Ready for Summer

Last week we had such lovely weather. Warm and sunny with temperatures in the 70's. Perfection. I think one day we even hit 80. I know!

This week started out pretty chilly. Our predicted snow (or rain) never came, but the temp certainly took a dive. Unphased by the change, look what these hooligans did yesterday. I thought about stopping them, but I didn't. Somethings they just need to learn on their own, right?

Yeah, it was 45 degrees - with a chilly, chilly wind.

I think we're ready for summer.

May 22, 2006 - Enter Lucy

I had a doctor's appointment that Monday afternoon. My mom was in town - as we were all anticipating Lucy's arrival - so I was alone at my appointment. Because my due date was the day before, I had a non-stress test before I got to see the doctor.

It was to be a routine exam to check everything out (you know, dilation, effacement etc., all that fun stuff). However, this time she grabbed one of those Ph strips. Apparently, my water had broken some and I was "juicy". That's a first.

I was sent to the hospital (which just so happened to be at a different hospital than the one I was at - another first), so I called Ryan and told him to meet me there. I called my mom and told her I wasn't coming home, and then I called my sister, Reecy, to tell her that (hopefully!) she'd have a niece that would share her birthday.

It was about 3pm when I arrived at the hospital and after getting all set up in our room, they started the pitocin. I don't remember being in much pain so I must have gotten my epidural shortly after. I'm pretty sure this was my easiest labor (if you can call it that :) and delivery as Miss Lucy Jean was born at 7:04pm.

She had the most hair of any of our kids and since we'd decided to skip any sort of induction, she came on her own schedule. Miss Lucy is still that way. Even when I'm rushing her out the door, she still prefers to take her own time. And, just to be sure I know she's part of our family (because actually coming out of me wouldn't be enough :) she has had the 4 year-old sass in her pants like her sisters. And, goodness me, this girl can be stubborn. (I know EXACTLY where that comes from and it ain't from me!) She cracks me up every now and then the way she asserts her independence, but really, she is a little sweetheart. It pinches my heart a bit when I'm scolding her to see her little stone-face break a little with hurt feelings. I know she's got a tender heart in there.

We love our sweet Lucy.

Happy 5th Birthday!

Our Newest Pre-School Graduate!

(I feel like every post I do I should be apologizing for the quality of my photos. Stupid camera card still won't work. And this time, someone had messed with the settings om my phone, too. I didn't even know there were settings to mess with! Whatever.)

Here she is! Miss Lucy - our newest graduate.

Four down, two to go!

Lucy is our third graduate from Miss Terry's Play N Learn Pre-School. She did a fabulous job, even if she wouldn't look out at us and smile. She was quite stoic, but still did everything beautifully. (I'm still trying to determine if she was being a tad shy - or completely embarrassed of us. I'm hoping the first!)

Our crazy brood

This program was pretty tender for us as Miss Terry wasn't actually there. This class was her 18th and final class.

Last year during school, Terry found out she had Melanoma. Even through all of her treatments, she still persevered. One week after Lucy started pre-school, Terry found out that the Melanoma had returned and this time was in her brain. Still optimistic and incredibly faith-filled, she continued with school with the help of her daughter (and friend of ours), Miss Kristi.

As Miss Terry's health began to deteriorate - finding several more tumors even after the focal radiation, Kristi took everything over. Terry would try her best to be with the kids when she felt well enough. I had to snap this picture at Christmas because sadly, I just wasn't sure Terry was going to make it to graduation.

Sadly, Terry passed away in the arms of her oldest son, January 31, 2011 - just 6 days from her 60th birthday.

Miss Terry deserves a post of her own. We love her and miss her. We're grateful to Miss Kristi for carrying on during this most difficult time.

Lucy had a wonderful year and we're looking forward to kindergarten!

They Make Me Laugh

We were cleaning Lucy and Olivia's room
and while I was in the closet with my back turned, Lucy says:

Look at my eyes, Mom. Aren't they wonderful?

3 Weeks

I can't remember the last time I let my blog go 3 weeks without posting. Sheesh. Let me explain though - and in two words: CRAZY BUSY (as I'm sure many of you are these days as well).

I will be back though. I have a couple more crazy busy weeks -I started a business with a friend that has exploded! - but hopefully you'll see us before Christmas and I can fill you in. Hopefully.

In the meantime, check out what Lucy did to Olivia the day before we left town.
Yeah, I freaked.

It's a good thing though that I live right around the corner from a friend of mine that cuts hair AND that Olivia still looks so stinkin cute!
Even if she looks like an orphan in the first photos.

Be back soon!

They Make Me Laugh

Kaycee(singing): Flor-eye, flor-eye, you need glasses to see.
Me: what's that from?
Kaycee: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (the movie).
Me: Oh.
Kaycee keeps singing.
Me: it's actually four eyes, Kace. When people wear glasses, sometimes they're called four eyes.
Kaycee: Glasses would be REALLY hard if you had four eyes!

*******************************************************************

Lucy: Mom, tell Kaycee it's not her job to be mean.
Me: It's no one's "job" to be mean, Lucy.
Lucy: it's your job....and Dad's job...

