Kruis Connection

Monday, September 8, 2014

Gracie is 3!

Grace Marie is 3 and I can't believe it. She is so special and dear to my heart, and she is affectionately known as my Mexi baby. She is the only one who is darker like me, she has the dark skin and dark eyes like her mommy. She loves to be different from her sisters, and is so much more independent than my other girls. She rarely comes to me for help but is a do-it-yourself type of gal. She loves singing, dancing, dressing up, riding her princess bike, and wearing bling. She is usually dressed down to the accessories every morning when I go to get the girls up. If she could she would wear her fancy church dresses everyday and wear a tiara whenever she goes out. Her favorite thing is lipgloss, lipstick, or even chapstick, as long as it is something she can lather on her lips she is happy. Even though she loves the girlie things in life she also has no problem getting dirty. She loves to be cuddled before bed and before her nap she usually requests that I sing her Great is thy Faithfulness. What a precious blessing my Gracie is to our family. I am so grateful for the 3 years God has so graciously granted us with our beautiful Grace.

Picking out her rings

Norah, Jane, and Grace

Enjoying her purple cupcake

All of us on the birthday girl date

A busy August

August was a busy month for our family. We had our first flight with all four kids as we flew to Michigan to celebrate Mom and Dad Kruis' 40th anniversary. The girls had a wonderful time and we all enjoyed the beautiful weather. The girls spent their days biking around the neighborhood with Opa and going to the pool with Opa. It was fun to watch the cousins all playing together. We celebrated Gracie's 3rd birthday in Michigan with the family and Gracie got to eat blue cupcakes (compliments of Aunt Amy and Uncle Brandon) and put endless amounts of lip gloss on her lips (thanks to Aunt Katie's present). Once we got home Gracie got to go out with 2 of her girlfriends for a birthday outing. We let the girls pick out jewelry and then took them to the Cupcake Cottage for a treat. Gracie was not interested in the bracelets and necklaces. She decided to get 4 diamond rings and two headbands with lots of bling.

Using her lipgloss

Hannah enjoying the cupcakes

It had to be blue

Birthday Girl

The cousins

Gracie loved kissing on Kenzy

Carter sharing his ice-cream with his cousin

Aunt Katie and my Chubbs

Aunt Barbie and Luke

Aunt Katie playing with Hannah

Uncle Matthew and Gracie

At the beach in Grand Haven

Posing at Reed's Lake

Carter and Claire

Me and my love

Picnic at Reed's Lake

Pool time with Opa

Gracie playing

What a sweet face

His first airplane trip

Hannah was quite vocal the whole plane ride over.

Oma, Opa, and their 7 grandkids

Monday, August 11, 2014

Luke is 3 months

Luke is over 3 months now and just as sweet as ever. He loves to interact with people and smiles constantly. He squeals and lets out little screams when he really wants attention. He stills sleeps 11-12 hours every night, naps well during the day and is content watching his sisters run around and play. He loves to suck on his right hand and fingers and is super squeezable. My aunt gave him this hat and I just love the way it looks on him!

Monday, July 21, 2014

My sweet little ones

This summer is already going by so fast. We have been enjoying pretty nice weather for July. This week we even had a cold front that brought the temperatures down and allowed us to be outdoors most of the day. Luke is almost 3 months and he is still easy going. Three days this past week he decided to sleep 12 hours!!! I almost didn't know what to do with myself in the mornings while I was waiting for him to wake up and eat :) His hair is getting longer and lately people have been saying he is sporting an Elvis hair-do. He loves to smile and talk with everyone, especially Claire. He loves it when she sings to him. It is so precious to watch. Claire started back up with our reading lessons and was very excited after she read her first two BOB books all by herself. She has read 4 total now and seems ready to read more. What a treat to hear and watch her beginning to read. I'm excited what this next school year will hold for her. Gracie decided to attempt potty training again and has been very successful this past week. Hopefully it keeps up and I can eliminate one set of diapers from the changing table. Hannah is getting more talkative and starting to really play well with her older sisters. I love watching the three of them play together. The girls were in heaven this past Friday when they got to meet Anna and Elsa from Frozen. Our local library did a Frozen party with lots of games, crafts, food, and of course story and music time with Anna and Elsa.

My sweet little man

Read her first 2 BOB books!!

Singing to Luke

I love this picture of my sweet Gracie

Here's my Hannah

Meeting the princesses

Wish this hadn't turned out so blurry, oh well

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Luke is 2 months

Luke is 2 months already!! He is 13 lbs 13 oz and getting bigger every day. He is starting to coo and talk more with everyone. He no longer flinches when his sisters get close and now doesn't seem to mind being played with. His sisters sing to him, hug and kiss him, brush his hair, get right up in his face and talk to him, play with his hands and feet, and so much more. This kid is overly stimulated every day with 3 loving sisters. He is smiling so much more now, I just love it. He is still my easy going baby. He sleeps 10 hours through the night, takes a 2 hour nap during the day, and doesn't mind chilling in his bouncy seat while mommy makes dinner or tends to the girls. His hair is getting longer and longer giving him quite the hair-do :) I just can't get enough of my little man, what a blessing he is to our family.

My growing boy

My four blessings

The girls

Aunt Katie and Uncle Matthew came to visit!

Last month we were spoiled by a visit from Aunt Katie and Uncle Matthew. They flew down to spend some time with us and of course to meet Luke. We loved having the newlyweds stay with us and the girls kept them busy from dawn until dusk. We all went to the Stockyards and watched the Longhorns go by as well as let the girls ride all the rides and eat ice-cream. The girls enjoyed walks to the park in the evenings, constant play time, being up on Uncle Matthew's shoulders every day, and endless rounds of hide n seek. Once the kids were asleep then us adults were able to enjoy great conversations about marriage, our faith, our ministries, and much more. What a sweet blessing to have such wonderful family to spend time with. We can't wait for them to visit us again :)