Pregnancy Update

Okay, here is a little pregnancy update for you.

How far along: I am almost 33 weeks (this Friday) - it's getting closer people!

How is the baby: He looks great, weighs around 4 pounds

How is mom: I am doing well, survived the hottest part of summer with lots of trips to the pool!

Heartburn: daily - it's just part of it for me, doesn't matter what I eat or when I eat it.

Nightly potty breaks: I think I'm up to 2 or 3 now (was only 1 for quite some time though)

Name: still not completely decided yet. I think it is extremely hard since we already have 2 boys, every name we consider has to be tested like this "These are my sons - Eli, Caleb, and ...."

Nursery: looking so cute with the alphabet wall in place, now to go through my tub of 0-3 month boy clothes.

Nesting: definitely has begun - doing lots of organizing of Eli & Caleb's clothes & toys

Cravings: watermelon and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Chick-Fil-A

My view lately:

Any other questions?

Tara

Sneak Peek

We've been doing a little work on the nursery. Eli and my dad painted the walls (Cornbread Yellow) - love the color. Eli and I have picked out and painted letters. We are doing an alphabet theme complete with an alphabet wall. Here is a sneak peak at the letters and the bedding.

Pregnancy update later this week after an appointment.

Tara

First Day of Kindergarten 2010

Eli started Kindergarten this Wednesday. My baby growing up. He's almost made it through the first week (I go pick him up in 45 min.) and he's done great. But, I have to say "I sure do miss having him around!" As much as I was ready for him to start Kindergarten and get back into a routine, the last 3 days have seemed to drag on. I realized on back to school eve (as I was crying while cleaning up after dinner - thankfully the boys were all outside playing!) that what mom's are really sad about when their kids go off to kindergarten is that their "time" with them at home is over. Oh sure, you have weekends and summers, but it will never be the same. When I realized this, believe me, the tears flowed and I was so sad. But in the same breath (or sob for that matter), I am so, so thankful for the chance to be home with my little guy and discover the world! We made the most of every single day and I have absolutely no regrets.

He is going to have a great year, with new friends and new experiences! And now, Caleb and I get to have some one on one time before baby Hall arrives! Although I asked him if it was fun doing stuff with "just Mommy" or if it was more fun with Eli - of course he said it was more fun with Eli!!

Eli was pretty excited about having his own locker?

Eli and his teacher Mrs. Farrell - she's a tiny little thing!

Eli's desk. God answered a prayer that we had been praying for before school started - that he would have a friend at his new school where he didn't know anyone. Not only were there 2 kids from his preK class last year, but their desks were right across(facing) and diagonal from Eli's. He's always doing more than we could ever ask or imagine!

When I picked him up on the first day, he said he had a super day and then he said "I don't have to tell you everything because I wasn't scared and I did fine!" BOYS!!!!!!!!!!! I am a detail person and I wanted all the details =)! I had to drag them out of him the rest of the evening.

O yeah, I got all my tears out the night before in my kitchen, so I didn't shed a tear on the first day of school (even when I went to a boo hoo breakfast with my friend!). I highly recommend doing it that way!

Tara

Goodbye Wacky Wednesday- see you next summer!

For the past 2 summers, me and several of my mom friends have gotten together on Wednesdays for a fun summer activity with our kids. It really is so much fun and something we all look forward to (moms & kids). It has become a tradition and I love that about it. My friend Stacey and I usually plan out our activity list at the end of school, which makes it super easy to send out a reminder email each week to everyone. We are always on the lookout for fun, educational, and free activities. Some of the things we did this summer: swam in Oologah lake, bowling, Woolaroc, Incredible Pizza, snowcones @ the park, Oxley Nature Center, Water Park, swimming, and an end of summer ice cream party. Here's a look at some of the fun.I always make the kids pose for a picture. My mom friends have just come to expect it and accept it! lol! We made this photo collage and gave one to everybody at our ice cream party. I'm thinking we need to make tshirts next summer! Kind of sad it has come to an end. But, during the school year, we do Fun Fridays which are usually the 2nd Friday of each month. We'll miss having Eli this year ( he's sad about missing Fun Fridays, but I assured him he would be having lots more fun in Kindergarten).

