Pics! and Updates and Happy B-Day Paul!

(Yes, I stole these from my friend's blog! afirefighterswife)

Pic 1. I feel WAAAAAY bigger than this looks! I must've been sucking in my baby gut or something. I have 6 weeks to go, so that makes me at 34 weeks.

Pic 2. Me and my girl Stacie. She is due in 4 weeks. Her fab daughter took our pic, thus the upward angle!

Paul and David are back from their OMSI Outdoor camp. They had an awesome time hiking, dissecting marine life, learning about nature, and tons more. They were wiped out and glad to be out of the cold and rain.

Paul had a great time chaperoning and has commented on what a world of difference these kids were compared to most of those we minister to at The Salvation Army. These kids were attentive, grateful and respectful. Most of the kids at the Corps (church)... well... not so much. Officership is so consuming that sometimes, our perspectives get very limited if we're not out and about in the rest of he world! Conclusion: There are ALL kinds of kids out there!!

I had a good time having Elijah all to myself and not having to share him with David and Daddy. But it is good to have everyone back together again.

And since, I had no husband... and I was calling all the shots (no one to co-ordinate with!) I got to visit with my good friend Stacie on Thursday afternoon for a few hours while the kids played and played. It was great. Everybody needs a friend!

Friday morning I invited my friend Joyce over for tea. That was great because as much as we like eachother, we barely get together outside of one of our Craft women's ministries program. She is such a great lady with a heart for God and His Word. I love talking "theology" with her because she is a devout 7th Day Adventist.

And then the afternoon went south real fast when I was once again at the Corps trying to get my printer/computer problem fixed.

While I was tied to the phone with IT the girls were in the game room playing and Hannah climbed into out basketball hoop game and got majorly stuck!! It was hilarious!! She caught her pants on a screw and was hanging mid-air yelling "Stuck, Stuck!" over and over again. She didn't seem upset or anything, just matter of fact (she gets that from Paul!). A grown up is way to big to climb in there, so I sent Ann in and because of Hannah's weight all hanging on the screw, Ann could not get her off. So I said a quick prayer.. like "God, help me walk on water!" because I knew that once I got in there the whole thing would come crashing down. I set in one foot, then the other and reached to unhook Hannah and pull her out then I jumped out of there as fast as I could. Hannah actually said "thank you" and ran off to play some more. And the basketball game is still standing. Yay!

Today is David's Destination Imagination team's State Competition in Portland. After that I'm going to cook a Steak and Potato Dinner for Paul's birthday. I might have some news tomorrow about what Paul is getting for his Birthday, Lord willing...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PAUL!!! xoxoxoxoxo

Dailies

Yep, my blog is still not right... quite frustrating! I feel computer jinxed! Not only my lame-o blog but so far this week (Mon-Wed) I have spent 5 hours on the phone with The Salvation Army IT department trying to fix my computer problems in my office. A BIG HAIRY MESS. Apparently some things were changed and "upgraded" while I was on furlough. Everything was working fine until the "upgrade". The computers are always being "upgraded" but my brain needs some serious upgrading with computers. It is a foreign language and completely embarrassing and humbling when everyone else seems to know WAY more than I do about these things. I missed the part that I needed to have a Doctorate in Computers so that I can be a Salvation Army Officer. A necessary thorn in my side.

On a better note... the week started out good.

On Sunday I led/taught our "Family First" Sunday School on the 3rd Commandment. An almost full house for church. Paul preached a good sermon (you know the kind that make you feel both bad and blessed!) I went to a baby blessing shower after church for a friend, and then cooked and delivered dinner to one of our young ladies from the Corps who just had a baby. Ann asked me nicely if I would bring her baby home to spend the night. I told her that babies belong with their mommies and assured her that soon enough we'll have our own!

Monday was quite productive at the Corps and I finally feel caught up from furlough. I'm sure the feeling won't last long! But I enjoyed it for all it's worth. The kids and I actually watched Oprah Winfrey together because I had seen that the subject matter was on simplyfying your life. I wanted them to see it for themselves instead of just hearing mom always complaining when there is beginning to be too much stuff/activities again. We felt pretty good about our family after some of the families featured on the show! I hate to compare, but you all would've too!!! One family hadn't eaten a meal together for 2 years! WHAT?!?! It was great the conversations that we had because of the show. Bottom line for us... Do and have only the things that really matter to God and your family. The rest are worthless idols.

