The end of the school year

So, I blinked and Easton's Kindergarten year was over.

A few days before school was out, they held the last assembly recognizing those students who reached their goals.  Easton received an Orange award (5 out of 5 goals met).

He's the half hidden kid right behind the teacher in orange.  Gotta love assemblies.

Easton actually missed the "technical" last day of school, because mama had a work meeting so we pretended that June 5th was the last day.

The girls needed a picture as well.

Then Easton suggested that we take one all together.  Sweet boy.

The Kindergarten graduation was pretty standard.  Sing a song. Have kids walk across stage. etc. (Easton is just to the left of the teacher in black).

Again, to the left of the teacher, second row up.

And here we are shaking the teacher's hand...

...and getting something from his "reading buddy" (each Kindergartener has a 6th grader that helps them with their reading throughout the year)

Easton with Ms. Lesh.  She was great.  I just love teachers.  I could never do it and know they work SO hard!

And as an addition, here is Easton with his art from the art show at the end of the year.  It was titled "Sonic."

Instagram: June 2014

Two 2 year olds on the tramp (they just walk around in bouncy circles) and the older ones in the sand. A perfect summer day!

I can't believe it, but the year is over justlikethat! He even made it through without loosing any teeth (much to his dismay)!

Easton and his teacher after Kindergarten "Graduation." (Does anyone else find the whole thing ridiculous?) However, Easton's teacher was fantastic for him this year. We love our school!

This boy is getting to be the spectator for a sibling for the first time. He thinks mom's snacks aren't such a bad deal.

Kendree hits! (Tee ball is my favorite)

Easton, Kendree and Devynee are getting a...

This is how we are spending the next few days. I forget how tedious it is every time!

Easton finally lost his first tooth. That pesky permanent tooth was coming up behind it and not really helping the baby one get out.  He is THRILLED!

22 weeks

It took me two weeks to take my "20 week" picture, so we're just going to squeeze another update in here.

Not much change from the 20 week update, except that Ron was finally able to feel this little girl kick from the outside.  She is now VERY active and will keep me awake for a little while as I am trying to go to sleep with her antics.  I am feeling great, but have to get up in the middle of the night a few times a week.  Most of the time it is just because I am dying of heat and need to get some air movement and a drink of cold (very cold) water.

One week after this picture, I had my follow up ultrasound.  The view of her heart was clear and it looked great! Strangely, they did not order a size check at this ultrasound, but instead will have me come in again to do that in a few weeks.  I never understand.

Again, my blood pressure and the baby's heartbeat were great.  I love the short and sweet appointments.

A few more ultrasound pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Other baby4 updates: 20 weeks, 16 weeks

Wanna compare?
My pregnancy with Devynee at 20 weeks
My pregnancy with Kendree at 20 weeks
Easton's gender announcement

20 weeks

On June 9th, I hit the halfway point. I had my ultrasound two days later, on June 11th.

There was much debate internally as to whether to find out the gender of this little one.  I love, love, love the suspense and surprise of waiting, but I knew that Ron would rather find out now.  Also, all of my "feelings" about this little one had me fairly sure that it was a girl and I thought it would be nice for Easton to find that out now and have 4+ months to adjust. :)

Up until the morning of the ultrasound, I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do.  Ultimately, I decided that my life would be "easier" by finding out.

All the kids came with us and Ronnie was swamped at work, so he literally walked into the room just as the ultrasound tech announced "It's a GIRL!"

I don't have a belly pic for this update, so a few ultrasound pictures will have to suffice.

Everything looked good in the ultrasound, but they couldn't get a clear picture of the heart (it was sitting right behind my belly button), so they scheduled another ultrasound for three weeks later to double check that. Also, she was measuring nine days smaller than their projected due date (October 26th is the date she was measuring at) so we may have another ultrasound as time goes on to check for size.  I'm not worried at all, as she was measuring just one day off of what I think the due date it. :)

Later that day, I sent out this update...

The kids were excited and as Easton had said for weeks, he really wanted a brother, but didn't care if the baby was a sister.

Now onto the daunting task of naming this little one!

At 20 weeks, my hip pain was all but taken care of (just once a month adjustments unless I did something weird to it) and I was feeling great!  The baby was moving around like crazy, but Ron had yet to be able to feel movement on the outside.  Heartbeat and blood pressure at my appointment were great, and I haven't gotten any comments on my weight from the doctor yet either (I normally get some pressure to gain weight in the beginning, as I don't normally gain until after 20 weeks). I started this pregnancy a little heavier than my others (bummer!) and my weight has followed the trend of previous pregnancies (no gain until after 20 weeks), but I didn't lose any weight in the beginning either, and I think that is what caused major concern with my pregnancy with Devynee.

Other baby4 updates: 16 weeks

Wanna compare?
My pregnancy with Devynee at 20 weeks
My pregnancy with Kendree at 20 weeks
Easton's gender announcement

May 2014 Random Catch Up

Every spring, the rabbits come out in full force in the neighborhood.  The kids become expert rabbit chasers.

I'm not sure who took this picture, but I love the hand holding.

During May, Kendree went to a preschool at the local high school so Devynee and I had three mornings a week to ourselves.  One day, we were in desperate need of some slushies.  She loved every sip.

Easton also started the Rookie league of the Cheyenne Junior Baseball League in May.  Devynee confiscated Kendree's scooter and thought she was pretty dang cool.

We recorded a Mother's day message for Ronnie's mom.  The "hug" from Devynee at the end is worth watching.  Trust me.

Devynee loves Frozen (what kid doesn't?) She sang the entire time the older ballet class danced at Kendree's recital.

16 weeks

We're a little behind on documenting this fourth baby, aren't we?  I'm afraid this child will have to get used to it.

