Tis the Season & Recap

I feel like I have so much to catch up on before I can just resume normal "blog" activity! So, if you're in a reading mood, you can proceed to just below the Christmas picture. If you're not, well then Merry Christmas from the Day's!

A little sneak peak at our Christmas card.

Summer Months: What a summer we had! I spent the entire summer being pretty incredibly uncomfortable in the last weeks of my pregnancy, and Rob was 100% devoted to studying for the CPA exams, but that didn't stop us from trying to make the most of it and squeezing in some fun. The fun was just a little different this year. Staying close to home and doing things that didn't involve much walking around in the hot, hot weather since I had to wear full length compression stockings every day the entire summer! 

Our 1st annual Day/Jordan Family Camping Trip. Sydney and I are both just about to pop! I had only a couple weeks left, and she had her baby 3 weeks after I did. What a sight we are! We had the best vacation...aside from a little discomfort. We had the nicest double site at Deception Pass State Park, and because of it's marine location and being tucked into the woods, it was so pleasantly cool while the rest of the Westside experienced some of its hottest days the entire summer! I was so glad to miss that! The kids had such a blast just hanging around the campsite and playing down at the beach, and Jack got to celebrate his 7th birthday there too.

Fun at the beach!

Ventured into town to eat dinner. Jovie got to hang her coloring on the wall at the restaurant!

More fun at the beach!

Birthday hot cocoa!

Last day at the beach. The kids loved playing in the water even though it was freezing!

Happy Birthday Brother!

 We took a year off from the fair, and our kids so graciously accepted our offer of going up to the mountain instead. Such good kiddos! The idea was to get out of the heat, but it was just as hot, if not hotter up there. But, the SNOW in AUGUST was such a novelty for everyone. Even Maya!

I love this picture. I was really far away from them because just 2 weeks before baby arrived, I was moving really slow! This picture will always remind me of those last moments of pregnancy where things just aren't quite working right.



One last hurrah before Baby Jasper came to join us...a Mariner's Game! Not just any game though...we got to attend the game that honored Felix Hernandez for the perfect game he had recently pitched. We bought cheap tickets, but had so much fun! They were giving away t-shirts and "K" cards at the gate. I almost had to squeeze into a size medium shirt, but Rob saved the day and searched high and low for an XL for me. We went to this game just days before Jasper was born, and people were looking at me with worry thinking I wasn't going to make it thru the game without going into labor! The kids had a blast, it was about the least boring baseball game I'd ever been to. The place was packed and everyone in the bright yellow shirts. The energy was intense and we had so much fun!









And that's pretty much all she wrote for our summer! Behind the scenes was me trying to entertain the kids while getting ready for the arrival of sweet baby Jasper. I had some serious nesting issues with this pregnancy, and spent most of the time indoors trying to keep the house clean and prepared. Thank goodness I had lots of help!

And the perfect end to a memorable summer!

3 Week-Old Newborn Session

I'm in love with these photos! Okay, maybe it's just the subject I'm in love with, but nonetheless am so happy with how Jasper's newborn photos turned out! I had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with the photographer, Meg, from Mustard Tree Photog, one chilly fall morning a few weeks ago. Meg is the daughter of one of my Dad's great friends, and my Dad set the whole thing up as a gift for us. It was such a pleasure to meet and get to know you Meg, and thank you for the gift of such amazing photographs of Jasper.

Jasper Has Arrived

Jasper Kenneth Day, arrived right on schedule--August 31, 2012--7 lbs 5 oz, 21 inches long.

1st day home from hospital

Proud sister

So much love for her little brother

We are so happy to welcome Jasper to our family. We definitely feel complete and are feeling the joy (and exhaustion) of having a baby in the family again. I have lots more pictures, but not enough time, so this is it for now.

Strawberry Jam

Jack, Jovie, and I welcomed summer by preparing a batch of strawberry freezer jam. The strawberries are local, and were so delicious. They made some darn good jam (and syrup for pancakes and ice cream). I didn't get any jam made last year because my transition between jobs kept me busier than I would have liked during jam season, so kicking this summer off with jam making felt really nice! Here are my cuties...they're so proud of their strawberry jam!

