Summer Days

A GIRL!!!

Yep - it's true!  We're having another baby.  And we finally get our girl.  I still can't believe it.  I think that's partly why I haven't announced super publicly besides to the family and friends we see most often because part of me won't believe it until I see it.  What if I have a baby and prepare and then it's not what we thought??  I doubt that will happen, and it doesn't make sense but that is the honest truth of why I've waited and waited.  We found out I was pregnant in early March.  It was right in the middle of showing the house and moving and Hawaii and……  But it was the final confirmation I needed to know that it was indeed time for us to move and that we were making a good decision.

Four kids sounds like a lot to me….but I think Brian and I have both always thought that four was our number.  My friend did the ultrasound early at 17 weeks.  I was so anxious to know.  Brian was on his way to Fathers and Sons and I still went by myself because I just couldn't wait.  I told her I wouldn't cry when she told me it was another boy.  And I was prepared and ready for it.  Although in my heart of hearts I thought it was a girl.  And it was.  And I cried.

We will be very thankful this November!

And then Kindergarten Ends

Gavin has had a great year.  I can't believe this Kindergarten year is over.  It went by so so fast.  Really fast!  He has grown so much.  He can read!  Gavin is a smart kid and I think he will do well in school.  I am proud of him.  Every time I went into his class he was obedient and doing what the teacher asked him to.  After being a teacher, I know that this is a pretty important thing!  (At least it was sure helpful to me…)  Mrs. Crockett did great things with him.  Besides literally watching him get big right before my eyes, I was pretty floored to see the influence a good teacher can have.  And to see what information he has stored in his brain that was never there before.  From the parent side this time around, I am very grateful.  Him going to Manila has been a good thing - for both of us.

It was SO fun to watch my own little boy at the dance festival.  He was feeling it and moving like crazy!  I may have teared up just a touch listening to the America song at Kindergarten graduation.  You just can't help it on those ones!  "This is a great song, mom" he told me.

His best bud was Garrett.  They only had one play date all year but in class they were at recess together most days and sat by each other at a table.  Garrett was a good kid.

Gavin's in the big leagues now.  All day!  First grade!  He is excited.  And he's ready.  I'm going to miss him.  And for sure McKay will!  We're switching him over to Barratt.  It is right outside the front door of our new house.  And with all these kids following behind, it just makes sense for us to go to school here in American Fork.  So he will have another new start, make new friends, and have another great year.  

Here's to a fun summer before I have to get all teary about that.

First day of Kindergarten

Last day

First day

Last day

London!

It still feels like a dream…  Even though this London trip has been in the works for well over a year, of course the dates would conveniently fall four days after we moved into our new house.

But no worries.  We made it work.  Brian the champion of the world took days off work, a week off of therapy, and lots of nice people took the kids during the day one week so that I could have the adventure of a lifetime.

And what an adventure it was!  The guest list: Mother, Becky, Susan, David, Jourdan, Amy, Brittney, Lynsey, Mark, Jenn, Sterling, and me.

Mark planned out our itinerary to the tee.  I just followed.  Made it easy and fun!  Nothing beats a trip when you truly enjoy the company of the people you are with.  Every day was packed.  For ten days we woke up early, toured and saw and enjoyed all day and crashed every night.  "This is not a vacation!" I kept telling Brian.  "This is an adventure!  A trip!"  He was certain I was sitting by the pool relaxing.  We were so tired.  But it was all so worth it.

I will always be grateful to Mother for making trips like these with my sisters, aunts, and cousins happen over the years.  New England - Seattle - New York - Washington DC - and now London.  Some of my very happiest memories.

Ordinary Days

Grateful for:
New houses to work on
Helpful friends to watch and feed kids during our busiest days
Home Depot runs
BYU days with Aunt Melissa
Park days with dad

Under Construction

To do list: Rip out carpet Rip out linoleum Paint kitchen cupboards Paint trim/doors/closets New hardware on doors Rip down mantle Retexture wall for TV Rip out tile by fireplace and backdoor Retile all of that (Thank you Brian and Nathan!) Paint

Easter

 Look at my three little men in their Sunday best.  So cute I can hardly stand it.  I didn't even buy them anything new or super coordinated and they STILL look handsome!    They were all ready for the egg hunt - long before those eggs were hidden.

 The kids love being with their cousins.  They always bring in a haul!  It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa finally home again and things running as usual.  Holidays weren't quite the same without them!

 I am grateful for my little family and that I get to be with them forever.  Really, there are no other people I'd rather be with.  That turned out to be a nice deal, I think!