Well I hoped for a white Christmas...little did I know what would come! Oh boy! We've been stranded since yesterday morning. Matt barely got out and went to work and I was a wreck all day worrying about him out on the roads. West Michigan basically shut down! The good news is that my sister and her husband made it from California!!! I cannot wait to spend the week with her, trade lots of pregnancy advice, lots of pics and hugs to last us till next summer!

We are FINALLY done with a three week stint of pink eye. My brother infected the kids and then it morphed into this whole eye infection thing. Jonah and Sydney had it the worst and missed three days of school!!! UGH. Thankfully we have crossed over to the land of white eyes again! This has been a rough fall of sickness.....yuck! Hopefully we are over it now.

I am getting bigger every day. Liam's kicks are getting stronger although the kids haven't been able to feel him yet. I keep promising them that he is there! The medication I am on for my diabetes seems to be working very well, although I'm tired of poking my finger 4 times a day. But, if it means that Liam will be born healthy, then it's worth it! I've gotten some gorgeous outfits as gifts from my friends and we've chosen the one big purchase we are making for this baby....a travel system! I've never had one, always had younger kids that needed to be contained. But now that everyone is older, I'm thinking the stroller/car combo would be awesome! After the holidays, we'll begin buying diapers and stocking up :)

Christmas is right around the corner and I'm cautiously getting excited. This year will be very different and I don't usually do well when my traditions are messed with. But my dad has to work all day Christmas day so some changes are needed. One of the things I am excited about is that we are going to the nursing home my aunt works at and doing a Christmas program for the residents. Jonah and Matt are going to play their trombones, the girls are going to read scripture, and we're going to sing Christmas carols. I think it will be so great for the kids to realize that Christmas is about more than just our little family bubble!

Well it's time to turn up the heat again...brrr!!!

I thought for sure I'd have time to update my blog over Thanksgiving, but I guess not :) We weren't terribly busy or even traveling, but the time to sit and update sort of flew over my head.

So our big news is that we are having a BOY!!! We are just delighted, even though we would have bee equally delighted with a girl. It's just nice that now it will be even, three boys, three girls. Jonah was BEYOND excited...jumping up and down and yelling in the ultrasound room and everything! Priceless! The girls are excited too...I don't think they really cared much to begin with! Liam Joshua is the name we've chosen. My brother Josh is extremely happy with our choice of middle name, surprise, surprise. We've gotten our first batch of baby boy blue clothes (thanks Aunt Robin!!!) and are anxious to meet our little Liam.

Thanksgiving was good. My grandparents from New York were here which was fun, we haven't had a holiday with them for as long as I can remember! The table was packed with people and food. It was a blessed day! We got to spend some time with Matt's family as well a few days after Thanksgiving and that was great fun too. Christmas is quickly approaching and I'm in awe of our calendar as the days fill up with concerts, parties, and visits. I'm giddy with excitement over my sister's visit in a few weeks. I'll be posting prego pics of the two of us side by side!! I'm sure she'll be bigger than me.... :) Lots to look forward to this season. And I don't even mind that we don't have snow!!!

I won't bother apologizing for my lack of blogging. Life is moving on, some days faster than others, truth be told. It's hard to imagine that Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow and that in 6 days we'll know what we are having. Most people think we're having a boy, but we'll see next week. I'm anxious to put a gender to this baby and therefore, a name. We have names picked out but we'll reveal those next week when we know for sure who this is. I'm feeling pretty well, I'm starting to show in earnest now. I've felt the first small stirrings down there and Matt felt him moving for the first time last night. I'm starting to get excited about having a new little one!

This week is insanely busy here. Friday night I am going to see New Moon with my mom. Just writing that sentence makes me laugh out loud. She scoffed at Twilight for the longest time and is now obsessed with Edward (not too tough!) So we will join the throngs of women who will flock on opening night to see the next chapter. *happy sigh* Then I leave early Saturday morning for an all day shopping trip with my ladies group from church. We're headed to Grand Rapids to shop all day. I'm so excited about it! Then, Sunday afternoon, the Waltons are headed to Lansing to see The Christmas Carol in the IMAX. So a very full weekend. But exciting!

Other exciting news, my sister is coming home! We weren't sure that we would get to see her at all before she wasn't allowed to fly. But they found some time to come and that means we get to have a baby shower! I'm so thrilled to celebrate with her on the birth of her first baby. It's so cool when your siblings get to experience the thrill of pregnancy and becoming parents. I have big plans for the shower and can't wait to just sit and talk with her in the same room!! The only downside about this pregnancy is that I won't be able to travel to see her and the baby till much later. We are due only weeks apart from each other. :( But hopefully we'll be able to be together soon after that so I can meet my nephew!

