Introducing Brennan Michael...

Thanksgiving bump.

Today our fourth child is one-month-old!  Hard to believe, but true.  I suppose that means I should introduce him on here and post a birth recap, for posterity's sake at least!  Poor #4, barely mentioned on the blog. 

I had a feeling that baby would come early, and not a week or more late like his previous two siblings, but I really had no idea what to expect from this one.  After all, his very existence was a surprise, and then I was pretty sure he was going to be a girl, so his gender was a surprise, too.  Why wouldn't his entrance into the world be a surprise as well?  It was.

Thursday, December 7th... I noticed that getting in and out of the car and moving around in general was more trouble than usual, but I just shrugged it off as "getting close."  I had a midwife appointment that day, but didn't see my usual midwife (Lisa) because she had been sick with stomach flu.  I went to the ECCHO monthly board meeting and got back home around 945pm.  We got everyone ready for bed, and I chatted online with Amazon customer service because they had sent me the wrong Alexa cord replacement.  I stood at Michael's computer and got really frustrated with them because they weren't understanding what I needed and tried to send me the wrong cord again.  Once it was finally worked out, I laid down in bed next to Michael and felt something... odd.  My water never broke on it's own with my first two babies, and with Josie it broke RIGHT before she was born, after I had been pushing for a long time... so my water breaking was new to me.  But that's what it was I discovered - it happened at 1125pm.  I was excited and nervous as I texted my birth team (midwife and two students) to let them know that my water broke but I wasn't even having contractions or any other sign of labor.  I texted my mom so she would know what was going on, and Michael called his boss so he could be off work.  When I didn't hear back from Lisa very quickly, I called her to see if she was still sick or what the plan would be regarding who would come for the birth.  She said she was well and would be coming.  She said it sounded like it would still be a while before delivery because I wasn't having contractions yet.  She wanted everyone to try to get some rest before things heated up, so we all laid down and tried.

I could not get comfortable because almost instantly the contractions started up, and they were strong and intensified every few minutes.  She had said to call her back when contractions were about 12 minutes apart, but they STARTED at 4 minutes apart.  Michael fell asleep but I just laid there feeling the waves getting closer and stronger until I just wanted to get things ready.  I called Lisa again around 1am and told her I would like her to come now because the contractions were strong and close.  Also texted my mom and dad to head this way.  Michael and I tried to start prepping labor stuff... gathering trashcans, towels, etc.  I had most things gathered in the corner of my room.  But pretty soon I couldn't take it and laid back down and tried not to cry.  The contractions were so intense and close, I was already telling Michael that I couldn't do it, and that I was stupid for not wanting to pain medication because it HURT.  I was so scared that it would be like Josie's birth and I would have to endure this pain for hours. 

My contractions were right on top of each other when the senior student, Rachel, showed up at our house a little after 2am.  She was like "oh!" when she saw me go right into another contractions after breathing through one.  I said I would get up so they could prep the bed for delivery, and I made my way to the bathroom because I felt like I needed to go.  I sat on the toilet and immediately felt like baby was coming, and I started screaming "HELP!"  Rachel and Michael came running down the hall and I was like "I feel pushy!"  Rachel started getting ready to deliver him right there... she called Lisa on speaker phone and we found out she was just minutes away, her GPS had gotten her turned around a bit!  About then the other student, Emily, came running in and threw on some gloves.  They asked if I wanted to deliver him there in the bathroom or try to make it to the bed.  I decided to head for the bed between contractions.  I made it into my bedroom and beside the bed and I was like "No, he's coming now!"  Rachel said if I felt like pushing on the next contraction to go ahead, so I did - standing there beside my bed!  As I started pushing, Lisa ran in the door and his head was born.  I pushed again and he was out - Rachel caught him with a little assistance from Lisa who had just enough time to slip on some gloves!  It all happened so fast, it was insane. After he was out, I turned around and laid on the bed and they tried to bring him up to my chest, but the umbilical cord was so short they just got him kind of on my lap.  His head was really coned the first glimpse I got of him, but it returned to shape really quickly and he was just beautiful and perfect.  From the moment my water broke (no contractions!) to him being born was a total of 3 hours!  It was the absolute perfect birth I had been praying about (except the part where the midwife almost wasn't there!). 

