Fernstrum Family - fernstrumfamily

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Kennedy in a silly mood.

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Ashton spent at least 30 min in the bathroom one night slicking back his hair. What a goof!

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Caught a frog!

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Letting Isaiah hold it.

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Off for more frog catching adventures at the park.

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Way into wearing whatever boots he can find.

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First day of school!

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That boy on the right is getting handsome...

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Reading about firetrucks with daddy at Inspiration Hills

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First day of preschool for Daddy's pretty girl.

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He thought he was so cool with my glasses on and my cell phone!!

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So proud of himself

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These two monkeys are still at home with me...

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Very excited about the new van!

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Monkey see, monkey do!

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You can't have one without the other!

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So excited that they found places for their animals to live and sleep. Never mind the books EVERYWHERE

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This is Isaiah's cheese!

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A little football on a gorgeous Sunday night

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Kennedy's favorite thing to do- PAINT!

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Reading and talking about the books that Grandpa Lee brought.

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Triston and Daunte
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Donovan showing me his moves!
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Triston, Daunte, Donovan
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More moves from Donovan
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Silly kid!
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Peek a boo!
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Big little fish
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Naked boy loves his hat! Never mind the 100 degree weather
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Found his hat again!
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As much as he liked the animals, he still saw a skidloader and was mainly talking about that.

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Triston is most brave
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MOWER!!!!
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Isaiah stayed on for three rides in a row. Luckily there was no line.
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Kennedy would only go on if Triston went with her.

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He's pretty certain he is driving
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Just another dress up day for Kennedy

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Isaiah is now a gamer!

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Between dressing up and painting...I'm not sure which one Kennedy does more of!

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Kennedy's art from one session...what to do with it all (throw it away when she's not looking, and then cover it up so she can't see it when she goes to throw something away later)

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Kennedy begged to have her hair curled. First time I ever did it!

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Too goofy to get a good picture!

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Cinderella with fairy wings.

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She comes up with these outfits all on her own, I swear!

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Too bad she doesn't actually know how to use that thing

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Enjoying the outdoors...a little at a time.

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Loves to do whatever daddy does

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Weekend at King's Pointe with John's family

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This is my kids' version of family picture...everyone look somewhere different...where did Kennedy learn to pose like that??

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This is the best I get!

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Kennedy and Ashton having FUN together???!!

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The whole clan!

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Siblings!

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My little worker guy

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a little pea pod after bath

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He fixes everything these days, things that aren't even broken!

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Skating! Does that girl look tall or what? Sometimes I can't believe she is only 3. Growing up so fast.

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More worker guy. He shows up with his hat, tape measure, and "sheetrock" (Isaiah lingo for drill) and you can't see it but he had to have the step stool too. What a Netten!

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Sheetrocking my wall

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Kennedy was so proud of herself, she came running to me saying she put Isaiah to sleep by rubbing his head. Poor guy was running a fever from double ear infection.

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Finally, a hair cut! It was worth the wait because Rebekah is free:)

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Pretty girlies with their jewelry:)

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Isaiah had to join too!

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Triston in his habitat for Marsville and some of his team.

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Triston had fun showing Isaiah off at Marsville.

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"ABC's" sweatshirt...must be worn with hood up!

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Fun copying Ashton

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SO EXCITED about getting sung to and blowing out his candles!

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Intense game of shoots and Ladders. Kennedy trying to cheat but Grandpa standing his ground

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COW!!!

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CHICKEN!!

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Kennedy feeling pretty in her brand new dress from Liz (early birthday present)

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John rooting on Isaiah to blow out the candles

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Clapping for himself...pretty proud moment!

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Horsing around with Grandpa, always.

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Thrilled that everyone is singing Happy Birthday to him

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Pumpkins the boys and I carved.
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Everybody look at me AND smile!
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cutest little lion
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checking out the tail
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clone and cowboy
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Do you see what I mean about taking family pictures?
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sewed some vests for the boys to be cowboys
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pretty handsome and cute if you ask their mom!
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love this one!
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Kennedy was not cooperative...
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He's got big shoes to fill!
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love those smiles!
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gymnastic bee!
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Trip to Ankeny/Ames for Triston's birthday. Go State!
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we match!
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John didn't match:)
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Liz graciously let us stay with her
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November birthday boys
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Kennedy is really into dressing herself and "I don't need help, mom!!"
And then she shuts the door to her bedroom and comes out looking like this. Kinda cute today...not always the case.

