Palmer Reunion ~ Labor Day Weekend 2011

This past weekend, we headed up to the Palmer cabin just for the day Saturday. It was nice to get out of the blazing heat for a bit and spend some time with family we don't get to see very often. There were activities to keep everyone busy -- surprisingly, the kids loved painting rocks with Aunt Susan!The biggest hit of all was the giant obstacle course set up by Uncle Kevin!!! Gavin was a little hesitant to try, but once Daddy said he'd go with him, he did it. :)'
Of course we did some quad riding, thanks to Derek & Kristin for letting us haul them up! Hopefully baby girl didn't get too shaken up inside my belly! ;)And Matt, Preston and I got to try out Uncle Kevin's Ranger! Preston loved every second of the ride!! He was hysterically laughing and I was holding onto his leg, afraid he'd bounce out. He told me to let go of him! hahaAll the Palmer cousins (minus Jacob) - Josh, Gavin, Andrew, Blake, Brooklyn, Emily, Preston, Spencer, Sophie and Adam!

In With the New

We couldn't hold out any longer, we went out this weekend and bought eight new baby chicks! It just wasn't the same, knowing the coop was sitting empty.

Introducing --

Belle, Maggie,Diamond & Ellie (Brooklyn's),Ruby (Preston's),Penny,Chocolate (Gavin's),Cocoa Puff (Blake's)

The chickadees are currently in the house in a cage under a heat lamp until they get a little older and we can put them outside (when it cools off a bit).

I should have posted about our chicken coop...

...but instead, I'm sad to say that all 7 of our chickens and our turkey died yesterday. :(

We've been under a heat advisory all this week with near record-breaking temps, so I guess we should've been a little more vigilant about checking up on them. I'm really sad for our kids, especially Brooklyn. She loved those chickens and was always so good about playing with them and holding them. I wish so badly that I had taken a picture on Monday when she was carrying the turkey around. He had gotten SO giant!!! We had had them for four months and I'm pretty sure we would have been getting eggs here in the next couple months, once it cooled down. So sad.

A month ago, we finally got the help and supplies to build the chickens a coop. Our friend, Preston Strebeck, came over and helped Matt and Derek build a giant new home for our birds. They sweated the day away to replicate a coop I had seen online. We eventually have to add a ramp and run, but I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out!

Cousins-in-a-coopPaintingFinished coop!Lid lifts up to reveal nesting box area.Pretty messy in there, but a photo of the inside of the coop. And the last photos of the chickens.

RIP sweet birdies ~ Olivia, Maizy, Matilda, Goldie, Rosie, Brownie, Leopard and Tiny Melvin

First Day of School <> Gavin Goes to Kindergarten!

We've done it all~ movies, LOTS of swimming, library summer reading program, cabin trips, children's museum, etc.

Fingernails have been trimmed, hair is cut. New school supplies, uniforms and shoes have been bought. We're all ready to get back into a good routine.

Today was the first day of school -- two 3rd graders and a brand new kindergartener!!!I love this picture of Gavin. His ears, his "squirl," (what he calls his cowlick in front), his freckles that sprinkle across his nose and cheeks.Gavin was SO excited to start {half day} kindergarten today. I tried to convince him to stay at home with me forever, but it didn't work. He is such a sweet, sweet boy. When I picked him up, he said his first day was AWESOME!!

This was very reminiscent of when I sent the twins off to kindergarten. I had one child left at home with me, but due with a baby between semesters of school. Preston tells me he's going to 1st grade at his "yittle school." I sure hope he isn't disappointed when it's just me and him for half the day!! I'm looking forward to a little one-on-one time with Presty before baby sister arrives. I'm sure he'll enjoy having the whole house to himself!!

JUMP!

Yesterday, we took our last fun outing of the summer to Jump Street, an indoor trampoline park. I took Gavin and Preston back before school got out and since then, Brooklyn and Blake have been begging to go. We invited Andrew & Spence to come play with us. :)

Most of these pictures are blurry because obviously, there wasn't much holding still going on. But still, it captivates the movement and amount of fun everyone had.

Spencer, Preston, Gavin & AndrewThe twins loved the foam pit!!! Totally worth the extra $2 each to keep them entertained.

Cannonball!!!!

Wheeeeee!!!!

Goodbye sleeping in, staying up late, staying in pjs all day.
Goodbye summertime!!

Tuesday TiDBiTs

There are a lot of random things I've missed over the last couple months, so I'm gonna throw them all out here. :)

First and foremost, school supplies!! We did our shopping for supplies yesterday and it gets a little outta control with three kids in school! I dumped everything out on the floor and the kids took turns grabbing supplies on their turn to put in a paper bag to take to their new teachers. It was like Christmas up in here!!Sometimes the kids just get along really well. Nothing more I love than hearing them giggle together. They were being goofy here so I took a pic!For months, Brooklyn has been begging to get her hair cut. Her hair was so long, but I told her we have to at least wait until after her dance recital due to her hair needing to be long enough for a bun for ballet. She wanted it SHORT, as in just under her chin short, and Matt said no way. So this was a good compromise. She loves it!Blake loves going to Cub Scouts. His awards are starting to roll in and I'm being a slacker scout mom in getting them put onto his shirt!Sometimes Brooklyn & Blake are so sweet to each other. I caught this one at church about a month back. Brooklyn was tickling his back, cheek and hair. Nothing calms Blake faster!This was from WAAAAAY back in April, taken on my phone, but I have to stick it in here!! Gavin seriously fell asleep sitting up in church! He must've had a rough night or something.One night in June, I pulled ALL these tomatoes from our garden!!! 30 early girls, 14 romas and 208 cherries!! Out of control! Good thing we have neighbors to take some off our hands!

Half-way there!!

20 weeks pregnant TODAY!! I can't believe time is going by so quickly! The belly is definitely growing. Blakey took this picture for me. :)
Notes about the pregnancy:

I'm still running. A lot of people have commented how nuts I am. Haha! I've wanted to push it for as long as I can, but I'm finally reaching the limit. My pelvic bones hurt after every run, plus it's a trillion degrees outside, plus the humidity is killer. I'm hoping that I can keep myself motivated to get on my elliptical as many days a week so I can stay in shape. My weight has stayed within a few pounds of my starting point, and I totally attribute it to running!

I no longer feel completely exhausted and feel a little bit of motivation creeping back in. My poor family got placed on the back burner for awhile... with meals, housekeeping, lots of stuff. I've been better at planning meals and actually putting decent food on the table again. I've started to get a bit of the nesting bug, wanting to clean out every room of the house! I have projects in the works that I can't wait to get started on! I can't deny the opportunity to lay down for a little afternoon nap here and there. ;)

Oh boy, the GIRL clothes!!! I've done a little shopping here and there. I just get SO giddy seeing these tiny pink and purple clothes again! Once the seasons change, I'll be able to do a little more stocking up in prep for our little girl.

Names. We're talking about names and I feel like we're at least making some headway! Boys names were always so difficult for us (except for Blake) so this is a refreshing change. We have a little list going, but we still have time.

Matt felt the baby kick from the outside for the first time tonight!!!! I can feel her moving several times a day, mostly when I sit down to relax at night. Also after mealtimes and early in the morning before I'm ready to be awake. ;)

I think that's all for now.