Family Pictures

 Here are a few pictures of our family that Aunt Marianne took for us when we were visiting her a week ago. She is a great photographer--and the subject matter is rather cute too!

We are so excited that we have a new member of our family--we had to showcase that with a picture!

 Amy and Justin--madly in love! Kids: EWW! Mom and Dad!! (Madeline and Lily have no clue what's going on behind them!)

And finally...the "nice" one! We love our family and were glad to get a picture with everyone looking at the camera and 5 out of 6 smiles!

More posts to come with individual pictures and updates on recent antics!

This and That

 A big dog-pile on the couch. Lily was on top of the first pile but had to get off so I could go get the camera. In the photo you can also see Benjamin's Star Wars book--he really enjoys all things Star Wars--he has a Lego Star Wars dictionary and every time we go to the library he tries to find a new Star Wars book.

 Here is our newest seating in our house. I've had this idea for awhile (with 6 people in our family and only a love seat in the living room it's kind of hard to make seating for all--especially with company; people usually end up on the floor or bringing in kitchen chairs). However (thanks to a 50% off foam and upholstery fabric sale at Hancock fabric) we finally got it completed. Thanks to Justin for building the bench (which has a lid on hinges so I can store extra blankets in it). We all really enjoy it; it's quite comfortable, and it's really nice to read with natural light or sit and watch the kids playing in the front yard.

 We had a lot of fun the other day with this fort. The kids wanted me to build them one and I thought--why not fill up the living room with a fort! Between borrowing the quilt off my bed and getting help from Homer, Shakespeare, and Harry Potter, we built quite a big fort!

And last but definitely not least--yesterday Lily was sitting up in her bouncer! She stayed this way for 5-10 minutes and wouldn't lay back. She used the toy bar to pull herself up and loved sitting up and all she could see! What a happy five-month old!!

Sleeping Girls

 This is what happens when Madeline doesn't get enough sleep at night! During a movie she will nod off. Luckily Seth doesn't mind that she was using him as a pillow--he's obviously too interested in the movie.

Here is sweet Lily. She has learned how to roll over (the first time was on my birthday--Aug 26) and will often roll to her side or stomach to sleep for naps. She stays on her back to sleep at night though.

For this picture, she fell asleep with her book. She loves to sleep in the living room with all the noise of her siblings and life happening around. I've gotten better and getting her into her room for the occasional nap but most of the time she sleeps in the living room, in her bouncer or on the floor.

Sorry this update is so long in coming--More will be coming soon!

Lily Christine's Baby Blessing

 Here is the latest family photo taken at church after Lily's baby blessing. Lily is wearing a dress I made for her, and the pink afghan is one Justin made for her. Continuing our tradition of giving our children heritage middle names, Lily's middle name Christine is from my father's grandmother.

 Thanks to Aunt Marianne for the headband and the photography!

 Lily is so sweet and such a good sleeper--she's been averaging 10 hours a night with no waking up for eating! (she goes to bed the same time as the other kids--now in the "girls'" room!--and wakes up to eat around 4 or 5 then back to sleep for a few more hours)

 As a side note, at the doctor today Lily weighed 11 lbs. 8 oz.!! She is smiling and interacting so well with everyone!

The "crazy" photo we promise the kids to get them to smile happily for the "nice" pictures!

Introducing Lily Christine

 Welcoming to our family Lily Christine Jorgensen! She was 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 21 inches long.

 First pictures of Lily taken by Aunt Marianne at not even 24 hours old!

The kids couldn't hold her yet--these were taken on a special visitation allowed by the special care nursery. She was breathing slower than normal for babies, and they had to watch her for a while.

Luckily she was able to check out of the special care nursery shortly after that and come home on schedule!

All the older kids love having Lily home and enjoy holding her (they will actually argue about who gets to hold her first). Madeline loves to hold her so much that she doesn't even care when Lily starts screaming--Madeline will just hold her tight and refuse to let me take Lily back!

She is sleeping and eating well and doing well at the sitter while I'm finishing up teaching my classes--only 4 days left!

fun pics

Just some fun pictures, courtesy of Aunt Marianne.

Photo Announcement

Horsey Rides

All three kids wanted a horse ride from Justin--so he obliged at the same time!

Needless to say, his back hurt afterwards, but everyone had a blast!

Benjamin's first day of school!

Here is Benjamin waiting for the school bus. Seth got to walk with Justin and Benjamin to the bus stop and clearly loved it! Benjamin is now a first grader!

Benjamin has a new haircut (he loves the longer hair look--like his Uncle Mark, "but no hair in my eyes"!). He looks really good without a buzz.

6:30 is so early to get on the bus, but Benjamin is a real trouper about getting up and getting ready for school when it is still dark outside. At least this year he will get home just before 3 p.m. instead of 3:15.

Jorgensen Picture Updates

The best part of making strawberry jam...eating it with fresh homemade bread afterwards!



The boys and their hats in preparation for the beach trip with Grandma and Grandpa Clendening in June!


Madeline LOVES to play the piano! Pretty much any time I sit down to play, she runs up to the piano and wants up next to me. I have to scoot the bench over so she can have a spot to sit and we make beautiful music together!