Eight Months

Not that I actually have any idea how much longer I'll be pregnant, but one month from today, I'm due.

Or, it could be one month and one week from today.  I have been quite skeptical about the moving up of my due date from the beginning, and I really have no idea what to expect as the next few weeks go by.

I've realized that I'm not nearly as concerned about the actual act of labor and delivery as I am about making sure that my family is all where we need to be when we need to be there when the big day comes.  Jason with me, me in the hospital, the kids gathered together at home or with a friend that will be able to take care of them as long as needed.  I'm spending a lot of time praying about this, and I have to trust that Heavenly Father will help us get it right.  In the hopes of having a quick and smooth labor, delivery and recovery, I don't want to induce labor.  I want to wait until the baby is ready.  But the desire to control the date and time of the baby brother's arrival, for the sake of the rest of my family, is very strong.

Leah has started cooing over just how cuuuute newborn babies are.  She has assured me that she will devote all of her attention to her new baby brother when he gets here, and that she will ignore Adam and Emma entirely.  I think she means that in a loving way... somehow.

Adam continues to squeeze me- and the baby brother- as tightly as he can in an effort to show his little brother how much he loves him already.

Emma and I giggled today over the fact that babies are naked in utero.  She, in her two year old way, told me that when the baby brother is born, she will get him dressed right away and put a tie on him.  Then she proceeded to "boop" him on what she assumed was his bum over and over and OVER again.  We're practicing soft touches a lot these days.

Jason feels the nightly show of stomach somersaults with amazement.  I remind him that he's felt these incredible pushes and stretches and jerks with each of our children, but he is still amazed that there is such a strong little body on the other side of my skin.  So am I.

I get discouraged when I think about just how heavy, tired, swollen, waddle-y and slow I have become.  I miss being just me.  Then I remember what it is all for, and I'm encouraged to get through another day.  I can do anything required of me if it means bringing a healthy baby into the world.

There is indeed a lot of love and excitement going around here these days.

Blessings

It seems like my mind and heart are overflowing lately with the blessings that we have been given- the list is long.

*The chance to walk to school. Especially in nice weather, the ability to walk to school has been one of my most favorite parts of living in this neighborhood from the beginning.  We've also got a park across the street where we can feed the crazy ducks, go fishing, play Marco Polo on the playground and practice bike riding.  It's a blessing to live in such a lovely place.

*A hardworking husband who enjoys his job and loves his family.  This one is almost cliche, but I imagine life could be much harder if Jason wasn't as committed to providing for his family as he is.  We definitely support each other in raising and providing for our family, but I'm just about as eager to get out of bed at 6:15 every morning to drive to work only to come home and stay up late preparing for the next day as he is about giving birth to any one of our 4 sweet children.  I'd say we make a pretty good team!

*A strong, active baby. All those kicks and wiggles, even the ones that wake me up at 4 in the morning, are sweet reminders that there is a healthy baby boy joining our family soon. 

*A care-free schedule. It seems just right as we are gearing up for the arrival of the baby brother. Although I worry a bit about not having our days filled up with music, sports and dance classes, I know those days will come soon enough. I asked the kids the other day if they wanted to sign up for soccer, and they all shouted "No! (even Emma, although I'm pretty sure she has no idea what soccer is). We just want to stay home and jump on the trampoline! And read! And be with you, Mommy!"  How can I refuse?  So along with the blessing of a care-free schedule, I'm grateful for the blessing of contentment. 

*The blessing of contentment is also present in our new house. Yes, the list of want-to-do's is long, and the walls and spaces to fill are many, but for now, we are taking our time enjoying our house and making it our home.  It would it seem horribly ungrateful to me to move into a lovely new house and immediately turn around and fill it to the brim with unimportant junk from Stuff-Mart.   Not only would we lose the time to grow into our house, but we would miss out on the chance to really appreciate what a beautiful new home we have.  Jason and I were musing over the fact that it's almost fun to clean our new house- with just a bit of effort, it's actually clean! I've spent the last 10 years scrubbing at old stains whose origins were unknown to me.  Not here! With a quick scrub or sweeping, the house shines, and I love it.  

*We're also enjoying the blessing of contentment in our marriage and family. We're happy and extremely healthy (which is such a huge blessing of it's own). We're winding down in 2013, which has proved to be a monumental year for our family. Thesis and graduation- check. Moving to a new state to start a new career and establish a new home- check. Build a new house- check? Welcome a new member to our family to our little clan- almost check! We're happily making our way through this adventurous year and looking forward to continuing to live a very full and happy life in 2014.  But I'm also okay with not having quite as many major milestones to pass through next year.  We're content to be here and just living life happily.

