On the way

Post #999

Last night I told McKay that she could not set her alarm any earlier than 7:00 AM because I wanted to sleep. She was not happy to hear that. The irony is that my water broke this morning at 6:25 AM and I ended up being her alarm.  Also,  when I got to the car I realized that I forgot to put on shoes.  Jacob ran back into the house and grabbed me these. For some reason he felt so rushed that he grabbed his flip flops for me to wear....... more to come! #inNeedOfMinolaBlahnik

A numbers game

Our family blog is coming up on it's 1000 post. I'm sort of hoping that "Baby G" (girl) will make her debut so she can be the 1000 post.  And yes, we still have NOT decided on a name.  I'm actually not really stressing about it since it will work itself out.

 

This picture is actually when I was 36 1/2 weeks along.  The baby basketball picture below is at 37 1/2 weeks.  Its a little more current.  After our last ultrasound, the doctor said that it would probably be my biggest baby yet.  Now this has me a little worried.  My biggest baby was Cruz weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.  They had figured at 36 weeks the baby was already 5.75 pounds.  I'm just hoping she comes a little early like the rest of mine have.

So we have bets going on for when she decides to come and how much she weighs.  Her due date is July 12.  I can't get induced because I'm opting for a VBAC and they won't start me due to my last C-Section.  So here are our guesses.

Jacob - June 27 - 7 pounds 6 ounces
Amy - July 2 - 7 pounds 2 ounces 
(7/2 and 7/2, trying to play the number game)
McKay - July 1 - 7 pounds 11 ounces
Kirsten - June 30 - 7 pounds 3 ounces
Cruz - July 5 - 7 pounds even
Katanya - July 3 - 6 pounds 10 ounces

We would love to hear your guesses!

It couldn't hurt to try right?

 I'm officially 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date.  So my brother and his wife are visiting this weekend and my sitster-in-law and her family came in for a short hello too.

The girls decided to try to get the labor stages just a little more advanced.  They had me do a minute of vigorous tummy rubbing followed by 3 minutes of squats and lunges (x2).  This was there labor dance.  I was so sore in my thighs by the second time that I volunteered to go run a mile with them if they had bellies too.  Of course they did.  It was fun.  I made it slowly jogging with only one bathroom stop and one "catch-my-breath-stop."  And as my kids have asked me numerous times, no I don't think a baby will be coming tonight.
And although I'm pretty sore tonight, I can't wait to get out and do this for real.

Handy Manny Jacob

Back in April, Jacob and I went to dinner and a friend asked us how long we were going to keep the old escort.

It died on the way home.  I don't think that Jacob was ready to say goodbye to it.  That and I swear pride had just a little to do with rebuilding the engine.   

Just to show me he could do it.  This is what perfect timing is suppose to be like?

By Saturday morning, he was putting the engine back in the car....

and watching You Tube videos on the side.

But finally.....

Jacob got smart and put a shade cover and was able to work on the car all day.

I'm hoping after the surplus in expensives that this beast turns over and works again......AC included.

Cub Scout Day Camp

As promised, Cub Scout Day Camp is bigger and better in Texas.  It's a four day  activity and you are required to send a volunteer one of the days.  Because of my situation, Jacob was volunteered to be the volunteer.  Not something he was super excited about doing because of the temperatures being in high nineties.  They had also estimated about 500 Cub Scouts that were going to attend.  This whole Cub Scout / Boy Scout thing is new to me so I'm still trying to figure it out.   The first day was cancelled (a very rare happening) due to lightening and a downpour of rain in the morning, so it was actually changed to a three day event.  Cruz took pictures with one of our old smart phones, so I'm curious they turned out.  If there are any interesting ones, I'll be sure to post them.  Anyway, he finally came home Friday afternoon, a little pink and tired (his gardening hat saved this kid from the sun!) but he was full of stories and LOVED it!  
P.S.  Bonus post to come later.

Happy Birthday, Birthday Girl!

This year Anya turned 7 on the 18th! Happy Birthday!

She loves being an active girl.  So this year she got a big(ger) bike, roller skates, and protective gear. 

The gear was a must!

The roller skates were the big hit!  Ever since going with our friends a couple months ago, she has begged to do it again and again.

It only took a couple (or more) falls before she got the hang of it again.  She hates help and is very independent......

I wonder who she gets that from.

So my baby girl is now 7 and in second grade!

And not much longer she will be a big sister and not the baby anymore.  But she'll always be my sweetheart.  (Her missing tooth count is now up to six, four on top and two on the bottom.)

