spring Lake to see friends, then went to the beach with Aunt Kari! We felt so FREE! We sure missed the other two, though - and kept feeling like something was missing. They had great fun with their Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunt and Uncle! Thanks so much for the wonderful weekend, guys! Our new favorite baby holder, Ashley
"Where did my legs go??"
Digging a hole to the Olympics in China

New Photographer on the Block

My friend Carolyn has started up a new photography business and so graciously allowed us to be some of her first guinea pigs. Our intention was to get some group shots of the girls at six months.........but they didn't have the same idea. She took some great individual pictures of all the kids which I thought I'd show off. If you're interested in booking her.......check out her blog at the right, under "all the small things".

Happy 7th Birthday, Emma!

My baby girl is growing up so fast! She turned 7 on Sunday, and decided she was ready to get her ears peirced! We took her to Libby Lu (where else?), and she was so brave and proud of her herself. She keeps trying to find reasons to have her hair pulled back so she can look at her newly studded ears. I must say, she did MUCH better than I would've thought. We topped the night off with a trip to Craig's Cruisers, and then settled back into reality at home! Next weekend, Rich and I are taking them to see High School Musical at the Civic as part of her birthday present. I'm not sure who's more excited, Emma or Luke!

Proud little lady

"Before"

"After"

Craig's Cruisers

"Treasure's" from Craig's