*A family who loves, supports and forgives each other. Heaven knows that, despite the cheerfulness that generally dominates this blog, there are hard moments that hit our family and make us wonder if we're getting any it right at all.  It's such a blessing to have sweet children to learn from, who shrug off my apologies for losing it as we are rushing out the door and still hug me just as tight when they say good-bye. 

*New friends in Iowa that are helping us make our new home.  I think the kids and I had 7 play dates scheduled last week, and a few impromptu ones besides. We are loving getting to know new friends.  We had a housewarming party this weekend and loved filling our new house to the brim with funny, kind adults and happy, loud, energetic children.

*Old friends in Indiana and Utah that still send us lots of love and remind us of how blessed we have been over the years. I know it took us 5 years to make a home in Utah and nearly 4 years in Indiana, but both places really were home, most of all because of the people we shared our lives with. And I feel blessed knowing that Iowa will someday feel like home for the same reasons. I had some pretty strong feelings of homesickness for Indiana last week, and in some ways, it was comforting to know that Indiana became home. Iowa will too.

*One-on-one dates.  The closer we get to October 23rd, the more desperately I want to fill up my children's love buckets.  I want to make sure that they know that they mean the world to me, and that my mother heart is only going to continue growing as our family grows.  Leah and I went to get her ears pierced yesterday, and had such a lovely time chatting about everything and nothing at all, and just being together.  Trips to the library, the store, and the park, along with snuggles and stories on the couch and even taking the time to practice cutting with scissors are, I hope, just as meaningful.

*The ability to pay it forward.  I occasionally feel overwhelmed at the realization that there is just no way that I can pay back all of the people that help me in so many ways, but I also take comfort in knowing that I can help other people out, and hopefully complete the circle of good karma.  I'm definitely going to need all the help I can get in the coming weeks with the arrival of our little acrobat, so I'm quite grateful for the opportunities to serve others where I can while I can.

*Children who want to be independent.  We certainly have moments during the day when I want to pull out all of my hair for the lack of know-how around here about tying shoes, telling time, and appropriate table manners, but I'm so grateful for the moments when I can see my children trying so hard to take care of themselves.  Adam is a pro at getting himself dressed or undressed in a flash, Leah tries so hard to be responsible for her backpack and all of it's many contents, and Emma has discovered the joy of the water dispenser on the front of the fridge.  She has happily taken it upon herself to get drinks of water (that often end up on the floor) and to wash everything from her hands to her tiny dollies hair in the never-ending stream of water that can be produced with the push of a button.

*I'm especially thankful for the Spirit that fills our home and our hearts, and helps us know that we are loved by our Heavenly Father. It is blessing to know that we are on this Earth for a purpose and that we are doing the things that He wants us to do while we are here.

Heavenly Father is good to us.  Yes, life is good.

Snapshots

There's been a whole lot of life going on around here lately.

Jason has been traveling way more than either of us expected lately, and I don't like it one bit.  Granted, we knew he would be traveling- his company gave him a brand new car- complete with insurance, a gas card, and the blessing to use it for personal use as he pleases- and not to park it in the driveway, but still.  I think this is the fourth week in a row that he has been gone at least one night.  He assures me all of the activity is dying down, and I assure him that the closer we get to October 23rd, the less inclined I will be to let him go without putting up an expectant mama-sized fit.  Work is a lot like school, but it's been a bit harder gauging the expectations and satisfaction levels of his boss.  Jason's advisor in graduate school was always more than happy to let him know when or if he was slacking and what exactly he should be doing better.  Most of the feedback he gets now is positive, but it still makes for a tricky time knowing just what is expected of him at work.  And, of course, we'll always take as much of Daddy around here as we can.  In the meantime, we have days like today, when I schedule 3 playdates for myself and the kids to keep us all from going crazy without him around.

I'm getting closer and closer to the end of this pregnancy (hence the lack of pictures of myself, perhaps?).  I want time to slow down so I can focus on all of the fun baby "to-do's" that are on my list- pulling out the bassinet, washing and sorting tiny baby boy clothes, tracking down the perfect baby blanket.  But the more present "have to-do's" consume my days and I find myself very much looking forward to the way that a newborn forces me to slow down- to sit down and put my feet up and nurse, and sleep, and snuggle.  Those happy days are right around the corner, and I can't wait.  Until then, I'm trying to appreciate my amazing body and all of the things that I can do with the baby inside rather than outside of my uterus.  I've ramped up the prenatal yoga quite a bit, and I love it.

