Ultrasound Update

It's a BOY!

Weekend Update

... with Anne Kramer, not Seth Myers!

Here's what else we did this weekend (in no particular order):

On Sunday Keri and I took the kids to the mall. I finally found a sunhat for Monica:

Best place to nap:

Hunger Retreat, our last BIG retreat of the year, was taking place this weekend. I had the overnight shift, which was blessedly uneventful. Here are the participants learning to line-dance in the gym:
Headband sunglasses:

Sorting Easter decorations and plastic eggs:

Mo reading to Jack:

Going for a bike ride with Kyle:

Easter "Eggs"

Saturday morning I decided it was time to make the house for festive for the upcoming holiday and season. We're going to hold off on dyeing real eggs until next weekend, so instead we decorated paper ones. It was a glittery, gluey, macaroni-y mess!

Martin Time

Keri sent me these cute ones.
Monica and the boys:

At the mall... who's drivin' this thing?

Great Depression?

Today Monica helped me make homemade laundry soap. For the recipe click here. My mom teased me when she heard we made our own soap, saying something like "Geez, back to the 1930s!"

Although I bet they didn't use the Cuisinart back then!

Breakfast of Champions

Every day Jack eats the exact same thing for breakfast. Kind of like his maternal grandmother. He has honey nut cheerios, toast with cinnamon, and a glass of milk. He refuses to begin eating until all three items are placed in front of him. Oh well, at least he eats!

Spring Search 2010

Well another year of Search retreats is over. This one had special meaning, as it was Father B's last Search. That didn't stop the fun (and sillies) from breaking out, as you can see below.

Dirt Devil

Anton's Dad planted some raspberry bushes here today. Jack was apparently VERY helpful, espcially when it came to moving dirt around and looking for worms and bugs. Grandpa was nice enough to leave some extra dirt here, which Jack has been moving around from place to place ever since.

Springing Spring

All four kids were in the backyard yesterday, enjoying the freshly cut lawn by Anton. They were a grassy, dirty, sunny mess by the time they came inside for dinner.

Kyle was out there too, but soccer stars are too busy for cameras.

Cozy Mornings

Here's what Monica and Jack enjoying doing on Saturday mornings. Just enough space for each of them. What will we do with three?

Happiness is...

a chocolate donut!

March Pregnancy Update

I haven't blogged much about the pregnancy yet. There wasn't much to tell about the first trimester: I was generally nauseous and lethargic for two months. Not pretty. It was all I could do to make sure that the kids were fed and had clean clothes to wear. Thankfully that has all passed now and I can regain my place among the living. One of the more humorous elements so far has been my cravings preferences for certain late night snacks. It started with cottage cheese and peaches, then it was cream of wheat with brown sugar. I had a short love affair with English muffins, but now it's just yogurt. It's no wonder that I'm already out of most of my regular pants and jeans. Yesterday Monica helped me sort through my tubs of maternity clothes, as you can see in the photo. We had fun giggling together over the items that were probably out of style already when I wore then 7 years ago when pregnant with her! All the clothes are still too big so I am stuck for a while with yoga pants and sweatshirts. Work has been so hectic recently (we have two BIG retreats coming up) that really how I look is the last thing I'm concerned about. Monica and Jack continue to be excited about a new brother or sister. We find out at the end of this month whether it's a girl or a boy, assuming he or she is cooperating during the ultrasound. Jack keeps saying "when the baby is born I'll play with it!" Poor guy will be sorely disappointed when the little one only eats and sleeps for the first few months!

Overnight at Great Wolf Lodge!

Monica and I were fortunate this weekend to be invited by Auntie Tina to Great Wolf Lodge for an overnight stay. Tina had a conference at the lodge and was able to have guests join her. Monica was extactic about the trip (I was pretty darn excited too) and she was up at 5 AM on the morning of the departure so she could pack her suitcase. We tried every ride at the waterpark multiple times since Monica is now tall enough to ride on everything! She LOVED the big ride called the "Tornado" even though it is dark and full of high-speed drops. Our little daredevil! For our overnight in the hotel room we painted nails, ate popcorn, and stayed up way too late talking. But really the best part of the trip was getting time for Monica and I to spend together having fun. We also enjoyed visiting with Tina and having time with her too.

For a recap of our previous trip to the Lodge click here. Thanks to Auntie Tina for inviting us along for this special girls excursion!