32 weeks pregnant!

Wow! I'm already 32 weeks pregnant! I feel great and am trying to savor every day. It's been going by so fast! I've been craving tropical flavors, like mango, pineapple and coconut. Mix those flavors with some lime, rice and shrimp, and it sounds like a wonderful dinner to me! Gabby likes to lift my shirt and kiss my belly. And I've had pregnant mommy syndrome...I've been forgetful and keep dropping things. Now that I'm in my 3rd trimester, I've been needing a daily nap. So, I nap for 1/2 of Gabby's naptime and get chores done during the other half. It's good practice for after our baby is born!

Easter gift

This Easter, Grandpa & Grandma L. gave the children a wonderful and fun gift...a full size basketball hoop! It was a very generous gift and a hit with everyone. The weather was warm and sunny and made for a perfect day to try out the new hoop. Thank you, Grandpa & Grandma L! I'm sure lost of memories will be made between the children while shooting hoops :)

Cameron Lost His Tooth!

Cameron lost his very 1st tooth ever on Good Friday! He has been waiting patiently for a year and a half for this very special event. It was hard for him to understand why Connor lost his 1st tooth at age 5 1/2 and he had to wait, and wait, and wait. But the wait is over and he is proudly sporting a window in his mouth. Daddy enjoys taking out those wiggly teeth, and Cameron was brave. Way to go, Cameron! :)

Easter Eggs 2011

Easter in our home was very relaxed this year. We went for a walk while we waited for the grass to dry from the morning dew. We had our egg hunt in our own back yard and the children all had a fun time. Gabby really got into the spirit of things, searching under benches, etc for her eggs. We dyed eggs the night before Easter in pajamas just before bedtime. It was a casual holiday, and well suited to the wonderfully warm weather the weekend brought.

Keeping up with the big kids!

These pictures don't exactly tell the whole story. It looks like I gave Gabby a bag of Doritos and took some cute pictures. Nope! Gabby is so smart, she opens the pantry door all by herself, then helps herself to what she wants. I have to be very vigilant because you never know what she may grab! Lollipops in the morning? I don't think so! She was very proud of herself for helping herself to what she wanted as I was unloading the dishwasher. It's amazing what she can do at 19 mos! She walks up our 16 stairs when it's time to go upstairs, and likes to hold onto the hand rail becasue that's what she sees others do. She doesn't want her fruit cut up because the other children eat their bananas , grapes, and strawberries whole. Give it to her cut up and she tosses it onto the floor. Give it to her whole, and she's happy to have it! She's just so smart, and believes she can do anything her siblings do!

The Littlest Student

Gabby wants to do everything her older siblings do. On this day, she wanted to wear a backpack just like her brothers & sisters. She was so proud to be a big school girl! (19 mos)

Spring 2011 Project

Scroll down....

Last year's Spring project was Dan building the patio and pergola. This year, he improved it! The children are off school this week, so Dan took a couple days off to spend with all of us and do some home improvements. In 2 afternoons, he built 5 granite benches around the edge of the patio. Next, he built stone planters around each of the 4 pergola posts. Then he planted climbing evergreen vines that will trail up and around the posts. They will all bear white flowers at different times throughout the Spring and into Summer. It looks great! We are so excited to be personalizing our space further. We have two more projects to do on the patio, so stay tuned!