January

Well, it's a quiet afternoon here at the Boogerd house. Aubyn is taking her regular afternoon nap and Trey is off to preschool. So I thought it would be a good time to put a little entry in my blog!
January has been wonderful so far. Two or Three days already we have had our windows open airing out the house. We have played in the sandbox, taken walks down the trail, played baseball, and enjoyed a couple 50 degree days. It feels like spring, although today is 9 degrees outside reminding me again that is is January and not April! But it sure was nice while it lasted. The snow has blanketed the ground again reminding me too, how how great and powerful God's hand really is. How He is a changeless God and the seasons come and go just as they are supposta. It still amazes me that each snow flake is different and the wind in the trees is evident of God's creation singing his praises even when it is freezing. Praise be to a faithful God.

Aubyn is 20 months already. Talking more than ever. She even is using some three word sentances, which seems so crazy. How did my girl grow up so fast? She says things like.... I wuv you (I love you), shnack peese mommy (snack please mommy), more oup moommy (more soup mommy(when she is eating salsa with a spoon)), momma do (when I ask her to do something and she says "no, momma do" (little stinker)), I pay (I play), I coffee (as she gets her sippy and pulls the creamer out of the fridge (yes she is drinking a little coffee in her sippy with creamer just like Trey)), No No Tey (no no Trey), also trying to repeat anything you ask her to say. We are also working on her prayer before and after she eats. She has the Amen down, but is making good progress on the little prayer. She also tells me what song she wants me to sing as I rock her to sleep for her naps and bedtime. Her favorites are: Jesus loves me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, That man (Psalter #1), Row Row Row your Boat, Thy Word, This little light of mine and her favorite Old Mc Donald had a farm and then she tells me which animal she wants next. She can even sing parts of each of these songs. I may be the only one who understands what she is singing, but she does know them. Oh man, she is toooo funny.
She also is very good with her animal signs and sounds. She can do a crab, where she pinches her hands open and shut, a fish where she purses her lips together, cow, dog, cat, pig (which is really funny), lamb, goat, duck, bunny (where she tries to wiggle her nose which is also really funny), horse, and some others which I may be forgetting. She also is really following commands well. When she hits her brother or aggrivates him I tell her to say sorry and give him a kiss and hug, which she does well. Sometimes I get a big fat NO, but that is her mother's trying spirit I guess :). She also will get her P.J's at bedtime, or sometimes by 4 pm she wants to put them on already. She will get her wipes and a diaper and bring them to me and say "Stinky." Always a joy :). I can tell she is a girl b/c when I tell her or Trey where something is Trey will yell, "I can't find it," and Aubyn will bring it to me. LOL The difference between a man and woman's eyes I guess :). She also loves books. She is starting to listen and point to all different things telling me what they are. A proud moment for her last night was finding the mouse on the page of the book we were reading even before Trey could find it. (This made Trey very attentive and try to work very hard to beat her.) I also love listening to Trey and Aubyn play together. The other day they had Aubyn's room upside down with toys everywhere. They built a fort and had many babies and animals to share it with. She is starting to follow Trey's commands and even has some commands of her own! :) She also loves to run and play "tag" with Trey. She runs around a corner and wipes out and gets right back up again to run even faster. She is a little go-getter. She also loves to jump and stand on things. Several times a day I have to tell her to get off the ledge in my living room or stop scaling the top of my couch. This little girl will probably have a broken bone before the age of 5. She is a little more daring than I remember Trey being, but maybe she has some one to learn from :). She also loves to sit by the piano with me and try to sing. It is amazing to hear how loud her little voice can get. I also love listening to her in the morning in the baby monitor. She sings, talks, and tells "stories" until finally she starts saying "Mommy, Mommy." Then I get her and say, "Good morning Aubyn," and she always has a smile with a "good morning" back. This is my favorite age! Learning so many new things and always keeping me on my toes!

