24 Weeks

So I'm beginning to become a little concerned as to where this little lady is going to fit for the next 3 months. She is already spending a lot of time curled up under my right ribs and it doesn't feel very good.

The last few weeks have been a little trying to say the least. I have had kidney stones, sciatica, tail bone pain and lots of braxton hicks contractions....sigh.

I love feeling her kick, it's something I've always really missed after each of my kids were born. I can hardly wait to meet her :)

Summer Camping Trip

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids down to camp down on the Oregon Coast. The first night we camped in Cannon Beach and the next two nights we camped in Nehalem Beach. Kelsey brought along her good friend Nicole (aka Nico.) The older girls camped out in the tent, while the rest of the family camped in our new/old pop up tent trailer.
Last spring, my brother and Mike bought this 1973 trailer. Besides the colors not being too beautiful, it really is in pretty good condition.

One night, some kind of little critter was up on the side of the trailer scratching away, right behind my head and Mikes. I think it was trying to figure out how to get inside.

After listening to it for a few minutes, I asked Mike if he was awake and did he hear what I was hearing. He told me yes and that the noise was really starting to freak him out. All of a sudden the sound was on the other side of the trailer scratching right next to our feet. I finally grabbed the flash light and shined it right where I was hearing the noise. The little critter must have gotten scared because it was silent after that.

There were a few things that went on with our camping neighbors that was a little annoying.

If you have a annoying, yappy, barking dog that is going to bark at every single person walking by....leave it home!!! No one wants to listen to it for 48 hours.

Just because you are having a family reunion and take up 3 slots, doesn't mean it's okay to make LOTS OF NOISE every single minute you are awake (along with your stupid dog.)

If your 3 year old accidentally poops his pants, don't sit and scold him for 10 minutes while your wiping his poopy bottom, where your neighbors have a full view of it while their trying to eat dinner. Take him out of view to spare us your child's poop smeared rear.

Don't come to a state park to set up camp after quiet hours have begun. No one wants to listen to it at 10:45 pm and 12.a.m., two nights in a row.

If you have really annoying neighbors, it's okay to smile while you use your air pump after quiet hours because you forgot to do it earlier....it's a little pay back.

Camp fire time...

and of course a little beach time.

Over all, we had a pretty great time and look forward to doing it again.

Birthday Balloon Release

We've had a lot of "firsts" already. Easter, Father's Day, my parent's anniversary, 4th of July dinner and fireworks, and my Dad's birthday.

All which his presence has been missed, including each day that has passed.

We went out to the cemetery as a family and brought him some flowers and a little laminated birthday greeting.

We gathered around him and sang Happy Birthday.....

and released our balloons with little notes attached.

Off the balloons went together....heaven bound, into the beautiful evening sky.

(The little frog I caught in the grass.)

Memorial Day

I have meant to post these pictures of the cemetery from Memorial Day weekend. The flags every where were so pretty.

Stars and Stripes Forever

by John Philip Sousa

Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever. The gem of the land and the sea, the banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day

When our fathers with mighty endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray

That by the might and the right

It waves forever.

He's a roof man, painter and gutter cleaner....

I asked my brother Brett if he could come over and climb up on our roof and help us finish painting one small section of the house that we had been unable to reach last summer.
I'm sure it's exactly what he wanted to be doing on a Saturday. On top of painting part of a wall for us, he decided he needed to clean all of our gutters and blow the roof off for us.

I'm sure he saved us hundreds of dollars last week.Thank you again for your spider man skills Brett.

22 Weeks

How come no one tells you how much more taxing on the body it is to be pregnant in your mid 30's than it is to be pregnant in your mid 20's? Is that why all the paper work at the doctor's office says I'm high risk and elderly? (Yes, it really says elderly.) All because I'm just a hair over 35....ridiculous I know.

This pregnancy is moving along so far at a pretty decent rate, although I think my poor body is already a little tired.

Can it just be December already?