spring break

the kids were out of school last week for SpRiNg BrEaK

we were so happy Dave had 2 days off so he could go with us to do some fun things

one day we went to the movie "Mr. Peabody"

and then went to Elevation to jump out their energy

this is their very FaVoRiTe place!!!

they jumped for 2 hours and begged for more

back flips. hand stands. dodgeball. basketball. slam-dunks!

fUnneSt!!!

another day we went swimming at the new YMCA

it is such a nice new facility only a block from our house

the yellow stairs lead up to a water slide that is outside the building

but lands inside at the bottom, prett-ee cool!

happily some friends were there too for Mia and Brenner

fun in the lazy river

dave surrounded by a group of kids

such a great dad

also during the break we went to the library...

brenner went to his first birthday party...

ky, lex and i went to Panera Bread for pastries, mmmm...

we watched a lot of Sabrina, the teenage witch, my kids new favorite show...

AND... we left the kids alone for the first time to go on a DaTE!!  yay!

we didn't go long, we just went to Pei Wei for dinner 

and then brought them back some food too.

but it's a start! hooray!

#6

how do you know when it is time to have another baby?

i have heard it's when you can't think about anything else.

but we already have 5.

but we already gave away all our baby gear.

but we were in school and now we're so far in debt.

but we're so old.

are we good enough parents?

do we have enough time and energy to give them each 

enough attention and love?

so many questions and so many doubts.

but still that feeling that would never go away.

that great desire, that was stronger than any other feeling.

i needed another baby!

i knew we weren't done.

dave and i talked and talked and talked about it.

he felt like there was too much on our plates right now.

but still i prayed.

and i cried.

and my heart hurt.

we talked more.

and we finally decided together that we would keep waiting.

maybe a few more months.

then, seriously the very next day, i did a pregnancy test 

and found out i was pregnant.

what???

i had been feeling a little sick for a couple weeks

but thought there was no way....

i was SO surprised

and SO happy.

in a very real way

Heavenly Father heard the prayers of my beseeching soul.

my heart was so humbled.

and so very thankful.

it was very overwhelming for dave.

he eventually got used to the idea.

it is such a miracle.

seriously.  

we're not quite sure how it happened.

my first dr. appt. with Dr. Goff was when I was 12 weeks.

Dr. Goff did a quick ultrasound just for fun and thought for sure it looked like a boy.

for sure.

the whole time we lived in New York I kept feeling like there was a boy missing.

so i totally knew it was a boy as well. i just knew it.

so dave picked up some blue ice cream on his way home from work.

we didn't get a chance that night, but the next morning 

we got it out and served it on waffles to tell the kids.

the boys were super excited for another brother!

the girls really wanted a sister.

lexi wouldn't look at the camera

and poor mia was nearly in tears while she tried to eat.

i had my first 'real' ultrasound on January 3.

and we found out it was not a boy, it was a GIRL!!!

i was so excited i burst into tears at the ultrasound.

i had wanted so much for mia to have a little sister close in age

so they could play dolls and princesses together.

 i had to bring home pink balloons.

surprise!!!

 these pictures are from my 18-week ultrasound.

love that cute little face and those cute little feet.

so amazing.

 

the biggest thing i've noticed with this pregnancy is i'm so tired.

and i get really bad headaches, like every other day.  it's been hard that way.

i've been taking a selfie every 2 weeks.

 

funny how my  kids like to decorate my belly!

  

   

 

  

i get so very big.

i'm already feeling like i'm going to pop.

i was hoping so much it was twins, because i would LOVE two more babies

and also an excuse for being so HUGE.

at my 28-week ultrasound we got some more cute pictures.

i love ultrasounds.  i love seeing that little baby in there moving around.

such an amazing miracle.

can you see her poor little leg up by her face.

i hope she's been able to move it down since then.

i know babies are flexible, but how uncomfortable!
and another view of her foot. i adore baby feet.

and some 3-D images.
it makes me so excited for her to be born.

i can't wait to hold her!

and my favorite is her profile.

 

they also found that i appear to have placenta accretta.

i googled it yesterday and now am filled with fear.
the placenta is growing into my uterus
because of scar tissure from my previous C-sections.
so far it doesn't seem to be in my bladder or other organs which i'm so thankful for.
i hope all goes well at delivery.

i will most likely need a hysterectomy which makes me sad.
what about that little boy i feel like we're missing?
am i crazy?

my 30-week appt. is this week and i have a million questions now.

in the meantime i am so thankful for the miracle of life.

and for answered prayers.

i'm so thankful for this little girl.

i love her with all my heart.

four square

one night we got pizza on the way home

and had a tailgate party in the garage on the back of the truck.
loved it. such fun memories.

brenner drew a foursquare so we played

it was so funny
i love that they let their big slow pregnant mama play too

and cute mia climbed the tree

such a favorite night
love my family
so much

st. patricks day 2014

the leprechauns did their usual this year

green toilets and milk

lucky charms for breakfast

green shirts and surprises in shoes

waking up to find their hidden shoes is the kids favorite part

this year the leprechauns also tried to trap the kids in their beds with crepe paper

and of course they left footprints!

(i think this is my favorite part. it is hilarious and always cracks me up.

i have to run in laughing to dave.  it is so funny because the older they get

the easier they wake up and listening to them talking in their half sleep is so funny)

the next morning they woke up running to find their shoes

its so fun

kyler slept in and missed all the excitement

is he really getting so old?

love these 5 kids so very much.

the girls did their hair in matching side ponytails

and wanted some sister pictures in their matching shirts
my beautiful girls

they went to play at Debbie's for the afternoon 

while I went to the grocery store and took a nap, so awesome!

Brenner helped me make the fruit rainbow for dinner...

and we had an all green dinner, complete with green mashed potatoes

and green ice cream and green cookies for dessert.

leprechaun traps

having church from 8-11am makes for a lot of time

on Sunday afternoons for fun projects

like building leprechaun traps

the kids get SO in to this every year

i don't really love the leprechaun trap idea (more work)

so i let them do their own thing

after church they got out the craft box and went to work for hours

so fun

i love to see what they come up with

there is careful planning and deliberation behind each one

cute Mia playing while they sets traps 

the planning and plotting went on until bedtime

when Porter and Brenner set traps all over their room

their hopes were high they would catch one of those sneaky leprechauns!

sidewalk chalk

my cute kids have really really loved sidewalk chalk this spring

i love the hopscotch Mia drew

and my view as i look down

 

i will never grow tired of their cute drawings all over the driveway

sunday afternoon

i have the BEST husband

oh how thankful i am for him

i take a nap every Sunday afternoon while he holds down the fort

i wake up to cute scenes like this

shopping

just a cute moment

(before things went downhill, i'll leave it at that)