The Jungle

Every year, starting in Kindergarten the kids at the school do a play.  They combine both classes and work for weeks on this play (I have heard there is a 3 year rotation on the plays, which means Nate's will be different!)  Everyone has lines and parts, Gwen was stripes #6.  They had a "dress rehearsal" in front of the whole school in the morning and then that night we had to be there kind of early, so they could get ready!  Gwen was also a greeter and handed out programs. 

We worked for what felt like months on her lines and she finally got them.  There were about 6 or 7 songs, it was really cute.  Some of it very funny.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize the camera was going to die.  Eric mentioned when we got there, oh yeah, the battery was low last time I used it, helpful!  Gwen had quite the problem with her hat! 

The scene shown below was hilarious, there was at least one kid who really got into the whole guitar thing, which was really fun to watch.

Here is Gwen doing her part, she did a great job and we are very proud of her!  Since she mostly mumbles we are very excited when we don't have to strain to hear her talk. 

They had a nice little reception for afterwards and Gwen got to keep some of her props, very exciting stuff! 

Emily's big day

This weekend I had the honor of going to Charlotte and celebrating Emily's Baptism.  The Dr said I was still good to travel until the end of the month, so we packed up Saturday and drove up to Charlotte.  We got there a little early so we could hang, chat and make sure we weren't late!  Emily's Baptism was the first Baptism at this Church, they don't actually have a Church building yet, so they meet in the rec center.  A Priest comes up from the sister Parish and does the Mass.  He seemed slightly confused, because he thought I was the Mom and hadn't lost the baby weight yet, when he figured that out, he thought Eric was the godfather, when he figured that out he then realized that Jess had an older son.  He gave a lot of blessing on us all before Mass and we all walked down the aisle with him.  Since there was no Baptismal font in the rec center, when it came time for the Baptism, he had us all stand in front of the Church while Dave, the godfather held the bowl for the Holy Water.  He gave a really nice service and Emily didn't even make a peep.  She was so good!  Unfortunately Jess didn't have a charged camera, Grandma forgot her camera so we got the only pictures.  For probably the first time EVER we had a completely charged camera and were ready to go!  Eric took all the pictures and he even got a video.  If you look closely you can see me giving Nate the evil eye because he's trying to blow out the Baptismal candle. 

Emily's Baptism - flash slideshow maker

We then all went out to dinner to celebrate and we'd decided to stay the night, but the kids just couldn't settle, so we popped them in the car and drove home!  We got home about midnight.  We stopped twice, but the kids were already asleep.  Once because I was like, "get me out of this car", I have to move and once because Eric felt the same way!
We are spending the rest of the weekend pretty low key, the husband's home and I guess we will be doing some grilling and what not, but that's about it!

Trees

We have some huge trees in our front yard, they provide some really nice shade and unfortunately some not so nice sap and bird droppings on the car.  But most of the time really enjoyable.  The kids asked to hang in the tree with Daddy's help about a month ago, they asked me to take some pictures.  I fortunately had the camera in hand, so I did take some pictures.  I finally had to say ok, enough, they were bordering on the very silly in their poses.  Silly kids! 

Hangin' out - slideshows

6 years

It is weird to be in the same exact place I was 6 years ago, except in a different state.  I am still pregnant, with a girl, and a husband in school.  The only difference is 6 years ago I was in Florida.  These days I am feeling like that is the only difference. 
I don't have much to say this year.  Recently I wondered, am I cranky because I am pregnant, or am I cranky because today was coming, it is hard to judge since I am in the final weeks of pregnancy and have been told I am cranky, but why?  I guess it will be a while until I figure that out.  I don't have any fabulous or insightful words to say today, just things change but yet somehow stay the same. 
I still think how much easier this is for me than for other people, not because I am heartless, but because I live so far away.  My interaction with my Dad was limited to vacations and phone calls and not everyday phone calls, sporadic ones, once a week or so.  It is easy to go about my day and not think about calling or visiting or any of that.  I didn't have day-to-day interaction.  But yet as today has drawn closer I realize I will never forget and I will likely always get a little depressed and cranky around this time, whether I am pregnant or not.  Although Dad has missed so much in my life that I can talk to him about, he is still here in our mist everyday.  I often feel like his only grandson is the channel through which I feel his presence the most, the second child, the child who makes us laugh, just like my Dad, the second child who made us all laugh.  Thanks for watching over us Dad, and although I wish you were still available for the face-to-face I treasure knowing you see every good thing and bad.  Love you Daddy!   