My mom and dad called as they were coming into town to see how I was, and that was when I was on the bed and Rachel had just got there.  They asked if they had time to go to the store to get snacks in case we were all there a long time (because that's how the last one was, who knew!), and we had no idea at that point...so they went ahead and ran into Walmart for a few minutes.  Because of that, they arrived at our house just a few minutes after he was born!  When my mom walked in I said "I'm sorry, I couldn't wait!"  Lol.

Hello World!

Brennan Michael arrived at 229am on Friday, December 8th, 2017.  He was 9 pounds, 1 ounce and roughly 22 inches (the team measured him at 23 inches, and then a few days later at the doctor's office, they measured him at 21... so I'm going with 22, haha!). His due date was December 11th, so just a few days early.  He is a great baby... sleeps pretty well, nurses well (still a bit sore, but working on latch adjustment), and now that he is a month old, he's starting to be more awake and alert for parts of the day.  His siblings adore him, especially Josie.  She is constantly hugging and kissing on him.  On occasion, she gets jealous and tells me to put him down so I can hold her, but for the most part, she's been a great big sister so far.

Here are a few pictures we took for Christmas cards and such...

My 4 kids!!!

This was MY Christmas outfit, 1980

Family of SIX on Christmas!

A comparison of my babies...

My Babies...

Preston James, 2005

Callen Levi, 2010

Josephine Lilly, 2015

Introducing Josephine Lilly Clark...

I have done a poor job of blogging about anything in a long, long time, but especially about the new kid on the block!  I'd hate to look back at this blog with her years down the road and there be such little about my pregnancy.  Especially since I was such a detailed blogger for Preston and Callen's pregnancies and early years.  :( 

So, a super quick catch up...
We found out she was a girl, and could barely believe it!  Over the months leading up to her birth, we stocked up on all things purple (ok, and some pink), kicked Uncle Daniel out of her room and turned it into the sweetest little nursery for her, and eagerly awaited her arrival.  I had severe morning sickness until about half way into the second trimester.  Lost at least 20 pounds and had many days were I could barely function.  I had what seemed like a gallbladder attack a couple of times, and my iron count was very low - causing the midwives to ramp up my iron intake in hopes that it would allow me to have my planned home birth.  I took all kinds of supplements by the handful, drank chlorophyll and black strap molasses by the buckets.  Ugh.  Finally, right towards the end my level reached "fine, good enough!"  Woo hoo!  Now, if we could just settle on a name!  We went through every list possible, and just could not pick one together.  I came up with Josephine and instantly felt like that was it... Michael, not so much.  He still isn't completely thrilled with it, lol, but Josie it is!

Josie's ultra-abbreviated birth story...
She was due August 25th, but that date came and went with no hint of her arrival.  Finally, on Sunday, August 30th, I started having contractions that were about 30 minutes apart.  We decided to go to church anyway, because maybe staying active would get things going.  They stayed at 30  minutes apart until that evening, then moved closer and closer.  My parents came over and stayed for a while, then my dad took the boys home with him.  Things progressed slowly, and around 1am, I finally asked the midwives to come.  They showed up at our house around 2am, and by then contractions were 3-5 minutes and strong, getting stronger.  Apparently, her head was a little crooked and wasn't descending as it should, and that's what caused the hold up at the end.  It felt like she was ready to come, but she just wouldn't.  I know that if I was at a hospital I would have caved in easily to whatever they offered me, I was so tired and in so much pain.  But the midwives, Michael and my mom kept encouraging me and cheering for me, and after what seemed like forever of pushing and laboring, Josephine Lilly Clark arrived with a burst (lol, my water didn't break until right as she was coming out) at 7:17am on Monday, August 31st, 2015.  The cord was wrapped tightly around her neck, though I wouldn't know that till later, but she was great.  She was placed on me, let out a tiny cry, and was perfect.  I couldn't believe how beautiful and tiny she was, but turns out she was nearly 8 pounds (just as Amy, the midwife, had estimated she would be the week before).  7 lbs, 14 oz, 21.5 inches long. 

