Family of 4 outing

In one of our last outings as a family of four before the baby, we took the boys out for a special lunch at the restaurant with an airport view.

40 weeks

With baby #3!

Creative expressions

"No Grant. No Leapster"

Drawn after a whopper of a fit that Evan threw because Grant was playing his Leapster.

Silly boys

At the end of a hot and sweaty afternoon in the back yard.

"How I Spent My Summer"

If there was one word that described the summer of 2011 for us, it would be: "pool." We've averaged about 3 trips a week to the pool. And more often than not, at least one of the boys' friends join us. More recently, the boys and their friends have been making little picnics during adult swim time. It's so cute -- they all pool their food together and sit and share with each other.

Home Depot workshop

For the last couple of months, we have been taking both boys to the Home Depot workshop. They get a small pre-fab kit, instructions and tools to put it together. Oh, and perhaps the most exciting part, they get a snack after they complete it. This weekend's project was a wooden pencil box. Tai and Yuki joined us before we all spent a day at the pool.

Secret hideout

There are stretches of time when the boys play SO well together. They cooperate, use their imagination and do fun things like scheme to take over the world. This was their most recent stake out spot.

Grant - a man's man

Photo taken during a playdate with Tess.

So cute!

Evan has not slept in this position in a very long time. We were so tickled to find him like this recently.

Pregnancy at 9 months

Pregnancy #3 has been wonderful. We're so looking forward to meeting the new baby, but I am also very much enjoying these last few weeks of pregnancy. I've been tracking some of my pregnancy on the Lamaze blog that I manage. Some of the posts: http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/02/new-pregnancy-different-outlook/ http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/03/why-im-hiring-a-doula-for-my-third-birth/ http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/04/why-im-attending-childbirth-classes-in-my-third-pregnancy/ http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/06/enjoying-your-third-trimester/ http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/07/birth-plan-for-baby-3/ http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2011/07/when-pregnancy-takes-a-left-turn/

Zhu Zhu village

With a handful of cardboard food boxes, we helped the boys create their own little Zhu Zhu pet village. They had it set up in our entry way for about a week straight and played with it every morning. They had a store, farm, jumping place, church, school, movie theatre, airport and train track. 

My birthday

The kids helped me bake and decorate a cake. I think they have a promising future. The rest of my celebration was solo -- at a prenatal massage appointment. Win!

Callaway Gardens

We took a mini-vacation this weekend to the closest location possible. At 35 weeks pregnant, I am not up for a long car ride, no thank you. We went to Callaway Gardens, about an hour away from home. We've wanted to go for a while now and after living in GA for 6 years, figured it was about time. We did the complete tour -- butterfly house, birds of prey show, walking trails, and lake swimming -- including a floating obstacle course that I attempted to climb in order to help Jason with the kids; let's just say that it didn't work out so well. We all had a blast -- it was a perfect little get-away.

Macro shots at the butterfly garden.

The boys meeting a "bird of prey" -- doesn't he look like a vicious little owl? Not sure what Evan's pose is all about.

Loving the hotel room.

 Grant has a broken wing.

4th of July '11

In true Peachtree City style, we overdid it for the 4th. Parade in the a.m., pool for lunch and fireworks late into the evening. It was an exhausting day, but since the 4th is one of my favorite holidays, it's exactly what I would have wanted.

 Evan was yelling, "Happy 4th of July!" Grant was yelling, "Happy Father's Day!"

Nursery makeover

By the third child, it was time for our nursery to have a makeover. We transitioned Grant into Evan's room about a month ago, which works out nicely -- most days. In the nursery, I threw on a new coat of paint, switched out the curtains and changed out some of the furniture. Not much of a theme really other than a classic, antique-ish look.

Blast from the past

Evan wearing pajamas that once belonged to Jason.

Catching up & summer life

A month and-a-half into summer and I'm thinking it's time to update the blog. Let's see, our weekly summer activities look something like this: pool, golf cart rides, naps, pool, bike rides around the pond with Bullit in tow (ps: to clarify, only the children are riding bikes these days), library story and craft events, more pool, playdates with friends, field trips into Atlanta, and more and more and still more pool. We have our good days and the really, really tough days. The days that make me SO happy that I do not have a newborn to add to the mix during these dog days of summer. Nice that I planned the due date within a week of school starting.

The most exciting part of spending so much time at the pool is that we now have two boys who can swim! Grant, who wouldn't even go beyond the first step at the beginning of summer, is now swimming with his face in the water, kicking his legs and using his arms.

I have taken exactly -0- pictures of the boys in the pool, but here's what I do have.

The jump party

For his 5th birthday, we gave Evan a party at the jumping place. It won't be an every-year kind of deal, but I have to say, it was once of the best ways to endure enjoy a kids' party. Aside from making the cake, all Jason & I had to do was show up. No mess to clean up, no serving of drinks, no entertaining -- we even had a party attendant to supervise the kids. Easiest birthday we've had so far. And this year, we decided that instead of carting home a closet full of gifts, we would encourage Evan to ask the kids for a donation for to take the Atlanta Children's Shelter (baby/kids item or outfit). It was so nice to come home bringing bags full of things to give away rather than find a new place in our home. I'm so excited to go with Evan to make the donation -- I'm hoping it's a lesson that will stay with him.

Happy 5th Birthday, Evan!

Evan is finally 5. He's only been asking me about his birthday (and planning his party) since before Christmas. This year's celebration will span 3 days -- we had a special birthday meal last night (ribs & corn on the cob, per birthday boy's request) since Jason is gone tonight; today was a birthday pancake breakfast & presents followed by cupcakes and friends at the pool; and tomorrow will be the big party at the jumping place with all of Evan's friends. Whew! Turning 5 is a lot of work. Next year will be more low key, you can bet!