Monkeying around

We got the chance to spend a rainy morning at a bounce place with some friends from Houston.  Loved seeing them, even though it was a short visit.  We hadn't seen each other for about 7 years!  Jessica and her family lived in the same complex as us when we were in grad school back in 2001-2005.  Nathan and Anne were born in Houston just a few months apart in 2004.  We have some fun pictures of them when they were babies.  Jessica has the ones of them kissing!  Here are a few that I have.  Some of them didn't scan very well.

  Dallin, Anne, & Nathan - buddies learning to sit up!

                                                                 Houston Astros Game

 At the Zoo

 Anne's birthday party

hanging out at our place

It was fun to see them together again.

Thanks for letting us monkey around with you for a few hours!

clarification

I need to clarify something from the previous post.  I love hand-me-downs and will most likely buy clothes from the thrift store.  I would love to receive hand-me-downs if you have clothes you're getting rid of.  I just meant that she wouldn't have to wear the clothes the boys have been wearing for the last 9 years!  I love used, cheap clothes for kids, especially when they grow out of clothes so quickly.

still in shock...

We didn't quite believe it, but we are expecting a GIRL!  We had them check a few times to make sure.  "ARE YOU SURE?!"  I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that.  After having 4 boys, I don't quite know what to think.  So many thoughts going through my mind...

I won't be "alone" anymore (still outnumbered, but not alone).
I can do mother/daughter things.
We'll have to get pink stuff and dolls and dresses.
I don't like pink very much.
I'll get used to pink.
We'll have to buy new clothes.
She won't have to wear ratty hand-me-downs.
We won't have to buy much - Grandma will take care of that.
I hope she likes legos and cars and dinosaurs.
I'll get to fix her hair.
I'll have to try to fix her hair.
I bet she won't have much hair to fix until she's about 5 years old.
I can do parties with ladybugs, flowers, and butterflies.
I'll have to figure out how to make princess cakes.
We can watch Cinderella,  The Little Mermaid, and Beauty & the Beast.
Alex said with a ha-ha, "Now YOU have to have the TALK."  (He gets all the boys.)
We'll have to deal with periods and bras and shaving legs.
We don't have to come up with another boy name.
We have to come up with a girl name.
We don't have to mess with the vaseline and gauze when she's born.
We have to figure out how to wipe a girl's bum.
We're really having a GIRL??
We don't know much about girls.
What's she going to think about having 4 brothers?
She's going to have a bunch of older brothers to protect her.
I'll be able to get out my shotgun (Alex's thoughts about future daughter's dates).
I hope she looks like me and not another mini Alex.
I wonder if she'll have blond hair?
We can't just say "the boys" anymore.
She will be SO spoiled!
There hasn't been a girl in Alex's family line for about 70 years.  (not quite that long, but close)
We can't say "5 boys and done".
We might have to try for another girl so she has a buddy.  (We'll see...)

A GIRL?!  Crazy.


So, I'm about 21-22 weeks now, due the end of December.  She looks healthy and measuring just right.  I'm feeling pretty good.  Just tired...  imagine that.

Yes we planned #5, taking the "road less traveled".  We're not too crazy - just didn't feel like our family was complete yet.  And I can't tell you at this point if this is the last.  We don't know yet.  But I'm pretty excited for a girl!

Does this shirt make me look fat?

swimming lessons

The first 2 weeks of July, we took Nathan and Jared to private swimming lessons.  It turned out to be really good for them.  Nathan had taken 3 years of "lessons" in Oklahoma and Jared had taken two "lessons".  But they were in a class of about 10 kids, and most of their 30 minute lesson was spent either hanging on the wall or just splashing around in the kiddie pool.  I don't feel like they learned anything, other than it's fun to play in the water.  Individual lessons proved to be great for them.  They only had six 30 minute lessons, but they worked hard the whole time.  Their teacher was really patient with them, but also pushed them when they were scared.  Both of them are much more confident about being in the water.  I think if they fell in the pool, they could at least get back to the side.  Nathan made a lot of progress, being able to make it all the way across the pool (although mostly doggy paddling).  Jared had a tougher time, with one day when he was too scared to do much of anything.  We were at a different pool that day, and he couldn't get over the depth of the water.  But by the last day, Jared also was doing pretty well.  They both need more practice, but they're getting there.  

Astros game, out with a bang!

We all went to an Astros baseball game on July 6th.  The game itself was pretty bad.  The Astros lost to the Brewers 7-1.  The game was a "flashback Friday" and fireworks.  The Astros were in 1980's rainbow uniforms, and they had an awesome fireworks show after the game.  What the boys most enjoyed was the play area before the game and popcorn & snowcones during the game.  I loved the post-game fireworks, although Owen was SO SCARED that he was inconsolable.  We were in the cheap seats, way up high on the side the fireworks were being done.  We were really close to the "boom".  When the fireworks started, Owen immediately started screaming, as if he was going to die.  I tried to pick him up and put him in my lap, but had to pry his fingers off the seat.  He cried through the whole show.  The fireworks were so loud that even with him screaming next to me (and the camera), you couldn't hear him very well.  See if you can hear him in the videos.    

4th of July

We had a fun-filled day on the 4th.  We started the day off with a yummy breakfast, eggs and bacon in a mini crust (made by Baba).  Then the boys got to do a little craft project with Baba, making pictures with food coloring swirled in shaving cream.  You press paper on the top of the shaving cream "mess" and then gently scrape the shaving cream off the paper.  Pretty cool.  The boys also played in the sandbox, sprinkler, and kiddie pool.  After that, they helped Papa shuck corn, which we had later for dinner.  Weston wanted to take a bite right away!  I think that picture is in the previous post.  After dinner, we took the boys over to a big park.  Baba had bubbles and fun light toys, which were a hit.  After the park, we watched the local fireworks.  Most of the boys were mesmerized (Owen was a little scared).  We had a great day!