Well I need to make shopping lists for Thanksgiving and get something productive done today :)

So it looks like weekly blogging will be the best I can do for now :) After all, my life just isn't that exciting!

Football is finally over. Jonah's team finished their season on Saturday with a big 19-0 win! It was a chilly day so I'm relieved to be done sitting outside for two hours every Saturday. Also, looking at this week with NO practices on three evenings is exciting! Family time is back. Of course, tomorrow night is my first night with my Daisy scouts. I'm excited to meet them and get our troop going. I'm hoping to be a good leader, I guess time will tell.

Pregnancy is plodding along. April seems like an eternity away. But I am relieved to be past 12 weeks and I have my energy back. Well, mostly. I am trying to catch up to life that was put on hold. I'm still looking for the girl's many pairs of socks...I think the mice have eaten them all!!

Events coming up in our household.....Thomas starts preschool in two weeks. I am nervous for this transition for him...I'm really praying it goes well. He seems excited about it, but I'm not really sure he knows that it means me leaving him there!!! Here's hoping it is awesome for him. A shopping day with a really great friend....our church is taking a group of ladies to Great Lakes Crossing for a Christmas shopping trip in November and my good friend is coming as well!!! A whole day with grownups! Of course we are in full swing for Halloween as well. We have some interesting choices this year....Jonah is going as a mobster, complete with a pin striped suit, red carnation and spats on his shoes! Molli is a ninja...don't ask, I have NO idea! Emma and Sydney are going as poodles. I am making these costumes..cross your fingers!! Thomas is a dragon, an adorable dragon at that. So quite the crew....I'm already cringing at the amount of candy that I know will come home that night....

Matt is home on vacation this week and I'm finding it very hard to get things done when he is here....I just want to hang out. But alas, there is work to be done. (I'm even trying to convince him to do a small painting project this week!!)

What a crazy, fun-filled weekend we had! Friday morning, the only thing that got me out of bed to get the kids to school was knowing that I could sleep in on Saturday morning. NOT! I had to be up, dressed nicely and driving to Kalamazoo by 8 AM. UGH. Why,you ask? Well.....I went to a meeting at the girl's school to sign Emma up for Brownies. There were 6 little kindergarten girls there who all wanted to be Daisies, but alas there was no leader for a Daisy troop. I couldn't' stand the looks on their little faces when their parents were telling them that they would have to wait to be girl scouts. So I stepped up to the plate and volunteered to be the troop leader. I naively thought it would just be this simple little thing, NOT!!! Tons of paperwork, reference forms, training sessions...oh my. But, as of noon on Saturday, I am a certified Daisy troop leader! Now all the fun stuff starts, calling parents, setting up our meeting times and planning meetings. I think I get off pretty easy though, because at age 5, pretty much anything you do, they think is awesome! I'll keep you posted on that!

So that was Saturday morning. I rushed back from Kalamazoo to make it in time for Jonah's football game which they won!!! Go Tigercats! It was a gorgeous day to sit and watch football. And Jonah is so handsome in his uniform!!



After the game, we came home and packed up a few things and took off for an impromptu overnight in Howell. Sunday was Matt's grandma's 90th birthday party so we went a little early for some family fun. My kids think there is NOTHING cooler than sleeping in a hotel. So we swam and laughed and ate and swam. It was so fun.

Then, Sunday afternoon we headed to celebrate with Great Grandma. Besides being ungodly hot in the nursing home, we had a great time! The kids caught up with cousins and second cousins and we got to have cake. Doesn't get any better than that.




Getting everyone up and moving this morning was a bit of a challenge, but the big kids are gone and Thomas just asked if we could stay in our pajamas today. Of course we can :)

I've been a VERY bad blogger. But there is a reason...one that I am now able to share :)




Yes, indeed we are having a baby. Yes, this is number 6. Yes, we are excited. Yes, the kids are beyond excited. No, we are not crazy. Well....yet anyway :)

I had a miscarriage in May and, after that happened, Matt and I decided that we were done. He made phone calls to the "man doctor" and everything. And then, lo and behold, this little one appeared. Ok, he didn't just appear, and yes, Grandma, we DO know how this works :) I have been beyond exhausted which is one reason for my failure to blog. And we wanted to keep it to ourselves, selfishly, for a little while. But we decided that we would like to share the news with you all. We are 12.5 weeks along...and as you can see in the ultrasound pic, this little one is a gymnast! The kids are excited, the girls are praying for a girl, while Jonah has informed us that, if it is a girl, he is putting himself up for adoption. :) I'm starting to pull out of the "too tired to even get dressed" phase so there will be more updates and news. But, just writing this has left me needing a nap...zzzzzzz......