On another note, I bought these light up shoes for Caleb this week on clearance for $20. He rarely gets new shoes because he wears Eli's hand me downs, so he was so, so excited! We put them on and he stomped, danced, and ran around the house chanting "I gnash my feet and stomp around!" So worth the $20!

Eli starts Kindergarten tomorrow - pretty sure I will be a teary-eyed mess.

Tara

12 Months of Giving Update

Just an update on our 12 months of giving for 2010. I never posted about our June and July projects. In June, we went to Clay Center, KS to visit Lance's grandma in her assisted living complex - she is 96 years old and the oldest one there! We did a giving project that involved her as well. Before we got there, the boys had painted 40 little flower pots and made paper flowers to stick in each one (with some help from mom). So when we visited Grandma Millie, we all poked the flowers into blocks of foam in the pots and added grass - together! This was fun for us to do with Grandma & I think she enjoyed it too! We ended up with these beauties!

The best part: Eli and Caleb gave a flower pot to each resident while they had lunch. There were only 13, so we decided to take the rest over to the nursing home side and hand those out while they were having lunch also! It was priceless watching the joy on each persons face as 2 cute little boys handed them a little pot of happiness! Totally made their day (mine too). Eli and Caleb loved it as well and I was so proud of them as they just walked right up and said "Here you go!". I definitely want to to this again - it was super easy and made such a big impact!

In July, we wanted to send a package overseas to a soldier. Eli's best buddy has an uncle who is in Afghanistan, so we chose him. We picked out snacks(that wouldn't melt), goodies, magazines, gum, and toiletries and packed a large flat rate shipping box from the post office. Then we wrote a note and the boys drew some pictures and we mailed it. It was only $12.50 to mail a package to Afghanistan for military personnel. Again, so easy.We learned it is VERY hot in Afghanistan and while we were out shopping for stuff for the box, Eli kept asking "Is it this hot?" I said "No, hotter", "What about now Mom - is it this hot?". "No, hotter" I said. We had wanted to add a roll of toilet paper, but ran out of room, so on the way to the post office Eli said "That's okay, I don't think they use the bathroom in Afghanistan"! How I love that boy!

Tara

Family Reunions

In July, we spent two weekends going to family reunions on my side of the family. The first was the Sherrer Reunion which takes place every year the 3rd weekend in July. It was in Oklahoma City at Bricktown. We had to miss the Friday event which was a Redhawks baseball game because Eli got strep throat, but we made it by Saturday at lunch. We had a lot of fun catching up with family that we don't get to see that often. Eli of course loved spending time with his "best cousin" Emma, in fact just the two of them got to spend the night with Papa & Pamma in their hotel room! Here is our group photo taken in front of the Land Run Sculpture in Bricktown (not that you can even see it)

Here is our little family

Next up, the following weekend, was the Bockelman Reunion (my mom's side of the family). This one is held every other year and lasts a bit longer. It was in Sipapu, New Mexico. No idea where that is? Me neither, let's just say it was about 20 minutes from Taos, New Mexico which is a popular snow skiing destination. It started on Wednesday and lasted through Sunday. It was a much different setting than the previous weekend. It was a rustic lodge with no cell phone service, no tv, no internet connection, and no air conditioning (which wasn't needed because the temps were only in the 80s) - talk about roughing it! Ha! But, we had a great time and enjoyed just hanging out and catching up with everyone. We visited Ft. Union National Monument and the kids did a cute marching drill with the park ranger.

The guys had a golf day that got rained out on the 14th hole

The next day, we had a girl's day and 7 of us went for a Sonic run, a pedicure and lunch in Taos. We had a great time! I love those girls so much - when we see each other, we just pick up right where we left off. Wish I saw them more. Sorry, I don't have a pic of that. One the last night, we took our family pics in our reunion tshirts then, Grandpa & Grandma Bockelman had a wedding vow renewal ceremony after 65 years of marraige. It was the sweetest thing. Loved this part.
Family Group ShotOur Sherrer Clan

Wedding Vow Renewal - don't my grandparents look so sweet sitting there? I love that all the great grandkids are sitting right behind them taking it all in! What a legacy they have given us. How blessed we are!

On a last note, Eli had a blast at this reunion! In fact, we barely saw him because he was too busy playing with cousins (just how I remember growing up!)

Tara