Emma is so very two lately.  She has so much to say, and it is mostly just adorable.  Like when she walked into my room with a giant bag slung over her shoulder and said, "Bye, Mommy.  I have... doctors... 'pointment."  Or when she sings out, "Hey!  I love woooooo!"  Maybe not so much when we walk into a friend's house and the first thing she says is "No sharing!"  but there is certainly a lot going on in that sweet little head of hers, and it's fun to hear it coming out.

I went in to check on the sleeping kids one night and found Emma happily stretched out with no pacifier, no pajama bottoms, and no diaper.  Although she rarely wets her diaper in the night, I wasn't about to take any chances and cinched her back up while she slept.  She loves to strip off her clothes and diaper, which has twice turned into a mess for Mommy to clean up.  I know she's not ready for potty training just yet, but we are getting very close.

Emma offered to help unload the dishwasher the other day.  This was her effort, and I'll be darned if I wasn't grateful for it!  Less bending over for me!

Adam is loving preschool.  He doesn't have a ton to say at the end of each day (that is very telling anyway) but he clearly enjoys the time that he gets to be in his classroom with his teachers and his friends.  I just hope that he is gravitating to the friends that will help his good boy behavior shine.  His Primary teachers at church have always complimented him on being a good boy in class, and I hope that is carrying over into preschool.

Adam has been getting scared all. the. time lately.  He (still) has a horrible habit of racing into our room in the  middle of the night and proclaiming that he's scared, although he can't quite explain what it is he's scared of.  His Buzz Lightyear flashlight has become a huge help in keeping him in his bed at night, and the other night I found it strategically placed on his leg so as to perfectly spotlight the picture of Christ on his wall.  He slept well that night.

For our first Family Home Evening in our new house, Adam was in charge of the treat.  He chose Trix- a tasty cereal that I don't buy ever that he had sampled at home.  But this smart boy knows the rules- Mommy rarely says no to a well-thought-out FHE treat.  He was in heaven.

Leah is such a trooper about school.  I liked school as a child, but I don't recall loving it, and I suspect Leah feels the same way.  She goes and works hard and enjoys it, but (like most kids) is happy to have a day off here and there.  She's interested in learning how to write in cursive, so we've been working on that at home because they don't teach it in school anymore.  She loves to read and I'm always amazed at how quickly she flies through the chapter books that she gets from school and that I bring her from the library.

She wanted the training wheels off of her bike, but she is terrified of falling, so learning how to ride a two-wheeler has been a slow process.  And she wants to get her ears pierced, so we've set a date to get it done this weekend.  She is such a good helper and friend to me (especially when Jason is out of town), I'm looking forward to our one-on-one date as a reward for her kind and helpful behavior.

And the baby brother- he's getting bigger and stronger every day.  Given the kicks and jabs that have turned quite uncomfortable for me, I'd say he's about ready to find a place with a bit more room to stretch out.  Five more weeks!  We can't wait to meet him.

Transition

I wrote this post back in May, when I was very much feeling the weight of our decision to move into a two bedroom apartment in Iowa while waiting for our house to be built.  It was a very hard time, and the fact that we brought it on ourselves didn't make it any easier.  I can only try to describe how happy we are to be in our house now.  A house tour of sorts will be coming soon.  For now, I just love this picture of "A Man and His Lawn".  Jason has been faithfully tending to our sod since the day we moved in.  He's the tiny little speck on the right.

Over the course of our last few months in Indiana, I wrote a lot about how excited I was about getting to the next phase of life.  When we were done with school, done with renting, done with shoestring budgets.  When we would start really settling into life and getting to experience all of the joys that come with post-graduate school life- the mortgage, the student loan repayments, the fussing over landscaping and retirement funds, but also the extra time for family togetherness, the sudden overflow of money, the unending happiness that comes with sleep-filled nights and adventure-filled days.

Well.  If you'll indulge me for a moment, I'd like to state for the record that we are still waiting for those days to come.  It's planting season, so as I'm pounding this out at 9:30 at night, Jason is still not home.  Work schedules have nothing to do with the thesis, they have everything to do with being married to a dedicated man who loves his work.  Not as much as he loves his family, of course, but enough that when there is work to be done, he's doing it.

 (The kids loved climbing on this pile of rocks in our front yard before it was sodded- 

they called it Crystal Mountain.)