Summer Is Here, 10 Years

It's already been a week that we've been on summer break, and it's flying by. We had a visit from our dear friends Sydney and Tate...such a special treat to host friends in the middle of the week.

Just this past weekend was the annual North Whatcom Relay for Life. It's such an important cause for our family for multiple reasons, and we put forth so much hard work and effort toward it. This year our efforts landed our team 3rd overall for fundraising, raising over $10,000! Our 1 family in 1 year raised $10,000 for the fight against cancer. Go Team Van Diest! I think that's pretty awesome, and love that even though it's hard work to raise money, the reward is so great! What's even better is that we all come together no matter what...wind, rain, cold...and still ENJOY and TREASURE every moment of each other's company. Thank you to my wonderful aunts and uncles who shower us girls with love and support...you know who you are. Your support means so much. It helps us remain positive.

I came across this picture of Jack...so typical of him just lounging in the yard with one of the dogs, and this one of Jovie being such a girl playing dress-up. 

Finally, Rob and I will celebrate our 10-year anniversary this week! This picture was taken back at the beginning of May at our first annual Relay for Life Barn Dance, and it's probably the one and only I will post of me during pregnancy. I hate pregnancy pictures of myself, and if you think my belly is big here...! Anyway, 10 years...we've done so much, accomplished so much, been through SO MUCH. I just can't believe it when I look back at what our lives were like at 20 years old! My, how many changes occur...my, how much shaping and molding takes place. Sometimes life is easy and we just seem to float on. More often though, life is hard and it goes on testing and trying us. Either way, we have been blessed.

Semiahmoo Field Trip

The first graders at BVE got to go on a tide pool field trip out to Semiahmoo earlier this week! I was able to join him out there and we had a great time. It was a little miserable at first...windy and rainy, but we persevered and it was worth it! It turned out to be a beautiful day and I think because of the mild weather, the sea creatures were out in full force! I can't believe all the things we saw. I took lots of pictures, but just wanted to share these of Jack. He had lots of fun and enjoyed his mom's company. I don't get to do many things at school with him because of my work schedule, but I just had to make this work and am so glad I did!

Anthony (Jack's buddy) and Jack. I was in charge of these two throughout the day.  Two very sweet boys. They treated the creatures so gently and with so much respect. They were quite the rule followers too...several times they reminded some of their classmates that they needed to put the creatures back in the water.

This one was pretty slimy and suctiony!

Can you believe this sucker? This one was hard as a rock and quite pokey! I'd hate to step on it!

After tomorrow we just have a week and a day left of school! Jack and I each have our last day on Monday the 18th. We're so excited! I can't wait for summer break. I look forward to it every year, but this year it has a new meaning. As I'm already into the last 12 weeks of my pregnancy, I'm so ready for a break from my busy and physically demanding work day. What's even better is that I've been approved for a year's leave, and won't be back in my classroom until the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year! I still can't quite believe that...I don't think I've ever not worked a year in my teenage or adult life! Well...to be honest I won't not be working. I'm hoping to do some cleaning and things come wintertime to make some extra money...anyone need a housecleaner?

2 Years

It's hard to believe that 2 years have passed that I've lived life without my mom...my dad without his beloved wife, my kids without one of their devoted grammies. Not to mention the many family and friends who were so blessed to know her and call her a daughter, sister, aunt, best friend, daughter in law. So many lives affected by the loss of one person. I don't have many words to express how I'm feeling right now. Desperate maybe? Really wishing I could tell her the wonderful news that we're having another baby boy. Wanting her to be able to help me and share the in joys of our life. I was talking to one of my sisters tonight about how we'll arrange the kids' rooms to accommodate to the arrival of a baby boy, and all the while I just knew that my mom would know exactly what to do, and I wish I was privy to that information. I know it will be revealed to me, just like most things I would have sought out her opinion on. After all, she raised us with such insight and care into those types of situations, but just to talk to her about it would be amazing. I miss her so much...that's all there is to it.

Some happy memories of simpler times...

Happy Easter!

Today we celebrate the Lord's sacrifice for us! Today my feelings of sorrow and sadness are replaced by hope and longing for the day I will get to meet this Savior and be reunited with my Mom! Happy Easter everyone!