Trey is a little over 4 1/2. His little mind is becoming greater everyday. The questions he asks always amazes me, and the things he tells me he KNOWS of course also amaze me. It was such a joy this Christmas season to enjoy watching him in his first Christmas Programs. First we had the Hull Christian program. He looked like such a little man up there in his Christmas vest and greased up hair. An old lady told Lori that she could defiantly tell which one was her grandson up there, this made me laugh. I spitting image of his dad is what that means :) Then his Christmas Program at Calvary was great. He knew his songs and sang them with such joy. We worked very hard on learning his songs everyday at dinner time and before bed and he did great. At first I felt a little over whelmed by how much we had to learn, but God showed me how great a young child's mind was to learn things so quickly. I told Trey that if he sang like a big boy he could open a present after his program. Trey's response was, "Mom, why do you always tell me I can do something if i'm a big boy. I'm always a big boy, you don't have to tell me those thing." I had to laugh and think...yes Trey you are right, I should not have to bribe you..you are not 2 anymore, you have a wonderful mind that knows what he should and shouldn't do. I know he messes up sometimes, but you know...so do I! We are sinful. Trey's child like faith is always a refresher for me everyday. He reminds me the importance of having a simple mind and knowing God loves his children and He is Great. I know it is important to study the word and scripture for a greater knowledge or our Lord, but it is important to always remember to have a child like faith also. Thank you Trey for that reminder always! He still continues to come up with his own prayers at meal time. His new thing to pray for is the fire fighters and policemen who help keep our cats out of trees and help us find our mom's and dad's. He must have learned this at school, but it sure is cute to hear him pray about this. Another thing that amazes me is how he thanks God for sending his son Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins. I don't know if he fully understands this concept, but it makes my heart skip a beat when he prays this. The other day he asked me why blood was on Jesus's hands when he was nailed to the cross, so I think he understands a little. Praise the Lord for the wonderful complex minds God gives us to think and understand most things! Trey also has been playing games on the computer. He loves to try to figure things out, but gets very frustrated when things don't work. I can empathize with him there. Good thing Toby is always there to fix our problems! :). He also is getting very good at hitting off a tee. The other day when we played baseball on the 58 degree day he whopped the ball so hard I was sweating from all the exercise I got chasing it. Now if only we could learn to catch a ball.....that is a work in progress....you think he would be a natural coming from me :)! HA.... Trey also loves school. He loves playing with his friends there and learning his letters. I had an eye opener when the first report card came out. He had good job in all things, but at the bottom they had check marks by the letters he could recognize by sight...Oh my...he only had like 5 letters...I felt like an awful mom (not the first time may I add). I went to good old Wal-Mart and got flash cards. Lets just say we practiced A LOT and i'm happy to announce he can recognize all his letters now. Last week he had the shoe tying book home. Well...let's just say we have a new thing we need to work on and man does it teach MOM LOTS of patients :) All in all...he is growing fast too. We just had to buy size 6 jeans yesterday and size 6 pj's. Crazy. Yes, we had to go to Sioux Falls to get Trey jeans b/c all 8 pairs that he has in is drawer right now have holes in them. It's no wonder I can never find size 5/6 jeans second hand....they don't make it that long with boys wearing them :). I finally learned the lesson to buy them from sears and you can exchange them for a free pair same size and brand if a hole gets in them. I wish I would have been doing this about a year ago already :).

Well, Toby and I had a great Christmas and New Years. Somebody at work reminded me yesterday how priceless it is to have family that all lives close, and that is the truth. We had wonderful get together's with the Boogerd's and Hoekstra's. Everyone was there and it was great fun. We have a lot to be thankful for and we pray God continues to uphold our families in His everylasting, merciful hands. May the fun of 2012 begin!

