7 kids, age 6 and under!

Our great friends, The W family came to spend Memorial Day with us. The day started out a little rainy, so we spent some time indoors. The kids had a blast dressing up as princesses, and 'cooking' food, playing video games and K'nex. Luckily the rain let up and we were able to send the troops outside for awhile.

The boys were boys and ran around 'shooting' things and climbing trees. They were quite outnumbered by the girls!

Sweet Baby Julia pushed big wheels around and crawled on the sidewalk, that is when she wasn't eating dirt. The little doll just made me more anxious for another little one to smooch and spoil.

The big girls spent a good amount of time joyriding together in their convertible. Can't you just picture them in about 13 or 14 years on the way to the beach together?

There are only rare occasions you can go many months without seeing your friends and then simply pick up like you hung out the week before. That's how it is with this special family.

ready for summer

Jack is so ready for summer. It has been quite the challenge to get him out of bed in the morning- even with only 2 more days to go. I had to laugh to myself when he brought this picture home he made at school. It's a grouchy Jackbug!

I am grouchy when mom wakes me up early.

New life for an old chair

You may remember this old chair from pictures I have taken in the past. At one point it belonged to my Father in law's grandmother- so it is old. It used to reside at their house near the burn pile... that was until I discovered it's potential, rescued it and took pictures of the kids on it. I asked if they would save the chair for me rather than burn it, and approximately a year ago when we moved in, the chair made its way over to our house. Last week I was feeling inspired to create, and the chair came to mind. The spring and robin's egg blue popped into my mind, and a dream was born. During one of my Menard's runs (I have practically lived there the last few weeks between flowers and outdoor projects) the girls and I swung through the paint section and I discovered the perfect color for my chair. It is adorned with an old bowl I got, where else, but at a rummage sale, for 50 cents, and filled with some flowers. I have to say I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I might feel a photo shoot coming on!

Not what I envisioned...

At about 11:45 last night a very hot little girl tip toed into my room and snuck into bed with me. I awoke about a half an hour later, realized how really hot she was, took a quick temp and gave her some Tylenol, then whisked her back to her own bed. (this growing belly makes it hard enough to get comfy, minus another whole 2 year old). I slunk back into my bed, positioned my body pillow and about 20 minutes later awoke to the same 2 year old heaving right next to my bed (the most puked on spot in the whole house. Lucky me!). I practically throw her into my bathroom, managing to get about 80% of the red damage (fruit punch for dinner!) either in the toilet or on the hard floor vs. cream carpet. We did what we usually do when one of the kids is sick and created a little bed of blankets at the bottom of our bed, about 2 feet from the bathroom and then strategically place towels in case this escapade occurs again. Luckily it has not, but the fever is still there, and she is a little lethargic. Anyone in my family knows from this picture, the puke bowl is in formation in case it is needed. I just hate how little kids can't tell you when they have to puke- they just usually do it. All over you. I am hoping we are past that part- she did have some breakfast that has been down for a little over an hour now. I just didn't envision our first day of waking up to 72 degree weather to be spent laying around. Yes. Rhinelander. 72 degrees. Oh well. I guess it forces me to take it easy (which I usually have a hard time doing!).

Cookout

Earlier this weekend Mandie hosted a cookout at her home for some of our great friends. It was an opportunity for all the husbands to meet and also for us to just hang out- dressed a little nicer than the usual bed head and workout clothes we usually see each other in at the Y.

me, Elizabeth, Libby, Mandie and Crystal

The kids had a great time playing outside on this big rock, and also in the wagon. They took turns pushing, pulling and riding.

Lu and the boys!

Jack, Ben ,Carter, Anderson (green), Brody, Hank (behind Anderson) and LuBelle

Lu was the only girl her age- the others are only 1 year old, so they were inside most of the time. Lucy held her own with the guys. It was pretty cute.

Poor Vivi in the back wants out!

Jackism

mutual fun got more out of control than Lu would have liked...

Lu needed a little help smiling after the assault.

"We had a hose fight, Mom! I won!! I'm the hoser!"