My blog has been silent for a few weeks. I didn't blog for fear that my awfulness would come out. I have been awful these last few weeks. It has been a tough time for us as a family as well. Despite our best efforts, we were driving each other mad. And I found myself losing my patience so quickly and just being a yucky mom. So that is why there have been no words here.

But today, a fresh wind blew and not a moment too soon, the big bus came and the kids are off to school. My four oldest are in school all day this year. It will be odd, I must admit, to have just one home. It's been a LONG time since I was home with just one child all year! The kids were EXCITED about school, even Jonah which confirms the disastrous-ness of the last few weeks! So here they are, on their first morning....







Doesn't Sydney look happy??? She was so excited to go to school with the big kids, in the morning. And,even though I have been praying for this day, I got misty eyed as they left, knowing that another year of their young lives has come.

I'm sad to report that I have not been a good blogger lately. The summer is DRAGGING on....I can hardly believe we still have 13 days till school starts. The kids are at each other's throats despite my best attempts at creative things to do. I find myself lethargic and tired. UGH. ROUTINE WHERE ARE YOU????

To make matters worse, I turn 30 on Friday. I guess it's not really a big deal, I've waited my whole life to be thirty. I was somehow convinced that once I hit that magical age, I'd feel like a grown up. I'm not sure that is going to happen. One bright spot amidst this darkness has been my birthday gift from my husband.....

I am delighted with my new Blackberry. I've spent HOURS playing with it, only after the children are in bed of course. I'm in love with texting on the keyboard and having access to everything when I am away from home. I'm just giddy over it, isn't that silly?

So all in all, life goes one....very slowly, but it is going on. Just wanted you all to know :)

FOR TODAY August 18th, 2009…

Outside My Window… the sun is out! It rained ALL day yesterday so I'm grateful for a day that the kids can play outside!!

I am thinking… how much I am waiting for a phone call!

I am thankful for… my children and how they make me laugh at just the right moments!

From the bedrooms.....the kids are split up in different rooms with different play games going on, wishing I was napping my room :)

From the kitchen…oh how I wish I had a chef....but alas, no such luck. Tonight we are having chicken legs and Julienne potatoes

I am wearing…stretchy capris with a cotton top, hair in ponytail and barefeet, of course!

I am creating...creating??!! Who has time?

I am going… to hang towels and sheets on the line

I am reading… nothing right now, we need to go to the library

I am hoping… that I get the phone call I want today!!

I am hearing… birds chirping, Thomas playing dinosaurs with Jonah, Emma talking to Opee, and Spongebob

Around the house… I am trying to find things to sell in my mom's garage sale. I DESPISE garage sales, but it does help clear out the junk!

One of my favorite things… is that Matt has weekends off now, it really has changed our lives...I love it!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: various Dr. and dentist appointments, trying to get everyone in before school!

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Jonah playing football, I LOVE it!

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Life is moving on....the girls are at camp this week and loving it! I am loving the break in the constant fighting....aaahhh! Jonah is loving football, he's going to be a defensive man I'm sure!!! Pictures to come, if I can take some without humiliating him!

Today, as I was driving the girls to camp, we came to stop light in town. AS we waited for the light to turn green, a truck pulled up next to our van. I glanced over and was HORRIFIED to see a graphic picture of an aborted baby. It sucked my breath away. As I was trying to regroup, the truck turned and there were about 20 people all holding signs with various GRAPHIC pictures of aborted babies, protesting abortion. I starting yelling at the kids to quick close their eyes, but of course they all got glimpses before they got their eyes closed. So after we were through the intersection and they were allowed to open their eyes again, they began with the questions..."Mom, what WAS that??" Into the conversation of abortion we went. The girls were horrified that such a thing was possible. Emma's eyes filled with tears as she asked, "Mom why would someone kill their baby?" AHHHHHHH! We talked about it for a little while longer as I was trying to tell them that, while we don't think abortion is ok, that God loves people who have them. Now those images are burned into their little brains and I am upset that they saw those things. I understand that those people want people to know that abortion is wrong, but isn't' there a line of appropriateness???? My young children should NOT have seen those images. Am I in left field about this, or do you think that what happened was WRONG????

What a whirlwind the last three weeks have been! First Mancelona Camp, then home to family arriving from all over, my sister getting married remarried, then a week full of sun, fun, and family. So many great memories and so many pictures to share. I'm working on a slide show that I'll post tomorrow...but I'll hit the highlights for you....

