Even more...

David Verdery on my camera?

Some of our decoration efforts

My Finn

Boy hoodies, so cute

Tiff needs to have this baby...or is she defending the chocolate?

I report, you decide.

Pictures!

It's crooked inside too, believe me. 

Morgan and the girls, on light decorating night.

another one.

The infamous tiramasoup.

Findlay

In Colorado

       

     

Cortisol, schmortisol.

I think I have an adrenal problem. This basically involves your adrenals getting really tired because you have been using too much of what it produces. In a nutshell, when you get stressed, your body uses its supply of cortisol (the anti-stress hormone) which is just one of the many hormones your body makes. This is way simplified of course. Last week I took a test to check my adrenal function. They should absolutely redesign this thing for different people. The first one should be for normal people, the second, for women with up to two children, and the third, for women with three or more little munchkins. This last one should just involve a delivery man coming to your front door, holding out a tupperware container, and you (still in your p.j's) hawking one big one right in, no muss, no fuss. He leaves, and you get you results. Too bad it doesn't work that way. There is only one test for everyone and it requires more thought and planning than I can do right now.
This little brain teaser is completed by cramming a little cotton wad resembling a mini-tampon, under your tongue until it is saturated by your saliva, four times a day. You cannot eat certain things and you have to do it at certain times. You cannot brush your teeth or drink anything but water for thirty minutes beforehand, and you have to rinse your mouth out with "very cold water" three to five minutes before you cram the cotton. You have a specific vial for each time, that you cannot screw up, and you have to keep it all refrigerated for not more than three days before you mail it in, in an embarrassing little box that says "Live human specimen." I can only imagine what the little post office ladies thought was being shipped off to CA. As I attempted to do this thing correctly, I could feel my entire cortisol stash being decimated. The children all picked that day to be used by the Lord in my continuing ed class of "patience is a virtue." I will keep you informed on the latest developments. The week went downhill from there. That night I couldn't find my contact case, so I washed out a little sample of peppermint origins face wash and filled it with contact solution using it as a temporary case. The next morning, the first contact burned like fire and smelled minty as I placed it over my dilated pupil. Brennah and Maggie wanted to play with them, so I gave them each a contact for a toy. I just call it "creative homeschooling." Maggie asked for another one yesterday so I had to explain that they weren't really for fun. On the way to town the other day, Brennah told me that she wanted to be an animal doctor and a missionary. As I expressed my delight, Maggie interrupted with "When I grow up I want to plant corn!" I am headed off to Denver on Sunday, but will try to post from there. Love to all!

Tiramasoup?

We had lifegroup this evening. We have started meeting once a week for fellowship with several families, and it is a definite highlight of the week for me.
We eat dinner (or "supper" as it is called here:)) before worship and usually have themed nights where everyone brings something along the same lines to share. Last week it was mexican night and tonight, italian. My job was to make dessert, which was tiramisu. I have made this italian wonder once before...4 years ago. This afternoon, I remembered why I have waited four years to make it again. First, you make the cake that has to be sliced horizontally into three pieces, then comes the coffee syrup with rum (yummy), next is the filling with 4 ounces of finely hand grated chocolate and finally the whipped topping with Bailey's Irish cream. To assemble this beauty takes great patience and skill, or perhaps patience and dumb luck. I thought that the whipped cream did not taste "Bailey's" enough, so I might have added an extra tablespoon or two...or three. I did not expect or need comments about the slight warming sensation everyone seemed to experience as they partook of the whipped goodness. Maggie has dubbed this dish Tiramasoup. The next time I make this dessert, she will have forgotten the cute toddler nickname for it as she will the be eighteen or so. Or maybe I will just make it for her 21st birthday, when it will actually be legal for my children to taste test it.
Findlay is rolling over, to one side only and he cannot get his little arm out of the way when he has done so, it frustrates him, but we think it is adorable.
Jon and "Uncle Jay" were cutting wood on monday, when Jay lost a contact in the woodpile. When they got home Maggie informed him that all he needed was a magnet to go back and find it. Brennah is our little ballerina, and her new favorite show is Man vs. Wild. The other day, we were studying where Africa was, and she knew all about the Sahara desert. Thank you very much Bear Grylls! Goodnight all, I will add more tommorrow!

Back in the country

Well we are here...settling in, sort of. Baby is precious, and the girls stay dirty all the time. You know you are back in the country when you hear a dialogue like this-
Bren-I don't think I want to see the deer Uncle Jimmy killed, do I?
Maggie-I want to see it!!! (She does and comes back)
Maggie-I saw it! I saw it!
Bren-Don't tell me about it Please!
Maggie- It's okay Brennah, there wasn't much blood, it was just dripping out of it's mouth
Bren-MOM!!!!
We are already painting some of the rooms in the house, trying not to upset the household too much. There have been several delays in Jon's parents house getting built so we are all here together. It works out well, I cook and Linda cleans up the kitchen! Sweet! Maggie has started gymnastics, but wanders around during the time she is supposed to be standing in line. She also wants to come to the waiting room and color, so I am seriously considering waiting a little bit before putting her in anything "organized." We have had a beaver infestation that was pretty exciting. We hired a trapper and I had children running into the house several times a week yelling, "He got another one!" Camo spottage happens at LEAST once a day, and the cows have gotten out three times this week. (never our cows of course)

More pics

John Wayne with a cellphone?

