My Big Boy

I have been trying to cut Jack's hair by blending a few different lengths with the trimmer, for a little bit more mature look.This results in a little longer hair on top and this morning my boy's hair was looking quite poofy. So to try to mask the poofiness, I asked him if he wanted to try some product like Daddy uses. He wasn't so sure at first but then he thought for a moment and was all about it. I put some in, and he was like "I LIKE it!" I told him he looked older- which he kinda did- and that sealed the deal. ("Like how old, Mom? A teenager?") When I helped with the finishing touches of brushing teeth, he was worried I had messed it up because I touched his head. He informed me that he would not be putting his hood up when we went out to the bus stop, because it would ruin his 'do. On the way to the bus, he asked if this is how his buddy Grahm would do his hair sometimes, and when I told him Grahm and Dax did, he was even happier. He even requested I take a picture so Daddy and Aunt Jenny could see it before it was ruined on his field trip today. (And I did take it even though it is hard to see in the picture.) So I may regret starting this, but I have to say I was having fun doing a little styling with my little guy- and even happier that he didn't resist my efforts. Even if he isn't all that little anymore. Because he'll always be my little guy.

recent random pics

Tonight I had a young women's activity, as usual. The kids for some reason have a hard time when I go, even though it has been happening for almost a year. Whenever I leave, Lucy wants to do something for me. Tonight I was surprised by this sweet tray of food and note, delicately placed next to her for me to find when I came in for a kiss. Sure did melt my heart.

Macie stuck this sticker on Cassidy's forehead hours before I finally pulled it off for bed time.

Every Sunday it seems we have one minute before we have to leave for church and every Sunday I think my kids look so nice all spiffed up so I try to get a picture of them. This Sunday in particular Little D caught my eye and I couldn't resist a picture of her in this little lime number.

Wet 'n Wild

This weekend we went up to see Great Grandma Lehman. We enjoyed a delicious dinner with her and enjoyed the beautiful weather we have been having with some cousins as well. As you can see, no dinner at Grandma's is complete without a little ice cream.

After dinner the kids played with cousin Mason in the hammock both enjoying traditional swinging and dodging the occasional veloci-jack-tor.

Whenever we are that close to a body of water, it is inevitable we will end up close to it... or in it. And as this next picture shows, the IN is definitely what happened. All of the children there were either running around in their panties, tighty- whitey's, diapers or birthday suits (thanks to Cassidy who started the trend of disrobing).

Cass and Kam decided their best option was to go for the birthday suit. I couldn't resist a few shots... they won't be this little forever.

Had to laugh at this last one. Cassidy was shivering but still not ready to completely desert the option of swimming. She kept dangling her towel close to the water, so I warned her to hold it up or it would get wet...

Gardening fools

We have had a taste of summer the past few days. Lucy and I decided to 'dig in' to our flower planting tasks and get our hands dirty. She was sooo into it. She was "watering girl" "soil girl" and "pellet (fertilizer) girl" and I was instructed to call out whoever I needed to help me at the moment. After enough coaxing I let her get her very own little pot, which she personally picked out and planted. She needed a bit of help this year because as she was placing the plants, her extra large gloves got in the way.

Oh, and just pretend those dandelions are supposed to be in the lawn in the background. There are just too many to keep up with! The other day we were coming home and our neighbor was cutting his lawn for like the 5th time in the last 2 weeks. Jack's comment cracked me up: 'Mom, He is cutting hiw lawn again. I think it looks really nice when you let the beautiful flowers just grow- like how our grass looks. Why would he keep cutting his?'

flowers

Last year we got here in June and I was so caught up in getting the house together, that the yard really did whatever it wanted. I didn't get around to much more than weeding occasionally. Flowers never really crossed my mind and the one hanging basket I got as a gift ended up dying. *whoops* Well, honestly I am not doing a ton more this year but I am planning a few things to try to bring some flower power to our little part of the street. As I have been looking, I am realizing I know nothing about flowers and gardening. The girls and I walked around the garden center today in a bit of a daze. There is so much to choose from and some say '8+ hours of sun', others say '4-8 hours of sun'.... I haven't found any that say 'shade' which is what those on my porch will get. So I am just hoping that the '4-8 hours of sun' varieties that I picked out will survive on my porch. (I did see a "Gardening for Dummies" brand of flowers that I am considering investing in.) I only came home with 2 small flowers today to put into a larger ceramic planter I got today(green pottery- I love it!). I was unhappy with what I saw at the first garden center until I went to the second one and saw what they had were in even worse shape. I am so beat today, that I'll have to go back tomorrow.

