Just a few Pictures

I was sitting there deep in thought, when *snap* she caught me. Charlotte is the picture taker. And I love her infectious laugh when she feels she's caught something funny on camera. "Mom, can I take a picture of your belly?" Of course she could. Picture taking is not one of the things I'm stellar to remember and I want to show this new baby someday what "the belly" looked like.

Yes, my cliche' shirt says, "I love my Hubby." Pink as can be and I found it at a second hand store, like new, for 2 bucks. Because I started out this pregnancy smaller than any of my others, I needed some 'new' shirts. And since I don't go many places, ok, well, I've worn this in public...and I can't help it, I really love Joe.

Sunday marks the 36th week for "the belly" and I begin my weekly appointments! I hope to get at least one more blog post in before then, but we'll see!

And because of this lovely belly and an opportunity to repay a friend for watching my children a few times, I watched hers for two days (so she could go to Girls Camp) that my Chruch investigator friend Jackie, came to help. Some days I only have enough energy to use the bathroom and give meals to myself and the girls. So 5 extra kids was going to be tricky. Thanks to Jackie, all went well. The girls LOVE these 4 boys and girl. They would be in heaven if we were next door neighbors.

Bored games, toy room, books, the Wii, and a party is what we did. Since Xela's birthday is December 24th, and don't want her to grow up resenting it, I gave her the option to have a birthday party in the summer with friends, etc. Myself and Joe more are used to family birthday parties...lets just say,  when Xela the evening before the second day said, "Since we're having friends over tomorrow, can we have my party then?" I was relieved and excited!! While she played and read books in the other room the next day, I whipped up a batch of cupcakes (ok, whipped is not the right word. They were healthy and from scratch. I had to make sure children who were not used to eating whole wheat things would think they were birthday worthy), hung streamers and got (unhealthy, hehe) pizza for lunch. She came out of the room surprised, we sang happy birthday and she had a lovely time. Happy Birthday Xela!!!

On a day when the girls and I took Joe to work for an appointment we went visiting teaching, saw a friend who recently had a baby, and we visited 2 of my former Young Women. They played hide-and-seek with them, then we went inside where their dad brought out his instruments and the girls sang, strummed and tooted. I so wish I would have had my phone ready to video. Kevin, the dad, asked Charlotte to make up a song. She strummed and sang a song about a squirrel that puts my 'think on the spot' ability to shame. We had a good laugh!

And here is Xela giving a nice pose to the camera :) It's funny, we've only seen under a dozen youtube clips of the Olympics, about the only time when I wish we had cable or something, but the girls are having fun doing gymnastics, especially this girl! Jumping off the bed and couch and doing twists and landing right. We've got lots of video of it!  Anne too has joined in, and she does the "shake-ah," where she shakes her hands slow to fast and goes off her bed and lands on her bottom. Another good laugh for all of us.



Charlotte's eye appointment went well. Her eyes are correcting themselves, kind of a lazy eye thing, and she has exercises we (should) do everyday.

Here is Joe and Anne. Who calls herself Annie most of the time, because I do, and Daddy. Joe's resting after a looong days work and Anne decided to rest with him and a xylophone :)

"Daddy's Fire Truck!" Anne calls it. For his construction rotation they gave him this truck to use. So when we need the car for the day, we drop him off about 10 minutes from our house to the Bridge Office parking lot and he takes it to his work site. Things are winding up for him on the site as the time counts down to the bridge move! After August 18th, his schedule should go back to normal. Yippee!!!

And I sign off til next time with two things we've made. The girls were "Bakers" with their aprons on, getting their hands in the dough rolling balls.

The  girls and I made Whole Wheat Glazed Donuts

These Homemade Granola Bars last us 1-2 weeks. Super easy and they really hit the spot. (I don't use the website, but HeavenlyHomemakers.com is where it came from)

Jenni and Family