And of course, the birthday cake (the Texas Chocolate Sheet cake is preferred among the kids.) 
Make a wish!

A change in voice a little earlier than expected

Cruz had his tonsils out today. (Yes, this is after the surgery.)

It was the fastest surgery I've ever seen.  We checked in at 7:45, they took us back at 8:20, they wheeled him away at 8:40 and the doctor consulted me at 9:01.  10 minutes later I was with him while he was coming out of it (which wasn't the easy part as he realized how bad his throat hurt.  He did not want to be there,) and then at 11:05, we were discharged and headed home.

He wasn't happy until he got to push himself and ride in the wheelchair.  For some reason that made his day.

He came home and we set up a futon mattress, movies, and a white board to write on.  His first week of summer diet will consist of shakes, jello, smoothies, otter pops, yogurt, pudding, and other soft foods that he can eat.

They gave him the little stuffed dog at the hospital.  He has wanted that all day.  He was teasing about being able to remember everything before the surgery so he named it "Woofers."  He did remember his dog's name when he came out of it but he didn't remember any of his sisters.  He said he was the only child. 

Say "aaaahhhhhh"

Tomorrow is the day we get these bad boys out! 

After eight cases of strep in the last year, I think its time.

Speaking of taking things out, Katanya's starting to look like a toothless wonder.  She's lost three up top and a couple on the bottom.  She's getting rich from the tooth fairy.  (She looks pretty beat up in general after taking some rough play at the pool from some teenage kids.)

Another grade under the belts

One school year ago....August 2013 

 And now its over.  Its summer time.  It flew by at times and at others it seemed like it was going the same pace as a sloth would.  They have all gotten older and grown.  Wowzer.

Cruz and Katanya have LOVED their teachers this year.  Katanya had the same one that Cruz did last year.  In fact, they share a lot of things in common.  I love that these two play really good together!  (Did I mention they are the exact same weight, right down to the ounce?  Except Cruz has 2 1/2 inches on her right now.)

Kirsten LOVED her teacher as well!  She loved every day of fifth grade.  It was her last day in elementary school.

For her fifth grade promotion, we bought a new dress and shoes.  I fell in love with the dress before she did and we bought it as a "back up dress" in case we didn't find anything else.  For $20, you can't go wrong.  It turned out after three stores and too many hours, we couldn't find anything.  So it was a keeper.  She ended up falling in love with it that evening.  (Because it passed the twirling test.)

We are so proud of our kids!  Here's hoping to a long fun summer and praying the kids start getting along so I don't wish for school to start sooner than necessary.

P.S.  McKay didn't want any last day pictures in so there are no comparisons.  I can't believe we only have three more years with her in high school before she is graduated and off to college.  When did I get so old?

May's Madness

This month is gone as I'm writing this post on June 1st. I can't believe it. 41 days until my "real" due date. That's really not a long time but in my mind it still seems too long.  I'm really hoping that this sweet angel girl comes a little earlier than that.  They have estimated that she will be my biggest baby yet.  I'll be fine with a delivery in anything after 20 days.  I'm actually shooting for July 2nd if anyone has any control of that.  :-) I posted my bittersweet news on Mother's Day.  But here is the rest of the news..... (updates)

The third week of May Jacob went up to upstate NY to work a little and then I met him for a long weekend so we could look at the area and neighborhoods and get a feel for it.  I'm not sure what to think yet.  Sunday we finally took a day off (since it was Stake Conference for all of the wards there) we went up to Niagara Falls.  We didn't do any of the "touristy" things as we figure we will wait for our children to be here for that. 

It really pretty.  But just from looking and from what everyone has said, the Canada side is WAY better.  I have my passport but it looks like we are going to have to get the kids and Jacob's paperwork going so we can take advantage of it.

Forever.....even if its following him off a cliff......

I came home and had less than a week to finally get a Texas drivers license before my Idaho one expired.  I don't like my new one.  Who would at 7 1/2 months pregnant.  At least they didn't make me put my pregnancy weight down.  Maybe they just didn't notice.  Oh well, at some point I'll have to get a New York license.  (Maybe.)

McKay had her first Stake Youth Dance.  She had counted down the day for months!  She was so upset she missed the Stake Youth Conference by less than ten days.  Now she's trying to convince dad into staying ten extra days so she can make it to the next one in August!

April in a post (more or less)*****2013

April consisted of a couple things. But that is all you need to stay busy. Now that I have A LITTLE more time (hehe) before the baby comes, I'm really going to try to be a better blogger.