I have visions of wild flowers out back (seeds of which I will sprinkle with delight once it stops freezing at night for good), bittersweet vines crawling up a trellis, blossoming fuchsia baskets blowing in the wind on the front porch, blooming lilacs with their delicate scent wafting through the living room window, and a beautiful planter that Lucy is helping me put together resting on my primitive chair out front.

Hopes are high.

Cross your fingers I don't kill it all!

Just what every mom wants to hear

"WOW, Mom. Your buttcrack is huge!"

Is it a boy?

Jack has made his preference known.

"Mom, make sure this baby is a boy, okay?"

We were looking at the 'week by week' changes on the computer together today. Me: This is what our baby looks like now. Jack : (squinting at the screen) Is it a boy? Me: Jack, it says that the baby is three inches long now! Jack: Ohhhhh:) Does it say if it is a boy? Because I really want a boy.

Lucy guesses that we will have a boy and wants a boy. Cassidy wants a girl. Jack, well, you know already know what he wants. If I had to guess right now, I think I would have to guess a boy. This pregnancy has been most similar to Jack's. I was pretty sick with him, as I was with this one. I totally craved caramel apples with Jack and I do with this one as well. I always have to chew gum now because I always have a bad taste in my mouth; likewise for my pregnancy with Jack. I don't have a preference, other than for a healthy baby.

Number 4- the story so far

I was so excited for yesterday to finally arrive- well the part of yesterday that came after I got to hear a healthy, strong heart beat for the second time. It was at that point that I felt comfortable letting our happy little secret be known.

The beginning of this pregnancy has been quite different from any of the others. The others started with pure joy- not that I was not head over heals excited to be carrying this little one- but this time I was also immediately afraid of what could happen. It seems like almost everything was different this time around and I wanted it that way. I was nervous I would not get sick again... and prayed a few times every day to get nauseous. (believe me that prayer was answered ). My heart beat like crazy when I finally got up the nerve to call the doctor to make my first appointment- feeling like I might jinx it if I actually admitted I was pregnant. Then the nausea came and came on strong, at about 5 1/2 weeks until about 11 1/2 weeks and still now and then when I allow myself to get too hungry. I felt a little better knowing the hormones were kicking in, but each morning I would just hope that a few seconds after I sat up I would feel like vomiting.

After a priesthood blessing, which promised me I would be able to handle myself and be strong through whatever news the appointment would bring, the day came for my first appointment. I arrived and realized I parked almost where I had parked for my first appointment back in December. So I immediately got back into my van and moved it to the other side of the parking lot. Strange superstition, I know, but I wanted this appointment to go differently than last time so badly. When I sat in the waiting room I was feeling pretty decent. I ate a graham cracker and my name was called. I walked over to the ultrasound tech- they were going to have an ultrasound done before meeting with the doctor for my peace of mind. As we started down the hall, Lacy one of my favorite nurses greeted me, "Oh I was so excited when I saw your name on the roster today! How are you doing?" I immediately lost it into her arms and told her how truly scared I was. She helped me calm down and I got ready for the ultrasound. I couldn't watch. I held my breath for a moment and then I heard the tech say what I needed to hear- "There's that heartbeat!" And I opened my eyes and saw that beautiful little flicker. RELIEF... and a few more tears, then it was on to the next part of the appointment which started with another special nurse-- it was my angel Jess-- who was there for me the day I miscarried. Somehow those special people were placed there to make my day a little easier, and I am grateful for that.

The weeks following that my belly just continued to enlarge- at a rather fast rate. The ladies I see 3 times a week at the Y started getting suspicious despite my efforts to wear larger shirts. The crackers, a necessity for a while probably also gave me away. But for my own sanity, I tried to keep this a secret until I felt confident in the health of this baby. Yesterday I went in to hear the heartbeat again. Doc had a harder time finding it, but told me it was because baby was so active. "I could hear it moving around in there, but it didn't want to sit still for me to hear it's heart". We did eventually hear a nice strong heart beat - then it would disappear as baby moved away until we found it a few seconds later.

