My Sincerest Apologies

I am so sorry I have not been blogging more regularly folks. First I got pregnant and my energy and appetite were gone which made for little motivation to do anything. Then we were on vacation (and I broke my camera AGAIN!!!), then Fix had a birthday, then Rock had a birthday and well, you see what happened. I disappeared. But I'm back and determined to catch up! Get ready for a long string of posts from the crazy woman pictured above.

Babysitting

The day after Clip's birthday (yes, that was back in August but I've been on vacation and I haven't blogged like I've wanted to), I babysat for the Hathaway kids so Annie and Nick could travel up to a very important doctor's appointment in New Jersey.

The day started with oranges...

And geese...

And a compare-the-boys shot of Clip and Rock. A lot has changed in the past two years but these boys are still pretty cute!

Rock also posed with Aiden and Sophie. For the rest of the day, we were far too busy playing and cleaning up messes and doing the other things that you do when you have four crazy kids in one house so we didn't take any other pictures.

That is until dinner when Sophie and Aiden showed me just how thrilled they were that I watched them all day long.

At this point Clip was only wearing his pull-ups because he had chosen the moment before dinner was served to climb into the kiddie pool fully clothed. We stripped him down and ate our meal while it was hot.

Thanks Hathaways for a day of fun - especially the part where you kiddies taught Rock that cottage cheese is his friend.

New News

He has always been BIG.

But now Rock is going to be a BIG brother! Yep folks. Lord willing, we will be adding a new little one to our family sometime in mid-to-late March. To be honest, I am ashamed that you readers didn't pick up on this sooner.
First there was my post about the crab feast where I showed this shirt my mom made with a crab for each of the members of Bethany's extended family. A wise reader would have counted them and realized that the number of crabs didn't match the number of family members at the crab feast. Fetus Fix #2 got his/her own crab.
And do you REALLY think I would miss out on a Segway tour to sew a dress for Addy? I mean, I was happy to not have to pay the shipping fees to send her birthday gift, but the real reason I couldn't go on the tour is 'cause they had a "No-Preggos" policy.

It was hard for the doctor to capture a picture of our little one, because s/he is quite the little wiggle worm! Anyway, we would appreciate your prayers for continued health for me and the baby and we'll post pictures of my belly as soon as it starts looking like a baby bump and not a spare tire.

September 6th

On Sunday, the world's greatest husband celebrated his 31st birthday. This is the 9th birthday I have celebrated with him and I hope the Lord blesses us with my more years together. It is a privilege to be called his wife and share the great task of parenting with a self-sacrificing, forgiving, wise, and kind man.

And on top of all that, he loves to indulge me in taking purposefully 'awkward shots.'**
** For the record, these shots were not taken on his birthday. I'll post some of those soon.

Clip is Two!

Our August Monday night dinner was on Clip's birthday so we gathered at the Hathaway house for a yummy meal.Then the kids (and a kid at heart named Rocket) gathered around this table for some yummy dessert.

Annie made the fondant animals with the help of some high school girls from her church.

After we sang to Clip...

And he blew out his candles...
Everyone went to town on the cupcakes! Clip swallowed the turtle's head...

While Rocket and Rock ate the giraffe.

I opted for a fondant-free cupcake and it was perfection on my palate!

Mom and Zuni smiled sweetly while the sugar rush invaded the children and they all went into hyper mode.
Luckily Rocket was around so Sophie could practice her ballet lifts!

Then the Birthday Boy got in on the action!

My favorite picture of the night.

Splash Park!

In an attempt to eek the very last little bit of fun out of the Summer, we recently visited Glenn Dale Splash Park with a few families from church.
I actually worked at this park when I was in high school so I was excited to show my little guy around the fun fountains, and slides, and waterfalls, etc. But as this face shows, Rock wasn't quite sure what to make of all the "fun" things to do.

Amelie rode bravely down the waterslide, but when Rock and I rode down together, I said "Wasn't that fun?" and he said "No."
While Zeke and Zach climbed on the ropes and the other kids splashed in the fountains...

Rock was more interested in posing with the Salada ladies. He still wants to be a part of their family.

He finally got more interested in the pool when he discovered just how cool Abby is. Then he followed her around like a puppy. Hopefully he'll be a bit braver next Summer.

Drinks for Sale

Someone has set up a restaurant in our house and I can't recommend it highly enough!

Order whatever you want. Cookies! Salad! Hot dogs! Muffins! Quesadillas! Macaroni and Cheese! Tiramisu! Seltzer water! Apple Juice! Rock can make it all in record speed!
** Note: All food products served exist only in the imagination of those serving and eating them. Drinks are real, but available only in very limited quantities.**

My only complaint about this restaurant is that if the server spills one of the drinks, be aware that the customers have to clean up the mess.