She is now 5 days old and doing wonderfully.  She wakes up a lot at night and sleeps most of the day, as most babies do.  She is nursing like a champ, which is good!  My tail bone is badly bruised from labor and changing positions is still excruciating at times.  The boys are adjusting to life with a baby in the house... trying to be quiet and calm (though I'm sure you know well that works).  They both enjoy gazing at her.  Unfortunately, they both came down with colds or something the day after she was born, including fever, cough, snot and all that fun stuff.  Michael was able to take Monday-Thursday off of his daytime job, but had to work Monday and Wednesday evening at his teaching job (yes, the night she was born!).  My mom and dad have been over several times, and Aunt Leah came to visit yesterday.  Jill will be coming on Wednesday and spending a week in town to see her grandkids.  We are settling into our new life as a family of FIVE!

I Kind of Forgot to Announce This Here...

I was pretty sure I had already posted about this specific topic, and yet... when I looked, I couldn't find it.  Um, oops.  That's rather embarrassing.  So, the news is...

We're expecting Baby #3 towards the end of August!  Yep, another Clark on the way!

We found out on the morning of Christmas Eve.  I had been sick the week before (like allergies, cold, not morning sickness) and was just feeling "off" and hadn't had my cycle in a bit.  That's normal for me though, being irregular and all.  But for some reason, I felt like I should take a test.  I had taken tests the previous months fully expecting a POSITIVE and not getting one.  This time I fully expected a NEGATIVE and yet... it was POSITIVE!  I was so shocked!  I ran in and woke Michael up, telling him "Christmas Eve Gift!"  He didn't know what to think and ended up trying to go back to sleep, lol.  I wanted to tell everyone right away, but we agreed to wait and confirm more and give it a while.  It's funny, because about half a dozen of my friends made Big Announcements on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day... and then New Years, too... and I was just over here, like, ME TOO!  Lol.

I started feeling bad pretty quickly after finding out we were expecting.  We announced to my parents and Michael's.  We told Jill and Steve in person because they were in town staying at the Ranch in Ennis for the Winter.  We told my parents by meeting them at Jason's Deli.  We didn't tell the kids right away, though.  When I went on my Leadership Retreat to Branson, MO, I had to tell the gals I was riding with in case I ended up being sick (I was nauseous a lot, but hadn't hurled at that point).  I also told Candi and Regina around that time, I was just too excited to keep it to myself.  Haha. 

We finally made our big announcement by posting on Facebook, and received a ton of likes and comments from friends and family.  I was so glad it was out.  We also told the boys... Preston seemed kind of excited and Callen pretended to be a cat, so we weren't really sure what his opinion was.  I commenced being really, really sick around that time.  There were days I couldn't keep anything down and could barely get out of bed.  This was different for me because as much as I felt bad and hurled with the previous two pregnancies, I would hurl and then feel better... it didn't last all day long like this.  Finally, around 17 weeks, the nausea faded and I haven't been physically sick since (knock of wood!).  I am still tired a lot and feel funky quite often, but so much better than the first trimester.

In about 3 weeks, we get to do the sonogram and find out what we're having.  I am so excited.  I feel like it's going to be a girl, but who knows... I am a "boymom," after all.  The other thing is that we are using midwives this time and will either use the birthing center or have a home birth.  We are still undecided at this point, but leaning towards home.  I'm nervous about that, but also extremely excited.  My previous births weren't horrible experiences, but they weren't what I wanted.  I ended up being induced both times, and I would prefer not to go that route.  So... hoping for as natural as possible, and what's more natural than at home?!

Ok, so there.  It's officially on the blog.  I can't believe I hadn't posted before.  Sorry Baby#3, there just aren't enough hours in the day, apparently.  But I promise you'll receive a lot more attention when you're here!

A Most Eventful Weekend...

On our way to ALR!

Two of my upline and I headed off on a road trip on Thursday (Jan 8th) to Ridgedale, MO (near Branson) for the Advanced Leadership Conference with our company, Usborne Books & More.  Our trip up was nice, trouble-free.  Stephanie and Holly had made the drive the year before in a dense fog and kept joking about how they almost died because they could not see... and there are a lot of high, mountain passes and twisty curves, so, yes... they had been in danger!  Our drive was fine, though.  We made it to the beautiful Big Cedar Lodge and had a wonderful first evening and full day of training the next.  The boys were staying with my parents Thursday evening, and Michael picked them up on Friday after he got off from work. 

