End of May photo update

Isn't she just cute? (It's juice, not coffee)


Doodle and Bella enjoying sprinkler time on a hot Spring day...


Noodle and I visited the Wilderness Walk on a third-grade class field trip. We had such a fun day together!

I'm just going to quote "Baby Center" on the baby's growth for the week...

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

I get to visit the doctor on Monday... I am supposed to (only) have gained 10 lbs. by this point... we shall see.

I spent the day at a friend's house getting ready for a moving sale. We got it pretty much organized and will be ready to open tomorrow morning. I am very much looking forward to an evening with my husband tomorrow night! :) (They have been rare lately due to his hard-working and my exhaustion by 9pm!)

Love to all our far away family. We miss you all. Bella was comiserating that she didn't even remember what her cousins look like anymore. We send hugs to one and all!

A fun day was had...

Well, the kick-off to summer is behind us (Yet Noodle and Jake have 7 1/2 days of school remaining). We had such a fun day! We got to enjoy a day of watching softball (me), climbing on the playground with friends (Bella), fishing from start to finish (Doodle), and fishing mixed with a horseback ride (Noodle). Jaker got to play in the softball tourney (and did mighty well if I do say so myself!) and they finished 3rd. We ended the day with a good ol' Memorial Day picnic and campfire with friends. The kids ran through the sprinkler as the adults sat around the fire. When the smores came out twas not such a relaxing fire as the marshmallow/ graham cracker/ chocolate assembly line was buzzing with demands!

Today is laundry, cleaning and at-home time. The two little ones are putting away clothes and doing chores as I contemplate my next move.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Progress!

Despite the much needed rain in the past couple of days, Jaker has been working hard. We have gone from two basement walls to four with most of the sheeting up. The next step is to caulk the seams and staple plastic to the walls.



We are looking forward to yet another day off tomorrow- the annual softball tournament and a cookout! I love summer. Even if it's only impending. :)

My sweet little zucchini

No, we are not having twins.

The baby has reached the small zucchini stage- about 9 oz. and 6 inches head to rump. Makes me wonder why the legs don't count, as they are the most invasive part of this little wonder. I feel him/her kicking a lot now, especially when I am in this chair or in bed at night.

I think we have reached a decision on names. If it's a girl it will be Kennedy (Tessa is our back up name) and should it be a boy I think we're going with Caden (or my preferred spelling, Caeden) much to Noodle's dislike. He likes Justin and can't understand why we don't just choose it and be done with the whole discussion. I remember being opinionated on the topic when my brother was born when I was in second grade, and even more so when we talked about names later with my mom... "should there have been another sibling." We'll see. We did a last minute change to "Doodle" after our long-planned name was taken by a friend less than a month before he was born.

The construction is going well. Jaker is working his heart out. I got what is left of our yard mowed yesterday- just in time for the rain! :)
Praise the Lord for the much-needed showers! :)
I'll leave you with a couple photos of the less-than-beautiful stage of construction we are in!

Noodle's Favorite Position

Spring soccer season is in full swing, and Noodle LOVES to play goalie. The boys are both enjoying the season despite the crazy Wisconsin weather!

 

Bella's booty

Last week brought morel hunting with Grandma Joyce. We brought the kids and three dogs on a two hour hike through the woods and found beautiful mushrooms (well, as beautiful as a dry year can produce!)! Here's Bella with one of our treasures:

 

First Grade Graduate

I realized today how long it has been since I posted photos of the kids! Wanna know why? I haven't emptied my memory card for A MONTH! Yep. A month. So, without further a-do...
Here is Doodle's biggest news of the month thus far...

 

... He is a first-grade graduate! Doodle, we are SO proud of you and all you have learned this year. Here ends our formal teacher/student relationship (at least at this juncture) and, ya know, that is heart-warming, and makes me sentimental all at once. You are going to do GREAT in public school, buddy. I love you!

Well yesterday was extremely productive- Thank you, Lord!- so Doodle, Bella and I are off to visit Jake's parents and brother at the farm. While we are gone, Lord willing, the forms will be built and concrete will be poured for the basement. When I get back I am hoping to photo document the process, thus far, here at Doodles. I know, edge-of-your-seat excitement and FREE!

For those curious, tomorrow the baby will reach 5 1/2 inches (the length of a large sweet potato) and about 7 ounces. I can feel her/him flutter kick when I lay down at night (my still moment of the day) and there's no questioning whether or not I am pregnant. I just popped right out over the last week. Thank you to my sweet sisters in law (Laura, Cori) for the maternity clothes! I settled them all in the closet yesterday and I am set, thanks to you two and a few good garage sales!

Take Care, all! We'll catch up in a few days!

In the wake

Well, my plate is full today.
I have a two-yr-old visiting for the day.
Yesterday's excitement is over, but left in its wake a pile of undone laundry, dirty floors, boxes to be gone through, dirty bathrooms, dishes, clothes sorting and more.
Floors and dishes are done and I'm praying for the Lord to direct the rest.
What is it YOU want done today, Lord?

Monday, Monday

The good news?

The excavator is here!
I have been meaning to clean and purge our utility (storage) room for a couple of months now, and I have the opportunity!

The bad news?

I HAVE the opportunity because a line was accidentally hit that brings water our to our wood boiler. Our utility room is under 2 inches of water. The lines broke right above the shelves that hold our camping gear (sleeping bags, tents...) and our keepsakes from childhood. What does the Bible say about holding loosely to the things of this world?

I'll be downstairs until further notice.

Walla Walla, anyone?