Although I think I will have these little feelings of paranoia until the day of this baby's birth, I feel like I can relax and enjoy the rest of this pregnancy. I really have been soaking it all up- even relishing in nausea, knowing it signifies health. I can hardly wait until I can feel those little feet and hands pushing on me...

And while I am so ready for this spring and summer to get underway, I am already excited for next fall- Next November 17th, to be exact.

(Oh and that makes me 13 weeks:) )

my jeans are a little tight

I've been feeling rather crappy lately. Tired and sick and all. And my jeans... they feel tight. Maybe it is because in the last month I have had lunch at Taco Bell, McDonalds, Arby's, and Subway.... and some of those places more than once*cringe. Maybe it's because I crave nachos at 9:30am... while I am working out... all the way until I actually eat them. Maybe it's because I practically eat two breakfasts... two lunches... and two dinners. Oh and snacks too. Maybe it is because a few times in the last month I made pancakes for dinner more than once a week. (And that was all I could muster up the gumption to make without dry heaving.) Maybe it is because potato chips and french onion dip taste soooo good. Oooh and caramel apples too. Maybe it is because Zumba seems to be getting a little more demanding these days. (Must be that extra bulk.) But it is easier to shake it now, than it was, since I don't have to control the urge to vomit every so often anymore. Food. Huh. you forget how it can be your best friend or your biggest enemy...

...Especially when you are pregnant.

Guess in the comments: How many weeks am I?

(and if you know, don't spoil it please!)

Mother's Day

cooperative, especially for Mother's Day

An excerpt from the talk I gave in church today on motherhood and what experiences I have had in life that have prepared me for that role...
"There are many things that have helped me to prepare for my role as a mother. My own mother's example has been priceless in my job now. Certainly the nurturing and love I received from my own mother prepared me to know how a loving mother acts. My mom raised my sister and I knowing of her deep love for us. We were provided with structure and were taught right from wrong. Strict morals and values were expected and upheld. I will be forever grateful for my mom's love and direction. I think my appreciation and love for her grows even more now I am a mother myself, facing many similar experiences."

Opener of fishing season

The opener of fishing season was today! Andy and the menfolk in his family were a little excited- to say the least. They planned a fishing overnighter and left yesterday mid-day to get to their private island even further up nort' to set up the tent and get a camp fire a rockin'. Once midnight hit, the men were off flinging lures into the water in the dark. Jack was just as pumped as the full grown men were. He relished in the camping/fishing dirtiness as you can tell from the picture below. (Notice it is day 2, and he has the same shirt on and about 10 pounds of dirt on his face alone. You should have seen his finger and toenails!) He had a great time fishing (the next morning) for the three casts he got in before he overzealously threw his pole overboard to be lost forever. But luckily enough he was content to 'twink around' on the boat (says Andy). They report to have gotten a decent number of fish, and by the smell of testosterone (or BO), they had a great Man-Venture. (Had to laugh though because in accordance with this I saw on a friend's facebook page that the first Friday in May is also always "National No Pants Day". )

'Hey Cass, smile!'

With this bunch you never know what you get when you say 'smile'...

First attempt: perfect depiction of of what I like to call "Lindner lips". Plump, kissable and in Cassidy's case, evident from birth.

Second attempt: Pure sassiness.

Third attempt: I guess she subscribes to the train of thought '3 strikes and your out', and decided to cooperate.

the dirt and crumbs are my favorite part

Hodag Park

The girls and I took advantage of the 60 degree weather yesterday and took a picnic to Hodag Park. We had never played there before and were happily surprised at how quiet it was. They just loved the mini teeter-tooter, and took turns playing 'bus driver', dropping each other off at home after school. I was happy to see how well Cassidy is able to get around and climb on the equipment this year, and that she was willing to try up to the medium sized slides. Our goal is to conquer the big slides by the end of the summer. I don't think we'll have any problem.

Foot Five: The new game Lucy and I came up with while swinging. As she is swinging back and forth, I hold out my hand and she has to try to give me '5' with her foot. We both actually got quite a kick out of the game.... no pun intended.

Hodag park is on the shores of beautiful Boom Lake.

We spent a while looking at the water and watching the boats, and Lucy had to stick her toes in the cooooold water only to confirm that we may need to wait a bit before thinking about swimming.