Hello out there!!!!! (echo)

Holy cow. I really am a bad blogger. Life got very crazy.....and I stopped reading blogs and writing my own. Here I am 36 weeks pregnant....with a baby girl on the way. We are moving in 2 weeks.....back to Power Ranch...where we belong..as Ella says. Queen Creek has been ad adventure and a learning experience and a lot of horse crap too. We have struggled to learn what we are supposed to through out this experience....but that is just part of life I guess. Please let me new neighbors be normal. I was blessed to have a set of neighbors here that are amazing and will be missed dearly. Becky, Chris and Nick..and Mammie and Pops. They are part of our family! I think they will miss the daily hugs from my little ones...thankfully we aren't going too far....Far enough that we won't have to deal with the horrible neighbors. :)
We are thinking to name our baby Quinn Michele...but aren't 100% solid on it yet. We like Kate and Molly too....so we shall see. I got gestational diabetes this time around...and it has been crazy. I am grateful however, for the healthy eating habits that I have adopted and learned about...and I hope to keep. It was helped me only gain 5 pds so far. crazy! The diet has been sad and emotional for me and times....but we are pushing though. Seth had joined me for the most part...but he cheats WAY more than me. We both feel pretty good eating more healthy.
Oh man....so much to say about the little ones.....they are all so good. They are showing responsibility and helpfulness and are such good kids! They are really rising up at time when our family is having to pull together to make everything work. My heart is so full of love and gratitude for them...they are amazing to me. The girls are handling the move a bit better than Luke. He likes his school and has alot going on. HE won the history bee at school and qualified to go to Regionals....he is going to compete on the Math team....he enjoys Mr. D ..the gifted specialist SOOO MUCH!!!!! He has never been a fan of change....we are hoping after all of the work it took to get here....it will be best for everyone. We had 7 houses fall through since May....so we know that we are where we are supposed to be...either that, or the man upstairs is a funny guy. :)
Luke starts basketball on Tuesday.....Hope just finished volleyball and starts soccer in the Spring. Ella is going to be starting soccer soon...with Lucy and uncle Adam as her coach. She is so excited. Sadie is the official cheerleader for everyone..along with me. She goes with me to all of Seth's Higley JV games and cheers. ( and lets me know when I am yelling too much) She still is clingy and really wanting to be with us...in between Seth and I if possible....but I hope and pray she will be ready for kindergarten this year. She is so fun and caring and protective of me and baby...she is pumped to be a big sister!
Seth is loving being a head coach....it is more work, stress and drama than he or I expected.....but he loves it...and his team is coming together. Go Knights!
It is true....SEth is working 2 jobs, coaching highschool bball, it is tax season, we are moving in 2 weeks and we are having a baby in 3. NUTS!
I got on here to post pics and got blabbing....so I better wrap it up. My friend Becky took these pic of us a week or so ago. Who takes family pics at 8 months pregnant...mE!!!! crazy......

Back to life.... back to reality

Back to the hear and now...yeah. Remember that?

Anyhoo....Hope and I made it home from our lovely jaunt up to the great white north. We ate and ate.....visited....worked...rested and had a great time. Why is it so good to just sit and pee yoru pants laughing over dumb stuff with your OWN family? It was a special time...much needed for me. I needed some hugs and butt pinches from people who know me..and love me anyway. It is a special thing to have people in your life that knew you most of your life.... all of the embarrassing things you did...bad and good choices....tears and laughter. I am blessed with many people like that in my life and I am truly grateful for those relationships. I wish I could travel all over the place and see them all....but you remain in my heart always. I have even been lucky to make friends everywhere we have lived....i am reminded to keep in touch wiht all of those I have known and loved...everyone else...can bugger off. just kidding. getting too serious there!

Ok..Canada. My loves of you: food first: Fries Supreme....so good. Wake up USA!
Ukrainian ladies that make a mean perogie
Pizza and wings.....SO MUCH BETTER
Chicken Chow Mein how I like it: Bean
Sprouts instead of gross noodles.
I like polite people who don't have guns
Trees...big beautiful trees everywhere
Friends and family ofcourse...
Fresh water beaches.....sooo nice.
Cool breezes....except on those record
breaking days...... just my luck!