Well, very late Friday night Michael started having what he thought were bad heartburn pains, and then coughing up blood.  He called me at 3am saying, "I think I have an emergency."  I tried to calm him down and figure out what was going on, but I'm not good at anything medical, so I didn't know.  When I hung up with Michael after that call, I didn't know what he was going to do... and since I didn't hear back from him, I figured it must have passed and he went back to sleep.  I didn't sleep much myself wondering and worrying, but got a text from him about 7am saying "I'm not dead yet, but at the ER.  Running tests!"  I didn't realize he had driven himself and the boys to the ER (and apparently Callen put up a big mean fuss about being woken up, yikes!)  Thankfully, Michael's parents are down for a two-month long visit and staying relatively near by, so Steve came and got the boys from the ER and brought them back to our house and they went back to bed.  I called my mom and asked her to go to the house and take over for Steve so he could go back up to the hospital to be with Michael.

After going back and forth through text with Michael and Steve, turns out the tests pointed to Michael's gallbladder and it needed to be removed ASAP.  SURGERY!  I was so upset that I wasn't there and was having a really hard time deciding between staying where I was and rushing back to Texas by myself.  Everyone told me to stay where I was, so I listened.  Michael was in good hands at the hospital, his dad was there, my kids were with my mom... there wasn't much I could do.  I tried to continue with a full-day of sitting through training, but I had a difficult time concentrating.  The word spread quickly and everyone was coming up asking questions and offering prayers and and nice words.  I even got a hug and a few words of encouragement from Randall White, our President/CEO.  I remember crying a lot, praying a lot and blowing up my phone with texts and calls all day long.  Michael's surgery kept getting pushed back, till finally about 5pm, he went in.  I could have been there had I left that morning.  The surgery went well, and this gallbladder was full of stones, according to the doctor.  He had 4 holes poked into him.  He stayed over night and was released on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning was the day we were supposed to leave Big Cedar Lodge and the girls riding with me agreed we could leave at 6am, so we jumped up and got in the car (in our PJs and all!), intending to miss a storm that was coming in from the Northeast.  Well, turns out we ran smack dab into the middle of one that was in Arkansas.  The main freeway was shut down and there was about a 2 hours standstill reported, so the GPS offered an alternate route, which LOOKED like it bypassed the mountains completely.  That seemed like a good idea at the time.  Well, we soon found out it steadily went right up a mountain and was far less traveled, which is NOT a good combination.  We passed many cars spun off on to the sides of the road and kept going.  Then we got to a part with a sign that read "Steep Slope Ahead."  Uh oh.  Indeed.  The entire highway was a giant sheet of ice, and there was absolutely nothing I could do anymore.... there was no way to accelerate so we just kind of came to a slow stop, and then the car started sliding sideways.  We slid, almost in slow motion, into a guard rail on the side of the road.  It was pretty much a straight drop down the other side of it, but luckily we just struck the guard rail a little.  We tried to get out, but the highway was, as I said, one giant sheet of ice, it was impossible to cross or walk around on.  We didn't see any other civilization, no real houses or businesses.  So, we sat there for a while, charging up our phones, calling 911 to let them know where we were exactly, letting our loved ones know we had a bit of delay, lol. 

Just slowly slid and stopped there.

Solid sheet of ice!

We sat on the side of the road there for about an hour and a half.  We got periodic calls from the 911 dispatch saying they couldn't come to us because all of their resources were stuck, too.  The firetruck had slid off into a ditch, the two sheriff trucks were off the roads, the wrecker was wrecked, etc.  REALLY!  We pretty much made it the farthest up the mountain out of anyone, and no one could come for us!  At one point we saw some hope!  A sand truck was making it's way up and around the corner, but then before our very eyes, it slid off the road, too.  Thankfully, the fireman who had the firetruck off into the ditch a little ways down came to check on that guy, and saw us!  He was able to make his way over to use and ask us if we wanted to come down to where he and a bunch of others were gathered in some warm work trucks.  My car wouldn't start at that point, I had ran the battery down charging the phones and such, oops!  So, we decided to take him up on that.  We gathered some stuff and blankets and headed along the guard rail with him down the mountain.  A little ways down I noticed a house across the street, and having to go to the bathroom pretty badly by then, wondered out loud if those people were home because it'd be nice to use there bathroom!!!  The sweet Fireman, grabbed his phone and goes, "Let me call them!"  We then realized we were in a town of 399 people, everyone knew everyone in Winslow, AR!  Thankfully, they were home and we could come use their bathroom, but we had to figure out how to cross the highway, which was solid ice.  Fireman Shane said he had witnessed a lady walk along on her blanket for traction, so we tried it and worked.  Was a very interesting experience shuffling along across a highway on a blanket (IN MY PJs, mind you!), but it worked. 