Toby trying to teach Aubyn how to eat sweet corn

Trey eating sweet corn

Just around the corner part 2

My Job:
I am thankful for my job at OCAHS. I love being a nurse there and the people I work with. Every time I work I learn new things and touch different peoples lives. And little do they know they touch mine as well. The physicians are a wonderful base of knowledge that never cease to stop teaching me new things. The care and compassion they have are wonderful. My co-workers are all different but all bring a well-rounded work force of character. They always keep me on my toes and smiling. My favorite are the patients. You never know who is going to touch your life in some way. Some are so honest, some are scared, some are hurting, some just need you to touch them and tell them it is going to be okay, some need an honest word themselves, but all there for some kind of support. My favorite is working the Emergency Room. Working one on one with the physician and never knowing what is going to come through the door. When you heart is pumping and your adrenaline running it is something you cannot turn away from but have to jump in with two feet. My next favorite is Postpartum. Teaching new moms and dads how to care for a newborn. Teaching them they are capable and seeing the love on their face as they look at a new precious, perfect child. Then there is Labor and Delivery. Going through a grueling process of pain and anguish. Helping them through tears and sweat and then to have a beautiful outcome of a healthy birth. To share a miracle with a family that could only be created by the Lord's almighty hand. To see 10 fingers and 10 toes. To see a baby turn and try to root for his mother, to watch it move and kick and open its eyes for the first time. To see love flowing out of a heart of a new mom and dad. My job is great. I am thankful God has provided this opportunity for me and all the people that are apart of it. Thankful!
My Extended Family:
I am thankful for a large family both on my side and Toby's side. I love having sisters to call and chat of the phone with. I love trading kids and having my nephews and nieces at my house. Watching them all interact with each other. I love playing games and having good competition. I love that to family you can say something bold and they won't take it personal and say sorry for it the next day and they say ,"for what?" I love Sunday dinners, roast and mashed potatoes. I am thankful for family vacations and the time you have together to share stories and get to know your nieces and nephew's personalities a little better. I am thankful for parents that you can call and they drop everything and run even though your a grown adult now. Family is a blessing.
Little things:
I am thankful for peppermint mocha creamer, hot showers, pushing a button and my van doors open, chocolate, mountain dew, shopping online, internet, friends, fun mail, cold water that comes out of my fridge, little please and thank you's, little prayers and amens, mascara, ceiling fans, sweat pants, mocha frappe's, my under-counter radio, swap shop, church friends, volleyball on Monday nights, library for kids books, my net book, texts from my husband, little kisses and hugs, my lazy boy, contacts, beaches and lounge chairs, sand toys, spell check, my watch, norwex rags, flannel sheets, my piano, and of course I love you's!

I know I am missing a ton of things, but we all know what we are thankful for everyday. May we never take them for granted.