- All ten cousins being together...they are a crazy bunch, to be sure. They are all almost the same ages which causes trouble sometimes. But they adore each other. My kids (even tough man Jonah) cried when they left!

- Being with all of my siblings. With my sister and her husband moving to California, the times of all five of us being together gets smaller and smaller. It was so fantastic to be together!

- Getting all dolled up for the wedding, including getting my hair done!

- Watching my baby sister get married.....again :)

- Finding out that my baby sister is having a baby!!!!

- The Father/ Daughter dance, I wept like a baby watching my daddy and my sister dance to "Cinderella". Making me tear up now too....

- Watching the family tear up the dance floor...it was hilarious!

- Going to South Haven with my parents, and Tigger and his family. The weather was perfect, there were waves for the kids, and we had a great day!

And now, family time is over which makes me very sad. It's hard to believe that it will most likely be another year before I see my nieces and nephews again. It's hard living far from family.

This coming week promises to be fun however, as my girls head to "Nature Camp" and Jonah starts football (which is a whole other post in itself!). Pictures to come soon!!!

My blog is resting...because of this





and this....





My baby sister got married and ALL of us are in town. There are 21 of us in total....22 if you count the new baby that is due in April. So I am very busy loving on my nieces and nephews and spending time with my siblings...catch ya on the flip side :)

We are home from camp!!! There are a million loads of laundry to do and a house to clean but I wanted to finish my kid posts!

This is Thomas Michael...
Thomas is...

2 years and 10 months old
will be going to preschool in the fall
can sing all of "Dancing Queen" by Abba
Can't sing ABC's :)
loves to dance
loves Matchbox cars and monster trucks
loves to take baths
hates being "bossed" by Sydney
loves to swim
is terrified of people in animal costumes
hates carousels
loves to be outside
discovered he LOVES camping
could swing in a swing for HOURS
prefers dogs to cats
thinks Jonah is the coolest person ever
loves brushing his teeth
has the best smile
my cuddle bug
tolerates being dressed up by his big sisters
likes to have his picture taken
FINALLY uses the potty for everything!
loves his big boy unders
and is my sweet baby boy!!!

Camp is almost here! I am doing lots of laundry, packing, repacking, making lists....oh boy. But I didn't want to neglect my fourth born, she gets enough of that :) So here she is...

This is Sydney Diane.
Sydney....


is 5 years and 4 months old
will be an all day kindergartner in the fall

sucks her finger still
has the best smile
has no fear
talks VERY loudly :)
is pretty rough with her siblings
donated her gorgeous curls to Locks of Love
still loves all things Dora
loves to swim
hates time out
eats very little meat
needs LOTS of sleep to be decent
can ride a two wheeler very well
loves wearing sandals
likes to change her clothes, frequently
likes to hug
is clingy to me
is well liked by mosquitoes :)
like to play any make believe game as long as her name is Mermaidia :)
LOVES High School Musical
renames her stuffed animals daily
today her two favorite are Troy and Gabriella
loves to sing
loves to play the Wii
is learning things on the computer as fast as I am
is my Boo, forever and always :)

I've been away from blogging for a while. Noah was with us for a few days while my mom and dad were away. We slept out in the camper which is always fun. Plus it's been nice and cool in the evening which makes it that much more comfortable. The countdown for camp has begun, the kids are so excited to go up north and make lots of new friends. I can't wait to reconnect with some old friends and have my kids experience the camp of my youth!! 9 days :)

And now, my next child....

This is Emma Jane
Emma is....

7 years and 3 months old
will be a second grader in the fall
LOVES to read, every time I turn around her nose is in a book!!
has a very "grown up" mind
says the FUNNIEST stuff
has an interesting taste in clothing
has quite the temper
is the best diver amongst my kids
has a great imagination
likes to play on her own
is a devoted friend
has the best laugh
teeters back and forth between tomboy and girly girl
is not the most patient girl :)
is very affectionate
HATES doing the dishes
loves having her hair brushed (NOT!!!)
can't wait to be a second grader
cares deeply about taking care of our planet
loves to ride her bike
answers to my nickname for her "Emma Fred" :)
She cracks me up!!!

And now for my second born (just a sidenote on this picture: This is her dress for my sister's wedding. I am allowing her to "grow out" her bangs....it's already driving me NUTS!! Ok, I'm done now...moving on...)

