We love Utah!

We all had a great time this summer on our trip to Utah. One of our most favorite parts was being up in the canyon on the Bow Hunt something we don't get to do here in Ohio. Here is a photo of the kids with Grandma Cline.

Dreadful Homework

We have been in school just over a month and I am soooo tired of homework already! And I am just on the sidelines making sure it gets done and helping when they need it. Why is it that a first grader needs homework every night, and why does it seem like the load on my 4th grader has doubled this year? Who has time for anything else? I can't imagine how stressed I would be if we were doing sports/dance or anything extra. By the time we get homework and dinner done there isn't much time for anything else. Well, I guess I better just grin and bear it because we have too many years to count left of this homework business!

Baby Names

It has been so much harder to pick a baby name. It was hard with JC and it is even harder this time. It seems like every name we like there is already someone close by a neighbor, a friend, or someone at church who has already used that name. We have decided on a first name if it is a boy but aren't sure on a middle name yet. We like a couple girl names but haven't settled on just one. So the search continues. I just hope that we can have two names picked out before our ultra sound. If I don't find out the sex of the baby and P does I don't want him to accidentally give it away. Maybe this time we will have to meet this little one before we can make that final decision!

J and Gianna

Here is a recent photo of the two of them from this summer.

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

On our way to scouts yesterday J and his friend Shawn were talking and the topic of girlfriends came up. Shawn asked J if he had one and J said yes. Shawn asked who and J said Gianna. (phew! I can handle that. Gianna and J have been friends for 5 years so that didn't surprise me but was a bit of a relief at least for a moment...) Then Shawn says, "Have you k-i-s-s-i-n-g yet?" (he actually spelled it) and J whispered in his ear I am assuming a NO (another phew) but then Shawn says, "Why? You should! You Should!" And J said,"Not until a certain time." Then Shawn says, "You have to have a catch line (or phrase maybe he said phrase) to get a girl but I guess if you already have a girlfriend. . ." then Shawn told him "the line" that has always worked for him and how to get a kiss. I wish I had a photographic memory so I could record it exactly the way it came out but "baby brain" has taken over and I loose most of what comes in pretty quick! So I called P and said I guess we better have "the talk" sooner than later. Really having the talk doesn't bother me it's a part of life but I am just not ready for my son to "loose" his innocence. Ready or not though it is time. I can tell you one thing I will definitely be keeping a closer eye on J and Gianna when they are together! This is a photo of them 5 years ago sorry it isn't the best photo but it is what I could find.

The Beast

P and I decided to turn in the mini van (a lease) and purchase a Sequoia. I feel like I am driving a beast! I love it though it has that "tough" I'm bigger than you feel to it! And I am so happy I won't be "stuck" at home when it snows and they don't plow our street for days!

Awesome

One of JC's favorite words right now is Awesome! It is such a big word for such a tiny girl but I guess when you have 4 older siblings awesome would just be a normal part of your vocabulary! If you ask me it's pretty stinkin' cute!

Six Pack

We will no longer be one short of a "six pack"! Here is a photo from our 8 week ultra sound. I am now 16 weeks and can't wait to go in for our regular ultra sound at 19 or 20 weeks. I am hoping P will change his mind and we can wait to find out whether we are having a boy or girl until the day "baby" is born. I just think it would be cool to have that experience just once. P doesn't like to be surprised so he may be stubborn on this one.

Sunsets

This is one thing I miss about Utah. The beautiful sunsets.

Cousins

Cousins are so fun! We love being with them. This year we tried to get photos of the Smart cousins. Trying to get 10 kids to all smile and look in the same direction is craziness. It used to drive me nuts that they wouldn't co-operate smile and be "posed" but now I love these in the moment as you are photos. I mean look at that frown on JC's face now that is priceless.

K and my Camera phone

K loves taking pictures with my phone. If I set it down he picks it up. I love the first one it makes me laugh every time I look at it and I have to say the second is quite funny too. I took the last one but look how cute he is with his crazy hair and brown eyes!

First Blog Ever

So all you professional bloggers (you know who you are) be patient I am hardly a pro. One day our blog will be as cute as all of yours but until then you get what you get! I am not promising to blog everyday you may be lucky if I get to it once a week! :) But hey it's something right?