The lack of blog posting...

...is due to the fact that I'm just too tired trying to keep up with these cute munchkins. Approximately 5 weeks until we have four of them!

You've gotta love this

Joel, I pray that as you grow up, you will continue to strive to be "just like Daddy." He's a great example of how your Heavenly Father wants a man to live. If you keep walking in his footsteps, you'll be on the right path.

Backyard practice

Today we're back to cold, pouring down rain,and I'm wearing a sweater, BUT earlier this week on one of the three non-rainy days we've had in the last month (we went swimming on of those, too), Greg got in some soccer practice with the kids. They're already looking forward to soccer in the fall and have been waiting for the grass to be dry enough to go out and play. Turns out our 2-year-old has some mad soccer skills already. She was dribbling all around the yard! She's got another 2 years before she can be on the team, but we won't tell her that. Joel had to watch from the sidelines last year but will get to be part of the action this year. Greg's planning to coach again. We'll have some exciting times around here, as I believe the soccer season coincides with my due date. We're hoping for another early baby, for a number of reasons!
It was fun to watch them "practice" with Daddy. They LOVED it.

Soaking in the rays

After our record-setting rainfall this May/June, it's been very nice to finally see the sun come out this weekend! Aubrey and Joel went out and sat in the sun before church this morning.

Kari joined them after a few minutes. It was a little too bright, though. Their eyes are not used to that big bright thing in the sky. It's been too long.











After working in the yard and garden all morning we went over to Grandpa and Grandma's house in the afternoon and enjoyed some pool time--the first pool time of the season.
Kari didn't waste any time. She went down the slide within minutes of being there. We are reaping the benefits of swim lessons, as she no longer needs water wings to get around and be safe.






















Aubrey was a little unsure at first but ventured in with Grandma and had a good time. We're going to have to keep a close eye on her near the pool this year.

Joel was way more comfortable in the pool this year, too, thanks to another year under his belt and those swim lessons. Last year he pretty much camped out in the shallow end and on the steps. Yesterday he was all over the pool and very independent with his water wings.

No photos of big and pregnant me in the pool in my big and pregnant swim suit, but I have to say, the water felt great! We may be spending more time than usual at the pool this year. I'm sure the kids won't complain.

Baby Birds

 The nest on our back deck now has 4 baby robins in it! They grow so quickly. We found birds rather than eggs three weeks after we saw the eggs (second photo on the top), and now, a week later, the birds are bigger and don't look squished anymore. They even flew over the kids' heads. It's been so much fun to go out with the kids and check on our nest. The mama bird must have laid another egg at some point, because there are definitely four babies, not three.

A working vacation?

Well, it's official. Plane tickets have been bought, so now we know it's really happening. In a couple weeks Greg will be hopping on a plane and taking a 12 day trip to Ireland  (for work and hopefully, some play, too). It will be quite the experience, I think, for him over there, as well as for us back here at home. :)

Wedding kids

Over Memorial Day weekend we drove to Sisters, OR for a family wedding. There were 20-some kids in the wedding (brave bride and groom), and ours were able to be a part of it. They were so cute all dressed up and had a lot of fun. This was the only photo I took right when we got there (didn't want to have to tote our camera along with all the other snacks and kid items we had with us), but Uncle Brian kindly shared photos he took. The wedding was in an old theater and everything had a "vintage" feel. The girls' dresses were perfect. It was the first time Joel had ever worn a tie. He was such a handsome little guy.

Such a serious little man

Kari reminded me of a flapper here.

Cute kiddos all dressed and ready to blow bubbles and throw petals down the aisle.

Swim Lessons

Today the kids had their last swim lessons (enrolled them the first of May) , and once again, I'm so glad we did it. They were in different classes this time and both get to "graduate" to the next level. Kari has become quite the little swimmer, a fish in the water, and Joel didn't have ANY tears this time around (quite a different experience from last year) and actually had fun in his lessons. He doesn't love the water like Kari, so swim lessons are simply to get him ready for pool season and acclimated to the water. It was an added bonus that he actually learned how to float on his back and had a good time. :)