8 Months

Wishing I felt a little more like Rosie here. . .

and a little less like me!  Note the fake smile. . .

It's not all bad, really!  I've just turned into "Waddling Wanda" in the last few days, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be "waiting it out" from here on.

There are some good things to report! 

1.  It's cool.  We have maxed out at 75.  This is the best news in the world when you are almost completely encased in Nylon.

2.  My hips have JUST started to hurt.  Halelujah for making it this far!

3.  I can still sleep like a baby.  Just ask Gordon, I'm pretty sure I punch him in the face nightly when I'm rolling around with my three, giant, down pillows.

4.  My instincts tell me that the reason I've started having hip pain is that this baby is no longer sunny side up.  I think she's flipped, but we'll have to confirm that next week.

Troublesome things?

1.  I have as much patience as a woman who is 8 months pregnant.  That is to say, none.  I am trying to be nice, but may have been a bit snippy (read: shrewish) lately, especially around dinner time.  I'm just so dang tired by then and my feet hurt!!!

2.  When it does get warm (like over 70) I feel like a sausage encased in a too tight skin, and then start to swell.  Not so fun!  Makes for achy feet and hands and a hot mama.

Well look at that!  More goods than bads!  Here's to 5 more delightful weeks. . .

Go Jump in the Lake!

Welcome to kid paradise.  Also known as the Lake Grove Swim Park.  If you go to Lake Grove Elementary, you have access to this wonderful little gem.  So many activities!  There is a nice little wading pool for the kidlets. . .

 And if you bring a quarter (to leave for collateral) you can check out bad-mitten, volleyball, ping pong, shuffleboard, or basketballs.  Turn them back in to get your quarter back and then go over to the snack shack for a lolly pop, slurpee or a hot dog (my kids haven't actually discovered this little insight yet, I think we'll save that for later in the summer).

Or play at the playground, but don't forget your shoes or mom may have to pull slivers out of your feet.

 Here is a picture of the "3 pools" and the area where the moms camp out.  You have to pass a swim test to go in the two deeper "pools."  My kids stuck to the shallow end today.

 Jump on in with your friends!  They are all here!  In fact, we saw no less than 12  of our good friends (their whole families) from church and school while at the park today.

 There's probably someone to share a snack with. . .

I think I know where my kids are going to want to spend the warm summer days!

a sweet silhouette

A few weeks ago I was at our local mall and saw that one of the children's stores was hosting an event with Karl Johnson, who happens to be one of the worlds premiere silhouette artists.  I am a huge fan of silhouette art and knew I had to take at least some advantage of this opportunity, so I made an appointment and took Emilee over to have her silhouette cut.  It was AMAZING to watch him work, and this is what he produced in about 2 minutes.  I love it!  I'm going to frame it and hang it in her room, and am hopeful that he will be back in a few years to do another little girl. . .

Welcome Summer!

It's the last day of school!  Today we celebrated out in the street with some of our neighbors.  My neighbor Trudie threw a little pizza party summer kickoff for the kids after the bus came home at noon.  We had such a fun time and the kids really got into the party atmosphere.  I wish I had taken a picture of all of their celebratory chalk drawings out in the street.

WELCOME SUMMER!

the Babymoon!

This past weekend, Gordon and I carved out some time to go on a little get-away.  Some young ladies home from college came to watch over our brood.  People keep asking me "where did you go?"  People are often surprised to hear we crashed in a hotel 4.5 miles away.  It was so nice!  We slept in, we lazed about, and we got a few things done.  We looked at some houses, we went to the temple, we spent some time downtown, and went to the movies.  We ate out a lot, and just had a really relaxing weekend.  It was great!

Here are the only two pictures we took of the whole trip, while crossing a bridge down town.  After exploring the Saturday Market, we trekked over this bridge to get to a restaurant on the East side that Gordon had a nice gift certificate to, only to find that they did not open for lunch!  We tried to take a self portrait but got only our eyebrows.

 we were right under the Portland sign!

After lunch at an unplanned stop (where I put my feet up on the seat of the booth the whole time, shoes off and everything!) we rode a taxi back to our car.  It was a rather invigorating ride if I do say so.  But, I was glad to be off my feet at that point.

We had such a great time!  I'm glad we took this opportunity to get out and play before we have our little girl arrive and can't.  I hope it's not another 4 years before we do this again!

