kindergarten roundup

do you remember a couple of years ago when Connor started school? Ronan thought he was going to get to start school too. but it wasn't time for him and it was a horrible sad day for the poor boy.

tonight we have kindergarten roundup for Ronan. I think he's really excited. let's just hope he's still ready for school

we got to see our baby!

I honestly couldn't believe we got so lucky!

we went in for our first prenatal appointment with my OB and since having Ronan 5 years ago, my Dr. has made it standard procedure to do an ultrasound at the first appointment to date the pregnancy. the baby is measuring a couple of days behind my first calculations, but that's just fine. personally I'm still going to hang on to my first calculated due date and my doctor can think it's three days later.

now this little blur is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

we were also able to see it's tiny heart pumping away at about 175 beats per minute. AND we got to hear that beautiful swishing sound.
What a joy!

we went in there worrying in the back of our minds "what if it's not there" and I wasn't expecting an ultrasound until 20 weeks. I didn't even think I would get to hear the baby's heart today, but what a gift and wonderful day!

time for some refreshing pictures.

I so much need green! blah and dead is so depressing I just need some lovely flowers, color and mostly fresh warm air. it can't get here soon enoughso I have been looking through pictures from last year. things I missed updating the blog on because I was being lazy and having a rubbishy year...

click on the pictures to see them much larger. make them your desktop if you want to. I know we all need some vibrant colors in our lives

(if you are having trouble getting the complete large image, click on the picture, click the right button on your mouse and select 'view image'. from there you can click it larger and then save as desktop)

love his innocence

somewhere - I don't know where - Ronan picked up the word 'gangster'. I think it was Connor who probably heard the word from someone at school... but at any rate, it has become annoyingly common for Ronan to say "I'm a gangster". Oh brother!

today he, again, made this declaration. I'm tired of telling him not to say that and talked more in depth about how gangsters are not good people. I told him that he is not because "gangsters are bad and they hurt people."
wanting to add something and show his understanding of what I was telling him he added. "yeah, and they blow out kids' candles"

I lost it and laughed myself silly. but the more I think of it, I am so happy that he is so safe in his life that the worst mean, hurtful thing he could think of was for someone to blow out his candles.

grandma brought the picture

remember when I mentioned that Connor won a bike at school.
the other day Grandma brought the picture from the local paper.

he was so proud of himself
he was in such a goofy mood when they took this picture. I think he felt weird that Mom was at the school. it's kind of like he feels like he needs to play up when I'm around, but he knew that he had to behave himself because he was at school. it was so cute

too bad it's too muddy for him to ride it right now. plus I want to get training wheels on the bike, he's just not quite confident enough right now.

the not so subtle announcement

a few weeks ago Tim and I discovered something about our family that truly surprised us.
it's a really good surprise and we are exceedingly happy about it.
last week we told our children and they are all just about as happy as Tim and I.
I knew that after we told our children that the surprise was pretty much out for the whole world, so I changed my facebook picture to give a clue and see how long before anyone figured out what it meant.
it was a few hours before my niece figured out what it meant and then little by little others saw and were overjoyed for us.
I also put a little widget on the top side of the blog and the other day I had a picture that Connor drew for me that related to our news.

Now, if you haven't figured it out yet


we only told our kids to their face. everyone else is getting this tidbit of information through this blog and facebook and word of mouth from everyone else who saw it online.
why? you may ask. the answer to that is simple.
we have lots and lots of people to tell...but there is yet one more reason.
in the past there has been some negativity towards us because we are having another baby. things were said and they hurt our feelings. in fact something was said to me 5 years ago when I was expecting Ronan and it continues to hurt all these years later. I'm sure they meant to be supportive, but it just came out so wrong.

we are grown up people and our life choices are our own. they might effect you a very teeny tiny bit, but nothing compared to our own life. I don't need your permission nor your blessing to welcome a new person into our family. but it's nice to have happiness and excitement from our friends and family.
my husband has always wanted a big family. I grew up in a big family and I know what is involved in having a big family.
I think that we've done alright with the kids we have, so I don't think that we are going to ruin anyone if there is another person here.
sure we have to make some sacrifices, but who doesn't?!

these are the times I wish so hard that my mother were still alive. I know that she would be over the moon with joy for us. and boy do I wish I could ask her some questions about expecting a 6th.

but OH MY GOSH!!! WE'RE HAVING A BABY! :D

Connor drew me the cutest picture

what an adorable picture. this is a picture of me at the hospital with the new baby and Daddy and the Dr.

I don't know which one is supposed to be Daddy and I assume they are just standing further away and not actually on top of me.

it makes me feel terrific that the kids are just as excited and accepting of a baby.
but Connor is a sweetie

I just had to say it, because I was about to explode

maybe you have seen this picture floating around facebook. I stupidly clicked on it and read what it had to say. everyone thinks it's just so funny, but really?
the reason I didn't say anything over there is because I just want to stay away from the conflict that I'm sure my comment would inevitably start. but I'm so dang tired of people just spewing rubbish before they really think things through.



as a rule I steer clear of any and all political subjects because I really don't think most of the time it's worth the fight. You think how you want to, I'll think the way I want to and if we don't agree we'll just talk about something else. (for the record I tend to be more conservative in my political views and generally lean towards Republican, but I don't claim to be Republican nor Democrat)
with that said I have an issue with this post-it...

I remember during the Bush administration (2005 and 2006 time frame comes to mind) gasoline regularly costing $3.95 and there were a few times I remember paying just over $4.20.
when I was on my way to the hospital in June 2007 to have a baby we went past the gas station and we were both stunned that the price of gas was $2.97 - the lowest it had been in years. yes, years
the only reason that the price of gas in 2009 was $1.78 was because the oil/gas companies had just received BILLIONS of dollars in bailout money. as a result they lowered the gas prices to give the nation a sense of economic stability.

the wheels were already turning before Obama took office.

Not everything is Obama's fault. personally I think he's done as good a job as anyone could given the mess he was handed when he stepped into the Oval Office.


I'm off my soap box now and will likely never bring up politics again.