Just Tidbits

The kids were being extra cute yesterday afternoon so I had to take some pictures!

What cuties! J was more interested in moving and didn't want to sit still for pictures.

Also found out this morning that our New Mexico FSMA chapter has been approved and we are being sent info on getting started. Tasha is getting a phone, and soon we will have a bank account and a PO box. We're hoping to get up and running and have our first official meeting in September after Tasha gets back in town. I'm so excited!

The Results Are In...

Got my results today and it was as I feared...inconclusive. Not exactly helpful. I have an appointment with my midwife tomorrow so I'm going to discuss it with her. They did find some lymph nodes that were a little larger than normal but apparently nothing out of the ordinary showed up on the ultrasound and my thyroid blood test results were "acceptable". So, I guess that's it for now.

Mom of 4 and Proud of It!

So we're at the park today after enjoying our free lunch and I'm getting ready to push Z on the swing next to another mom and her little one. She looks over and says, "Wow, three kids under 4!" and I say, "Yes, three that are 4 and under and one on the way." I thought she was going to drop right here in the sand. She said, "You're kidding...you're having another one? When are you due? You must have the patience of a saint!" I'll admit, we're about to have a bigger family than most people have these days but we want it that way. We think that every little one that has been given to us is a gift from God and we are thrilled and honored to get to raise them. I really wish people would quit acting like we're crazy or stupid (or both!) for having so many kids. Yes, a few of our kiddos were surprises but it wasn't like we didn't want them or couldn't handle it. And yes, there are MANY crazy moments in our household and I'll be the first to admit there is sometimes a lot of yelling, but that is true of any house with kids whether it's 1 or seven! I guess I'm just tired of the comments and the looks when I go places. I just want to scream at people and tell them that I'm not a teenage mother who doesn't know how to use birth control...I am a woman who is married to a man who has a great job and we can provide for our children. Yes, I get asked how old I am sometimes. My friend Amber, who also has four kids, gets looks and comments all the time and so I guess I should just get used to it but sometimes its just a little annoying.

The Booger

Ains and I were doing each other's make-up while Z and J slept this afternoon and she had a little boogie right inside her nose so I picked it...those of you who are moms can totally understand this one...for the rest of you, I'm sorry but it had to be done. She asked what the booger was doing and I said I didn't know. She then piped up and said, "Maybe it was hanging out with it's friends!" and we bust out laughing. Boy, did I need that=) I did not like my makeover though...I looked a bit, shall we say "cheap" by the time Ainsley was finished. Someday I'll teach her that less is more!

It's Official

I am a mommy who drives a van. I know...I've said in the past that I would never in a million years drive a van but I have to tell you, it's the best thing ever! It is so much easier getting the kids and all their things in and out, especially in tiny parking lots where they don't give you much space. The kids really love the DVD player and really could care less about much else as long as a movie is playing. It is so quiet in the car now...=)

I miss my Pilot but I can still drive it on occasion since we still have it. I'm still getting used to a few things with the van but for the most part the switch was easy.

Frog (Or Something) In My Throat

It all started about two weeks ago and felt like I swallowed a hair but couldn't get it to budge! I drank water, I ate bread but nothing seemed to make it go away. It was just about the most annoying feeling ever and only on the right side. Then it was gone for about a day and was replaced by a raging sore throat...but not your typical sore throat like from a cold or allergies...I've had plenty of those! It hurts to swallow (but not to eat thank goodness!), sneeze, cough, and talk and gets worse as the day goes on. I had an appointment this morning with a PA and she did a throat culture even though she was confident it was not related to strep but just want to see what comes back. Then she sent me for some blood work while she scheduled an ultrasound for my thyroid. I was amazed when they told me I'd be able to get in today. The PA was thinking I have some sort of foreign body that has become an abscess or that I have something going on with my thyroid, like a goiter. I might have the results by Monday or Tuesday. I was also told to go see an endocrinologist to have a baseline with one since I'll be dealing with thyroid issues pretty much the rest of my life. I really hate waiting for results on tests. Most of you that know me well know that if given too much time to think about things, I get all worked up about them and come up with about a million things that I think are going on! I know the Lord has a plan and that He has a hand in everything from the ultrasound pictures to what the doctor sees when he or she reads them but I still worry.