Chandler's Preschool Graduation

Today was Chandler's preschool graduation.  His school did a really cute little ceremony with robes and caps to boot.  It was all just a bit over the top, but he really enjoyed "graduating."  I am sad he is moving onto kindergarten, but he is so excited!  He's going to grow up whether I fight it or not!  Great Job Chandler!  We are proud of you!

the view from here

UPDATE!:  Baby is right on track for average growth.  Not big at all!  45th percentile to be exact.  Aprox. 4 lbs 4 oz currently.  Hurray!  But, she is breech, with her toes way above her nose, just as she has been at ALL of my ultrasounds.  Folded in half!  The ultrasound tech said it looked like she would probably be a yoga master.  This is why she's probably measuring high.  I saw my old Doctor today who delivered E&A.  I said, "What can I do to coax her head down?  Hang by my toes?"  His answer?  "Pray."  It made me chuckle, as he is our old Stake President, and he was totally serious.  I'm not worried about it, Aidan was flipped until just before delivery.  But, I think we will take his advice anyhoo!

The view from here includes the ever present reinforced toes, super sun tanned legs (so attractive!) breezy skirts, and one little belly dancer.

I get to go take a peek at my little belly dancer tomorrow morning (an attempt to see if she really is 2 weeks bigger than the average peanut).  I'm looking forward to seeing her cute profile again, and the fact that I am now 32 weeks along and no longer have to drink a double gulp worth of liquid before the ultrasound.  Hurray for small victories! 

Spring Piano Recital

This was our first year with two kids in the piano recital.  It was a nice program.  Every child did a duet and a solo.  I love that they do a duet because it gives me something to practice with them.  Both boys did great!  This was Aidan's first performance and he was very nervous, but he handled it well.  Here are some clips:

Aidan playing "my favorite words," and "she'll be coming round the mountian."

Here is the middle section of Tarentella.  Don't his little fingers look a bit like tarantulas dancing on the keyboard?  How fitting!

 and the Candy Apple Strut

the Father Daughter Campout

This past Friday night this little girls dreams came true!  She was so disappointed when she didn't get to go to Fathers and Sons.  Lucky for her, our ward also does a Father Daughter!  So fun!

 Here is where they were all set up, at Champoeg State Park.

 Roasting marshmallows and bread over the fire together.

 Emilee taught daddy all kinds of things!  For example, did you know that your glow stick is not a sword, dagger, gun, or other such weapon?  It's actually lipstick!  Or sometimes a microphone so you can sing twinkle twinkle.

 She slept all night!

She was a happy little bird in the morning!  

 Daddy says that this was such a fun and eye opening experience.  The girls were so cute.  He said he kept thinking, "wow, this is so mellow!"  While hiking, the little girls would do things like hold hands, and skip, instead of beating each other with sticks, or telling body humor jokes.   The big girls mothered the little girls.  There were no GIANT bon fires, and no blood.  What a fun time!

Thanks for taking our girl Daddy!  She had a great time and made some great memories!

Emilee's Dance Recital

 Here is my little sweetheart, in the summer wind.  After a near meltdown over the color of her tutu (apparently all tutu's should be pink!), she did decide that lavender is actually a good color for a little violet.  And, now she loves it!

 Here she is with her class before the show.  Does anyone else notice a slight size difference?  A couple of those girls are 6 months older than she, but that's it!  She's so petite.

Here's the video!  She did great!  Much more comfortable on the stage this time around, and a "show smile" to boot!  (just look for the smallest ballerina)

Immediately following the show, she got changed into "old zippy" (the beloved overalls of all my children - I had to adjust them a bit for her and stick a patch on) and she and Daddy took off for "Daddy Daughter" camp!  She was so excited.  I think it's so fun that our ward does this.

 Have a great time you two!

Photos of camp coming soon!

the Father Son's Campout

A week or so ago was the annual Father/Son's camp out hosted by our Ward.  Apparently there was a huge turnout and everyone had a wonderful time.  They went out to the coast, Cape Lookout.  Here are some photo highlights!

 I hear there was a HUGE bonfire later that night.

 Ethan was REALLY smart and walked into the ocean in his shoes.  Brilliant!  Spent the next 24 hours in wet shoes.  Lesson learned?  Only time will tell. . .

 A 5 mile hike taken the next morning was both beautiful and treacherous.  I think I'm glad I wasn't along for this one.

 And while the boys are away, the girls will play!  Emilee and I had a great time at our "girls party."  We did manicures, pedicures, had ice cream cones and went out for Chinese food.

A great time had by all!

Video Antics

Here's the scenario. . .  Ethan and I are trying to practice our duet for his recital, and decided it would be nice to take a recording so we could hear how it sounded after we play it.  In this first video, Ethan was driving me to distraction with his grinning at the camera.  When I watch this I laugh so hard, he reminds me of "Ralphy" from a Christmas Story the way he's grinning at the camera.  We had to stop and start over. . .  (Warning, I think this is perhaps the most unflattering angle of video ever shot of me, but we think it's so funny I'm willing to get over it!)

So, we tried again, this time, Emilee came along and discovered the pretty mirror of herself and we laugh so hard every time we watch this.  I hope you enjoy it as well!