3pm

I don't know what it is about 3-4pm but I am so exhausted this time around.  It could be that I am running Gwen back and forth to school, getting up and walking in the morning, or I am just at the end of this pregnancy and am caring a lot of extra weight!  It could be that I am very busy with school finishing and things happening where we aren't home that much.  Fortunately I don't have any swelling, but my legs are tired and that affects everything.  I think I am going to have to rethink dinner. 

more interested in teeter-totter than strawberries

Other than that, everything is good with this pregnancy. I am very fortunate that I don't have serious complications when it comes to pregnancy and that I don't have any other complaints that tired.  I might start going to bed super early because these days so I can recover.  Part of the problem is that I have been go-go-go and I had to do some volunteering yesterday that usually requires 2-3 people and it was only me.  The person that usually volunteers that day is late so it was a while in before I realized that it was going to be just me.  I got fussed at for not calling anyone, but really it takes time to call people and who had time to think of that!   

What says Welcome from FL than a pink flamingo, placed by Gwen

I think the kids are enjoyed my lay on the couch in the late afternoon because I give them my undivided attention, as long as they stay by the couch.  They are playing more piano.  Gwen would like to take lessons this summer, and I have started giving her rudimentary instruction on the piano, she can find middle C and name all the white notes.  She knows how to hold her hands and sit up straight.  We can't afford to give her formal training and I think she might be a little too young to start with formal lessons, only because I am not sure we can handle the fights over everyday practicing yet. 

Nate wanted to be right in the action

Gwen has her big school play tonight.  I have heard she has come a long way.  She can be so timid that she doesn't say her lines very loud, so we have been working with her on it.  I have heard from her teachers that today during the "dress rehearsal" in front of the school she did a great job.  She is pretty excited about it.  The only problem is Nate didn't nap today, so I hope that he isn't a terror during the performance, since they start right at bedtime.  Maybe he will be mesmerized and fall asleep, a girl can dream! 

Shh!  Don't tell Gwen where Nate plays when she's gone

I started this post last week and still haven't finished it.  I just haven't been in the mood.  I am reaching the last weeks of this pregnancy.  I had a doctor's appointment yesterday.  Everything still seems to be going well, no indication that I am going to be having the baby any time soon.  Although Eric seems to be worrying I will be going early.  I am hoping to hold out until AFTER school finishes.  I still have stuff that needs to be done that I don't want to having looming over with a newborn in tow!  

trap or strawberry patch protector?

I seemed to have developed some sort of allergy/cold.  I have started to take something for it, since I don't really want to be worn out and trying to get birth.  The doctor has asked me to take it easy, so I have removed all the toys on the floor of my kid's room.  Apparently they can't see the hamper or find trash cans, so I'm just helping them out.  They just can't seem to keep stuff off the floor and cleaned up.  I get tired of repeating myself and I just can't clean up their room anymore, so as they keep their room clean and put back stuff where it is supposed to be they will be able to get 1 item back.  It took Nate about 1 hour this morning to realize I was serious and he just got some cars back for FINALLY putting away his shoes and hanging up his jacket.  Their birthday's are coming up and so we need to clear some stuff out, especially now we will have a new baby who has stuff also.  Hopefully Gwen won't freak out too much! 

"Look I trapped a butterfly!"

We are in the home stretch around here, we have clothes washed and hung, toys pulled out, which is a good thing, since I am now down to weeks instead of months.  We are in good shape for this baby, the benefit of #3 is that we still have barely used stuff from #1 & #2 from these first months.  We all are looking forward to meeting the new baby and gearing up for summer! 

The Wedding

Gwen's godmother got married last weekend, we drove up to Virginia Beach with Mom to the wedding.  We had a really nice time.  I was asked to do a reading, so we had to drive up on Thursday to be there for the rehearsal.  I was fairly nervous about the reading, but I've been told it went well, I am pretty sure they didn't have a videographer, so we'll never have any proof.  Kiki did a great job with the wedding, she was beautiful and since she and her husband met at a dance studio, there was lots of fun dancing!  Of course, by then I was not too into doing anything but sitting in my seat and watching.  The kids danced and danced and danced.  The kids were obsessed with Kiki and kept running up to her and giving her hugs.  We let the kids stay up way past their bedtime and everyone crashed in the hotel. 
We had a great mini-vacation.  The hotel was right on the beach. So the kids played on the beach, the water was cold!  I miss the gulf coast!  The kids didn't care though and played in the waves.  We even saw some dolphins.  We had adjoining rooms with Mom, so we had space, and could sleep in.  It was great! 

Kiki's wedding - free slideshows

Teddy bear

I have been working on a little something for the baby.  I found the pattern in a book and have been trying to figure out how to put it together and it hasn't been easy.  These are the body and the head. 

The book doesn't really give any ideas about how to put the things together it just says seam, but I haven't been real sure how to do that, but I bumbled through the process, I think. 

This is what the teddy looks like, with all the pieces.  I have since seamed and stuffed all the parts.

I just have to figure out how to attach. It says use the ladder stitch, and use strong thread.  Does that mean use the knitting thread or some other type of thread?  How do I know it is strong?  I don't know, I'd like to finish the project up, but I am nervous about attaching, I didn't think this would be nerve wracking for me.