Just around the corner

Just around the corner is CHRISTMAS! Can you believe it?! But first we must talk about what is really just around the corner.....Thanksgiving! Next week is Thanksgiving and all of us will be doing our regular traditions. Going to church, then off to a big dinner, and then maybe even off to another Turkey supper to enjoy with more family. Then the next week enjoying, Turkey soup, turkey on a bun, pulled turkey on a bun, and some kind of Turkey casserole. :) But at least we didn't have to pluck the bird and butcher it the way my Grandpa George showed us how to do when I was a kid...YUK! We told him that the bird was really good, but really we threw it to the dogs....we just couldn't face to eat something we had seen run around without a head and watch it's claws move by pulling the right tendons and ligaments in the leg. Wow, it's amazing the things you learn as a kid. Love those real life learning lessons, Thanks Grandpa George.
Well,today I am hear to blog about the little and big things I am thankful for in my life. Where does a person begin?
Of course my family:
Toby...Everyday I thank the Lord for a wonderful husband. For the job he has, for the honest man he is, for the hard worker he is, for the tender heart he has, for the love he has for God and his family, for just the man he is. Toby has really been enjoying his new job that he started in July at Siouxland Fab. in Rock Valley. He is challenged everyday and enjoys the people he works with. He also continues to pick up some side jobs which he enjoys doing also. He also stays busy with fun projects around the house whether it be making a music/picture video, finding some new cool app., creating some cool new app (efishjournal.com check it out), surfing the net, playing with his kids, teaching trey how the internet works with a picture and diagram of outer space and satellite, throwing Aubyn to the ceiling and making her laugh hysterically, playing store with the kids, of course wresting and boxing with Trey, aggravating me some how :), cooking, reading, or just relaxing. Toby is a wonderful man, husband, and the world's greatest Dad!
Kids....OF course Trey and Aubyn are on top of the list also. Aubyn is 18 months now and continues to get more funny everyday. She is now talking a ton and repeating everything we say.
She loves laughing, having fun, and being a center of joy in a room. He newest thing is When I ask her a question she says, "I dunno know." Then I give her the answer to the question and she says, "YAH." It's so cute. She continues to love to play babies and cook in her little kitchen. She gets her babies stroller, diaper bag, bottle, blanket and carries her around patting her back or pushing her in her stroller. Lydia is her baby's name. She also enjoys helping me dust. Every time I get out the dust rag she says "I too." Trey says we should write a little critters book about Aubyn and instead of the title being "ME TOO" Aubyn's would be "I TOO!" LOL. I laughed and agreed with Trey, b/c we probably here her say "I TOO" about hundred times a day. She is also starting to hide to make a dirty pants and then finding me and says "stinky" holding her diaper. I then ask her if we should go change it and she yells "YAH" and runs to her room. The other day I had to laugh because I was in my room telling Trey to run to Aubyn's room and grab her cloths I had laying on her dresser so I could put them on. Trey was not doing it, so I asked him again and turned around and there was Aubyn holding her cloths. She doesn't miss a beat. A few months ago I went to Minneapolis with some girl friends and got home and was sorting through my stuff in my room. I had a pile for each person. I started picking up Trey's pile and asked Trey to help me with Aubyn's pile. As I turned around Aubyn's arms were heaping full of cloths that she could barely see over top of ready to help me. She is so observant and such an outgoing little girl. I love her ambition! She continues to love reading books and stealing Trey's tag reader pen and trying to read every book with it. Her new words this month are endless, but here are a few I can remember, toast, cookie, peease, Levi, I too, and anything that we ask her to repeat she does. I love this age!
Trey is still four and is as big as a 1st grader I swear. Today I was looking at him and his legs seemed a mile long :) I am thankful for Trey and the boy he has become. I am most thankful for his child like faith. He reminds me everyday of how great God is and how even the little things are so great! The way he treats his sister and the way he treats others brings a warm feeling to my heart. He has such great love in his heart. Everyday he halls out the markers and crayons at home. He gets a piece of paper out for himself and one for Aubyn. He helps her climb onto the chair and then gives her any color marker she asks for. (and believe me she wants a new marker like every 30 seconds) I know he has his dad's patients! :) He gives her one of his imaginext guys to play with and includes her in almost everything. BUT they still are brother and sister and still have their moments :). But fighting build character too :). Trey continues to love school. He comes home and teaches Aubyn and I new songs. One of our favorite songs is "days of the week" sung to the Adam's Family tune. Even Aubyn can sing the chorus. :) His imagination continues to be beyond belief. Every day we are taping new robots, bats, some exotic creature to the fridge and now Aubyn's walls in her room. Every little detail created down to the button on the super robot's arm. He also now has excelled his mother in the electronic department. He can start netflix in the morning all by himself and pick the cartoon he wants to watch. He can turn the volume down, pause it, and restart his cartoon. I am just thankful I have another man in the house that is better at electronics than I am so he can answer my questions b/4 I get frustrated :)Well, Trey is asking me to play catch with him right now, so....I will be back to blog about all the more things I am thankful for! and there is a lot!

