Sabine

Sara and Marlin had their baby! It was a long awaited little one, and I am so happy for them! Sabine Ruth was born Sunday, and we were the first to go and see them in the hospital. She is precious, and I am looking forward to lots of playtime between Maeve and Sabine!

Cutie Pies!

I took this idea from my sister in law. The poor kids are cursed with my ginormous feet!

Naked girl has found her toes and is loving to play with them!

We did it!

Here is a treat! They can now make the bed for me. I just have to lower my standards a bit. It isn't Martha Stewart Living, but it is one less job for me to do!

Treks!

So I took my mangy pound puppy to the vet for his annual shots and checkup. I mentioned to the vet that he had a funny bump under his arm (leg/paw - whatever), and asked her to look at it. She did a quick look, took out a syringe and pulled a sample to check out under the microscope. She came back in, scheduled him for surgery and told me that he had an aggressive malignant tumor that would kill him if we didn't get it taken care of soon. Huh?
In about 3 minutes I went from happy dog owner, to stressed out dog owner. How much will this cost, is he going to die, do I have to take care of another sick thing in my home, etc....THEN she proceeded to tell me that unfortunately this kind of tumor doesn't respond well to chemotherapy. HUH??
I felt myself growing a bit faint. My mind was racing, and I started to wonder where to sign over my rights.
Long story short, he had the surgery a few days later, and is on the road to recovery. I had to keep the kids off of him, and him off the bed for a few days, but all is well. His biopsy came back well, and the vet is confident that she removed enough of the tissue to stop it from spreading in that particular area. She did mention that he has a 30% chance of getting it somewhere else on his body in his lifetime. Great....

Treks is sporting his post surgery t-shirt. He was pretty drugged up and uncomfortable for a while. (The t-shirt keeps him from scratching at the incision.)

Four Months Old

Today marks Maeves' 4 month birthday. It also marked her 4 month Dr appointment. We got all her latest stats, as well as another round of shots. Soooo much fun. I hate being the one in the room with my kids when they get that "why in the world is that lady slamming needles into my leg" look. I usually tear up a bit, and just try to whisper in their ears that I love them, and I only do this because that is what will hopefully keep them healthy.
The good thing is that at this age, they don't remember any of it, and its over as quick as it starts. Maeve did let out a pretty angry cry though.

4 month stats:
Height: 26 inches (96%)
Weight: 15 lbs (81%)
Head Circ: 16.5 inches (77%)

She has a slight amount of torticollis (huh?) meaning that her head tilts slightly to the left due to some muscle tightening. It's common, and she will outgrow it, and her case is very mild. I always just thought her ears were crooked....

Evening at the Park

We took a walk to the park last night. The kids crack me up. Between the constant chatter, the silly noises, silly faces and goofy actions I am constantly entertained. I am so blessed to be part of this family!

Rolling Over!

The title says it all!

Step 1 : Look really cute and happy

Step 2: Get tired of laying on back, and look to the side. Make sure that your body follows the movement of your head.

Step 3: Struggle really hard for a couple of seconds and get the rest of the way over. Now you can see even more than you did before!

Ta-da!!!

New Fav

Rich and I went out on a date last night, and I have to rave a bit about the restaurant we went to. Over by the park is East West Cafe, and although I have been before its been a really long time and last night was a good reminder why I used to go! Yummy!


Such healthy and delicious food! Rich had the Pasta Special which was good, and I had the Falafel Plate. It was a sort of sampling of a bunch of different types of foods that the place serves. Falafel cakes (which I am now a huge fan of), hummus (always been a fan), beet delite (beets with tahini, yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and walnuts - it was actually really good, and I love beets), tabbouleh (something that I am going to try to make at home now), tahini sauce (yummy), and whole wheat pitas to assemble it all in.

Falafel

Tabbouleh

I was so glad to order it, and after I had cleaned my plate, I could not have been happier. The inside of the restaurant was really nice and relaxing too. It was like a mental vacation, as Rich put it. The meal was more expensive than our normal date fare (free) but we have started a new budgeting system that allowed for it.
I know its not every ones type of food, but for Rich and I, it was a perfect and enjoyable night.

