November 6, 2012 (time warp)

OK, so the anniversary picture of the trips got posted to FB this year (11/6/2012) and didn't quite make it to the blog.  So, I'm posting it here belatedly.  Amazing how things can change in just a few short years...

Videos

I've been using YouTube's new Capture app when recording videos. It uploads them straight to YouTube, which is pretty handy. So, there are a few videos out there now of the kids.  A couple of them "playing" a video game (it's kind of a psuedo-ride as you just experience it). The others are of Joshua tubing down the snow.  You can find them at www.youtube.com/IowaG6.  Hope you enjoy them.

~Carl

Hawkeye Game Day!

It's the day of the big Iowa-Iowa State game and the kids are ready!

And they have good team camradarie!

GO HAWKS!

Summer fun

So, a lot has happened since we last posted anything.  But, a couple of big things happened this week that seemed worth sharing.  First, Joshua went fishing for the first time, and caught himself a fish!  He named it Flippy and was very, very proud of his accomplishment.  He was the only one to get a bite all morning, and the only fish as well. So, overall, a big morning for J.  :)

Joshua and Flippy

Then, we decided to take Joshua's training wheels off his bike.  When I went to help him get started, I realized he was already off and riding!  He took to it like an old pro, and had a lot of fun. Here's a video of J flying on his bike:  http://youtu.be/uJt9D_OZt5Q.

That's all for now. Happy 4th of July everyone! 

Small Moments

Life with a 5 year old and three 2 year olds is BIG…it is LOUD…it is CHAOTIC.  

All. Of. The. Time. 

Not being one that is prone to chaos, I have to admit that I struggle against the craziness and I often find myself wishing to leap forward just a few years to when I hope (pray) that things are more manageable.

But on Monday, January 2, I had a “small moment” that brought me to tears and it made me realize that within the insanity that is our life, there are pockets of sheer bliss.  Those are where my focus should be.

So with that, here are some small moments from Gausman Holidays 2011. 

•  Watching Matthew watch the Lego train at the Christmas tree farm after we tromped through the cold and mud after picking out our first Christmas tree as a family.
• The way the triplets rushed to the tree to hang their baby Jesus ornaments after coming home from Sunday school one Sunday.  The way each knew exactly which one was theirs.

•  Joshua’s Rock and Roll Snowman

• The way William carried around the giant talking Rudolph singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer…all of the words…at the top of his lungs…all of the time.

• How much Matthew LOVES the stuffed Abominable 
• The look of pride on Joshua’s face as he marched out of his Winter Party wearing the Rudolph hat he had made during craft.

• Our morning searches for Harry the Elf.

• Our daily watchings of Chippey, Snowflake, Zart & Wordsworth. 

• Walking into Christmas Eve service with the aforementioned stuffed Abominable (Matthew), Hermie the Elf (William) and Sam the Snowman (Paige.)

• Paige’s ability to eat her brothers under the table at Christmas dinner
•  A New Year's Party complete with cake pops, ice cream, crepe paper streamers, homemade signs, hats, noisemakers and a parade in our pajamas....at 3:00 p.m.

•  A child’s wonder at floats made completely out of flowers.

•  A January 2^nd nap in my bed with Matthew cuddled in my arms and Paige asleep beside me.

Here’s to many more small moments in 2012.  Cheers.

November 6th again

On November 6th, 2008, we found out we were having triplets.  So, November 6th is always a momentous day for us.  Check this old post for the first anniversary pictures. And, by way of comparison, here they are this year.  Wow, what a difference a few years makes.

We'll try to post more updates soon.  But, couldn't let this day pass without celebrating.

Love is….

Love is a homemade Transformer crafted for a father by his 5 year old son as a thank you for taking him to a birthday party.