Fall Activities

Ethan started his 1st season of soccer and really liked it

Hayley was a great cheerleader for him

Hayley started ballet

I don't think it's physically possible for her to smile bigger. She is truly in her element!

I was a tomboy when I was her age...so this is totally out of my comfort zone. I'm so glad she enjoys it so much. Hayley's aunt Rayna made her that tutu. Too cute!

First Days

Ethan and his 1st grade neighbor friends. Ethan, Michael, Luke & David. 3 of 4 of them are in the same class.




Hayley's 1st day of preschool with Mrs. Riehs and Mrs. Stolz. She is attending a 4 day pre-k class at Trinity Lutheran Nursery School in Havertown


Brooklyn showing some excitement for 1st days

Trend Setters

Why not accesorize ballerina costumes with your older brothers underware?


Notice Brooklyn's pigtails coming out of the leg holes. Classic!

Sweet Conversation

For FHE last night, Ethan and Hayley thought it would be fun to dance to the primary song CD. They were slow dancing to "Come Follow Me." Ethan was twirling Hayley when Jeff decided he should cut in. As Jeff and Hayley began dancing, Hayley had a concerned look on her face and then began to say, "Daddy, I can't marry you... I'm already marrying Alex."

Now this is a girl that knows what she wants!

Hayley and her future husband, Alex. She expecially likes him because they have matching brown eyes. I think she's made a fine choice!

Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags GREAT ADVENTURE definitely lived up to it's name. We went with some great friends of ours and between our 2 families, had 7 kids under the age of 7 with us. Oh, and what an adventure it was!

Ethan at age 6 decided to go on the 2nd scariest ride at the park because he was tall enough. He had been watching the rollercoaster on youtube all week gearing up for the event. We kept trying to talk him out of it as he was attempting and not really liking faster and faster rides throughout the day. He insisted. Check out this roller coaster..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GMvlV6H-FQ

His response after it was over..."Daddy, I don't want to go on that ride again until I'm 10. I didn't like it very much." I still can't believe he went on that ride. It takes my breath away and I am a rollercoaster junkie!

My sweet boys!

These twinners rode this ride 8 times in a row

Look mom, no hands!

Jack...you seriously are the coolest dude!

Richards...can't believe you put up with us for the entire day! Thanks guys. We had a blast!

Death Sentence

I did the unthinkable...(well, for me anyway). I registered to run a 1/2 marathon in November....gulp. Those who know me well know how much I despise running. Just a little too boring for my taste. If I'm going to run, I'd like it to be while playing basketball, running track, etc. Long distance running just doesn't interest me. So, why am I doing this? 2 reasons: 1) I was peer pressured by some lovely ladies in my ward and succumbed to the pressure because I didn't want to be the wimp that said no. 2) While I was in college, I made up a list of the top 10 things I'd like to accomplish in my life and running a marathon was one of them. You see, back when I wrote the list, I was much younger and had ample energy.

Wish I would have knocked this one off my list in my 20's!

So, it's only a 1/2 marathon but it's a start. The marathon takes place in a town called, "Bird in Hand."(hehe) It's in Amish Country so I just couldn't resist at the thought of running with such beautiful scenery around me. I might even be able to high five an Amish or two!

I started training 2 1/2 weeks ago and I am royally getting my butt kicked. I can't believe how out of shape I am. I haven't really worked out since I was about 4 months pregnant.

May the force be with me.....

You know it's a hot and soupy day when...

your 6 year old turns a regular 'ole kitchen table into

a pool table with cardstock, tape and

breast milk storage cups.

Wish I were that clever!

Still alive and FINALLY kicking

So it's been a few, well...months, since my last post. 4 kids ages 5 and under has taken some getting used to. We've had our fair share of challenges but all in all, I feel immensely blessed to have 4 beautiful and healthy children.

What have we been up to? Let's start from the beginning...

Brooklyn has been up to a lot of this:

It took her some time to adjust to such a big change. Her "clingyness" went into full force!

In fact, this is how she walked around for weeks...with 3 binkies. One in her mouth and one in each hand with one rubbing her nose. It was so cute that she found her own way of dealing with all of the changes.

Then, just as Brooklyn was starting to come around.....Chase began doing more and more of this:

That's right....my 1st colicky baby. Wow! I'm not going to lie...it was tough! My heart broke for him. We tried all the tricks to keep him from crying but sometimes..he just wanted to cry it out. My other 3 kids were super mellow babies so this was quite an adjustment for us. One great thing about it though...it forced me to take the time to hold him more and I'm so glad I did!