This week...

Its Sunday morning, and I have been up since the crack of dawn. Literally. Maeve woke up at 6am to nurse, and I couldn't get back to sleep after that. It's not a bad thing, I do love the mornings. It's quiet in the house, the day hasn't heated up yet, and my morning coffee is always calling my name.
This week has been long! It's been hot, and the kids are irritable like their mother. We are settling into the routine of preschool, and I really think that Cannon is enjoying his time with me. I have been busy working with my hands. Sewing has become my outlet that I can put time into and it keeps my semi-creative juices flowing. I wish that I was better at it (like some people I know - Elissa) but it's fun, and I learn something new each time that I try to make something. I have been making a lot of baby things lately for the list of people that I know who are pregnant. The list is REALLY long. I will post some pics of my latest things later.

This Weeks Update:
Brynn's second week of preschool - She has a Tuesday best friend named Grace, and a Friday best friend named Lily.
Cannon's second week of being top dog - Even though Brynn would kill me if she knew, I let Cannon play with her dollhouse while she is at school. We just make sure that it's all cleaned up before she comes home....ssshhh, don't tell her until she is older.
Maeve - I was working in the kitchen and Rich commented that Maeve really enjoyed being on her tummy...WHAT???? Apparently she has been practicing rolling over, and finally succeeded. I didn't even get to see it! Anyways, another milestone accomplished for our little one!
Angie - I just started reading The Mission of Motherhood. It appears to be a great book! (I have only read the first chapter at this point.) I also have the much discussed book "The Shack" on my pile to read. Can't wait to crack into that one. This weeks theme in my life - "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!"
Rich - Work, work, work! This man is the sole provider for the family, and he really takes his job seriously. I can tell everyday when he comes home that his heart has been with us all day. He loves the kids (and me) and can't wait to be home with us. He recently had his annual review, and of course, his boss had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. I love hearing from the people that he works with that he is a honorable, dependable man of integrity (all the things that I already know!) With the review came a raise, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Our hospital bill from the latest pregnancy and birth was huge, and we weren't really sure how it was going to be paid. God is good! Our next financial goal is to save some money to replace the roof that is as old as the house...The joys of home ownership right?
And last but not least Treks - The dog is enjoying life as always. Plenty of dog food as well as table scraps. He is already eyeing Maeve with the knowledge that as soon as she starts eating with us at the table, his food intake will increase once again. The kids harass him, and try to dress him up. He spends most of the day sleeping, and the rest of the day running away and hiding from the kids. He has found a great spot under the crib in the back room. Smart puppy!

Well, I am off to shower, dress, and feed my family before church this morning. Maybe a refill on my coffee too....

"This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

3 Months Old

I guess now that I am 3 months old, I am allowed to sit in this thing....Do you think that I look too small? I tried to tell Mommy that I was, but she thinks its funny to see me sitting here!

"Pretty" School

Brynn started preschool this week. She goes two days a week for half days. I have to admit that I struggled with the emotions of knowing that this was the start of a long career of schooling. I can't believe that she has been home with me for four years. It seems that every day drags on, but looking back, the time has flown by. Brynn was excited to go, but started to get a tiny bit anxious the night before with questions of whether or not we were going to be there. She then posed the concern that she wasn't sure she knew how to make friends. I assured her that she was pretty good at making friends since she does it where ever we go. (A more legitimate concern - for me - is that she can't wipe after a poop, but making friends sure isn't an issue...)
I didn't cry or anything like that when we dropped her off. I actually was pretty excited for her, (and myself). I took the other two and went and did errands, and managed quite well with two again!
I think that Cannon enjoyed some time with me without older sister "mothering" him too. There was no fighting, bickering or "he touched me first" arguments in the store or the car for a few hours.
When we picked up Brynn at 12:45, she was tired and happy. She had made a new best friend "Olivia - actually Grace", and was excited to come back on Friday to "pretty school". ( I can't bear to tell her that the name is actually preschool, and not pretty school.)

