Update

We have had a great first week of summer vacation with the kids. The girls are in tennis lessons twice a week and LOVING it. Tuesday we went swimming with Eliza and her kiddies even though it was only 68 degrees that didn't stop us. Wednesday the kids entertained themselves while I got to go to a shower for my cousin and visit my Grandma and then we all went to Nate's last t-ball game. Thursday we had our first playgroup with a bunch of my aunts and cousins and kids (it's officially called "Cousin Camp"). We did a talent show and the definite highlight was an indescribably cute 5 year old little cousin of mine decked out in a spiderman costume running around the stage doing various awesome spidey poses. Cannot begin to explain how funny and cute it was. Friday was pretty mellow ending with the kids and a bunch of neighbor kids playing night games. There are times when living in the house I grew up in just makes me so nostalgic I could choke. Night games in this yard and this street just brought my wonderful childhood all right back. Saturday, Nate's birthday topped off by Brennan taking all the kids to a nearby golf course where he had arranged with the manager to come at night and ride a golf cart down to a little pond where there are always tons of frogs. Summer is a beautiful thing.


Brennan had a big week. He set a goal four years ago to qualify for the State Amateur Golf Tournament. He was pretty devastated the first time he went for it and didn't make it. Two more years same thing. He's not used to really putting his mind to something and not getting it. Well, this year was his year, he did it! He shot a 75 and on a rough, rainy day. They were predicting that 74 would be the cut off, but it ended up being 75 so he is in, he qualified! The tournament starts the day before the baby is due and goes for 5 days. He is suddenly a huge proponent for having the baby induced early :). Don't worry, I will do all in my power to make sure he doesn't miss this. I'm really so happy for him. We love Brennan.


I pulled out lots of little baby girl clothes and baby boy clothes and washed them and smelled them and got SO EXCITED to meet this little one. There just isn't anything like a baby, and the fact that we get one soon is finally hitting me. Oh, and here's something funny. Each time I go for a check up at the OB, my blood pressure is 110 over something. Week after week it was the same and then a few weeks ago it was 130 over something. I was kind of alarmed, but the following week it was back to 110. Hmmm, which week do you think I had two little boys with me trying to keep them contained in the tiny room?


Anna has suddenly matured so much. She is wanting to be more helpful to me and has really stepped it up. The other night we had breakfast for dinner. With a few instructions from me she totally made and cooked the pancakes all by herself while mercifully distracting Benny from a huge meltdown and letting him help her. She also voluntarily cleaned out her bedroom closet, 4 garbage bags later it's almost done. Yeah, kind of a pack rat, but she called me down and I was brutal. She only protested a little while I chucked her 2nd grade math notebook, note that Abby wrote about a pretend party they were having, etc. She did however refuse to part with some tiny foam animals and a broken snow man. She's so creative she's always seeing some way of re-using things in the future. We love Anna.


Abby, inspired by the beloved pancakes we had for dinner the other night as well as a few movie favorites, "Nacho Libre" and "Three Amigos" donned a cowboy hat, stick horse and rode around the house delivering messages rolled up and tucked in her hat. Each message, one for each member of our family, said the same thing, "I love you, from: El Pancake" She was cracking herself up. It was so Abby -- out of the blue, affectionate and entertaining. We love Abigail.

Since the whole previous post was on Nate, I'll keep his paragraph brief. On his birthday Brennan asked, "So, Nate do you feel a lot older?" Nate responded thoughtfully, "No, not really, but I do feel a lot taller." We love Nathan.

The other day at our cousin camp I was holding my cousin's brand new baby and Ben walked up to me and said, "Mom, did your baby comed out?" Oh, if only it were that simple. Ben also told me tonight that the fan was making his eye grumpy. We love Benjamin.