This was a book fort or reading fort, can't remember. Forts, forts, forts...we built them daily multiple times a day for awhile
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Triston is a great big brother
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Isaiah mesmerized by the digging of the house next door
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Kennedy LOVES to paint and color
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Thai food John made one night
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yummy rice noodles!
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Ashton with his new bike for his birthday!
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Happy 9th Ashton!
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Making cut out cookies with Kennedy
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Isaiah eating cut out cookies!
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You can never have too many sprinkles! Just ask Kennedy
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Kennedy being silly
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Two little sillies, but Isaiah is not hot on being constrained!
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Helping me sweep the floor
He is going to be so upset about this picture some day!  But he makes me laugh!

wrapped in his favorite can't live without nie nee
He loved having me wrap him with his blanket again and again one day

Favorite Activity! Then he looks at me, says kick with a huge smile, and KICKS!
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Kennedy took some pictures for me. Not bad!
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Ashton's Christmas program. So nervous!
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Reading books together on a little bench. Cute!
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Me with some of my sisters (and Kennedy) on Christmas Eve
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Grandma with the Granddaughters!
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Kennedy came home from preschool today with a fundraising packet.  I admit that I HATE selling things.  Really do not like it at all.  So I was a little annoyed to learn that her preschool was having a fundraiser.  And then she brings the packet home and my irritation level escalated dramatically.  Like, I cannot go to sleep until I vent about this.  One of those days I wish I had a blog.  Kind of wanted to put something on Facebook, but didn't feel it was appropriate.  I am very bothered. Irritated. Annoyed. Perhaps even a bit self righteous. I am also disappointed and sad. So, here it is.  Even though we pay tuition every month, and collect things like Pizza Ranch wagons and campbells soup labels, we have to have a fundraiser for MORE. I understand, this is our society.  MORE, more, more, more.  We are never content with what we have. I guess I have this little problem because Kennedy's preschool is a Christian preschool, and so I hold a higher standard, I expect better.  I would have hoped that we would raise money for kids in Uganda that don't get to go to school, or have fresh water, or to help pay the tuition for someone in our community that couldn't afford it.  But no, it is for us.  But then what I just got so angry about was this statement across the bottom of the page in big lettering: "Don't Let Your Child Be Left Out!" So it seems as if we are so fearful that our fundraising idea will not be successful, that we use fear based scare tactics to get people to participate.  Because we all know what a sad feeling it is to be left out.  It is even more sad when you have to watch your child be sad. So, if we do not sell 7 items, then Kennedy cannot attend the free ice cream social, and she is going to be LEFT OUT!!!  Like honestly, I am beyond words (I have too many words, I can't figure out where to start).  Can you tell me what is Christ-like about that?  Can you tell me that Jesus would intentionally exclude others? I actually was reading in Matthew 18 today about the children.  It struck me in a new way how much Jesus loves children. He tells the parable of the lost sheep, how he leaves the 99 to go looking for the 1 that wandered off. Verse 14 concludes the story with "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." I think that he is talking about salvation here, and not an ice cream party, but what do we learn about the character of God here? He wants everyone there because his love is so amazing.

I am sorry but this is one party (and probably not the last) that my child will be left out on. I will not give in to fear (which is never of God) to sell fundraising items.

(On a side note, Kennedy's preschool is outstanding, and she LOVES it, and she is memorizing scripture like crazy, and I think they do A LOT of things really, really well.)

We are enjoying summer, but some of the time we are missing Dad.  Somewhere along the way he overcommitted to few things that were interesting to him.  Right now he is in Philadelphia for a full week with a bunch of social studies teachers.  We are surviving much better than the last time when he was only gone for three days:)  I figure all I need to do is take one day at a time and do better than the last time and it will be a success.  As I type Isaiah is yelling "Momma, skidloader" over and over and over again.  He is supposed to be going down for a nap but he hears a skidloader, and he wouldn't miss a detail like that!  The good part about dad being gone is kind family and friends who have invited us over for supper, the extra effort I make to do fun things like picnics and visiting the fair.  Plus Dad misses us, so I have been taking a lot of pictures to send his way.

Isaiah is a happy boy!  He spends a lot of time pushing a pink doll stroller around the house.  He fills it with his current favorite items.  This morning it is only a bouncy ball.  It often has his blanket, plastic cows, tractors, and BOOKS (with pictures of animals or trucks).  He LOVES to look at the photo books of our family, too.  He says SO MANY new words.  Right now I feel like almost every day I hear him using a new word that I didn't know he knew.  He still loves stroller rides and being outside. He is also still very jealous of anyone else on his mom or dad's lap!  I'm hoping he gets over this sooner rather than later.  He gives kisses, which is SO FUN, but he also likes to try and give kisses to other children his age that he sees at the park (and the other kids can't figure out what he is doing).  Luckily he is not very assertive with that!

