Coming home

We have a few coming home traditions that we have done with all three kids. Taking a picture outside our house and taking a picture in their nursery. Welcome home Natalie! We are all glad she's home, it feels like we've been waiting a long time for her to join us.

Leaving the hospital, she is just so tiny in her carseat.

Showing Natalie her nursery, I'm pretty sure she slept through it.

Trying out her new crib. She's so beautiful!

Carter couldn't believe she was almost as small as her baby doll.

Logan holding his sister in her nursery for the first time.

Natalie & Ellie

There are three friends expecting girls this late summer/early fall. Due dates are August, September, and October. Turns out that our friend Jessica due in September had her daughter the same day as Natalie. They named their daughter Ellie. It was a lot of fun to be in the hospital with them and to share the special day together. This will hopefully be the first day of a long friendship between the two girls.

Natalie meeting her family

It wasn't long after Natalie was born that she met her family. Her brothers were excited to hold her and Logan gave her a pink blanket and tucked her in. She got to meet her aunts, grandparents, and great grandma. She has no idea how much she is loved and blessed to be part of this family.

Can you tell Carter is one proud big brother.

He is totally enamored with his new baby sister.

It is fun to see Logan be a big brother for the first time.

He is so sweet and really gentle with Natalie, who he lovingly refers to as "my baby".

Nana & Papa enjoying their first grandaughter

Natalie & Aunt Carly

Natalie with Aunt Nell

Gee Gee holding Natalie

Natalie Cate Dickhaus

Our daughter arrived on 8/16 at 9:57 PM. She weighed 6 lbs 2 oz and was 20 " long.

Its such a blessing to have her here!

Carter is 6!

The birthday boy gets to choose his favorite dinner on his actual birthday and Carter had to have sushi made by his Dad. It was a delicious dinner and fun to celebrate our big boy turning 6! Wow it goes by so fast.

His birthday is a great time to reflect on what we love so much about this special guy. Here are a few things:

• He truly loves his family - he always thanks God in his prayers for having such a nice family and an extended family
• He is a lot of fun - he is really witty and loves to tease
• He is a deep thinker - he is very observant and knows what is going on around him and has many questions...many times he stumps us
• He is outgoing - he makes friends everywhere he goes
• He is adventuresome - he loves to hike, fish, camp, kayak, and explore
• He is a snuggler - he loves to be close to us, sometimes to his brother's dismay

Vacation Bible School

Carter attended VBS at Temple Baptist down the road from our house. It was a great experience for him, he totally thrived there. We were totally impressed with how well it was organized and how nice all the volunteers were, they did an amazing job.

He shared everything he learned with us each night and we had to replicate a lot of the activities at home. At the end of the week he was really able to articulate the good news about Jesus dying for our salvation. His teachers chose to give him a special bag out of everyone in his class because he did such a good job all week. We are really proud of him. One eye opener was how tired he was after attending every day of the week, we are going to have an adjustment when Kindergarten starts.

Carter buying some gold bars to put in the boys bucket. Boys competed against girls to raise money for missionaries.

Each morning they started with carnival type games and they earned tickets to buy prizes. It was a lot of fun for the kids.

The last day we got to join him for a family bbq.

Pirate birthday

We had the boys birthday party early since the baby is due soon. It was fun this year because they both wanted to do a pirate theme. I realize not only is it easier for me to do one party but another benefits is that they can both share in the excitement together.

The boys surrounding Aunt Carly as she arrives.

Getting ready to open the treasure map.

Looking for the next clue.

Logan found one.

The treasure is close.

They found it!

Look at those handsome little pirates!

Water gun target shooting.

Brady's surrounded

Crush the cannon balls - smash the balloons and they find treasure (coins) inside

Logan was so hungry he had to start his lunch early.

Levi getting his pirate tattoos on

Doing the snake on the way to Rosie's

The perfect time for ice cream.