Memorial Day Vacation

So I haven't blogged in 2 weeks and BOY! have alot of things happened. 2 weekends ago me and the girls headed to a baby shower for my friend Lexi, and the boys headed to buy our new car! The first day we went to look at minivans was at our first ultrasound back in march, knowing at that point 4 carseats were not going to fit into our Envoy comfortably (unless we created a device to toss the two older kids into the back seat) So that was the start of buying a ..... can i say it... a minivan! I have really pushed the minivan thing to the back of my mind, Nate was always adamant about getting one but I still really wanted a SUV. It just makes me feel younger, no comment Neil! But since I am turning 30 this year and having 4 kids.... it is much more practical. So after looking at a few different minivans and test driving and checking them out for months, we made the decision to buy one. (The pregnancy was still pretty early and we wanted to make sure we were farther along before doing anything too drastic like buy a minivan! :-) Here is the new addition to the family.

The kids LOVE it. R loves sitting in the back and having all her books and activities close to her that she doesn't have to share. X loves that he finally gets to sit in the middle closer to the action... he does know once the baby is here he once again is booted to the back. And G loves the new CUPHOLDER!! Seriously it is the little things that count! This is the girls playing around in the car when we got home.

We got the car just in time to put some big miles on it!
We started our memorial day weekend a little early. Nate decided to finally use his last 2 days of vacation so we headed down to Tennessee to try and get away and relax a little. We left for Tennessee last Wednesday when Nate got home from work and R got home from school. I had the car packed, which was amazing to fit that many things in it and still see out the back window with NO problem. Nate had even packed his golf clubs. We made it to Indianapolis Wednesday night and decided to stay the night half way in between TN and Ohio. We had also heard Nate's Grandma Schulte was not doing good after breaking her Femur on Friday and she had surgery on Saturday. They sent her home to Hospice care on Wednesday afternoon, so we thought if we needed to be in Ohio, Indianapolis was a good place to stop. We did get a text in the very early morning hours that Grandma Schulte had passed away. :-( After talking with family and finding out that the funeral was going to be on Monday we decided to head to Tennessee for a few days and then head up to Ohio on Sunday. The kids did terrific in the car. When we got to Norris Lake they were ready to run!!!

Our kids had been to Tennessee last year in August for the first time to meet both sets of grandparents. We didn't swim in the lake alot that time because we focused on more the attachment and getting to know one another. But they did remember the boat and jet skis... and the playground. We couldn't ask for better weather!! WOW! It was hot and the water was the best I ever remember for Memorial Day. The kids loved the lake and R & X even jumped off the dock into the water a few times. They are getting better at floating by themselves and kicking around to get from one place to another. They are pretty comfortable in the water and I hope to get them all in swimming lessons this summer. Aunt Beth, Uncle Scott and Baby Lincoln was able to make it too!! The kids just love babies!! Daddy took all the kids on Jet Ski rides. They loved it and daddy said they giggled the whole time. We even got Lincoln in the lake for his first dip! We had quite the crew: Our family, mom and dad, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Beth and Uncle Scott & Lincoln, Uncle Scott's parents, and our good friends from back home in Ohio Ann rea and Keith. We had a full house!! On Saturday night we had Lincoln's first birthday party. He turns "1" on June 5th. Lincoln was not a very happy camper. It was extremely close to bedtime and he was a bit cranky.This is the cake which didn't even have enough time to cool before we put icing on it.We all sang Happy Birthday to Lincoln... and then he started crying. He didn't even like the dairy free cake and dairy free icing his godmother had prepared!! ;-) But someone like it!! G was all over the cake and drooling over the cupcakes I had made for everyone.Uncle Scott ate Lincoln's piece. Yum Yum

Lincoln didn't mind opening up his gifts and then all too quickly it was time for his bed time!

Bedtime for the Birthday Boy!!

The kids did lots of things down in TN: swim, jet ski, play with squirt guns, bubbles, played on the playground, and ate lots of good things!!

It was a very nice few days before heading to Ohio.

We headed to Ohio Sunday morning and made the 6 hour trip North. Mommy was doing great before that but apparently my feet hanging down in the car for a few hours causes swollen pregnancy feet. Putting those swollen feet into a pair of heels was pure fun! We pulled into Kalida and dropped the kiddos off in good hands with Uncle Neil and pizza, and then headed over to the funeral home.

R's First Field Trip

Today R had her first field trip. Her preschool class went to the zoo and Mommy decided to tag along. Daddy took a vacation day to stay at home with the other two. It was a good bonding time between me and R since lately she has been extremely jealous of the other two with any time with mommy. It was a glimpse of how next year will be with R getting up early and getting ready for school by 8 am. It was a piece of cake today since the kids are still on Ohio time and waking up at 6 am UGH!!! We were at the zoo in the morning and R had her first bus ride. Then for lunch we went to a park and the had pizza hut pizza waiting. What a picnic!! Mommy and R then drove home separately so i could run some errands.

We saw all kinds of animals at the zoo. Here is a wallaby...

R spotted the koi fish in the pond. They were crammed in their like sardines... heehee.

And R was fascinated by the white swan.... it swam right under the bridge we were on.

The giraffes were my favorite and R liked the penguins the best. We even made it to the gift shop where i let R pick out anything for herself and then she picked out small gifts for her brother and sister.... she even picked out a stuffed giraffe for her soon to be little brother/sister.

This drinking fountain was pretty cool... No it really isn't a hippo! It made noises when you pressed the button to get a drink.

We had a good time me and R. .... we don't get alot of just one on one time so this was precious.