Moments in time

It's 10:30 p.m on a Monday night and another day has come and gone already. It is really amazing how fast a day goes! Today was a good productive day again. It started out with a normal morning of waking up, cuddling with my two favorite little people in my bed, and getting breakfast. Then we headed over to grandma Myrna's to find some remaining good tomatoes left in the neighbors field. We had to search for a while, but eventually after walking the rows and picking up Aubyn from tripping over the vines, we had enough to make a batch of homemade tomato soup. MMMMM. We search grandma's house for a few canning supplies and off we were to begin our project for the day. When we got home I fed the kids dinner, washed the tomatoes, and got Trey ready for school. 12:10p.m came and off we were to pick up the kids for preschool and dropped them all safely off at "Little Blessings." Then Aubyn and I ran to the grocery store to grab some onions and celery for our soup. When we got in the house I started chopping the onions and celery with my little helper at my side to "assist" me. They were quickly chopped and put in the pan to start to boil. Then the little helper went in high chair for a snack. Then my process began of cutting the white parts out of the tomatoes and cutting them until I had 8 quarts of chopped tomatoes. Then my faithful grandma showed up at my door to teach me the proper way of how to put "love" and "patients" into a home made batch of soup. She taught me little tricks along the way and finally by 4:00 p.m. our first jar was "popping." Such a sweet sound. Now I have 14 quarts of home made soup on my counter and a great afternoon spent with my grandma. Miss Aubyn then finally woke up from her nap and Trey was already home from school. Supper was then made. Noodles, ham, and beans in a casserole. The kids loved it and ate it all up. Then we went and "swam" in the hot tub for a while. Then a shower was in desperate need for a woman who smelled like canned soup, YUK! :). Volleyball at 8:30. My mom came and watched the kids and our team won in four games. Way to go girls. Now relaxing in the chair, soon to go to bed, to wake up to another wonderful day.
Toby also had a good day today. He is fishing in Canada with some of his good friends. This morning I texted him to wish me luck b/c I was going to attempt my first batch of home made soup and he wished me luck, but also asked for luck back. I did wish him luck and guess what!!!!! it worked....he caught a 10lb.8oz, 30 in. Walleye today. OH GREAT...now I know what my next new decoration is going to be on my wall. :) He said 7 minutes b/4 he caught that he caught a 9 lbs Walley and a while later he caught an 8lb walleye. I would say his wife may be his good luck charm :) Way to go hun, now you can come home right?
Trey also had a fun day today b/c this morning after breakfast I let him do something he has never done b/4. I let him paint. He put on a paint shirt and I told him first we were going to do and education project with the paint and then he could paint what he wanted. I have been trying to do a project of the week with the letters he is learning in school. Last week he was learning letter "d" do we cut upper case "D's" and lower case "d's" out of magazines and pictures that started with the letter "d." We cut out; dogs, desk, dinner, dads, diapers,drinks, desert, dinosaur, and desert. We had a lot of fun! Today we worked on the letter "e". He painted a big "E" and a small "e" in red,blue, yellow and green. He thought it was great and then he colored a picture of water, fish, boat and a pirate ship with his next picture. He thought that was even more fun. Now to come up with something for "F" is going to be a challenge......
This past week I reflect on a few precious moments with my family. Toby was leaving Thursday night for Canada, so Wednesday night we had a family fun night. We first had supper and then played games till bed time. We played candy land, Memory, and then made a big puzzle together and ate candy corn. That may have been Aubyn's favorite part :). Then it was time for P.J's and stories. Off we went to Trey's bed, books in hand. While I read Trey his books Aubyn usually sits at the end of our feet "reading" her own books. Then it was prayer time and lights out. Aubyn crawled right into my arms and I thought maybe i'll just lay in bed with Trey and her and sing some songs for while. While Aubyn layed on my chest and Trey on my right side I started singing "I have peace like a river, I have peace like a river....." Suddenly Trey stopped me and said,"mom, I know this song."(I had never sang this with him before.) I said please sing it with me. We sang all three verses together and it was such a memorable moment for me. Having Trey singing with me and Aubyn resting so quietly on my chest sleeping, I just wanted to freeze time. Trey has such a wonderful little manly voice and Aubyn had sound and steady deep sleeping breaths. I took that moment and thanked God for the wonderful family he has given me. These moments in time are the ones you never forget!