Triston had his first "season" of full pads football.  He was a real cutie!  (Too bad that doesn't help with listening!!)  Ashton is still saving his dollars.  But he had to spend one on a broken light from throwing balls in the house last night.  He tells me he plans to buy a mustang, and if he has dollars left after that, he is going to buy a truck (he changes his mind about a car or a truck...)  He is reading so well!  It is fun to listen to him get excited about reading.  He has always loved books, so it is cool that he can actually read some. Kennedy was looking at my wedding album yesterday and asked me why I got married, and then told me she is going to get married.  Of course for her it is ALL about the white dress (maybe it was for me too?!! JK)  Isaiah has moments of being the best baby ever and a very challenging one.  He is teething, poor little guy!  He can't get enough of his mommy when he is not feeling well.  He is trying to learn to crawl and pull up and walk all at the same time.  He's so fun to watch.

Just a few things that have me smiling these last couple days of summer...

Triston has been busy with his friends digging "an underground tunnel" with our dirt pile (John doesn't know it yet...)

Ashton tells me he is "saving my dollars" to buy a car, but the car "what I was going to buy" is now gone!!

Kennedy asks "my read a book to him first?" when I tell her it is time for Isaiah to take a nap.  Last night she told me she was going downstairs to read the boys a book for bedtime and then she was coming right back up.

Isaiah is not talking yet...he is content to roll and still loves to put his feet in his mouth when he's naked.

What a beautiful summer it has been!  This is the last summer of John working as Athletic Director-this fall he will be a first year history teacher at South O'Brien.  He is looking forward to teaching and to being home more in the evenings.  Although once the kids are in bed I'm sure he'll be very busy with lesson planning and grading.  It is our first summer of living in our new house! Yea!  It is also our first summer with four kids.  Whoa!!!  Luckily John's schedule is as flexible as it is.  Another huge blessing is the happy and content nature of little Isaiah.  John and I both agree we literally don't think we could have parented three busy children and a fussy baby. Triston got to play baseball this summer (no more tee ball!).  Kennedy learned how to peddle her trike and Barbie bike (we are loving the cul de sac-my children are often playing in the road!)  One day we found Kennedy outside riding her trike wearing underwear, and that's all.  Ashton continues to eat as though he is a grown man.  He also is great at entertaining Isaiah with all his funny faces and silly talk.  Isaiah recently discovered his toes and loves to put them in his mouth- particulary when he is naked!  He is very ticklish (like his dad) and is happiest in the morning (and no wonder since he sleeps 10-11 hours!).

Rachel has been so disciplined about putting the pictures online I feel as though I should do my part and post a message.  Our family has been great lately while anticipating the birth of a third Fernstrum male.  Triston and Ashton seem to be struggling with getting to school on time.  I guess I had the benefit of having a mother that taught at school and made sure I was to school on time.  They are enjoying the new PS3, but seem to be looking forward to the spring.  Kennedy continues to grow up too quickly.  Rachel seems to be doing an amazing job as a single mother (pregnant, no less) with me being gone nightly covering basketball games.  I have enjoyed this year at school far more than the previous two years because I no longer have graduate studies to attend to.  Enjoy the pictures!

Triston has been mr. social lately, having lots of fun with the neighbors playing in the snow and playing with new Wii's and PS3's from Christmas.

 

Ashton must be going through a growth spurt, because he now eats more than Triston at meals.  He is still my indoor kid, despite all the fun snow outside.

 

Kennedy is pretty much potty trained!  What a germy process... Her latest phrase is "thank you mama" which makes me really happy.

Update on the kids:

Kennedy's newest thing is to go and get her play purse when I tell her we are going bye bye.  Her newest word is "more please" (usually FOOD!)

Ashton lately has had trouble getting ready for school on time in the morning. He still loves his TV time and healthy snacks as much as ever.

Triston has a birthday coming up on Nov. 7 and will be turning 8 years old!  He lives to come home from school and ask me every day if he can go help grandpa.

1/19/2009 7:07:41 PM - 000053324529
Thanks for sending this to me Rach!!  Love the pictures!  So much fun to see what you guys are up to.  It was great catching up on the phone the other day finally.  Love you!

1/15/2009 2:46:23 AM - 002006688055
your pictures are sooo cute rachel! i'm super impressed you have time for this..you're awesome! :)

10/31/2008 3:24:00 PM - 002006357126
This is cool Rach!  Love it!

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