Random thoughts from the day

A small carrot from our garden.

• Our garden is actually growing something even though it looks like a mess!  We discovered one little pumpkin today, some green beans (I think, I didn't label anything, big mistake), and the tomatoes are finally turning red.
• We had fish sticks for dinner for the first time.  The kids have been asking to try them, so we finally did.  But, I didn't tell them what they were until after they at least tried a bite.  Why can't my kids like the easy stuff?  It was such a nice, easy dinner to make, but didn't go over too well.
• I liked the rain sprinkles today, and the clouds, and the warmth.  Looking forward to the cooler weather, even though we haven't had it for very long.
• My house is clean today, and the kids have been so peaceful all day!!  What a difference it makes for getting things done when the kids are happy and content, such a difference from the whole last week.  I need more days like this to catch up.  Oh, and it also helped that we didn't have anywhere to go or be today.
• I have a lot of green plums that I'm trying to figure out what to do with.  Any ideas?  I'm not usually a canner, or jam maker, although I'd love to get better at that.  The kids have been eating them, but they need to have something done with them soon!
• Today I was talking about school with my neighbor and getting more excited about it starting.  I'm excited for the kids to be in school.  
• My tooth hurts, looks like I am going to have to make that dreaded appointment to go in to the dentist.  

It has been a very peaceful day, and a lot goes through my mind on peaceful days.  I wish I could have more days like this!

Keepin' cool with ICE

Yep, in this picture Miss April is getting on gloves and it's the middle of July and probably close to 90 outside.  She's also wearing a turtle neck and fleece pants because she's getting ready to go out on the ice for her very first ice skating lesson!  

Here she is just getting used to the ice at the beginning of class, it is only the 2nd time she's been ice skating.

For the month of August she gets a special opportunity to take 4 ice skating lessons, and then she gets to stay for the free skate afterwards.

They had them all fall/get down onto the ice on purpose here.  Good thing she dressed warm.

I can't think of a better place for me and the boys to hang out during the hot month of August than in a nice cool ice arena.  This is what the boys did while I watched.

Here she is for the open skate time, she even made a friend!

Hi!

It's kind of a bummer that I can't take the boys out on the ice.  I think I might let Aaron try it out on his own next time and see how he does with his sister helping him.

Ice skating anyone?

Happy Birthday Aric!

This cutie turned 2 today!

He had a fun birthday party at Papa's pizza.

2 years has gone by so fast!

I had a fun photo shoot taking pictures of him doing what he likes to do A LOT, push his mower around.

He sure is silly.

He LOVES to talk!

His new shoes were hardly off his feet today.  I've never seen such love for a pair of shoes.

He has the cutest jaunt.

He loves to figure things out for himself.

And, he LOVES his brother.

Happy 2nd birthday to my little man Aric!

Exhausted. Tired. Yawn.

I am exhausted.  That is almost an understatement.  I have a few hours each day where I really feel like I have some energy to get some things done, then by 10am I am already tired and drag my feet for the rest of the day.  I can hardly keep my eyes open after 8pm to have a decent conversation with my dear Hubby, and I sleep like a baby with crazy dreams all night.  This pregnancy is sure taking its toll on me.  I knew it would.  My last pregnancy was hard, and I didn't think it would get any easier.  I wouldn't trade it for anything though.  This is such a special blessing to have a new little person getting ready to join our family, and it amazes me everyday.  All my children amaze me.  The baby seems to be doing very well.  We had a fun peek with the ultrasound at my last Dr.'s appointment because the Dr. couldn't find the heart beat very well with the little doppler machine, and oh how fun it was to see the "little peanut".  It is so exciting to see, even though we couldn't make out a lot of features, we could see the little legs and arms and we could tell where the head and the body were facing.  So amazing!  Also, one thing about the Dr. that I am seeing, she's pretty good.  I really like her.  It has been my biggest worry having to change to a whole new Dr. and hospital.  When Dr. Vasquez (that's her name) asked which of my children wanted to help find the heart beat with the doppler, I didn't think she would actually let them hold the doppler but she did!  April got to hold the doppler, and she thought that was pretty neat.  One last thing about the pregnancy, this is going to be my 4th cesarean section.  I don't like having to have C-sections, but it's my only option at this point.  It has me worried, nervous for the end, but I am hoping and praying that I can have an easy recovery like I did with the rest of my little ones.

Today we went to the park for play group and the kids got a free lunch that the school brought.  It was quite nice to have a free lunch for the kids, and a nice day at the park except for the non-working fountains.  We also went to Target and they seem to be clearancing their entire toy section, so I spent way too much money on toys, but I stocked up on things for birthdays and Christmas. They're the good toys too, like legos, playmobil, and Thomas train stuff.  We also have everything ready for Miss April to start school.  We've got all her supplies, backpack, uniforms, shoes, and lunch box.  Most of which bought at Target, I think we may like Target :-)  So many good things today, that makes me happy!

Rocks and beach and bike parade, oh my!

Phew!  We made it!  We spent the 4th of July out at the Oregon coast camping with family.  We all had a fun time.  Miss April spent a lot of her time becoming a Junior park ranger, and she even earned her first badge.  They had programs and activities where she learned some things and completed or answered questions.  I was so glad to see her get so excited about it.  Aric loved spending his time going back and forth between the camps on his tricycle.  He sure liked having Grandma and Grandpa around.  Aaron liked to spend most of his time climbing the trees (which he wasn't really supposed to be doing per park rules, sigh), and sitting by the campfire.  I think everyone had a nice time.

These are the rocks that April made.  All she did was put googly eyes on them and we had some instant camping friends!  They also made great napkin and paper weights.  So fun!

Our campsite was a cozy little place.  Having a trailer of our own was so nice!  Aaron is on his bike and Daddy and Andy were sitting there watching him.



Little Aric sitting and enjoying a popcicle.





It was finally nice enough one day to go to the beach.  As a side note it was pouring down rain when we arrived at the campground on Thursday evening.  Here is Daddy and Aric.  That boy is by Daddy's side any chance he can get.



I just love this one.  It speaks for itself.



Aric is flying Grandpa's kite.  It was pretty funny because the kite was pulling so much that Aric thought he had to walk forward while he held it, so Grandpa is here trying to hold him in one place.  He loved flying the kite.



The wind made it just a little too chilly to sit in a wet swimsuit. 



I tried getting all 3 to look at the camera.  This is the best I got.  I love being at the beach with my family.  I can't wait to take them all again.



There was a little pile of sand next to us and Aric would run and land on the pile of sand, he thought that was the funnest thing.  Here he is saying "oh!" when he landed.  So cute!



The campground had a 4th of July bicycle parade for the kids on the 4th.  They got to decorate their bikes and parade around the whole campground.  It was so fun and the kids loved decorating their bikes.  Aric wasn't in the parade but we decorated his tricycle a little too.  Here's his tricycle all decorated with "sparkler's" and a red star.



Here is Miss April.  She did a great job.  It turned out really cute, and she even decorated her helmet with flag napkins.



Aaron with his bike.  We just kept adding stuff until it was time for the parade at noon.  It was pretty funny.  We even came home with all the decorations still on the bikes.




Here's the parade!  April is right there in the center waving hi.  And you can see me to the left with the brown jacket.  I think Aaron was already out of this picture.



There's Aaron, zooooom!  And, some kid who smiled really good on the right there.



There's April!  zooooommmm!

And then there's me.  With my one balloon, and some streamers in my spokes.  Woohoo!  It was a fun ride after all.

Makes me happy!