Tuesday am at the office was my main chunk of IT time, I won't even go there. Spent the afternoon packing for David and Paul's trip and making MORE "Valentines" with Ann and Hannah. They are on a roll. In the evening I had some good special time with Elijah. Most grateful for it and I'm learning as a parent that these things can't be "staged" and planned for... they just happen and I better be available!!

This morning was Home League and a great one at that. We are up to 11 ladies who regularly attend and boy is it a great group of Christian women. I remember being so discouraged a couple of years ago at our lack of attendance and just some not so good group dynamics. God is so faithful despite my wanting things to happen "right now this very minute". We also have 3 other outreach groups that meet at least monthly so we can minister to the ladies on the fringes of the Corps. The girls made their own PBJ sandwiches when we got home for lunch. Ann does a good job, Hannah eats as she goes and dug into the peanut butter so much that she now has her own "Hannah contaminated" jar. Yuck. This afternoon is Youth Activities. The troops are working on their Space Exploration badges.

Paul got Hannah's potty chair all ready for her potty training boot camp day on Friday. We set it in the bathroom to get her used to it before her crash course. She has already been using it all the time! It's her new favorite hobby. She has an audience almost every time because her brothers and sister stand right in front of her and cheer her on. They are even dumping it in the big toilet for her so she can flush. I didn't know it would be such an exciting event in our home!

Boy does time fly! I've been home for a few days now, but being extremely busy coupled with sharing a comptuer with 3 guys has left me ignoring my blog, but... I'm baaaaack!

We had a great vacation visiting with my parents, brother (and his girlfriend) and good friends from long ago! We took 2 days to drive down to Napa, CA and 2 1/2 days to drive back. We actually had a great driving time! I'm thankful our kids are such great travelers! They sure were wound up in the evenings though after sitting all day. Those poor motel beds...

The highlights of our trip were the Jelly Belly Factory, a Blue Grass Band at Pizza Hut (walking distance from my parents house), Grandpa's Lathe workshop, Grandma's computer Star Wars video game, and a fabulous trip to San Fransisco with my whole family, including a walk on the Golden Gate bridge. And for me, visiting with 2 of my best friends from Highschool, Tiffany and Terry... who I only see every few years, if that. I didn't get to see my childhood friends (since 1st grade!), Kelli and Nikki, because we just could not get our schedules coordinated! I did get to see them in May 07, though... so I won't complain.

Dump session........There has been so much to keep up with these last few days. Both at home and the Corps (church). I can't even think straight and have literally been carrying paper and pen with me everywhere so I can write down everything. I just don't trust myself this week to "remember" it all! Not a good feeling at all. But I know it will pass. David is finally finishing his Destination Imagination committments, with the final State competition being next weekend. I'm glad! David's Baseball season has just begun though! (Elijah does his sport, soccer, in the fall). March through May is a busy month at the Corps... Vacation Bible School, Audits, Easter, Mother/Daughter and Father/Son programs, Migrant Workers, and more on top of regular Corps programming. And oh yeah, a baby coming in mid-April! I can't wait for him/her to arrive so I can rest! (he!he!)

We are officially having our Christmas Dinner tonight. Our Prime Rib that we stuck in the freezer during our flu, and all the fixings that were supposed to go with it to begin with. So what, we're two months late, better late than never! I still can't figure out though why it took us this long to get around to it?!

Well, I better go. I really need to fiddle more with my blog because it is still won't do what I want. I think I need professional help!

Yes, I know my blog is looking very weird. All of my sidebar stuff is at the bottom!?! I will figure out what went wrong when I have more time.

What Really Goes On In Our Home!

We had a little fun this morning... You'll notice the Teddy Bear on the floor beneath the big red ball. The kids set a trap. Everyone had their turn, however Hannah got upset about it and ran into her momma's arms. I did of course have a chance to snap a picture!

Pic 1 is the trap ready to go
Pic 2 is the trap in progress
Pic 3 is the trap causing a crying Hannah.

(She's okay and happy now!)

31 Weeks Prego ("measuring" at 34 weeks!)

I think I'm having a moose!