These sweet older couple let us into their home and we used their bathroom, they offered us coffee and cookies and said we could stay there as long as we needed.  Stephanie asked if they were football fans and they turned on the Cowboy game for us, lol.  They served us lunch and everything.  We had a wonderful time getting to know these people who saved our lives.  At this point I hadn't told Michael what had happened because I didn't want him worrying about me, so when I found out he was finally home with his mom, I called and told him the story.  We tried so hard to get up early and get home as fast as we could, we ended up with an extra 5-hour delay.  Finally, it rained a bit and warmed up a little, so the sand truck was able to drive backwards, sanding himself up the mountain.  We jump started the car and got it off the guard rail and everything looked fine.  The sweet couple escorted us all the way back down to the mountain and over to the main freeway again.  And we were on our way home at last.  I got home about 9pm on Sunday.

Whew.  What a weekend to remember!  Thankfully, Michael is doing much better now, he is healing very well and back to moving around and working and all that.  The dent in the car popped itself out pretty much, which is awesome.  And good grief, I learned my lesson about Arkansas back roads!

Happy 9th Birthday, Preston!

NINE YEAR OLD PRESTON!

8 years old!

SEVEN YEARS OLD!

Six Years Old!

Five years old!

Four Years Old!

Three Years Old!

Two years old!

One year old!

One day old!

Too Much Excitement in my Neighborhood...

A few weeks ago, Michael was working on the light switches near the front door and I was in the kitchen working on dinner with the back door slightly open... at the just the moment I noticed, he asked, "Do you smell smoke?"  We stepped out on the front porch and couldn't see anything but thick, dark smoke.  Something was definitely on fire.  Because of the wind and the amount of smoke, it was really difficult to tell which direction it was even coming from!  Michael didn't have his shoes on, so I stepped out towards the road and then just kept going when I finally realized where it was coming from.  Turns out a garage (separate from the house) was on fire just one block over.  I had met a woman who lived at this house a week or two before at the park, and recognized her teenage son coming out of the door of the house next to the garage.  Another couple had been driving by and saw the flames and called 911 already, and was trying to see if there was anyone in the house.  The firemen arrived just a minute or two later and got to work.  It took a long time and a lot of work to finally get it under control and put it out.  The family has spent the past few weeks trying to tear down the wreckage and haul it away because all of it was basically burnt down.  It was pretty crazy to see a fire like that so close.

A day or two later there was some sort of domestic disturbance (I assume) and there was a shooting just a few blocks over the other direction.  The boys and I weren't home at the time, but Daniel (who is living with us now, by the way) said he heard the Care Flight landing near the Fire Station to transport the victim to the hospital.

And just a few days ago, I heard a loud BOOM around 9am in the morning.  I looked out the window and saw the construction guys were still working across the street (laying new water lines or something).  So, I assumed it was them making the noise and went back to lay in the bed with Callen.  A few minutes later I heard a lot of sirens (which is pretty common, since we're so close to the station), but they got closer and closer and stopped.  I jumped up and opened the front door to see the construction guys standing near their site with their phones all up, pointing at something on the side of our house and the firetrucks were pulling up along the side street, too.  I quickly ran down the hall to the boys' side window and looked out.  There was the house across the street - ON FIRE!  WHAT?!  It was a crazy sight because the side of the house, part of the roof, the carport and the yard was fully aflame.  If the fire truck hadn't just pulled up where it did, I would have seen that their van was completely on fire, too!  I watched the action for a long time, and they got it under control.  But my gosh, that was so close!  Way too close! I am not sure what the cause of the fire was, or how much damage there was to their house yet.  It's a brick home and it seems like the majority of the fire was the van and the carport, but I'm not sure.  I don't know if the BOOM had anything to do with it, or was a coincidence, either.  If I had gotten up and out of bed just a little bit earlier, I would have had a perfect view of what happened right out my kitchen window.