School, Harvest, Life

Well, Trey is into school a good month and a half already. It is so fun to watch him come off the bus from school and run in the house with a big smile on his face. Even though everyday I ask him what he did in school today, and he answers,"I can't remember," I know his little mind is being challenged. I do know that he has learned the letters A,B and C so far, also a few numbers, how to trace lines, learned many songs, and he also told me a big story about Sunday Ford coming and talking about beavers, bats, and bears. That must have been a fun day, because he told me all about that! Trey also gets to be leader of the day this week Wednesday. They go to pumpkin land by Orange City and he already informed me they get to ride the bus all the way there and back! I think he is more excited about the bus ride than Pumpkin land :) This does not surprise me at all given the fact that on the first day of school I could hardly get him off the bus. Finally, his bus driver Lisa had to tell him he could ride the bus next time but had to get off today. He got off the bus and said, "mom, I wanted to ride the bus longer." Who knew his favorite thing about the first day would be the us ride! Trey also had grandparents day last week at school. Both Grandma Lori and Grandma Myrna went. After that day, they both told me Trey talks a lot in school. OH no, I can't wait to hear what I learn about Trey at parent teachers conferences. All in all, Trey is growing into a fine young man! I pray everyday that Christ continues to bless this child and works the Holy Spirit in his heart to continue to have a love for Christ and His people.
Harvest time is here! Harvest always gives me a new energy. I don't know if it is the wonderful change of season or if it is the hum of the combines or the tractors and wagons that continue to take their corn into town. I love going to field and taking coffee to my dad, I love riding in the combine and asking my dad lots of questions about life, farming, and his opinions. I love watching the smiles on my brothers faces knowing they are happy driving truck, tractor, and farming. I love hearing them talk about the grain prices and what they predict is going to happen with them. I love watching the leaves change and the cool days and nights. Harvest Blessing are abounding again!
Aubyn also continues to change everyday. She is saying more words everyday. like....shoes, grandpa, grandma, cheese, baxter. She also is learning her animal sounds. Now she can do a fish face and crab hands thanks to our new books from the library. She is also shaking her head yes and no. This is wonderful, it is so fun to ask her a question and her head go up and down instead of always side to side :). She also is getting a little more bossy! She thinks that it is her way or the highway. Her and Trey love to pick on each other, and believe me she puts up a good fight! Sometimes I get mad at both of them, but sometimes I can't help sit back and watch and see what they do. Aubyn also is starting to love reading books. Every night we read Trey 2 books and she runs into the room and tries to climb on the bed like she isn't going to miss this! Aubyn also loves to spend a lot of her time sitting in our living room window perch. She climbs her way up and sits there like she is queen. This is something Trey never did, so it is fun to watch her. She brings all her little toys up there and enjoys watching her family go about there routine activities. The only bad thing is that we have lots of fingerprints on our windows. An older lady told me once that when her grandchildren left her house she left the fingerprints on the doors all week b/c she loved seeing their little hand prints. I try my hardest to enjoy them too, but they usually don't last a week:).
Well, Life continues to shimmy and shake as normal and I praise God for that every day. He has blessed our family greatly and continues to supply more than our needs! God Bless!

Her own little ideas

Aubyn is 15 months now and growing more into a little girl everyday. She almost seems to be growing faster than Trey, because she thinks she can do everything Trey does. She wants to draw, color with markers, run, play tag, hit the ball off the tee and run the bases, ride bike, and do all sorts of big kid stuff. And with her determination she almost does a good job at over half of these things. In fact, today she lugs the markers, crayons, and coloring book bag out of the cupboard and brings them to me. I ask her, "do you want to color?" and she gives me a big smile and claps her hands. Here we are on the counter coloring with markers and colors! She is spoiled!

Aubyn may not be able to say a lot of words but she sure has no problem letting you know her ideas and what she wants. She can say, "mommy, daddy, tey(Trey), tate, woof, meow, hi, josie and I have heard a few more words, just not ones that she uses consistently. On vacation I heard, "my turn (as her and breslyn were taking turns on a little slide), robbi, and her normal uh, uh." But like I said before she will let you know what she wants even if she can say the words or not!

Aubyn loves to imitate. If you do a little dance, she will do one too and laugh. If you make a funny face she will try and laugh. If you run around, she will do it too. If you shake your head up and down side to side, she will grin and do it too. She is a funny little girl. On vacation with the Boogerds we learned that she loves to play ring around the rosie. She would hold our hands, act like she was singing, and when the time came to fall down she was on her butt and then her back rolling around. It was so funny! At home she still would grab my hands and want to play. Also on vacation Robbi brought a baby stroller, diaper bag, and doll. Aubyn loved caring around the purse, taking things in and out, and pushing her doll in the stroller. I think we know what we need to get her for Christmas! It was so fun to see her act like a girl!
On vacation we also put her first little pony tail in on top of her head. It stuck straight up but she left it in. When you would ask her about her pretty, she would touch the top of her head very carefully. It was awesome! Then when we got home, she had to go to Aunt Michelle's for a day while I was at work. Michelle was doing her girl's hair in the bathroom and Aubyn came to her and started going uh uh and hitting the top of her head. Aunt Michelle asked to you want a pretty too? Aubyn smiled and giggled as if saying, "Yes!" Its amazing to watch girls turn into little girls!