Our family's EXCITING news!

Most of you know, BUT in case you haven't heard yet...we are expecting a new baby in November. If you didn't know yet, don't feel too out of the loop, we didn't even tell the kids or our extended family until I was about 18 weeks along. I miscarried once, when I was 14 weeks along and so we always wait until we're past that, because of that past experience. Andy and I found out before Easter and decided we'd let this blessing "sink in" for awhile before we spread the word, besides, it's shorter for everyone else to find out 20 weeks in. I'm 21 weeks now and feeling good, just a bit more tired than usual. The kids are thrilled and all came to the ultrasound with us, although the girls were a bit disappointed, they were expecting to see their new sibling in a clearer picture...Elisabeth kept saying the baby looked like a dinosaur, ha! We decided this time to wait and be surprised by this tie-breaker (boy/girl) in the hospital...which will be fun, although we have taken some heat for that decision...some family is even convinced we know and just aren't telling, but I promise...we don't know!!! I made Andy lock eyes with me for that part. Here are some pics, if you're interested. We are so grateful for this sweet addition to our family!

Our doctor said our baby is so curled up in the fetal position, it would have taken some careful investigation to find out whether it's a boy or girl anyway. I'm sure this baby is just preparing for the two little mommies who cannot wait to meet him/her and examine/poke every tiny, precious part.

Lost a Tooth

Annie is as proud as she can be to show off this beautiful, new gap in her mouth! She wiggled and wiggled this tooth and in the end her Dad couldn't help but help it along in it's final stages.

The Tooth Fairy around this neck of the woods is a tad bit unreliable, often she forgets to come by or I guess has too many houses to visit or maybe she is just TIRED! I have her email address though, and have been known to contact her for sometimes days in a row, in my disappointed, children's behalf and give HER a piece of my mind!!! I will say...when she does arrive, she sure does reimburse better than she did when I was a kid, Annie got a whole dollar and was thrilled as could be!

Preschool Graduation

Annie graduated from Dixie College Preschool the end of April and then did a five week Summer Preschool that just ended yesterday.
We are so proud of her and all she has learned this year. She made some great friends and she is beginning to read better and better everyday...she loves to learn and to be social!

This is most of her class, there were ten boys and ten girls.

Annie with her best friend from school this year, Paige.

This is Annie with her teacher, Mrs. Provost, she is so calm, patient, and loving!

(love Annie's expression. classic.)

And this is her with the two college student aids that helped everyday, Ranelle and Chelsea, Annie seriously loves these two!

There was an adorable video clip of a song from graduation that I tried to post, several times, but to no avail...oh well.

MAY

Where in the world did MAY go???

It was such a busy month for our family...I started a new post May 5 and it's just been sitting unfinished, waiting to be published, mostly due to an adorable video clip that I could not get to upload. Well, after two days of trying off and on, I just gave up on it for a while. Today, I realized...a whole, entire month has gone by, kinda pathetic!

SO....

Here is a synopsis of MAY:

For me...weekend reunion with my five, best, girlfriends from college in SEATTLE, a total BLAST!

Then, there was BASEBALL...

BASEBALL...

and yet, MORE BASEBALL...

FYI...since I know you care...BASEBALL was a lot of fun this year, BUT pretty well consumed all of April and May...we literally had a practice or game or both every afternoon of the week, except for Sunday, for two months straight and I am not exaggerating. At all!

For Mother's Day weekend we headed to Flagstaff, AZ to surprise mi madre...Andy was on call, but it was a fun chance to see all but one of my siblings...missed you so much Jared! We totally pulled one over on my MOM, my Dad was even in on the surprise, of course she was the one taking this picture.


Finding lady bugs.

Elisabeth would have looked all afternoon and been perfectly happy.

Oh and to make for a wonderful Mother's Day for me, I lost Annie after church as we were getting ready to leave the cabin. I've never lost a child before, but I suppose, it was bound to happen, being that I am outnumbered and all...had to call 911 and all!