First day of preschool

Crazy pose...can your foot do that?

Bodega Dunes

We are settling back into real life after our week of vacations. The kids are crazy tired, and last night I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. Our week was amazing, and I am feeling so incredibly blessed and protected as I think about our times.
Following our week in Tahoe, we came home for one day, did loads and loads of laundry, repacked the bags and car, and headed off to Bodega Dunes for a weekend of beach camping.

Friday, when we arrived, we had great weather. Sunny skies, no winds, and the fog gently rolled in after our campfire was started. We met up with the group of amazing young couples that we lead from church, and got ready for a fun filled time of campfire stories and smores.


Saturday, the sun never came out, but it just gave us an excuse to keep the campfire going all day. The kids rode their bikes around the campground, people took walks together, made meals together and enjoyed time away from work and busy life.


Sunday morning, we cooked up the food that the raccoons didn't manage to get, and packed up the campsite to leave. Of course, the weather was amazing, and some of the group decided to head to the beach to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Our trip home is where I really felt Gods' protection. Our trailer was hitched and the surfboards were strapped to the top when we headed out. About halfway home, cars started honking at us to pull over. One of the tie downs had come loose, and Rich's boards were flapping dangerously around. We quickly pulled over, and Rich had to jog about 2 miles uphill, on a narrow shoulder to get the strap. I just quietly prayed that all cars would be able to see him from a far distance, while I kept the kids entertained in the car on the side of the road. 15 min later, he was back, and told me that some bicyclists had picked up the strap and given it to him. 30 min later we were on the road again, boards safely strapped to the trailer again. 35 min later we hit a huge bump and the trailer came unhitched. Rich handled the situation like a pro! He slowed down calmly while we felt, heard and watched the trailer skid around behind us, slamming into our car and sliding around on the asphalt. When it was all over, we just sat there dreading what we were going to see when we got out and looked behind us. Amazingly, by pure grace, our car was undamaged, and the trailer only suffered a few dents and dings. A few minutes later, the same bikers who had helped Rich before rode past us again and stopped to help. About 30 min later we were back on the road, nervous - but at least driving home. I can't say enough how lucky and protected we were.
After all this, a quiet week at home filled with laundry, chores, and regular schedule sounds pretty nice!

Tahoe Retreat

We had an amazing time in Tahoe this last week. Some friends hooked us up with a beautiful house in South Lake! When we pulled up, we were shocked with the enormity of this place. This is by far, the nicest house that we have ever stayed in. This is what we are used to.....


This is what we got! Amazing isn't it? New construction, and beautiful views...It sure will be hard to go back to normal Tahoe cabins after this one.


Our vacation schedule was as follows:
Wake up
Put cartoons on for the kids
Brew some coffee
Eat breakfast
Lounge around and watch TV
Eat lunch
Put kids down for naps
Lounge around while kids sleep
Go down to the lake for a swim
Come home and cook dinner
Lounge around
Put kids down for bed
Lounge around
Go to bed
Repeat for 3 days

(There was a definite "lounge" theme this week)

The kids had a blast in the water at the lake. Since it has had all summer to heat up, the water temp was a bit warmer than normal (68 degrees). Brynn has no fear, and we had to call her out of the water when her lips were blue. Cannon still won't set foot in water cooler than a balmy bath. Maeve chilled out in the shade as much as possible. Rich and I had to take turns in the water, and my turn was always a bit longer since it took me about 10 minutes to fully get in. (Brrrrrrr)





At the end of the day, the kids were worn out from all the sun, and lounging, and they all slept really well. We snuck into the room and saw this scene and had to catch it on camera. Maybe someday when they are fighting like cats and dogs, Rich and I can look back on this and think of all the happy times....


It was a wonderful vacation!

Going Campin'...

