Eat Out. It's Patriotic.

I have heartburn. It's been eating me from the inside out since I got out of bed this morning, no joke. What does the ticker say down there? Only 130something days left? Or is it more? Anyway, it's worth it.

Here are some cool kids. At Dairy Queen. What's not to smile about?

(Abby's dress is mama made, freaky easy pattern--plan to make more if we survive the Great HeartBurn of '08.)

She's awesome.

So is he.

(The last 2 were taken at Perkins. Yes, we do eat at home. Just not really last week.)

Can you believe that THIS little thing can tell me about a baby bird's egg tooth, is doggy paddling in swimming lessons and winning at Candy Land!?!? Time has flown. Came across newborn pics while browsing the outer reaches of the computer today.

Proud Mommy Moment...

Today was Abby's first day of swimming lessons! Given her reluctance to participate in group activities, especially those involving strangers, I was a little nervous for her, but no need!! As soon as classes were sorted out and we found her teacher, she didn't look back! She looked like such a big girl, putting her face in the water, kicking and splashing and trying everything her instructor put in front of her-- I was so proud watching her be brave and participating better than many of the other kids in her class! She's excited to go back tomorrow! Yay!! I considered taking pictures, but was unsure of the other parent's reactions to the creepy mom snapping pics of their kids in swimming suits. Especially if they knew they were for posting on the internet.

Also, it seems a little more clarification is needed on the baby name thing--in addition to Rollie, Alf is also out, and I'm pretty sure Ole is too, sorry Mom and Dad. There will be no Leopold, Efford is also on the no-fly list, and it hasn't come up yet, but just in case, I don't believe Burton is going to happen either. And for the record, all are very fine names representing very fine people. :) There, just clearing that up. Any other suggestions?

Also, found a little more reassurance on the home school front...last fall, Big Lake passed LOTS of budget cuts for the district, it rocked the community pretty hard. Today I was talking to another mom at swimming lessons who has a child in the Big Lake school--she mentioned that with the budget cuts and the teacher cuts that are already happening, class numbers next year will be up to well over 30 per classroom. That's big! The local paper was listing some of the programs to be cut, including multiple music programs and other performing arts programs. Sad times.

And in another part of the picture, the high school decided to quit naming Valedictorian because it may diminish recognition of the hard work of the other members of the class. What??

A Buncha Random Stuff

Maybe a preggo belly pic is in order for some of you far-aways. Everything is going well with baby, I am enjoying this pregnancy an awful lot! We just can't wait to meet this one, though no names are jumping at us yet--any suggestions? (Rollie is out, sorry, and probably any "A" names--can't bring ourselves to be one of those "themey" families...) I know the picture isn't that great, but gotta do what you gotta do.


When the weather cooperates, we (the kids especially) spend several hours a day on the porch...story reading is our favorite porch pasttime! Bj bought me this lovely patio furniture for my birthday/Mother's Day, and it's so glorious to have a place to luxuriate in the sun! He's the bomb-diggity. (As you can see, pants are optional when luxuriating.)




Our second favorite porch activity is eating. (And as you can see, pants are also optional when eating.)

There's only been a little sewing and crafty time here and there, but here's an inexpensive, easy little project I put together for the kids...it's a flannel board--pretty much a chunk of flannel in a frame and a bunch of shapes cut out of felt. I still need to find a spot to hang it, but here's Abs working on one of her masterpieces.

As you maybe guessed from the underwear pics, Alex is officially a Big Boy. We worked on potty training this week, and he's day trained, yay! For a boy, he was a pretty apt pupil in the art of pottying...I was expecting a much more drawn out process, our goal was for him to be trained before the new baby arrives, so he's well ahead of deadline!

We've decided to give home schooling a shot. To be honest, I was still a little on the fence about it until I came across a curriculum that I'm almost certain will thrill Abby to death. It's literature based, which for a girl who wants to be read to 30 thousand times a day is a dream come true. Her little love cup should be running over when we start school! I'm excited to get going, in fact, we may begin a couple months early so we can take November and December off, which I'm sure will be hectic with the new baby and holidays.

Homeschooling is a decision that will be reevaluated with each year and each child, but for now, it's where we are. I've gone back and forth a little, having not attended the public schools, I didn't quite feel qualified to make a judgement call. Bj did attend them, and homeschooling is his favorite option for elementary years at least. Our school district is quite homeschool friendly, and there are homeschool programs at our community center, library, and a host of extra curriculars (especially for preschoolers) offered by the school district both during the school year and summer. There are several homeschooling families in our church who are a wealth of resources and support, so I'm hoping we're set up for success! The thought that I don't have to send my kids away to spend the majority of their waking hours with someone else, and that I get to be there for all their "firsts" is thrilling!

Bj walked two houses down to "chat" with a friend 2 and a half hours ago. He either got lost or abducted. Caio!

Artsy Fartsy

Here is the next installment in the original "Self Portrait" series by Abigail C. This one is titled "Self Portrait in Red: A Study of the Nose".

Where is a mom supposed to draw the line with creative license?

I know, right?

What about more regular blogging? Sometimes things just don't happen.




So. Weather's nice, we're getting out. Feels good. These are at our favorite park (they're cell phone pics, so I apologize if the quality's not quite wonderful):



The usual response lately when told to "Smile!!"...(that's marker on Alex's hand)

The bench where daddy proposed to mommy...

The view from the bench where daddy proposed to mommy...

Not bad.

Alex has been fighting a brutal stomach flu for the past 3 days...the poor guy is pretty much wiped out. Abby is going out of her mind and climbing the walls waiting for him to recover so we can leave the house again. I'm overflowing with gratitude that it seems pretty isolated and the rest of us haven't come down with it (knock on wood). Bj is busy with work, but we're appreciating the flexibility he has with his time, and I'm so thankful he's not putting in the 14 hour days installing anymore!

Baby news: I had an ultrasound this morning, everything looks wonderful. We're at 16 wks, 4 days, due date of Nov. 4th. We were also able to spot a little something between the legs, Dr. Olson said he'd put money on it being a boy! We'll be able to tell for sure at the 20 week ultrasound, but it looked pretty clear to me as well. Abby went along with me to the ultrasound--she said, "Mom, it sure is dark in your tummy!!" Her name suggestions so far: David and Napkin. I'm getting more and more excited to meet this one--I'm not sure if it's the arrival of spring or if it's hormonal, but I'm definately already in nesting mode!!

Home Group has finished up for the year, there's one more Sunday of Sunday School to teach, one more grad party to go to, then it's just sitting back, enjoying the summer, enjoying the kids and getting ready for baby! What an ideal way to pass the days...life is good.

It's in the genes.

Let the gaming begin. Basketball of course.