Look out for Mr. Stork!!

Baby #4 is on the way!!!!
Due Date ~ January 6, 2009

YES, this was planned.

NO, we will not be finding out the gender (unless it's multis again).

YES, I've been tired.

NO, I haven't been feeling sick.

YES, we are excited!!!

He did it!!! Matt is officially a doctor!!!

This entry will be comprised of our doings while in California for Matt's graduation last week.

Last Tuesday, we headed out to California. We shared a hotel suite with the Barneys and I think all our kids were excited to see each other after 6 months of being apart!

Wednesday, we met up with some friends at the park (oh how we miss that park!) for playing and lunch. That night we had the Class of 2008 banquet, which was a dinner cruise, just like last year. It was great to see Matt's classmates and have one last hoorah together. As parting gifts, each student received a digital picture frame.

Us, the Barneys, and the Poulters, some of our best friends during school

Matt and I

Thursday, we spent the day at Disneyland with the Barneys and Matt's parents. The kids had no idea we were going, so they were completely surprised!! And there is only one way to describe that day -- WET! It actually started off ok, but we hadn't been in the park for more than two hours when it started getting really overcast and the first drops of rain began to fall. It really never let up for more than a few minutes here and there and of course we ended up soaked. Our kids were troopers, though, and because of that, we stayed till probably close to 6pm and hit all the rides we wanted to. I love Disneyland!!!

Traditional Disneyland photo

Grumpy GavinPeering through the portholes on the Finding Nemo rideHappy family at the happiest place on Earth!Where should we go first?Sydney, Macey, Blake, Brooklyn and GavinDaddy with the boys on DumboGrandma with Brooklyn and Sydney on the teacupsMommy and Brooklyn on Autopia

Brooklyn driving Mommy C~R~A~Z~Y!! Be preapred to laugh!


We're already wet, why not go on Splash Mountain? I sat in front and got even MORE soaked!!!Matt took Gavin on the Winnie the Pooh ride instead
Souvenirs

Friday was GRADUATION DAY!!!! The day we've waited for for the last four years! It was still COLD and a bit rainy, but we made it through the ceremony. It's so different attending a small graduation - much more personal since even I knew a lot of the administration and staff.

Umbrellas up!!

Southern California College of Optometry, Class of 2008Dr. Matthew Palmer, O.D.Reciting the optometric oathMrs. & Dr. PalmerWeston & Matt ~ good friendsProud parentsPalmers & BarneysMatt, Martin, Weston & Craig - the four married, LDS guys in their class

Matt is currently negotiating a job opportunity and we'll be SO excited to actually be making $$ instead of borrowing it! I just have to say how proud I am of my sweet honey and all the hard work he has done to get through undergrad and graduate school, all while having a wife and three kids! We survived!! For the first time in our married lives, he won't be a student! I love you, babe!

The Gum Meister strikes again!

One guess as to whom the culprit is.............................

GAVIN!!!

He ate FIVE pieces of Bubble Yum (you know how big those pieces are?!??!), THREE pieces of Extra watermelon gum and ONE piece of Sweet Mint Orbit. How that kid managed to keep it all down, I have no idea! Last time he ate a million pieces of gum, he barfed it all back up. Of course he wasn't hungry for lunch that day! ;) All this sneakiness was done whilst I was checking blogs. Guess that'll teach me to lock the pantry door when I'm done!

Tumbling and Trophies

I signed Brooklyn and Blake up for an 8 week tumbling class through the parks & rec department, which they absolutely loved!! They had a small class and enjoyed getting out and doing something different each week. Thursday was their last class and they put on a little "show" so we could see what they had learned. The funniest thing is that my high school boyfriend's son was in their class and I didn't even find that out until the very last class! Crazy!

Here are some of B&B's moves-

Brooklyn crab walks

Blake donkey kicksWall standsThis thing was cool!Gavin shows me his tumbling skills. Haha! He was rolling around on the floor saying, "Take a picture of me!" Poor kid, he wants to be doing just what his big brother and sister are!!Job well done!

Blake and Brooklyn also finished off their t-ball season a couple weeks ago. Their team had a party at Peter Piper Pizza this past weekend where they got cute little trophies.

Daddy and Blake playing some violent shooting game. My favorite. (not!)

Gavin shows me his ticketsChow time with the team!Proud trophy owners! You like the pizza stain on Brooklyn's shirt??
I whipped Brooklyn's bow together that morning. Thanks for the ribbon, Aunt Kristin!With Coach Andy
~Brooklyn was lovingly given the nickname Diamond Princess by her coaches.
She totally loves it, of course, and tells us we can call her that.

Yes, I'm still alive!

I think this has been my absolute longest hiatus from blogging EVER!! I'm sure some of you were wondering if I had fallen off the face of the planet. I can assure you, I have not.

We actually have moved out of our apartment and in with Matt's brother and his family. They are so graciously allowing us to crash with them for a couple months for the interim between the time that Matt graduates, finds a job and until we are ready to purchase our own home. Seriously, it's been a life saver! We're learning the ropes of sharing space (the kids have their moments) and taking advantage of all the fun things they have here like the Wii and a swimming pool. I'm getting spoiled already, living in a big gorgeous house and sharing household responsibilities with another wife/mom. Sounds a bit polygamist-ish, doesn't it? ;) Matt told me he could get another wife, but I declined on that offer.

I'll be trying to catch up over the next little bit with all our happenings. And I hope everyone has noticed just how many days are left on Matt's graduation countdown!!!!!! Wooooohoooooooo!! I can't believe we're almost done and it's FOR REAL!!!! For the first time in our married lives, Matt won't be a student! I can't wait to be back in California next week to see my good friends. It's already felt like we've been gone from there for forever!