August is going to be our month of vacations. We have 2 "for sure" camping trips lined up, one Tahoe trip lined up, and 2 "we will see" camping trips pending.
It has been fun so far though!
We headed up to Lake Mendocino with our home team for a long weekend of camping filled with good ol' dirt, smoke, and lake water. The kids had a blast, and we really enjoyed ourselves as well. The tent trailer is proving to be a worthwhile investment.


The days were perfectly warm, and the lake was refreshing. Brynn is taking off as a swimmer, and fully enjoys to play in the water now. ( She always wears a life jacket...don't worry!) Cannon still takes a long time to warm up to the idea of cooler water temps, but he is doing well. Maeve even had a quick dip in the water on the hottest day.


The thing that I love most about camping is all the reading that I get to do. When its quiet time for the kids, there is no house to clean, laundry to do, or emails to catch up on, so I have time (finally) to read all of my magazines, and even start a new novel. I love the simplicity of camping, and how much family time you are forced to spend with each other. Even the multiple walks to the bathroom turn fun when you get to share it with a kid, or a friend.


After all the kids are put to bed we spent hours sitting around a campfire sharing jokes, stories and laughter. It was great! Makes me think that I could have survived the pioneer days - if there was running water, no big animals to eat me or my children, and a never ending supply of food that I didn't have to grow!

True Love

This is one of the reasons that I love my husband...

Family Pic

What a funny family we have!

Sssshhhhh! Don't cry baby Maeve.


Classic!

Its all fun and games....

Last night, this was the ruckus that they were creating. Lucky for us it ended well, but you can see that it might not have....

The Wedding

Brigitte and Bob got married on Saturday. It was a bittersweet day. The kids were "involved" in the wedding. Cannon was the ring bearer and Brynn the flower girl.


Brynn was so excited to be in this wedding. She absolutely loves Brigitte and Bob. (I am talking really, really loves and adores this couple.) This was her 3rd wedding, and she was a pro! It was Cannon's first, and probably his last. He froze at the back of the church once he saw all the people and had to be escorted down the aisle by the mother of the bride. It was funny, and pretty cute.
The wedding was bright and amazing.

Whimsical colors and flowers made it a fun day for all.

After the ceremony, we headed out to the college for the reception by the lakes. It was beautiful!

Rich enjoyed dancing with his girl, and Cannon was beat by the end of the day.

Rich and I had to keep pulling Brynn away from the newlyweds to give them time to talk to others. She wasn't too happy with us for that. We almost made it through the entire day without tears, until bedtime that is. We were talking about the wedding and how fun it was, and how much we loved the bride and groom. Brynn asked when they were coming back from the honeymoon, and Rich had to explain to them that they were moving south, and would not be coming back for a long time. It was heartbreaking to see and hear her disappointment that she couldn't be with them as much anymore.
Anyways, congrats Brig and Bob! We are all sooooo happy for you, and some of us (Brynn) can't wait until you come home again!

Star Spangled Celebration!

Its Fair time again, which mean Fun time!!!! (At least for me and the kids. Not so much the hubby...) This was the year of rides! Brynn loved them, and Cannon showed no expression on any of them. He either hides his fear and excitement well, or really was bored out of his mind.


The flower show was nice, and the kids enjoyed throwing pennies into the water and making wishes. Here is our annual family picture in front of some of the flower displays.


And, like every year since we got married, we shoved ourselves into a stinky photo booth for a black and white picture. It is getting crowded and I have no idea how we are going to keep putting the whole family in year after year... There are actually five of us in there, but Maeve's poor little face disappeared under her striped hat. It was funny that Brynn actually made a silly face with us this year. She is growing up so fast!



So here is the picture of our friends who go with us every year. This time (I can't bear the excitement) you can see the baby bump. Next year their little one will be joining us at the fair. He/she will be 9 months old at that point. I can't wait!!!!


I love going to the fair every year, and this year, was definitely the most expensive. Its sometimes difficult to part with the hard earned money, but soooooooo worth it for the memories.

(Cue the sappy music)
Parking: $5
Admission: $10
Food: $15
Rides: $20
Photo Booth: $5

Memories: Priceless