Pregnancy

Alas, no photos my husband has the 2 older boys at a cub scout event and took the camera with him. I am hoping he actually took pictures.
Last night after a full day of a field trip to an apple farm, shopping at the local consignment store, picking apples at a different farm, tending to the bees and the children, making dinner and doing laundry I sat down and noticed the contractions that I had been feeling off and on all day were coming on much stronger so I timed them for a half and hour and I had 10 contractions in that amount of time. After a call to the Doctor we went in to labor and delivery and they monitored me for a few hours. Sean sat in the van with the kids because half of them were sleeping. He read to the ones that were still awake. The contractions were strong enough to show on the monitor but not enough that they wanted to do anything about it. So I was checked for infection and sent home for some much needed rest.
I am still experiencing some contractions today but not as intense. I am so thankful for this baby and the life that God has created in me. Please pray for continued health and a full-term baby. Our God is sovereign and this is a reminder to me to trust Him in all things.

Yesterday we went to get Ian's leg checked. It is not often that I can say I really like a doctor but I love the Staff at Dr. Woo's office! Ian's cast was quite dirty and broken down, they had to build up the area around the foot and Ian wanted glow in the dark so the nurse redid the foot. She then told me that I could leave all the kids and go make the follow up appointment. While I was still making the appointment she brought everyone out and Ian had a whole new cast!! Actually it was over the old cast but clean and new. She said that the children did not like how the cast looked with part green and part glow in the dark so she made it all the same. What a lady!! Ian couldn't wait to go to bed to see his leg glow. Thank goodness we only have 5 more weeks.
By the way, the shirt is a hand me down from my good friend Shella. It is supposed to go with a Woody costume but Ian really likes how it looks with his 'suit coat'. This is everyday attire for him.
I bought some really good maze puzzles but with the way my children tear through them I couldn't bear for them to be one time use books. So I went to office max and bought some transparencies (I am sure I paid too much) and they place the transparency over the maze and do the puzzles with dry erase marker. Sometimes I have good ideas.

Basket Party

On Sunday I got to spend the day with a wonderful group of ladies. My friend Rebecca has been hosting the parties for the past 15 years! I won the basket case award because I have been at the last 14 of the 15 years. Me, Rebecca and Marla

Marla took a few photos of me in the studio where the party was held. It is sometimes hard for me to believe that I still have 3 months to go. Ian told me that I need a prettier dress than this one. I guess it is hard to please everyone.

Marla and I really enjoyed our time together. I would have to say this was one of my favorite parties and the group of women were a lot of fun!

Doesn't homeschool mean you are home?

Last week we enjoyed another glorious fall day and went on a hike with the cub scouts from Blodel-Donovan to Whatcom Falls Park it was beautiful. The cast does not slow Ian down much.

I know I have one with a broken leg but hey, they like to climb trees and these were just too close together to resist. That's Erik jumping and Everett getting ready to climb and jump!
How many children can you fit in a double stroller. I dug out my stroller for the hike and Hezekiah was too tired to walk back so he hitched a ride and Mordecai decided that was a good idea. Ruby didn't seem to mind being surrounded by so many cute boys. Taylor was a little frustrated trying to push such a heavy stroller especially with the cute little 'helpers' Kalina and Jubilee love to help with Ruby. Notice Tami in the back carrying Bell because she let Renee use the wonderful ergobaby carrier for Tucker.

Later in the week we had craft day at the Hutching's. Ruby was such a good helper with Honor. I hope she likes our baby this much! She feels the baby kicking and says I feel Honor kicking.

Aaron and Justin had fun and were very thorough with their fall crafts. Deanna is amazing with her organization and preparation.

Ian looked so sweet to me working so hard on putting the glue and glitter just where they were supposed to go. We then enjoyed lunch with The Overstreets, Hutchings, and Erik's friend Adara and her mom Teri Lyn.

This week we are even busier. Monday we had Cub Scouts, Tuesday was MOPS and I have to work, Wed is my glucose test (UGH) and Ian goes back for the 3 week X ray to see how he is healing. We are also bringing Dinner to a new mom, Thursday is the Chiropractor and Library, and Friday is the Apple Farm tour and picking apples. Oh yeah, Sean's sister is supposed to come visit for the weekend too!!

That's why we love homeschooling!

Tomahawks and Knives

We figure that making our house more fun than everywhere else and teaching them how to do things safely is the way to go. Erik is so happy to be home throwing knives that there is no desire to go do things that aren't safe and that are not under our watchful eyes!! Great idea.

Yes, even with a cast and a wheel chair you can throw knives.

Papa figured out what makes the boys happy and what makes me happy, so for every throw they have to do a math problem. Yeah math and exercise at the same time.

Look at the excitement on that face, I love the action shot.

Yes that is right, the new thrill at our house is throwing Tomahawks and Knives. We ordered some from http://www.visionforum.com/ and the rest from http://www.pearloutdoors.com/ and the children love it!! They are actually really good at it. It is not as easy as it might seem. I tried my hand at it and pretty much can't do it. I broke several handles and completely missed the target. I guess I will get better with time, but probably won't out throw the boys anytime soon.

Feeding the Bees

I am so thankful that Sean has taken an interest in the 'girls' He is currently taking a beekeeping class on becoming an apprentice beekeeper. There really is a lot to learn and it is quite fascinating. One thing I have learned is that feeding the bees can be quite expensive. In the last 10 days Sean has made sugar syrup for the bees several times. You need to feed them before winter comes if they don't have enough honey stored (which they don't because of the swarm). The winter solution is more concentrated than the spring but still, he has used up 157 cups of sugar.

Granted I do not agree but still I guess I understand why the commercial guys use High Fructose Corn Syrup. Did you know that they can sell organic honey even if the bees were fed on that junk? It appals me, Really it does!

Look at this man, he loves taking care of the bees. He keeps a journal of their activity, takes classes, attends the beekeeping meetings, and spends quite a bit of money on them. He even loves the smell of the propolis on his hands. All this from a guy who thought I was crazy to start on the bee endeavor and when we went to pick up the bees he said I was nuts.

I do miss getting in the hive- not literally- but the bee suit does not fit at this point and they do not know the effects of bee stings on unborn babies.

Making Polymer's

I found these great science kits on clearance for $2.99 at Michael's and bought 3 of them. they make 3 different experiments each!! What a deal. The first one we did dealt with Polymer's by making slime. We used the supplies in each bottle, with enough left over to try our own combinations. Erik just wanted to play with the slime (of course) but Taylor was very careful to measure accurately and try the different combinations. We made snot slime, blue goo, and slug slime.

Erik's favorite was the snot slime, are your surprised?