A few weeks later Lucy was at the pool with my mom.
Another Gma was telling her granddaughter it was time to get out of the pool

Lucy: I don't think that lady was her grandma.
My mom: you don't? (the lady was clearly her gma.)
Lucy: nope. it was her mom. She was mean to her.

*******************************************************************

Kaycee: Mom, Clay kicked me in the nuts!

A Heart in her Hand

Lucy leaving for her first day of pre-school with Miss Terry.

Lucy was really excited to start school. Although she didn't know any of the 7 other kids, she started without hesitation...until last Friday. She woke up determined that she wasn't going to go to school. Not feeling ill, and 5 classes already under her belt, I thought she was just being stubborn.

Just after the older kids left for school she was laying on my bedroom floor and asked where her heart was. I told her it was in her chest. She asked on which side. I told her closer to the middle. She continued laying on the floor declaring she wasn't going to school.

As I moved around the house she followed still proclaiming she wasn't going to school. Finally, after my several inquiries (and even some bribery) I told her she needed to go to school.

Lucy (whining): But we have to pledge allegiance. I don't know it.
Me: Lucy, I dont' think any of your friends know it. You're all learning it.
Lucy: But I don't know which arm?
Me: Which arm?
Lucy: yeah, I don't know which arm to put over my heart.
Me: oooohhh (finally! understanding) it doesn't matter which hand you put over your heart.
Lucy: I don't know which hand!!
Me: Lucy, use that hand (pointing to her right hand. She's right handed).
Lucy: I DON'T KNOW WHICH HAND!
Me: Do you want me to draw a heart on your hand? The one to use to pledge allegiance?
Lucy: yes.
Me: do you want to go to school now?
Lucy: yeah.
Me: go get dressed then.

I must say that I'm grateful for the reminder of the stresses of learning new things. Especially 4 year old stressors. Poor girl. It just took a while for her mom to understand.


I learned shortly after talking to Ryan that you're supposed to use your right hand. Oh. I didn't know that.
I'm Canadian.

They Make Me Laugh - Lucy Edition & Baby News

Lucy: Mom? Teenagers aren't teenagers.
Me: Oh yeah?
Lucy: yup. Teenagers aren't teenagers. They're freaks.
Me: (thinking) Who has she been talking to?


Lucy grabbing her chalk (from her birthday) to go play outside.
Lucy: Mom, Kaycee CANNOT use this chalk.
Me: Why not? You don't want to share?
Lucy: It says right here (following a line of text with her finger) NOT for Kaycee. Only for Lucy.
Me: Oh. (right, cause you can read...)


Lucy sitting down to dinner yells: ORDER UP!
I don't know where she gets it.


In Baby News:
I got to see our babe today. By ultrasound, of course. Last week at my appointment my dr. informed me that I had always measured weird and was measuring 2 weeks behind. I wasn't concerned - this wasn't anything new (especially with the last 3 girls), but she had me come in today to have the ultrasound. Who passes up an ultrasound? Not me.

Baby comes up on the screen and the first measurement of the baby is his head. I'm 33 weeks today so when the baby's head came in measuring 35 weeks, I was pretty excited. I get to measure smaller on the outside while the baby measures ahead on the inside sounds like a pretty good deal to me! After the tech measured the stomach, femur etc., he's measuring right where he should be. A nice, healthy 4lbs 9oz or there about. So really, he just has a big head bumping him up. Sounds like a fun delivery doesn't it :)

Starting off the Birthdays - Lucy

It's not until almost half way through the year that our little family gets to start celebrating birthdays, and Miss Lucy is the first. Excited to pick out her own gifts, and anxiously waiting for her pupcakes, she had a wonderful birthday celebrated with family and friends.

Happy 4th Birthday Lucy!

The Afternoon Trio

One of their favorite things to do in the afternoon is to take a bath.

It's not long though until it turns to . . .

. . . then the fun of bath-time together has lost it's appeal
and someone's asked to be removed.

They Make Me Laugh - Listening to Kaycee & Lucy

Here are some things I heard from Kaycee and Lucy this past week.

Kaycee is the queen of making up songs. Her latest:
"I love Mom just a teeny bit more than Grandma,
Just a teeny bit more than Grandpa."


Lucy hears me burp.
Lucy:"Mom, say excuse me."
Me: "Oh yes, excuse me."
Lucy looks away and disappointedly says "moms don't burp."


Bless my Mom's heart, she mailed us everything we'd left behind in Utah - which made a pretty good sized package! Thanks, mom! When we opened the package, Kaycee grabs her glitter ball and puts it up to her nose.
KC: "ahh, it smells like Grammies."
Me: "Really?" (you sure it doesn't smell like rubber??)
KC: "No, it actually smells like Sicily." (her cousin)
Me: "Sicily? What does Sicily smell like?"
KC: "Like cotton balls."

By now Lucy is smelling Clay's football and quietly says " I don't smell Grammies."


Kaycee being sweet holding one of Lucy's hands while I put a band aid on a cut finger on the other. Kaycee gasps "Lucy! Don't put up that finger - that's your swear finger!"


Sitting by Olivia on the couch, she grabs a movie case and shoves it in my robe. Nice.

Eating Cheese in Purple Pajamas

The girls this morning.

What will I do when they're all in school??

Independence

Dressing themselves. I love it.