Molli....

is 8 years and 7 months old
will be a third grader in the fall
is the oldest girl in our family
she knows it :)
is the most like me, physically and otherwise
is very bossy and controlling
is a born leader
can really sing
wants to be a singer, artist, movie star and ballerina when she grows up
is VERY determined, sometimes to her detriment

is an awesome student
reads at a 6th grade level
is extremely dramatic
tends to be a follower if she's around another girl (who shall remain nameless)
is very perceptive of her world
gets insanely tan in the summer
swims like a fish
dives like a pro
is almost ready to wear a bra (AAAAAHHHHHHH!)
loves to write in her journals
loves to dress up
wants to wear high heels
has a great smile
and she makes me laugh...she's my Molli bug. :)

In honor of summer and the fact that my children are home 24/7, I've decided to do a post on each child individually. Tell you all about them right now. And if that's too boring for you...well then don't come and read it :)

I'll start with my firstborn. Jonah.

Jonah...

is 10 years and 5 months old
finally has short hair after an endured season of long hair
is so athletic, he can pick up any sport fast (much to his father's dismay)
is going to be a 5th grader this fall (lord, help me!)
is incredibly handsome
is so good with his little brother, not so much with the sisters :)
has the biggest heart for animals
He wants to be a vet when he grows up
is very sensitive to how other people are feeling, again, not so much with the sisters
kisses me goodbye every time he goes somewhere
HATES reading
loves science
is quite an imaginative drawer
like to play with his "guys" still
REALLY wants a Nintendo DS for Christmas
(he's getting one) :)
is nosy and always wants to know what's going on
yells...a lot
can sing....I love to hear him sing
gets told that he should be a model
likes the house clean
hates to make it clean :)
truly wants other people to be happy

Which makes me a very happy mom. I love this kid.

SUN, GLORIOUS SUN!!!! Now, don't get me wrong, I don't handle hot weather very well. But I do LOVE the sun. And we have had a very wet, cool June so this sweep of sun and warmth is very welcome. We spent the WHOLE weekend in the sun at the pool. It was wonderful!

We had fun celebrating our dads too. Matt took an early morning bike ride with Jonah, father and son :) That gave the girls and I the chance to make breakfast and cards. Then it was off to church and then off to Mom's where we celebrated Matt and my dad. Lots of swimming and steak eating. A perfect day, minus the moments of whining and time outs :)

Another summer week begins and here I sit, trying to find things to keep us busy. Wednesday is Matt's day off and we are heading to Lake Michigan for the day. The kids are excited about the "ocean" which we have to keep reminding them is just a big lake :) They don't care!

Summer is trudging on in the Kurtz home. We've finally had some warmer weather so being able to send the kids outside to play has been a blessing. And I am always grateful for Grandma's pool. I'm going to get a lot of reading done this summer :)

I have been debating whether or not to blog about this, but I really feel like I need to write it down for myself. It's just a bonus that you all can read it as well :)

Before the purchase of our HUGE blessing, the BIG van as the kids call it, Matt and I sat down to really talk through our finances. Now I will come right out and admit that this is a HUGE area of struggle for me. I love to buy things. Love it. I love walking into a store and buying things, not for me but for my kids, Matt, or whoever. I also love to eat out. It's oh so easy to not grocery shop and pull into a McDonald's for dinner.Because of these behaviors and others, we have struggled financially for most of our married lives. Our credit is atrocious and we are completely to blame. We've had many people come along side of us and help us, but it wasn't until recently that I realized that, if I didn't change my heart and my actions, things would never change. I wish I could say that I was miraculously healed of wasteful spending. That is NOT the case. But I am committed to submitting to my husband, to living on a budget, and to saving money. I will not pretend that this will be easy. It will NOT. But I believe that God has called me to obedience, to surrender, and to submission.

The biggest part of this is tithing. We have not tithed regularly, ever. And I have been hot over the head recently that this is a sin. Everything we have is God's. That includes every penny of our money. And by not tithing, I am robbing God. Robbing Him. God forgive me. It just always seemed that we needed that money for groceries or gas. But it was all just an excuse. This Sunday, I was reminded that God doesn't need my dollars, He needs and wants my submission and my obedience. I need to tithe because He told me to. Because it's part of my worship to Him. That I could put money in the plate every week, but if my heart was hard, that it wouldn't matter. And that I cannot tithe with the expectation that if I give Him money, He's going to give me something. I need to lay my offering at His feet, even if nothing else happens, I'll know that I obeyed and worshipped my Savior. This has been huge for me. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it, but I will tell you that this Sunday, I was shaking with the excitement of placing our offering in the plate. Who knew being obedient could feel so right? :)