Things are normalizing more and more every day. Chase is doing WAY better now. I'm even able to take all 4 kids to Costco now by myself. That felt like a HUGE accomplishment!

3 1/2 months and several hundred tears and tantrums later, Brooklyn and Chase are total buddies! The fact that she's holding Chase AND bear at the same time speaks volumes!

and the best part....without one binkie!

How am I holding up? Well, I'm a little overwhelmed, a lot tired, and insanely grateful for my 4 little miracles...

For a little slideshow video of Chase's beginning...Click HERE

Baby Chase

Here are a few quick pictures of baby Chase. He unexpectedly arrived 8 hours before his scheduled C-Section. I had the pleasure of experiencing full labor as well as a C-Section to bring him into the world but boy was he worth it! But, he did make it to his scheduled date of April 19th...by 4 minutes! Such a tricky little guy!

Introducing:

Chase Jeffrey Gregerson

Apr. 19, 2010

12:04 am

8 lbs 1 oz 21 in

SO DARN CUTE!!

Stay tuned for a slideshow.....

Powerful Video

Only a few minutes.....WORTH WATCHING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KWGzSSCgoo

Easter Weekend

This weekend had to have been one of my favorite Easter weekends to date. First of all, the weather was gorgeous all weekend! That alone puts me in a chipper mood! Second, General Conference was sooo good and exactly what I needed. Saturday morning we went to a local farm that puts on an Easter Egg hunt that is quite a production...complete with jugglers, mummers, cirque du soleil type entertainment, eggs, candy and toys strewn all over the place, and finally an easter bunny that jumps out of an airplane. It's going to be hard to top that one! After conference, we met up with our great friends, the Richards, for a pizza and chocolate dipped fruit picnic at the park. It truly was a remarkable day!

Minus a few of Brooklyn tantrums and meltdowns, Easter Sunday was another almost perfect day. We spent the entire day with just our little family. The kids got dressed up for their Easter Egg hunt around our yard. After lunch, we watched more general conference, played play-doh and took naps. I attempted my first real Easter Dinner and it actually turned out pretty good. After dinner, we took a family bike ride around the neighborhood. I cherish days like these....they don't come along very often but when they do...I appreciate it so much

This is my amazing neighbor, Fran...the one I'm always blogging about. My kids call her Aunt Fran and have adopted her into our family. She spoils our entire family rotten with lots of love and beautiful things like weekly meals, flowers, cards, the Easter clothes that my kids are wearing today, and the list goes on and on. Fran bleeds generosity and service. I wish I could be more like her. Thanks you so much Fran for being so good to us. We are really going to miss you when you leave!

Another quick catch up post

We're in the final countdown for baby # 4's arrival. 2 weeks from tomorrow I will be in the OR undergoing my 4th and final C-Section. I'm definitely starting to feel the rush of anticipation...both excitement as well as fear. I just never thought I'd have 4 kids less than 6 years apart. We truly feel so blessed!

Since the days are numbered before my life becomes utterly chaotic again, I felt the need to
a few more final catch up posts. Here is a summary of our March....


Hayley's new favorite pastime... Right after Ethan gets on the bus for school for afternoon kindergarten, Hayley jumps up and down with excitement and says, "We get to have special time now?" Brooklyn immediately goes down for her nap and Hayley and I rush outside to hang out in our beach chairs to enjoy the much anticipated sunshine. We've had some AMAZING weather lately and we are trying to take advantage of every second


Brooklyn on a stroll at a local park...


We have Halloween year round at our house

The Meads came over to celebrate my 33rd birthday

Brooklyn and Eli

My incredibly sweet neighbor sent us to her sisters restaurant called "Newtown Grill" and reserved us their private room for dinner while she babysat for our kids. This place was so cool. Our table was in the wine cellar area and we had it all to ourselves.

Our view from our table.

Ethan is starting T-Ball next week and he had his kick off parade last Saturday. He gets to be on the same team as one of his neighbor friends

Couldn't resist putting in this photo of Brooklyn in her diaper talking on the phone wearing Ethan's shoes....what a beauty!!

Last but not least...our semi-annual sleep over at the Mead residence. Jeff is giving the kids a puppet show while reading them a book. As you can see, Hayley is riveted as she digs up her nose