What in the world have we been up to???

Well. Good question! I've just been in a blogging funk, I guess. This may end up being a massive recap of the who-what-when-where-why I've missed over the last bit.

My youngest sister Brittney moved in mid-August with her dachshund doggie Scarlett. Britt has one year left of dental hygiene school and her husband Jesse just went off to California to start his first year of podiatry school so she's staying with us til she graduates in May.

We got a new kitchen table. The kids help us put together the 8 chairs. Blake thoroughly enjoyed being able to use a power drill!
This past Sunday, after conference was over, we took our little family to visit grandpa LeBaron. Unfortunately, over the last couple months, his health has really started to decline and he has been in a care home for a few weeks. It's hard to see those you love get older, but I'm so glad we took the kids to see him. We even came at just the right time because they got to enjoy popsicles with Grandpa!! :)

I've been busy growing a human, the end. I'm going to do a more detailed blog on that next because it deserves a post all on its own. :)I think busy would be an understatement for Matt. We're both still trying to adjust to his calling in the bishopric. Weekends are hard because he often has commitments on Saturday, then puts in 12 hour days at the church on Sunday. Last weekend was heavenly because it was General Conference and we got him to ourselves BOTH DAYS! I think he is becoming more comfortable in his calling and I love seeing him learn and grow as a person through the experiences he is able to have. Work is still going well. Matt is helping with training at another office so that has meant a few long days recently. Last weekend, Matt was on the local news again, talking about vision. The kids love seeing daddy on tv! Here's the clip-

Brooklyn was long overdue for a new pair of glasses; imagine that, being the child of an optometrist!!! Matt's office doesn't have an optical so we have to go way out of the way to get glasses. Thanks to Rosalie at the Tempe office for helping us pick out her new specs!This feather-in-the-hair is a fashion trend that is hot right now and Brooklyn has been dying to be a part of the trend. So this week, we went to our hair girl and got a feather in her hair. She loves it and I think it makes her feel hip and cool. :)Yesterday, she accidentally got her hand smashed in suburban door while being picked up from school - yikes! I wasn't sure if her fingers were broken because they instantly bruised and started swelling, but we just kept them on ice and an hour later, she could bend them just fine, thank goodness. Her first two fingers got it the worst (around her knuckles), you can see it here in this picture...Brooklyn still is taking two dance classes a week and just moved up to beg/int jazz, so she has the same teacher for both ballet and jazz. This girl can't get enough of books, especially books that are full of facts. She picked a National Geographic "Strange But True" book at the school book fair and peppered us with random weird facts for days and days! She still likes regular chapter books too and reads several of them at a time. She is currently working on Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary. I think I'm all to blame for my kids being soooo into books!! ;) She got all A's & O's on her 1st grading period report card and her teacher adores having her in class. She says she can just SEE Brooklyn soaking in the information and can tell she wants more!

Blake, ah Blake. I don't think I ever mentioned this here, but Blake was officially diagnosed with ADHD combined type (both hyperactivity and inattentiveness) back in May. We started him on medication and let me tell you, it has made a WORLD of a difference!!! His overall demeanor has improved and although we still have a few struggles here and there, I think we made the right decision. We just had parent/teacher conferences last week and his teacher said his behavior in class has been wonderful (which is a huge improvement from last year) and if she didn't KNOW he had ADHD, she'd never know. We've been working on a reward system here at home for good behavior at school and he really responds well to that. Luckily, we've be blessed for Blake to be matched with good teachers that are a perfect fit for his personality.

Blake also has really started to pick up with reading. Before, it was kind of hit or miss and he'd read for his homework requirement then be done, but I've had to start teasing him a bit that I'll have to ground him if he doesn't STOP reading! haha He read several of the Chronicles of Narnia books (the ones we own) and has moved on to 39 Clues series.

Blake continues to move forward in karate. His mind is very quick and he is excellent at memorizing the steps and sequences to the techniques he has to master in karate. I can't believe it's been over 2 years since he started! Yesterday, he tested for his blue belt and passed! It was fun to be able to have the WHOLE family there to watch, including Daddy and aunt Brittney. :)

Fun photo shoot with mom-

Gavin is doing well in kindergarten. He is picking up quickly on phonics and math. I sit with him at the table each day while he does his homework and I'm impressed with his handwriting. He seems to be following Brooklyn's footsteps in that he is very much a people-pleaser and wants to do everything just right. He has asked several times if his kindy teacher can come over to play at our house!!! LOL! I love the time that we have together after Preston goes down for his nap and we snuggle on the couch and read library books together each afternoon.

{pic from 3rd week of school}

Gavin has quite the appetite these days and is constantly asking if he can having something to eat. The other day after dinner, I asked him if he wanted some dessert and he said, "No, can I just have an apple or something?" Cute kid!Preston is getting old. He's just looking/acting old these days!! The closer I get to having this little baby, the more I realize that Preston is not a baby any more. He never stops jibber-jabbering and says the most RANDOM and funny things. I wish I was better about jotting them down on a daily basis. :\ He loves playing games on my phone (the few that I have) and can get to them all on his own! Angry birds, Ant Smasher or Bubble Blast, take your pick!

First shiner, courtesy of big brother Gavin. In it's healing stages here --> His new morning routines includes watching "Misses Street" (aka: Sesame Street) after the kids leave for school, with a bowl of blueberries and sippy of milk. We've also started going to library storytime weekly and he really loves it and looks forward to our little Mommy/Preston time. I'm enjoying outings with my little sidekick as much as I can before he has to share me with baby sister!

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!!