Baby

The day finally arrived. We are so happy to welcome Gus into our family. We have had him one whole week and he has been incredibly enjoyable. I was prepared to have a complete meltdown. I've been pleasantly surprised that it really hasn't been that bad. Of course maybe that's because I have a very kind and helpful husband and my sister Debi has been here and done everything. Yeah, that's probably why the transition has been easy. Ask me again when the help is gone and the kids are actually out of school.

Started out the morning with Mike having to put on this beauty before being aloud in the surgery room.  Gotta say it was nice having him wear this since my body has to lay cold and naked on the operating table.
We could feel like fools together. 

Mr. D being the kindest friend ever and rubbing my swollen feet.  Weird? Yep and I just let him.

Day after birth

Gus Michael
7.2lbs

Quotes

Maggie quotes:

"Mom, Bernie stinks we need to give her to a different family."
"Or we could just give her a bath"
"No, let's just give her to someone else."

"I wish you were all dead. Then I could do whatever I wanted. Like walk on the table and stuff."

"Jane has an ear infection but I have a hip infection, an arm infection and a face infection."

"I am never, never going to Satan's village."

"Mom plays with her friends, they just call it talking."
 
"I love Dad. I'm glad he's not dead yet."
 
"Jesus got stuck in a tube for three days. Then he comed out."  (tomb and resurrection)

"I ONLY YELL WHEN YOU DON'T GIVE ME WHAT I WANT."
Mom: "The answer is still no and never get what you want by getting angry"
"WELL, IF YOU WERE A NICE MOM THEN I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO GET MAD"
Mom: "You are going to have a long and miserable childhood."
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

"I always tell you yes but sometimes in my mind I'm saying no."

Jane's Quotes

Jane: "I'm as full as a lady with two babies in her tummy."

Maggie: "Mom, Jane farted and didn't say excuse me."
Jane: "Mom, Maggie just said the F word"

Charlie's Quote:

"Mom do you twit?"
What?
"Do you twit on your phone?"
You mean tweet?
"No Mom, it's twit. I would like to start to twit."

January Break

We had no choice but to go and find warmer weather when our kids had a school break. Sunny Florida  

Legos store. It was amazeballs.

My favorite place we ate. In Hollywood Studios.
It's the Sci-fi diner and you eat out of cars while watching a drive in movie.

Disney: Always worth it.

Cocoa Beach for a Day

This year the kids were all tall enough to go on the rides they were interested in. Jane went on Tower of Terror and still tries to pretend that she enjoyed it. But Maggie went on it Seven times and really did love it. Mags is a little more like Charlie in the dare devil department.

Christmas Break

 We had a quiet Christmas followed by an exciting break with family and a wedding. Here are the pictures to prove it.

Gus Michael

Hmmm I kept trying to think of a way to make this special announcement. 

I couldn't think of anything clever. So here goes.... 

We are having a baby boy this May. 

Yep, that's real. 

Mike and I were surprised by the news because this is the first baby that wasn't planned. 

And yet he has been planned for a long time. 

His name is Gus.  

Jane was supposed to be Gus. 

Maggie was supposed to be Gus. 

Then the last three years and ten Dr. tries were supposed to be Gus.  

So we are grateful for this random act of kindness from Heavenly Father. 

Encore!

Applause, applause. Mike gave a stellar performance last night in the Nutcracker.
First he was the Father and Host of the Party. Here is his lovely ballerina wife, daughter and mischievous son Fritz.

Here he is talking amongst his real friend Brad VanCamp at the lovely party. He's been growing out his beard to make these sweet chops.

Then he changes rolls in the second half and becomes Mother Ginger with all of the lovely bon bon girls under his dress.

In the practices the little girls enjoyed tugging on his legs, hitting each other and trying to pull down his pants.

With that face how could you not be a delight to watch. Yes, he was hilarious and our own children loved bragging that their dad was Mother Ginger.

Birthday and Baptism

Last month we had Charlie's birthday and baptism all on the same day. Grandma, Aunt Leslie, baby Boston and Uncle Matt all came into town. We also had cousins Mallory, Paige, Mike and baby Ada that were able to join us. (because they're all officially locals now)

Charlie had a football game in the morning which he ended up missing because he threw up on the way to the game. So really my biggest concern was just that he keep everything in until after the baptism. We made it. The font water remained clean. After the baptism we returned to our house for a little family party. The day turned out to be very enjoyable. We are so proud of Charlie and his commitment to the Savior.

Charlie

Cousin Mike & Charlie

Dad and Charlie

Boston, Leslie, Mike, Kimber, Helene

Jane, Charlie Maggie

Matt

Charlie, Boston & Leslie

Matt & Mallory

Try at a New Project

I needed a side table to put a lamp on next to my couch. Money was an issue and so I thought that maybe I'd be able to find something at a second hand store. I was looking for a plain flat table but came across this ugly lady for only $15.00

I knew right away what I was going to do to this table. I had to do something a little more fun to get away from the traditional and dated look.

First I stripped off the shiny orange/brown finish. Then some light sanding before the paint job.

Final Product. I like the way it turned out and it gives me hope for future projects.

Do Your Best

 

Maggie: "William, stop eating all of the crackers."

Mom: "Mags please talk nice."

Maggie: "I did talk nice."

Mom: " It didn't sound very nice to me."

Maggie: " Well, it's the best I can do."

Back Again

Cooper, Charlie, Jane, Dylan, Ryan & Carys

Carys, Jane & Gracie



The bus stop boys

Charlie

School is in and we sent the kids off this morning with hugs and kisses. I'm not ready for school to start. I needed another month to play with the kids. This summer went by way too fast. Although it will be nice to go to the Grocery store with one.