Trip to Ohio

We had a very fun long weekend in Ohio last week. We are now recooping from it and getting laundry done and trying to find some resemblance of a house here! It was actually relaxing and we got to spend some good quality time with Papa Bob and Grandma Judy. The kids really enjoyed being out in the country at grandma's. We got to see 4 little geeslings at the back of the pond. They were adorable... except for all the poop they leave behind. YUCK! We looked at them with binoculars so we didn't get to close. We didn't want to get attacked by the momma geese!!

The playhouse was fun too... but next time home daddy is going to have to reinforce the ladder ... it hasn't been used in some time.

My parents were gracious enough for us to stay at their house and wreck it while we were there... I hope we didn't do to much damage! :-)

We talked to Daddy every night on the phone. The kids liked reliving the day with dad and chit chatting with him 9 hours away!

We got to see all the Schulte cousins too!!! Ash and Josh met us at the park in town and slid down the slide I don't know how many times. R was so thrilled that Josh wanted to slide with her and hold her hand!! I have a feeling she will be a pretty good helper when the baby comes along.

The kids and I even helped Grandpa Bob out by going to get large mouth bass and minnows to stock the pond. It barely fit all in my car, we had to move babyseats, put the fish food under Glorianna's feet in the front and suck in when we shut the doors. I guess it is about time to upgrade to the minivan. :-( FYI -- i think the vehicle still kind of smells like fish. My pregnant nose can't get away from the smell yet!!

Grandpa took the kids on a tractor ride after the fish were all placed in their new home in the pond. The kids all named one of the Large mouth basses (not sure the correct spelling of the plural bass??) So in the pond is a fish named Kiki, Raina, and Turk. The next night we fed the fish and saw them really chow down. They must really like their new crib!!

On Saturday, grandma Pam watched the kiddos while me, mom, Beth, and Kathy spent the day together in Columbus. Something we rarely get to do now with living farther away and conflicting schedules. It was a great day!! We started with us girls getting some new summer digs for mom at Talbots. I think we were in the store a hour and 1/2!! We made mom give us a fashion show and she ended up getting some adorable things!! By the way mom that dress will be perfect for baptism!!! :-) We then went shoe shopping (something i really should stay away from especially since that is the only thing that really fits right now!!) Then lunch with the girls.. my sister in law Denise was able to join us too and we had a wonderful late lunch with lots of laughter!!! One of the last places we shopped was a maternity store where i did pick up a few maternity tops. UGH!! I have noticed a little bulge that is hard to hide now. The day was memorable and I hope the other girls enjoyed it as much as I. It makes me miss living closer to family so we can have moments like that more often. sniff** sniff**

We headed home on Monday... and the drive wasn't as easy as driving to Ohio. First the weather was crummy and raining almost the entire time. Secondly.. I was tired. The last 2 - 3 hours were hard to stay awake when the kids were all snoring in the back. makes me glad i made the trip now because i don't think i will be able to do that myself again any time soon.

We got back and resumed our normal routine again. I just had to add this picture of our little girl posing for the "I got milk" ad!! That's all for now...

Our First Mother's Day

So today is my very first mother's day as a mom. I have enjoyed alot of relaxing, breakfast in bed (omelet, yogurt and granola, and toast, and O.j.) cards from the kids and my husband, and a movie with my husband. What could be more perfect? As we watched the kids climb into our bed minutes ago to watch the chipmunks movie before bedtime Nate turned to me and said aren't we so lucky. AND i totally agree. I am the luckiest woman in the world. I have a wonderful husband who is the love of my life since i was 14 years old and my best friend, I have amazing parents (who i only wish i could be have the parents they are!), I have great sisters who I can't wait to share news and talk to on the phone, I have a family who supports us and keeps us grounded, and the closest group of friends who make living 9 hours away from the closest family doable. AND now I am the mother to 3 wonderful children who smiles melt my heart everyday. AND to top it all off I am pregnant.... to have one more boy/girl this October. I don't think I could be any happier than I am right now!!

My mother's day gift this year (besides the beautiful orchid Nate got me!) is my garden that daddy and the kids worked sooooo hard on. The new gator came in handy toting soil and compost back and forth and giving daddy's back a break!

Here are R and G trying to lift the 40# bag of soil... they didn't get very far!

My GARDEN!!!

This past week has been a blur. We have been crazy getting ready for the Race for the Cure on saturday and i have had meetings and getting prepared took up alot of my time. Luckily Pam and Bill came to our aide this weekend. Nate's parents came to Iowa on Wed night and stayed until this morning. They were able to watch the kids while Nate was working and I was getting things set for the race. It worked out wonderfully!! The kids loved it too, being able to spend more time with their grandparents.

Here is R all dressed up in her "komen" gear ... acting like mom. If you ask her what she is going to do when she grows up.. she says she wants to work for Komen!! :-)

The kids got to do alot of things with grandpa and grandma. Like puzzles, cooking, bubbles, and a whole bunch more!!

On Wednesday we had beautiful weather ... we were able to walk to the park and play on the swings and playground.

The kids really LOVE bubbles... there aren't many days that go by that they don't ask to blow bubbles. It keeps them entertained for hours!!

The grandparents and I and the two youngest went to Menards to get a few things and saw this enormous folding chair... made for a king. NEVER mind the Do NOT SIT ON sign that i took off the chair for the picture. (Pam asked an employee if we could put the kids on it for a picture)

And of course yesterday was the race. Nate and I were down on the course at 5:30 am helping set up. The wind was howling and blowing gusts up to 30 MPH... and my tent was in the worst spot. Nate had to reinforce it a couple times and it miraculously held up!! Pam and Bill brought the kids down to the race for the kiddie race at 10.

X came in second in his heat.... even though they were not keeping score... EVERYONE got a ribbon.

There were a lot of good memories this past weekend and more to come... we are only here for two more days before we head back to Ohio to visit with family. Now off to bed.

Good Night and Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's, grandmother's, great grandmother's and "god"mothers out there!!!