Exploring Our Back Yard

This summer I decided that we would school part-time. We'll stick with Bible, Science and Math. This will give us a chance to take a nice break when our new baby comes along in October.

For science, we will be studying plants and animals. Summer time is the most logical time to study these, so it is a perfect fit.

For this lesson, we explored the many plants right in our backyard. We took a magnifying glass and looked at everything that looked interesting...

After we were finished our observations, Dylan chose 3 different plants to draw in his sketchbook. He informed me later that "it was the best school day EVER!" That's what I like to hear!

Fun In The City

Subway tastes so much better when you eat it at the park...

I know...look at their ribs. I do feed them - honest!

It doesn't help that the water was shockingly cold and making them suck in.

Great Grandparents

Dwayne's grandparents came down for a visit.

They spoil the children with attention and sweets. Would you expect any differently from Great Grandparents?

We took them out on a morning quad trip.

It was a relaxing way to spend some time with them 'boy style'.

We saw many marmots. They are disgusting and they weren't much afraid of us. I was a little worried they might dart up our pants or something.

We did some other sight-seeing, took them to a church bbq and had a great visit with them. They're the main thing we miss from our hometown. We'd love to live closer to them, but we'll take what we can get.

Put That Fire Out Already!

When I am pregnant, I have heartburn constantly. I always have a pack of Tums somewhere close to help me out a little.

Kobe (3) saw some next to my bed and started asking questions:

K: What's this?
Me: Those are Tums. They are for mommies, not little boys.
K: Why?
Me: They are for Mommy's heartburn.
K: Why?
Me: Sometimes it hurts right here and they make it feel better.
K: Oh.

A few minutes later...

K: These make you feel better when you have a big fire in you?

Mama To All Boys

I have been thinking of my role as a mom to all boys.

When I had our second son, people would say things like, "Maybe you'll get a girl next time."

Or worse, they'd look at me with a sympathetic look and say, "Aw, honey, better luck next time."

They didn't get it.

They assumed that I wanted a girl. They never stopped to think that maybe I liked being a mom to boys.

Then Zane came along. The comments intensified. "You need to try again." "There's a girl in there somewhere." "Keep trying."

When I tried to explain that it was my desire to have four boys, I got looks that said they really didn't believe me. One lady actually said to me, "I understand. You're saying that so you're not disappointed if you don't get a girl."

I get it now:

I won't be able to explain it. I won't be able to put into words the warm feelings I feel in my heart when I think of my four little guys. They won't understand that raising boys is fun, adventurous, dangerous. They won't feel the sense of seriousness I feel when I think of raising Godly men, fathers, leaders. They won't understand how good it feels to have little guys offering to protect me when they think I'm scared or fight for me when they think I've been wronged.

But...

I'm feeling those feelings.

I'm enjoying my boys.

I'm having a hard time keeping up with their energy, but I am laughing most of the way!

(And I have one friend that does understand a bit. She actually said she feels a small twinge of jealousy when she thinks of me as the queen of my home. It's the first and possibly the last time I may ever hear that, but I'll take it! You know who you are...and thanks for those words.)

It's A....

BOY!

Ever since having Kobe, I have wanted 4 boys. It looks like I am getting what I wanted!

We had our ultrasound and there is definitely a 'package' on our baby. He was a bit shy - it took the tech awhile to get him into a position that we could see clearly.

He was being lazy, not moving around too much. The other three boogied around so quickly that the tech always had problems getting the measurements they needed. Since this one seemed more laid-back and wasn't showing us his 'package', I started to think it might be a girl.

When the tech said he was a boy, I felt a great sense of relief come over me. It's familiar. Familiar is comforting. I wouldn't even know where to begin with a girl.

Now, please know that if it had been a girl, I would have been thrilled too! I mean, God knows what is best for our family and I trust Him in all that concerns our lives.

I feel like we're a complete package now. Ahhhh...

(And, Lord willing, I'm done.)

Welcome to California

We are in Anaheim.

When we left Mexico, Dwayne said that we were going straight to Anaheim and we were going to stay there until every last one of us felt better. He was starting to feel run-down and we wanted a place where I could take everyone that was healthy and leave him any other 'sickies' at the hotel for rest. What better place to do that than Disneyland?

We left Hermosillo two days ago. I cried pretty-much from when we were saying goodbye to Greg & Shelli and Lane & Sherri, through Arizona, and into California.

I am just so bitterly disappointed.

I'm disappointed that we came all this way for 'nothing'.

I'm disappointed that I only even talked to two, yes two, Mexicans from the church before we were house-bound and then left.

I'm disappointed that we went to experience Mexican culture and we barely got a glimpse, except from the inside of the hospital.

When we were still in Hermosillo, I was feeling a bit ashamed of deciding to come home - like we were slinking back with our tails between our legs. I didn't know how we were going to tell our church family that we went down there for that. Just as soon as I started thinking those thoughts, one of our church leaders - and a dear friend - emailed us to ask how they could help ease the disappointment of coming home.

They knew.

They knew without telling them that we weren't 'giving up' because we couldn't hack it. They knew that it was a prayerful decision and that we needed to come home. I should have known better - I should have known not to doubt how they felt about us regardless of what we do or how we 'perform'. I am so thankful for the whole bunch of them. And thanks Craig and Tonia for clearly reminding us.