I hit 16 weeks on May 12th. For the sake of documenting, we'll back it up a bit.  I was the sickest I have ever been in a pregnancy with this little one.  I feel like a cheat saying that, as I have never thrown up in my "morning sickness" phases, but this time I couldn't stomach anything, felt nauseated all of the time (seriously, all of the time), never cooked dinner (Ron would call on his way home from work daily to see what he needed to get/do for him and the kids), and just felt lousy.  All while trying to act "normal" so no one would ask me what was up and trying to keep the household running in a semi-functioning manner (why do kids always need to eat!?!?!).

Finally, right around 11 weeks, I felt like I could function in a normal manner and by 13 weeks, I was feeling great again.  With each pregnancy, my body remembers well how things go and I was in maternity pants at 10 weeks for comfort.  By 12 weeks, I felt like I couldn't even begin to disguise things anymore and we made the announcement to family and friends.

At 16 weeks, I was feeling great. Belly is small-ish, baby is moving, but not very consistently.  I was constantly forgetting that I was pregnant at this point and could do everything around the house with little to no difference. Food was edible again, but no cravings have hit. In general, I feel like I eat less than normal in the first 6-ish months of pregnancy.

One thing that has been a bit of an annoyance this pregnancy is that my right hip keeps popping out of place. This started at about 14 weeks, so it would seem the weight of a sub-one pound baby is not the cause, but instead the loosening of ligaments, etc. Before I went to the chiropractor (bless him!), it was at the point where my entire right leg would go numb, especially when I was getting up and down off of the floor. I really pushed to get in to the chiro when I was driving and couldn't lift up my right leg without using my hand to help.  That sounds safe, doesn't it? I'm happy to report that with regular visits (which are less and less as time goes on) I am back to my happy self.  I am never happier for my healthy body than when I am reminded that it is not always so healthy.

Also the doctor and I have very differing opinions about my due date.  They say I am due October 18th.  I say October 27th. I'm sticking with my guns, so my weekly updates coincide with "my" due date.

Curious about previous pregnancies?
Devynee at 16 weeks
Kendree at 17 weeks
Easton (not documented)

The ranch

Jordan graduated on a Friday evening and on Saturday the family headed out to the ranch for some fun.

The boys went out early and took a trail ride together.  When they got back, Grand Dad was stylin' with his hat backwards.

Easton shot arrows for at least an hour.  Good thing Uncle Jordan is such a great (and patient) teacher.

Devynee loved "driving" the tractor.

Not pictured was a delicious BBQ, countless 4-wheeler rides for the kids, the hanging of the official "Snow Flea Ranch" sign, nature walks and throwing rocks in the creek.

We certainly love our time at the ranch.

Jordan Graduates

Jord-man graduated from Laramie High School the end of May.  I'll spare you the blurry pictures of Jordan walking across the stage, but I got a few good ones after the fact.

The proud parents.

Grand Dad and Grandma.

The five siblings.

And our little family with the Jord-man.

Kendree the Ballerina

Kendree has been taking ballet classes for the past school year and loving every minute.  I think her teacher is an angel from heaven to have a class for 3 and 4 year olds for an hour once a week.

May 17th was her recital. Her class danced to the song "Summer" from Frozen and had darling snowman hats and white tutus that my friend Jill made.

Most of the girls she knows from church are in the class older than hers that was sitting off to her right.  So for the entire dance, she watched what they were doing, instead of doing the dance. Ah well, what do you expect from a 4 year old?

I only have one video from the first run of the dance (the volume wasn't working).  If I get other videos from my friend, I'll add them.

I think her favorite was posing after it was all over.

Little miss needed a turn on the stage as well.

Ronnie's Birthday

We celebrated Ronnie's 33rd birthday and Mother's Day on the same day.  Ronnie and I both remember this happening about 4 times in our marriage, as it turns out, this was only the second time. :)

Because we woke up to this:

Church was cancelled (a first in my lifetime), so we got to spend the entire day together.  

I had great intentions of getting pictures of daddy with the kiddos.  We take what we can get around here.

Then we decided to take one of me and the littles.

And what would a birthday be without an obligatory cake picture?

We sure do love this guy!

Instagram: May 2014

After a 12 hour day in the car yesterday, a late, late night, swimming and family fun all day, all three kids needed a 5:30pm nap apparently. #bedtimeshouldbeajoy

Car antics. Someone found daddy's hat.

Happy Mother's Day from Wyoming!  Church is even canceled (a first in my life). Gotta love our Wyoming "springs."

This one loves, like really loves to eat snow. Daddy was wishing we had some flavoring so we could make snow cones, and I was surprised (germaphobe that he is) until I found out he has never melted a cup of snow.

Today we got to celebrate times two. Daddy turned 33 (the old man) and mama was spoiled by daddy and kids alike. (I even got a nap!) So grateful for both of our mothers and our grandmothers for all they have done!  Love that we celebrate them on this special day.

This boy likes to keep me humble. I got after Kendree for what felt like the 1,000th time today and then said, "Kendree, I feel like I only talk to  you in a stern voice!" Easton pipes up and adds, "Or yelling!" I have some work to do apparently.

In a moment of weakness (or brilliance?) Devynee and I stopped for a mid-morning drink at Sonic.  She would take one sip and say "yummy!" Repeat 20+ times. I think the slushy was a hit.

Our little ballerina! First recital [check]

Scootering at brother's game. She thinks she is hot stuff!

Jord-man did it! 2014 grad!

Today was a day that reawakened that "love where you live" feeling. Family fun at the ranch (including a super fly Grand Dad, archery lessons, tractor riding, 4-wheeler adventures, nature walks and throwing rocks in the creek). I sure do love Wyoming!