Click Clack Quack: June 2012

Quatro Update

So Quatro and I are doing just fine lately. I'm feeling good. No more annoying metallic taste in my mouth. No more nausea. Just some general tiredness and the occasional ache in my hips.

I've been nesting lately. In the past 2 weeks, JL and I have re-done 4 rooms in our house! It's great! Now that we've been in this house for just over a year, we really know how we're living in it, and how we want to touch it up. We started with our master bedroom - turning it ultimately into a little retreat that we like to escape to. We also did the master bath, the baby's room, and the guest bath. For pictures, check this out.

My next dr. apt is on July 6th. It's my glucose test visit (which I hate). Any time there is a blood draw involved, I'm dreading it. But, it's not like I haven't done this 3 other times. I'm sure I'll survive.

I can tell that my next phase in this pregnancy is going to involve more sitting and less doing. The temperatures around here are really heating up, and I'm a wuss when it comes to doing too much when it is hot out. I invision a lot of sitting in my retreat with my feet up while I soak in some more HGTV and plan my post-baby renovation projects! ;-)

Father's Day 2012

We started our Father's Day on Friday. JL and I got a babysitter so we could go out to dinner. We planned to go watch the sun set at a restaurant on the lake. It was beautiful. View = fantastic. Food = not so great.*

Ah, dinner out.

JL chillin' as he watches the boats go by.

Beautiful!

The next morning, we took a road trip for some good ol' BBQ. This is one of our favorite activities. Especially during the summer. Double especially during the summer when I'm 6 mo's pregnant! It's a great way for me to sit in some air conditioning! ;-)

The Boys

The Pit

We all loved the food! Some of the best!

Arrrr brisket!

By Sunday, the kids were SO ready to give Dad his presents! James had given a "hint" that was actually more like a "tell Dad exactly what I got him" late Saturday night. So.... that one wasn't a surprise. But the other two held it together pretty well! Especially considering JL always pumps them (being the youngest, sweetest one) for information! But Wyatt kept quiet! I was so proud.

James explaining the card he made for Dad. He drew him as a baseball player. :)

A new catchers mitt and ball.

Of course, they had to go out and test drive it. ;-)

Izzy also made Dad a fabulous card. She wrote her name on it and Dad and then drew him a picture of himself.

A new vest! Desperately needed!

Wyatt explaining his card. He wrote the letter D and drew some scribbles. He also fashioned a few football stickers on there to give it some flare. ;-)

A sweet camo hat!

Manny did his part with some paper clean up.

Which led Wyatt to do the same...

For Dad's special dinner, we had decided on ravioli and chocolate chip cheesecake. Isabel helped me with both! Here she is stamping out some rav's.

About to go in the oven!

Fabulous day/weekend! We love Daddy and are so grateful for all he does for us!

* I should note (for you locals) that we were not at the Oasis. Or rather, that particular restaurant - we were actually at Uncle Billy's BBQ (at the Oasis.)

New Addition

No, Quatro didn't come way early. ;-) This addition is of the 4 legged kind....

Introducing: Manuel the Chihuahua!

I know, I know - another animal? That's what you are thinking! But this little guys is a doll! We've only had him since Tuesday and he's already housebroken! He sleeps through the night without a peep and is a super easy guy to have around! He's become our little family mascot! Everyone loves him - even our other animals!

On the ride home. James did a great job keeping Manny calm.

Isabel shared the other half of that duty. They both instantly took to this little guy!

Crashed out after the car ride home.

But not for long, we could hardly leave him alone!

Wyatt loves him best of all. Manny is just the right size! Big Wy calls him Manny Woofy.

James lovin' on Manuel

Instantly part of the family! Here he is helping to put kids to bed on his first night here.

The next morning - catching some cuddles with E.

He loves to help me do laundry!

He's more of an observer, really

Laundry is hard work!

Manny loves to take afternoon naps with me! He's particularly fond of keeping my neck warm.

So there ya go. Our little 9 week old, 1.5 lb new family member. He's sure to bring us all great joy!

My Girl E

Isabel is really growing up lately! She is changing a lot. The biggest thing that has happened suddenly is her ability to write letters!

Her sense of style hasn't changed!

I think this is a really great picture of her. She brought me these dandelions one day and told me we should both wear them in our hair so we could look pretty.

So one day, we were just all our in the backyard sitting around the patio. Isabel had asked me to get her the sidewalk chalk out so she could "practice writing her name." Usually, this consists of scribble letters and drawings of sun shines and rainbows. On this particular day (May 27th 2012 - 4 yrs old) she actually wrote her name! And what's more amazing - she spelled it right!

She is also getting way more into her hair! She loves to have it done and she actually sits still while I do it!

As for these two - they are little peas in a pod! Wyatt is so glad to have James home for the summer!

Cousins Visit

34 pictures in one post? And that doesn't even begin to cover all of them! I tried to pick out a few that covered the basic fun that we had a few weeks back while our family was visiting us. As an overview, we played on the ranch, played on the lake, played with the kids and did some fabulous cooking.

It was especially fun to watch the kids play with their cousins! It's been a while since we've seen these guys, and kids change SO fast! But they are all at ages now where they understand that they are family and they all play super good together.

Isabel was thrilled to have another girl around! Her and Clara enjoyed having their hair done at night into princess braids.

Aunt Myrt driving around all our monkies

Buffy was a popular activity. Here the kids are brushing her. She's a sucker for attention!

One of our main activities was boating. With temps in the upper 90's the whole time, the water gave us some much needed relief from the heat.

My girl E. She started off the boating season not really wanting to have that much to do with the water. But she sures likes the ride!

Here is James, Wyatt, Ben and Clara enjoying a tube ride!

Another popular activity with all the kids was bike riding! I came outside to find Wyatt riding James' bike - just like a big boy! I guess Ben inspired him to give it a whirl (even though he couldn't really reach the pedals!)