Next was...Andy's BIRTHDAY! Now if you ask the kids, it was his 26th...but we all know the real truth! He has convinced our kiddos that when you reach the ripe, old age of 30, that you go backwards from there, the boys get it, but humor him...the girls, totally believe him!


Why does it take at least two photos to get everyone looking right, I really need to learn photoshop (in all my spare time).

Then there were all the end of the school year parties, awards assemblies, etc...

***I'm sure you are tired of reading this post and I, frankly, am tired of writing it and finding the pics, so you'll just have to wait on the end of the school year/ Memorial Day Weekend/ Nathan's Birthday details***
Let's just hope it won't take me the whole month of June to post it, we'll see...won't we!

Honeymoon

Yesterday we went on our weekly, Sunday afternoon walk on a paved trail here, close to our house...there were these black beetles everywhere (I think they were stink bugs, except for the fact, our kids were picking them up like crazy and never once got sprayed) oh well, they were some species of beetle, that are quite proficient at making more of their own kind. We came upon two of them that were, as Annie put it, "giving each other a piggy-back ride" I calmly and maturely stated that they were mating. Too which, Alec gave a little laugh and then Nathan said..."well I guess these two are on their honeymoon"...that made Andy and I both laugh out loud, since Nathan knows NADA about well, any of that. Andy then asked Nathan well what do people do on their honeymoons? Nathan replied..."they celebrate and just do anything that is FUN!" This made Andy laugh even more. We continued walking and Annie and Elisabeth kept pointing to all the beetles that were grouped by two (there were many) and said "oh look, they are on their honeymoons too!" They really were everywhere and so Andy and I decided maybe it was time to just go home...we obviously missed the sign that said:
"BEETLES HONEYMOONING AHEAD"!

OBITUARY

DRAGON, the Bearded Dragon, of St. George, UT, died on April 19, 2010 in the early morning hours. The reason of his death is unknown. Dragon, the lizard, was delivered by Santa Clause on December 24, 2006 to his proud owner, NATHAN, then five years old, of Norfolk, VA.


He was dearly loved by Nathan.


His life was good for a domesticated reptile, plenty of crickets and kale, a warm heat lamp was always provided, and more space to move around in his custom made aquarium than most lizards will ever get. He even had his own hammock and a surgeon close by in case a surgical procedure ever be needed. Well it turns out, he was very lucky indeed, for not three days after his arrival on Christmas...he needed a somewhat simple surgical procedure. As stated above, mind you, he was dearly loved by Nathan the five year old. Dragon was only to be held with strict supervision and five year olds have a very difficult time waiting on a Sunday afternoon until their Dad is done napping after church. Poor Dragon was at the wrong place of his cage at the wrong time when his back leg was shut in his cage door accidentally. Dragon's leg needed to be amputated below his knee (if lizards have knees).


Nonetheless, he went on living and continuing his good life after a short recovery and learning to walk again. He could eat more than two dozen crickets on a somewhat daily basis during the first year and a half of his life. He was happy and as it turns out, he never even needed that fourth leg that most lizards do. He will be missed by all.

R.I.P.

Funeral services were held for DRAGON and all family members were present. The above surgeon, also happened to prepare the lizard for burial (good, old ZIPLOC), dug the hole, and conducted the short, but solemn service (doctors do a lot these days). It was a lovely, spring afternoon. Some family members were pretty sad about the loss.




Many kind words were said and good times remembered.




Nathan even explained to a very sad Annie that Dragon is in a much better place now and after Jesus comes again and we are all resurrected, Dragon will even get his leg back and just think how happy he will be. That made her feel much better.




Then on the way to t-ball practice, Annie asked question after question about heaven and what it's like and where it is and what we do there forever...it was a question-intense, ten minute ride, but a great opportunity to talk to her about it all and reassure her.