Here I thought living out here in the "country" would mean there would be way less drama - boy, was I wrong!

December 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Dec 1st - Our new home doesn't have a fireplace, so we improvise. #fireplaceTV http://instagram.com/p/hZ1hMyovIU/

Dec 3rd - 1up mushroom cupcake for Preston's birthday party tonight. I tried. http://instagram.com/p/heUYNvovC_/ 

Dec 4th - Preston James Clark, you are eight years old. Happy #Birthday, buddy! http://instagram.com/p/hgUMTvovFI/ 

Dec 6th - My snowflake lights look awesome in the ice! http://instagram.com/p/hlQi0yovB1/ 

Dec 6th - He gets a way with so much thanks to this face. #littlestinker #DFWiceday #latergram http://instagram.com/p/hm0gkjIvIw/ 

Dec 7th - My first Bountiful Basket. Grateful that my husband was willing to brave the ice to go pick it up.  http://instagram.com/p/hpJDVeIvHp/ 

Dec 14th - See... I DID take down the #fall decor after all. Except my white #pumpkin. #Christmas time is here.… http://instagram.com/p/h6e-lrovCn/

Dec 18th - This is how three-yr-olds play Trivial Pursuit. There are flashcards in the other room that met the same doom.  http://instagram.com/p/iE4DUMIvEP/

Dec 21st - Shopping is tiring. http://instagram.com/p/iMwQFFovKX/ 

Dec 22nd - Yep, Grandma and Grandpa are here. Kids have officially welcomed them. http://instagram.com/p/iP1hGhIvLf/ 

Dec 23rd - Michael was not amused to see #ValentinesDay stuff on Dec 23rd!! #Target has lost their mind. http://instagram.com/p/iVKh50ovKy/

Dec 24th - Loving our Jesus Storybook Bible #Advent branch. This was the best Advent reading we have done so far… http://instagram.com/p/iT6X2-ovLn/ 

Dec 24th - These boys are so ready to dig in to these presents! #MerryChristmas http://instagram.com/p/iVKKWnIvKI/ 

Dec 26th - #Superhero room is nearly complete. #brothers #boys http://instagram.com/p/iafXnpIvMz/

Dec 30th - Playing with Teagan. http://instagram.com/p/ij7vvtovC7/ 

Dec 31st - #MedievalTimes on #NYE2013 http://instagram.com/p/inLGyXIvMa/ 

November 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Nov 1st - Not yet, not yet, not yet... Too late. D'oh! #TotinosPizzaRolls KaBlam! http://instagram.com/p/gMOXgoovGG/

Nov 6th - A 1/4-Acre yard takes much more effort to mow than our previous yard. #IAppreciateMyHusband… http://instagram.com/p/gOXp_OovAY/

Nov  7th - This is the porch life. http://instagram.com/p/gbObBMIvMn/

Nov 8th - The long lost address book has been found! #Hallelujah #PraiseTheLord http://instagram.com/p/geT-LbovMc/

Nov 10th - His super model look. http://instagram.com/p/gjGHW7IvHL/

Nov 11th - #Squee! Their own desks! Annnnnd, we have internet in our house now! Happy #Monday! http://instagram.com/p/glMQAyovBs/ 

Nov 15th - Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. :) http://instagram.com/p/gv_msgIvMC/ 

Nov 22nd - Oh, just hanging in the door frame... With a bow on his head. #idontknowwhy http://instagram.com/p/hCC6OAovNu/ 

Nov 26th - Super awesome #hubby comes home from a long day of work... And then works some more. #lovehim http://instagram.com/p/hPGnKUovOx/ 

October 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Oct 3rd - So far, about 8 of the 10 boxes I've packed are CDs/DVDs/Vhs/books. I haven't touched P's books/DVDs.… http://instagram.com/p/fAzOg1ovAA/