Looking at the train...






















pretty in pink!















howdy! (she actually says this)















What did you say to me?
















Quick draw!





















Little Ben.




















Brennah "If you want a bullet, you gotta pull it!"




















Poppa bought all the grandkids hats!

The breast care ever

What a great day! We had lunch with Jon and our visiting cousin Susannah, and then finished off the day with Costco. Our friends Shawn and Nina, are borrowing our 4runner to tow their pop-up on vacation, so we have temporarily downsized to their Subaru. When we arrived home from the store, Jon picked up a small goo filled pack about 4 inches by 4 inches. He looked at it, turned it over, squished it several times and asked, "What is this thing?" I answered quite sweetly, "Since it says Avent Naturally on the back, that means it is Nina's breast ice pack for engorgement, so maybe you should stop handling it." There are very few times that my husband gets a truly horrified look on his face, it used to happen much more frequently when we were first married, but when it does it is truly priceless in every way. I must admit, I did laugh so hard I couldn't breathe, to which Jon answered, "I don't know why anyone would leave something like that in the car anyway." Hee Hee- What a great day!

Snail saga

The snails have miraculously survived the first Noelle onslaught-the drama continues. I think they actually enjoyed the blue goo I dripped into the tank. It probably made them frisky and ready to continue procreating.

Freedom of speech

When swimming laps at the pool I was accosted and questioned if I had been eating watermelon seeds... What do you say to that one? I have had more comments this pregnancy than any other. It is usually people who don't speak english very well. I think this is because they probably value children in other cultures more than we do here.
One Korean woman asked if I knew what the sex was (we do not) and then proceeded to try to communicate how to make sure it is a boy next time. I am relieved to have only caught every other word, and it is pretty hard to surprise me considering I teach childbirth classes.
Another time, a man swimming in my lane asked me when I was due since my fundal height was approaching my zyphoid process. The funny thing is, it took me about a minute to realize this wasn't a normal thing for a man to say...turns out he was a nurse.
I have also had the belly touchers swarm me, although this I don't mind in the least and two people have asked if I am having twins...I neglected to inform them I have seven weeks left to go.

Maggie's swim lesson

Maggie singing

More promised pictures

Our new dog, Moon.














Poppa went to Sonic!














Maggie was trying to repair in between bites.















Conquering her prey...
















Our humble abode















More of the same
































Good ol' Charlie

A day at swim lessons

Waiting for swim lessons!















Maggie and her friend Malana














Forced smiles to make mommy happy...














I'll go!!!!













Floating?

something's fishy...

Texas is HOT, and compounded with the fact that this is my first summer pregnancy, I have been swimming many laps at the pool. I have also noticed that with carrying this little one has come a decrease in normal patience levels. For instance, our long suffering beta fish Archie totally "bit it" in March of this year. I spent a week trying to convince Jon that we needed another fish and then kind of got a little carried away at Petsmart. I purchased a 30 gallon fish tank setup, gravel, a realistic looking fake piece of driftwood and then let everyone including some friends, pick out their own fish. My husband is a very understanding individual. Everything was going well until Benjamin's (my nephew) fish got eaten. Turns out Jon's fish was the murderer. I think he planned the whole thing. He hates fish. I took it back immediately. Things went well again until I spotted a small "cute" snail walking along the inside wall of the tank. The next morning there were 7. I started to realize that maybe this wasn't a good thing, so I gently plucked them out and set them outside. The next morning I found 23. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but I started screaming and squishing the little snails against the sides. It didn't help. They procreated faster than I could squish, so I called Petsmart trying to figure out the mystery of the snail population. The girl that I spoke with cleared it up immediately, "Of course you have snails! We put them in with the live plants!" Well as I have three live plants from Petsmart it all became very clear. "What do I do with them?" I asked with my teeth clenched. "Oh well, they are kind of cute, you know and they will help keep your tank clean!"
I sat for a second before answering, "They are procreating at an alarming rate." "Oh yes," she answered, "I guess they do have babies, and they don't even need to mate!" I couldn't handle anymore so I hung up the phone. I have researched the whole thing thoroughly and I am afraid they are all going to have to die by chemical poisoning. I know it sounds harsh, but I literally have about 1500 baby snails in my fishtank. If anyone has any better ideas I am open to them, although the chemical will be purchased by tonight.

Hi!

Okay, way too long...sorry. Our computer sort of works now-we will see. New news! I am 8 months pregnant (pictures to come soon, when I get them done and airbrushed, modified etc...) and we are moving back to GA. Also, Natalie is getting married two weeks after my due date and I am a bridesmaid. You will not be receiving any of those pictures airbrushed or not. Jimmy is moving back to GA as well and so will Nat and Douglas in December. The girls are in swimming lessons and doing quite well. I am going to get some recent pictures on here and then try my best to update on our insane lives-Noelle