Cruz had his Pine Car Derby Race.  His dad and him designed their car and he painted it in the space of a week.  He named in "Lone Star".  It was pretty fast!

McKay started up spring volleyball.  She has really gotten her serve technique down.  She has improved her vertical jump and the "three hit" skills.  She had a block that the ref stopped the game to tell her congrats at how high she was above the net and that was the first "real" one of the season that he had seen.  I missed coaching with her and her friends mom.  Its a lot harder sitting on the sidelines letting someone else run the game.

McKay also had her fourteenth birthday!  Since Jacob was out of town that week, she had a birthday week which she milked it worth everything she could.  Her best friend turned 14 about 10 days later.  Now they are officially able to go to stake dances together.

McKay made this picture puzzle frame for her and got several letters from friends and teachers, parents, and leaders, and had them handed out throughout the day at school.  Their favorite quote was put in the top left corner.  It brought tears to my eyes several times as I helped her with this.  Here is the quote:

"We aren't sisters by birth,

But we knew it from the start.

Fate brought us together,

To be sisters by Heart."

I've always know we have been blessed to have been put here in Texas with so many great people.  My children have grown and been so accepted.  We love our community.

Happy Birthday Mom!!! (You just got hacked)

                     Happy Birthday,Mom

                           Dear Mom,

You rock!!!  Thank you for everything : caring for me,giving birth to me, nurturing me, getting me new clothes, tucking me in at night,cleaning my room, driving me pretty much everywhere, loving me, teaching me, thanks for everything pretty much.Out of every single mom I am glad your mine.Without you I would not exist, literally. Even though it may be hard you always,always love me, no matter what.  I searched YouTube.com And here is what I found : Watch it. The Mom Song.
                                                            I love you.
                                               Have a very Happy Birthday
      Your very caring daughter,Who loves you , Who hopes you have a Happy Birthday,
                                            

Kirsten S. Kerksiek

Bittersweet

 (picture from March 2013)

Today was a very bittersweet Mother's Day.  I was released from my calling as Young Women's President.  I have been so very blessed to be involved in a part of these girls lives (these are only half of them) for the last 23 months.

So here are the best things about this Mother's Day.  I truly believe that it's not the presents that make the day or the gifts.  Its the sweet acts from my children that make the day the best!

Here are the things that brought joy to my day today from the people I love:

Jacob - Waking up and having him giving me a hug and a kiss.  Also having him hold my hand through Sacrament meeting while I cried.

McKay - Offering to make me a breakfast sandwich (which didn't agree with my stomach.)

Kirsten - Singing in the special musical number.

Cruz - His special note saying he loves me because "She takes me to school and lets me have friends over even if I don't do my jobs or my homework."

Katanya - A book about her mom.  I love the honesty of children.  Some of her writings were, "My mom is as pretty as a rainbow.  She is as sweet as an angel.  She is as smart as a scientist, but most of all she is as special as a fairy!  She said I was 30 (smart girl!) and that I like to give her hugs.  My favorite thing to do to relax in my bed and sleep and that I am really good at cleaning.  

The Young Women!  Hearing them sing in sacrament meeting and then sharing a special testimony meeting during Young Women's and being able to hear them bare their testimonies.  It was amazing!  I love and pray for each one of them.

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Mom's out there!

"A pinch for the boring ones"

Sunday was St. Patrick's Day.....

.....and the older three took advantage of wearing green and pinching those that didn't.

 Anya felt a little green herself and got sick that morning.

And here is the 23 week mark. 

Camping during spring break....in March. The best!

Our spring break camping trip consisted of....

8 different families camping over the space of 3 days.  This made a total of 16 adults and 36 children (yep 52 in all!)  We bought our first tent too for the outing.  Its pretty spacious.

There was plenty of badminton and volleyball,

Lots of slingshots for the kids as well as the adults,

Pocket knife whittling,

Jump roping, and dodge ball in the barn,

and a four wheeler to ride.  There was also plenty of dogs.  It turned out we were the only family without one.  (I'm okay with that though.)

 Some of us wanted to see if a choke chain really worked.  : )

We cooked tin foil dinners and had PLENTY of yummy dutch oven food over the space of three days,

Shot 22's, AR15's, and BB guns,

Jacob even made it up each night and camped with us (he even got up early to go to work, what a true dad!)

And of course one of the most favorite camping past times....

 

 The bonfires!

 But don't worry, we had  plenty of s'mores to go along with all of this!