Oct 5th - #Hotwheels Racetrack, earthquake edition? #boymom http://instagram.com/p/fF-RHmovF7/ 

Oct 6th - I walk around the corner, and this is what I see. He's #reading. Um... OK then. Carry on, son. #boymom http://instagram.com/p/fJmdi2IvOZ/ 

Oct 9th - Packing things up, but I had to bring this in from its hiding place. Priorities. #PUMPKIN #ItsFallYall… http://instagram.com/p/fRLNKmIvLI/ 

Oct 11th - Preston is sharing the book called If Everybody Did...with his cousin Trey. http://instagram.com/p/fVqgAUovDB/ 

Oct 11th - Look who we found! #Grandma Jill is here! http://instagram.com/p/fWeFyIovEq/ 

Oct 14th - About to enjoy a movie w/ #grandma http://instagram.com/p/feBfJTovJZ/ 

Oct 21st - Celebrating the closing on both properties with bubble tea at Fat Straws! http://instagram.com/p/fvL6yTIvIo/ 

Oct 26th - We live across the street from a park now. Those swings are squeaky. WD-40 to the rescue, lol. http://instagram.com/p/f8c2KKovAg/ 

Oct 27th - I can't find my pants, shoes and a host of other things, but... totally worth it! #ILoveMyNewHouse http://instagram.com/p/f-aJshovA7/ 

Oct 28th - My monkeys enjoying their new trees. http://instagram.com/p/gBjkmoIvCQ/ 

Oct 30th - Carnation Instant Breakfast, you're gonna love it in an instagram. #harhar http://instagram.com/p/gGQTWvovCW/ 

Oct 31st - I love these two monsters so much it's scary. ;) #Fall #boys #pumpkin http://instagram.com/p/gIzPDUIvK0/ 

Oct 31st - Happy #Halloween! Superman and a wolf. He is not a fox! He doesn't know #WhatDoesTheFoxSay. http://instagram.com/p/gJhboUIvOd/

Homeschool Recap, Weeks 5 and 6...

These past two weeks we have focused on Mexico and Central America for our geography studies.  We learned about climate and physical features of the land, a little about the people, and have started reading about Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, who started his work in Guatemala.  We started playing a fun Geography Game, and I have already started seeing an improvement in knowing where certain countries are located. Preston continued work on his multiplication tables.  I didn't really do anything structured with Callen other then coloring, and having him tag-along with the rest of our studies.  He knows how to spell his name, still working on the hard 'c' sound when he says it, though.  Also, he is doing great at memorizing scriptures he learns at Sunday School. So proud!

We were able to surprise the boys with a visit from Grandma Jill last weekend... they had no idea she was coming until they saw her come out of the airport.  They were thrilled.  She was with us from Friday evening to Tuesday morning, so that was pretty awesome.  Otherwise, the rest of this past week has been all about packing and attending to things to get our house sold and buy the Midlo house.  We are supposed to close on Monday!!!

Sunday night planning session.

Love Preston's detailed coloring on this one!

String art. I did the puppy w/Callen, Preston did the star.

Seeing how turtles stay cool and warm in shade and sun.

Geography vocabulary illustrations.

Preston reading a favorite book to cousin Trey.

Grandma Jill's surprise visit!

Enjoying their time with her!

Playing Geography Game!

Letter writing assignment.

We will most likely be taking the next several weeks off for the move, so we won't be moving on to Canada just yet!

September 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Sep 1st - Sweet boys watching #WipeOut together. Getting along for a brief moment. http://instagram.com/p/dusg3hIvOW/

Sep 3rd - They distract each other. Sigh. #YouGottaKeepEmSeparated http://instagram.com/p/dzbrpfIvO_/ 

Sep 3rd - How can you be sad, Orange? #PUMPKIN FLAVOR ALL THE THINGS!! #nomz #mms http://instagram.com/p/d0MvO4IvCu/ 

Sep 8th - Ready to start back to #homeschool tomorrow. My preschooler and 3rd grader. :) http://instagram.com/p/eBJh2WovA9/ 

Sep 14th - When Callen is quiet for long, I know he is up to no good. But when Preston is quiet for a while, he's… http://instagram.com/p/ePmUtnovJN/ 