Here is what bugs: The 5 different garbage bins...compost, paper, plastic, organics, whatever else...holy crap. My mom decides to tell me AFTER I chop down a bunch of huge branches that I must then chop it all into tiny pieces to fit into a bin. Too green for me.
Charging me for plastic bags at the grocery store. not cool.
The clothes....people were hurting. could have been the people of the area I was in...but I saw very little cuteness.
The cost of food and clothes....maybe that is why they were so hurtin....I have never been so grateful for Ross in my life. Poor Canadians....you gotta spend an awful lot to look good and eat healthy!
The USA bashing. - could have just been my folks...but sheesh...HATERS!

I am sure nobody really cares about my like and dislikes...so I will move on.
We are heading tonight to the end of season party for our little swimmers. Luke Hope and Ella swam their little hearts out all summer. So proud of them and their ribbons and improvements. It was nice to not have to drive so far this year.

The kids all start school here on Wednesday. Luke, the 6th grade and Hope, the 5th. Crazy! I am looking forward to more routines....but also sad to give up the freedom that summer allows. Luke and Hope are at the middle school this year...leaving Ella alone at the elementary school. Ella goes all day this year for first grade.....something little Miss Sadie will no doubt have a hard time with. Ella isn't much of a morning person....so I am sure it will be an adjustment for her. I got her up earlier today....and will every day until then to help her get used to it. We will miss her here at home.

If you have read this far through all of my boring details, I will reward your patience with a little tidbit of juicy news. I am pregnant. Don't know many details other than that I am, and I feel like crap everyday and we have no health insurance.
I haven't felt that great....wondering if I might miscarry....but I figure if you read this blog...you probably care about me, and will be there for me either way. So, onboard we all are together!

Summer Lovin'

Well...hard to believe that we are over half way through June! Crazy! The days are going by pretty fast, I must say. The kids have swim team, the girls do a day camp kind of thing 2 days a week..Hope had art classes.....Seth Luke Hope and sometimes Ella have been going to basketball camp Mon- Thurs 8 am - 10am. at Higley. Did I mention that Seth is officially the JV Head Basketball Coach over there????

We have also created a reading club of sorts....where my kids, neighbor kids....whoever's kids...can come and spread put a blanket a pillow and read for 30 mins. We keep track of pages read, adn are planning an ice cream sundae party. We sometimes have a snack....and we always go over the words we aren't sure of the meaning of at the end! They are all silent for 30 minutes. IT is great! Gotta keep those minds from turning to mush!

I love staying up late and sleeping in. I try to say yes more often to all of the many requests for stories, snuggles, and dance parties. I love little white bottoms with tan legs. I love popcorn and movie nights and days. I love summer highlights in every one's hair. I love not driving to the schools every day. I love leaving Luke alone with the girls to run quick errands or grab a quick bite with Seth.
Summer rules.
I forgot to say I love going home too!!!...July 12!!!! Can't wait!

The Canucks lost the Cup. Such a bummer. I had an upset stomach for days over it all. Who knows maybe I would have been a crazy rioter or even a looter if I lived in Vancouver. just kidding. of course I would not be.
hope everyone is having a lovely summer... :)

My Baby is almost 4 !!!!!

Grandpa and Grandma Barb

What a treat it was to have my Dad and his wife Barb here for a visit. It
went by soooo quick...and we wished they could have stayed forever!!!! It was a very anticipated visit, as we wondered if Dad would make it to AZ again....or if he would make it at all. After 6 months of being ill, and getting down to 155 lbs, we were all praying that he would find relief. Finally a dr. figured out what the problem was and fixed it....and that was followed by 2 more surgeries and a small stroke.
We were so excited to have him here and have time to create more memories with him. I forgot where I got my night owl tendencies from....we stayed up way too late chatting and laughing and sometimes crying! .....it was the best.
Most of the time, they were busy spoiling kids...buying them whatever they wanted..like stuffed llamas, and cupcake decorating kits. They were in heaven! For all of the spoiling, I think the best times were quiet snuggles and stories.

Ella is a Star!!!

Ella was honored by the City of Queen Creek as a Star Student last month. She got a certificate from the Mayor and dinner!!!!
We are so proud of her!!!!

Picture catch up time!!!!

Luke is 11. holy crap.