Where have I been?

I wish I had some exciting story to explain away my extended absence from my dear blog. Unfortunately I do not. Our life has continued with much of the same.
An Update:

William-
He is enjoying taking art lessons for two hours everyday. This session they are working on art made from recycled materials. He is making an pinata and I have been very bad at remembering to send in all of our used newspaper and milk bottles. He is creative and I am sure that it will turn out wonderfully. Pics to follow soon I promise.

A.J.-
He has actually really gotten the hang of the whole potty training thing. It only took a year and a half but who is counting. He had a nasty stomach virus the other day but it only lasted for 24 hours. Thankfully none of the others seem to be having any symptoms. **knocking on wood**

Donovan-
He has learned how to escape from his car seat, his highchair, and now his crib. I fear that he is going to break a bone with all the climbing he is doing. Besides that we had a speech evaluation done on him last week. I was worried that all of his ear infections could have delayed him language but she was sure that he was fine. His language has really exploded lately.

No named baby boy #4-
Doing great. 24 weeks and 4 days today. Measuring good and kicking tons! We really need to think of a name. I usually have one picked out by now.

Daddy-
Working hard. He is behind at work and they have eliminated all the overtime that he was allowing his guys to use. He has seemed so stressed out lately. I wish that I could do more to help. He explained that he came up with a three week plan to get caught up on the work. I hope that the plan works and he can relax a bit.

Mommy-
I can't complain...well OK I can but I wont. Feeling good in the second trimester. I am really enjoying my boys this summer. I have lots more things planned for the summer that I know that they will enjoy. I am also loving watching them become even better friends with each other. It is so sweet listening to them chat at night as they are going to bed. I have also gotten to know some great families at church. It is nice to be around positive families with nice children that are following the same path that we are.

I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer. Lots of fun things are coming up on the schedule so keep checking in for pics and stories and even another giveaway!

Boomerang Express

Last week was VBS on the Boomerang Express. The boys had a great time and learned lots of Aussie lingo. I actually taught the arts and crafts classes. I am so NOT crafty not sure how I got that honor. It was really good for A.J. Since he is always home with me, he never really understands about classroom rules and routine. This was a short introduction to that. He always wants to go to school with William and he got his chance this week. When he got distracted or tired they would walk him to the nursery to play with Donovan and then he could return to the group when he was ready. I tried to stay out of his way for the week so he would realize that he needed to be somewhat independent. It worked and he loved it. They were so cute singing the songs from VBS at church on Sunday. Now I just have to find a place to keep 2 sets of crafts. They are loosing pieces all over my house and I have been forbidden from throwing any of it away.











Looking forward to a quiet (craft free) week at home this week.

Coffee is bad!

I just returned from the pediatric emergency room after a visit will Donovan. He climbed the kitchen counter and spilled hot coffee down his chest. Thank God that it is just first degree burns. The doctors kept stressing how lucky that he is. He is now back home with an order for creams, cold packs, and pain reliever. He was such a good boy through the entire ordeal. I of coarse feel like the worst mother is the universe.

Photostory Friday- Life through the eyes of a three year old.

I get so caught up in the chaos of life that I sometimes forget to slow down and actually live. I believe that this is the very reason God chose to bless me with curious little boys. As you can tell from my last post my days are full. I do lots of running around especially in the summer. I was rushing through my daily grind when AJ yelled out with glee "look mommy...Spider Man". I was stopped at a red light as looked over to see what he was pointing at. By this time he had unbuckled his car seat and was at the window. This is what I saw.

By this time Donovan was also pointing and clapping. What was a mommy to do. I pulled over into the parking lot next to the building and watched Spider man and friends wash the windows. The were dancing and singing and so happy.

I am thankful that my kids can teach me these things and that I am willing to learn from them.



Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A misnomer

Stay at home mom is really quite inaccurate. Lately this summer I am never home...at all. One of my very first blog posts about a year ago was "A day in the life". Well, I have been taking my trusty point and click along for the ride with us lately and realized it was about time for another peek into a day in my life. Please realize that this isn't representing a particularly busy day just an average one.

Breakfast in pajamas for the boys. Thankfully Donovan still allows me to buckle him into his highchair.

AJ isn't so co operative and usually eats breakfast while sitting ON TOP of the table. It is one of those fights that I chose not to fight. I don't allow him to sit on the table for all meals but for a quick breakfast of cereal, I let it slide.

While they are eating I compose my endless list of "to do today" items.


8:21 and I am already heading out of the house with three boys dressed, fed, and ready.
I usually takes me about 20 minutes to load everything into the truck. This morning AJ was "acting his age" and refused to get in his car seat. This added about 20 extra minutes to my morning.


This is the local art museum. William takes art classes here and it is our first stop. I have to lug all three boy through the art museum while trying to keep them quiet. Unfortunately, it echos in there which Donovan thinks is hilarious.

I borrowed the book The Ugly Duckling from the library so we stop and read it while watching the swans at the park. AJ insists on quacking at them and I never do finish the book.

Thank God that the bank has a drive through! (need I say more)
For some reason I can't stay out of Target. I always need something. I always choose Target over Wal-Mart for many reasons but mostly it is because the check out lines are always quicker. This morning I get out without going broke.

We then enjoy a nice lunch with Daddy at Chilli's. OK I admit it. I was craving a fajita and Daddy gave in and let me splurge.

By this time it is HOT HOT HOT HOT. 95 but it felt like 195. I was sweating buckets each time I had to put kids into car seats.

I visited one of our favorite stores but the visit was short since I had forgotten the stroller and the boys were running wild pulling things off the shelves.


By this time I had picked up William for art class and had sweat ed a river. We hit dunkin donuts for smoothies. YUMMY! The little ones were napping in the backseats and William and I enjoyed some quiet with our drinks.
I finally made it home just as the kids were waking up. Isn't that always the way. Is was getting hotter by the minute so we filled up the backyard pool. What a great way to end the day.


Thanks for coming with me on my travels. Posting about MY WORK is therapeutic. I am sure I will do it again soon.

The results are in.

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and gender guesses. The big ultrasound was today at 4pm and the verdict was more then clear.


Yep! Baby #4 is all

BOY!

Here is a cute profile shot.


The winner of the Target gift card is Marrdy
Contact me with you address and I will send it out to you ASAP. Thanks

Guess right and win BIG!

A Contest!!

Guess the gender of baby #4

Will it be PINK or BLUE?

The big ultrasound has finally been scheduled for Monday the 22nd. I can't wait to find out what this baby will wind up being. I though that I would make it fun by setting up a little contest. The winner will receive

A Target gift card for $25

Totally worth it right. Since I am pregnant, and have very few remaining brain cells functioning at 100% this contest will remain simple. Just leave a comment with you guess. You can only guess once. No extra entries for following or passing the contest along (but it would be nice if you did). I will accept comments until Midnight on Sunday the 21st and will announce the winner on Monday evening! I am so excited.

Below is an embarrassingly large shot of the preggo bump at 21 weeks. I know that some make educated guesses by the way the belly looks. Lets see... what else would you want to know to make the guessing as scientific as possible hehehe. I have 3 other boys, no girls, have only gained 8 pounds so far, crave sweets and pickles, my skin is a mess, bad morning sickness in the beginning and now feel fine, if you ask me I am carrying the same as I have with all the others. There, I think that I have covered all the old wives tales. Guess away.