And on a side note: we can learn so much from our children, especially about faith. This morning Papa brought over a little verse inside a footprint that was printed on a piece of paper and Ainsley just asked me to read it to her. It says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace-Romans 15:13" She asked why it was inside a footprint and then answered her own question, "Probably because we should follow the Lord". How very true=) Guess I should commit that verse to memory and remember to follow Him in all things! God knew I needed a reminder and chose my precious daughter to send it to me!

The Stormtrooper

I found out a little more about the stormtrooper that was at Chick-Fil-A on Friday. My friend Dawn who serves across the hall from us at church is a manager there so I asked what he had to do with Cow Appreciation Day. A bit odd but she said she really didn't know why he was there or who he was. He just showed up in the morning and stayed pretty much all day. To the best of her knowledge, it wasn't an employee either. I was a little shocked about that because all the kids were so excited about the stormtrooper and were following him around and giving him high-fives...I even had a conversation with him thinking he was an employee and then I find out he's some mystery guy that no one knows and he's around all these kids. Kind of strange if you ask me...

Cow Appreciation Day At Chick-Fil-A

Today was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A so we met some friends over there for some good food and some fun too! If you dressed up like a cow, you got a free meal. I really wanted to dress Jess up but she wasn't thrilled about having anything attached to her! Here are my two cute cows before we left. I whipped out the costumes in about 45 minutes. I really didn't want to go buy anything so I just used some old white shirts, turned inside out and put spots on them with a permanent marker. Chick-Fil-A's website had the printouts for the ears, signs and a few other things you could use for the costumes...I just used the ears and the sign. Then I used liquid eyeliner that came off using a wipe) for their faces. They loved dressing up and Ainsley was totally excited about getting something for free! I have to say I shared her enthusiasm! Z ran around the house holding his sign yelling, "Eat more chicken, mom!"

Brianne, Ainsley, Cow, Z and Lynnea
All us moms signed a release so that they could use some pictures they took on their website for next year. That would be fun to see them online!

Ainsley, Lynnea, Brianne, Girl Cow, Stormtrooper and Noah. I'm still not sure the significance of the Stormtrooper except that he's black and white like a cow...?

This is about as close to a cow as Jess would get!

They had a little photo booth set up outside so we did that before we left.

Thanks Jen for telling us about CAD...it was so much fun!

4th of July Weekend Recap

Friday we bought some fireworks and had to try some out that evening with the kids. We needed a little warm-up for the 4th!
We were interested to see how Z did since he wasn't too keen on the fireworks last year. He did pretty well this year although, you'll notice a theme with the louder fireworks!

Mike, Ains and Z lighting some sparklers

Z really loved the sparklers and had a great time running around with them!
Here's the theme starting=0) We had some really great fireworks this year. I didn't get a whole lot of pictures of them the next night because I was too busy enjoying them.

Z's Tank
Saturday afternoon we went over to Liz and Caleb's for a BBQ and some early fireworks. It was so much fun!

Dawson and Em "jousting" in the backyard while Z swings

Dawson, Ethan and Z wrestling

Dawson, Uncle Caleb and Ethan checking out the fireworks
A smoke bomb...these were a hit!
Back at our house when it got dark we did our own fireworks. Notice the theme again. They would help Mike light the fireworks, cover their ears and run back to the garage to watch them.
At one point Ains and Z were yelling, "Holy Cow!" every time a firework went off and then all the sudden Z yells, "Holy God!" and we all busted out laughing!

A self-portrait with some fireworks in the background

Happy Early 4th of July

Just wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July in case I don't post anything between now and then. Enjoy your families, friends, and all the beautiful fireworks. Oh, and of course, the food! And don't forget to say a prayer for all the men and women fighting for our freedom=0)