Sep 17th - When Callen is quiet for long, I know he is up to no good. But when Preston is quiet for a while, he's… http://instagram.com/p/ePmUtnovJN/ 

Sep 19th - I do not recommend having this creamer in your first cuppa of the day. Who, boy! #InternationalDelight… http://instagram.com/p/edGc0nIvI9/ 

Sep 20th - Mike Herrera, or as we call him, Mx. @ House of Blues http://instagram.com/p/egLGIaovPi/ 

Sep 20th - Jesus, thank you for this happening right now. fiveironfrenzy #skalives @ House of Blues http://instagram.com/p/egSm0LIvLc/ 

Sep 21st - My boys! #GrandPrairie http://instagram.com/p/eivsZCovBT/ 

Sep 22nd - This is what sleeping w/the windows open will get you: Snuggly munchkin. #57degrees #HappyFallYall!… http://instagram.com/p/ekEBK8IvLs/ 

Sep 22nd - Gonna kinda miss this view out of my bedroom window. #GrandPrairie #MovingSoon http://instagram.com/p/ekFFIGovNI/ 

Sep 30th - Three weeks till we move... Its not too early to pack up the #Legos, right? Gah. #boymom http://instagram.com/p/e5auukovNG/ 

August 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Aug 6th - #Birthday gift from his parents... ancestry DNA testing kit to see who he's directly defended from.… http://instagram.com/p/cr2-IMIvC4/


Aug 15th - Praising God for the weather, and chance to have a picnic lunch in the middle of August! http://bit.ly/17haQ6O

Aug 15th - Beware the "sharp" chairs out there. Though, it also looks like those sharp articles are ganging up on that poor chair. #RodAndStaff is often hilarious. #homeschool  http://bit.ly/1djBnaz

Aug 18th - They can get along on occasion at least. I asked if they dressed alike on purpose, Preston says, "No! Well, Callen did pick out my clothes for me. Hey!"  http://bit.ly/17hb8uo

Aug 19th - Its an unofficial back-to-school day today. Starting up Math & Spelling with Preston (3rd) and ...… http://instagram.com/p/dNmhWVovGw/ 

Aug 20th - All my boys, coloring. #love  http://bit.ly/1djBJhw

Aug 27th - Oh, u know... Just finally having our first swim of the #summer. Found the key card for the community… http://instagram.com/p/dhrxQBovK3/

Aug 30th - 105degrees today? Bring it on. I'm armed with a #Starbucks Iced #Pumpkin Spice Latte and, for later,… http://instagram.com/p/dphzY2IvNn/ 

Aug 31st - Yep, its a #Saturday. :) http://instagram.com/p/drwg9NIvPl/ 

Aug 31st - Can u tell someone is happy to have Daddy home today? #LovesHisDaddy #Saturday http://instagram.com/p/dr6w-CIvEY/

July 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

July 2nd - Don't worry, citizens! This #superhero duo is on your side! http://instagram.com/p/bRNxspovIa/

July 2nd - We got kicked out of our house for a couple of showings this afternoon. Enjoying the nice weather! @… http://instagram.com/p/bRgPtLovDq/ 

July 11th - Sometimes I can still pretend he's a baby. #SweetBoy http://instagram.com/p/boJGGjovKD/ 

July 11th - #FreeSlurpeeDay #7Eleven #711 #JulyEleventh #FirstInLine http://instagram.com/p/bodaeVovFq/ 

July 12th - @Chickfila #CowAppreciationDay - yep, our favorite dress up holiday! #moo http://instagram.com/p/brmIC3IvPn/ 

July 19th - Turn It Up! #VBS @ Grace Fellowship Church http://instagram.com/p/b92uifIvOK/ 

July 23rd - Chalk up another #pinterestFAIL for me. Lol. Top: the pin, Bottom: mine. Yep. http://instagram.com/p/cH8SjGovB7/ 

July 26th - #Superman #Converse #AllStar hi-tops. Preston is a lucky boy, these were on #clearance! http://instagram.com/p/cPtYFWovOt/ 

July 28th - My little hipsters. @ Grace Fellowship Church http://instagram.com/p/cUZkfrIvIF/