Rumor has it. . .

We're home!  This is where I live now.  It feels like home already.  We've been so busy getting ready and then moving, I haven't had a moment to post.  I will get back to that next week. . .

So Gordon met the next door neighbor this evening.  After meeting Aidan, she said, "Oh, I thought I had heard that your wife was pregnant."  And Gordon explained that I WAS pregnant and we now have an 8 week old baby.  "Oh!  So it was true!  How funny, I also heard a rumor that you had a 3 year old.  Rumors fly around!"  So Gordon explained that it was also true, we have an Emilee.  "So, the rumors about the 10 year old as well?"  Yep, also true.  Jaw dropping. . .  We've got a 5 year old to round that out as well!

Sometimes it's so funny to watch people's reactions when they realize that people have this many children these days (and seemingly on purpose - gasp!).  And when I'm out by myself and people ask me if Heidi is my first baby.  It's such a fun moment when I get to say, "Nope!  My 5th!"

Ah, the simple pleasures in life. . . 

See you next week with all the updates!

Ethan and Adelle

No, Ethan does not have a new girlfriend named Adelle.  In fact, he has objections to this song because it is "lovey dovey."  But, I had to share.

Ethan's new piano teacher has taught him so much in the past couple of months.  He is big on theory, and not only playing the notes on the page and memorizing, but learning chords, playing by ear, technique, etc.  He has pushed Ethan quite hard and Ethan has responded well.  Here is a little video I took of his practice this morning.  This is a song from Adelle's album that his teacher challenged him to transcribe and create a "lead sheet" for.  This goes way beyond my skills.  I didn't know what a "lead sheet" was until now.  He struggled at first, but the past week or so he's taken off with this and really enjoyed the process.  Enjoy. . .

Hangin' with Heidi

Sometimes in the evenings after the big kids have gone to bed, Gordon and I get to spend just a few minutes with our Heidi girl all by herself.  It feels a little reminiscent of 10 years ago when we had just one little person.  She continues to be the sweetest little baby around.  We love her!

a week of firsts, in no particular order

First day of 5th Grade!  And last first day of elementary school.  Crazy.

First day of Kindy!  He was SO excited, this is his count down calendar.

He is ready for the bus!  So excited!

After school, I'd say it was a hit!

First day of pre-school!  And, a re-vamped lady bug backpack, at Emilee's request.

She's so excited too!

First day of 3rd Grade!  Bring on the homework. . .

And how could a post be complete without a picture of our littlest one.  Her skin is clearing right up and she's getting round and beautiful!  Pictured here on Jenn's fabulous gift.  Thank you Jenn!

Say hi to "Dot"

If we have in the past said that our children have been attacked by the baby zits (our kids always get them pretty  badly) then our sweet little Heidi could only be described as being under a full scale blitzkrieg with them.  It's bad.  I think she's got them worse than any of our children to date, and that's saying something after Ethan's case.  These zits are EPIC.

We took these pictures today after Gordon and I both said, "Wow, she's looking a lot better today!"  I didn't take any the last couple of days.  I should have just to record the craziness!

 Luckily, she doesn't seem too upset by them.  If you can look past all that splotchy, sad skin, there is a beautiful little girl peeking out!  

She even smiles once in a while now!

Hopefully we'll be over and done with this in a few days, as they started really early, before 2 weeks old.  Looking forward to that peaches and cream complexion returning!

Closure

Remember when I told you that we were moving to this neighborhood, and we would rent and wait patiently for the right house to come along and call our names?  Well, it called!  We closed yesterday on what we hope will be our long time, permanent address.  Hurray!  We don't move in until the end of September, which I am grateful for, but it's ours!  Can't wait to show you some pictures. . . stay tuned until the end of Sept!

Isn't it funny how these things work out?  People are always asking us if we've found anything yet, and I'd usually say something like, "Well, no, we'll probably find something right when the baby is born, when I don't want to move, just because that's the way life works sometimes."  (kind of like I predicted Heidi would be born at 2 a.m. on the weekend when no doctors want to be in the hospital.  Checked in at 1:00 a.m.)  And, I couldn't have been more right.  We put an offer on this house 2 weeks before Heidi's due date.  I'm glad the lady wanted to stay a few extra weeks so I could recover first, and then pack.

Here's to hoping for a "smooth move!"