So today the baby has reached the size of a large onion. Approximately 5 oz. and 5 inches long. However, to this point, I have gained 5 pounds total. (Where's the justice!?) Seeing as how I am 17 weeks along out of 40 total weeks, I figure I will gain a grand total of 11.76 pounds. You know, when you cross-multiply and divide. ;)(insert snickers. Or Snickers... yum.)
The tough news is that I have had my heart set on finding out the gender via ultrasound which our doctor has always done between 18 and 20 weeks. Yesterday he informed me he would do it at 24 weeks... which is late June/ early July. That's a long time, people!

I have felt the baby move just a few brief moments. I really don't sit still very often, so I am sure it moves more frequently, I'm just not paying attention. Sometimes I can see a baby belly plain as day, and other days I can't even tell it's there (usually in the morning). That's about all the news I have for you on the gestation front.

Tomorrow is the long awaited "Garage sale day" (insert angelic "Ah-ha's"). I will share a portion of my list with you, though like last year, I am sure I will find many treasures that I am forgetting I need until I see them. Here goes:

1.Shoes, shoes, boots and more shoes for all three kids.
2.an umbrella stroller (never had one, believe it or not. Spoiled baby of the family. :) )
3. a hot thermos
4. a bigger cold beverage thermos (1 gal+)
5. rollerblades for Noodle
6. a bathroom scale (again, never had one!)
7. bedside lamps
8. Little House books
9. an aluminum bat (or a few of them)
10. brown dress sandals for me
11. sawhorses
12. a sled (or a few of them)
My youngest SIL os making her maiden voyage with us, and seems to be up to the rigors of the day. :) She and her family should be arriving later tonight.

God has been so good to us. I am so thankful for health. For friends. For family. For the beauty of His creation. For new life. For the joy children bring. For this new little life inside me. Thank you, Lord.

Dances With Skunks-Now on DVD

Well, due to the precious avocado I am incubating, I will not be able to join friends in doing the May Day weight loss challenge. I do however, hope to control the weight gain with this pregnancy, and hope to not retain "our little caboose" with a big ol' caboose of my own.

So, with that in mind I set out for a walk this morning, met up with a friend for a bit, and then parted ways to head to our own homes. I walk a little frontage-type road and was admiring all the new green life in the ditch when out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. About 5 feet away in the middle of the road was a skunk, precariously tiptoeing on it's front feet- rear in the air. I took a quick step back, then side stepped slowly along the road, trying to look as non-threatening as I could. Without the release of any aroma, he started waddling away. He took the opposite ditch to the nearest culvert with me crossing to watch him until he was out of sight.

So there you have it. My brush with nature on a lovely Wednesday morning.

I made delicious mango/banana smoothies for breakfast- just the fruit and milk. Oh, were they good! Now off to do the bills in which I will sweat off any water weight I am carrying. :) I have a baby check this afternoon. Stay tuned for the produce update tomorrow!

Ahhh...

Do you hear the satisfaction in that sigh?
Doodle, Bella and I spent a good part of the day purging their toys. We started with a messy, overflowing, disorganized basement family room and now have a clean, orderly place where, hey, ya know, I think they could actually PLAY with the toys that remain.

We sorted movies and books. We consolidated toys and re-containerized what remained. I wish I had before and after pics. Honestly, though, my first reaction upon going down there was to throw up a little bit in my throat, not to grab the camera.

A good vacuum and dust will complete the makeover.

*** Note, speaking of vacuum, my dear husband fixed our saggy-belted vacuum that has been stinky and non-effective since he was out east! It now purrs like a kitten and sucks like, well, a Hoover.***

I am officially getting in on a garage sale in early June. I have a pile accumulating and today's booty doubled it.

Not to tackle that wretched utility room. Inspiration- come find me!

Another fabulous Mother's Day gift would be...

I would just love for someone more techno-savvy than myself to design my blog! I've got it all envisioned... but I'll save the details for later. Good Luck to all! :)

10 things meme

OK, I was bad at posting the last meme De(de) threw my way so I am going to do this one so she doesn't hold a grudge forever (he he... you have to read her list to get that one!).

I am to list ten facts about me or habits that I have, and then am supposed to tag ten of you to play along. I haven't done this for a long time, so I may repeat, and I don't think there are ten of you out there who read this blog and have your own (or haven't already been tagged by De), so if you want to play along, please do, and leave a comment so I can read them!

1. I hate feet. Especially other peoples feet. I even wince when I have to trim the kids toenails. The boys both do their own now. Dry feet are the worst... On me and others. ugh.

2. I go through deodorant very slowly. Though I DO wear it daily, Jake goes though 2 or 3 sticks to my one. (Let me know if you are a friend who has noticed I don't put enough on. I do want to know.)

3. There are only 4 foods I don't like (I think). Milk, cake, frosting and coconut. I am a very adventurous eater and will try just about anything that isn't in the "Fear Factor" realm.

4. I love hiking and walking. I would take a hike daily if time allowed.

5. I was adopted at 2 months old. I have found my birth mother, but once my curiosity about her was fulfilled I am no longer in touch with her. I have a GREAT God-given family and have no desire to pursue a relationship with my birth mom. There are many more emotions to that all than I ever knew existed. I still don't understand them all! :) I DO know that I am very full with all God has blessed me with.

6. I *LOVE* garage sales and most of what I wear is from them. Not everything... but at least an item a day.

7. I get carsick when I am not in the front seat. Be warned. :) It's manageable... I usually just need to open a window and get air when I start to feel queasy.

8. I can't stand waking up to a dirty kitchen.

9. I love to shower and take L-O-N-G showers. Daily.

10. I took 8 years of piano lessons. I also played the oboe for 8 years with stints on the cymbals, alto sax, and bass drum for marching band.

There you go! Probably not new for most of you. Play along!!! I dare you.

Have I mentioned I love contests?

This would be a fun Mother's Day gift! Good Luck!!!