The house.  Oh, the house.  How did I not envision the pain and agony that would come with living through the snail-like pace at which our house is being completed?  I like this apartment because it's small and fairly easy to maintain, but I loathe it because it's small and impossible to keep the kids quiet when quiet is needed.  The only time that is a real problem is when Emma takes her afternoon nap and Adam is forced to keep it down for 2 or more hours.  That equates to far more computer time than I'd prefer, and by no fault of his.  I hate the trek to the car- out the door (which requires two hands to lock or unlock, so no groceries or sleeping babies allowed), down the hall, down the stairs, through the garage, across the parking lot and into the car.  At least twice a day when we drop off and pick up Leah.  Once more if we're running errands or headed somewhere extra.

(We all hated not getting to be in the house while the workers were still here.  It was such a happy day when we closed and got to lock the doors from the inside!) 

We are so, so excited to be traveling west next week- Jason's youngest sister is graduating from high school, which means time with the Morales ladies in Colorado and then we are headed to Utah for a serious summer vacation.  A six week vacation.  Without Jason (boo), but also without the confines of this blasted apartment (YAY).  We are going to swim, hike, camp, eat, visit, relax, play, and jump on the floor as often as we want!  But leaving for six weeks also means that any meager advances I have made in finding my place and making friends in Iowa will be put on hold.  There are lots of ladies and families here that I'm looking forward to getting to know, but I just can't do it yet.  I won't be here!  And I can't really host much in my apartment because it holds no more than 10 people at a time before someone gets hurt or the neighbors complain.  So I still haven't found my place in Iowa.  I feel like, in so many ways, it's waiting for me to really get here.  It's in our finished house.  It's in the fall, when we are back and done transitioning and finally settling in.

We all know about the grass that is greener on the other side.  I never really felt like we were wishing away our days in graduate school.  Willing them along at a quickened pace, sure, but still enjoying life along the way.  And life was grand.  And now, for the first time, I truly feel like I am wishing my days away- ready to get out this blasted transition phase and ready to get on with life!  I realize this would happen a lot quicker if I would adjust my attitude rather than count down the days, but on days like today, when the kids are stir-crazy in the apartment but there is no backyard to send them into and I have to make dinner and Jason texts me to say that he won't be home until there is no light left in the day and I feel like we're stuck somewhere between here and there... yes, I am wishing today away.

Pregnancy Thoughts

22 weeks.... Or is it 23? I no longer know how to declare it.  Not that it really matters until the end, when every day that creeps closer to my due date feels like a year.  Either way, I'm feeling good. Heartburn is a daily visitor now, but that is just because there is so darn much good food here at Grandma's house. Easily remedied with Tums, and totally worth it.

*****

Depending on what I'm wearing, I do or don't definitely look pregnant yet. Some days I think I should surely look bigger already than I do, but then I remember how far I have to go and I'm grateful that I can still tie my shoes and paint my toenails with no problem.

*****

Getting ready for baby #4 and brother #2 is a bit different than it was the first time around. Instead of gathering together as much equipment and as many clothes as I can, I'm more interested in the state of everything I already have this time around. Have the baby boys clothes I've saved fallen prey to years of spit-up stains that effectively ruin otherwise adorable outfits? This baby will be a fall/winter baby, Adam was a summer boy. Do I have what I need? Thanks to generous hand-me-downs, do I have too much stuff (what a nice problem to consider)? Most of our baby gear is in storage until our house is ready. I guess I'll have the task of sorting through it all near the top of my list once we move in.  I love baby gear! That will be something to look forward to. 

*****

23 weeks- I've outgrown just about everything I brought to wear in Utah. Bless my mother for recognizing it and suggesting that we do a bit of maternity shopping while I'm here. Tasks like that seem overwhelming and just not fun when I'm alone.

*****

24 weeks- we're on our way back to Iowa. The kids have been pretty good in the car so far, but they have plenty of energy to expend in the restaurant, the hotel room and the pool.  Just as everyone has finally dropped off to sleep and I am dozing off, the baby brother starts a little dance in my tummy. It's a nice reminder that things are only getting busier once he gets here. And that's okay. Even when I'm tired, I love to respond to tiny cries of 'Mama... Mama'. For a while anyway.  Eventually I like this sleep too.

*****

Jason sent me the following text- "We're driving in the car and listening to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe".  Adam was singing along, then stopped and said, "If we had a baby girl we could call her Maybe!"

*****

25 weeks- I had an appointment this week- we are officially moving my due date up a week. It is now October 23rd. I have no idea what exactly this means, other than I'm more unsure than ever of when exactly this little fellow will be here. When he's ready, I guess! 

My little brother Jared is getting married in Utah on October 17th. I'm pretty sure there is absolutely no way I will be able to be there, which is so, so sad.

I am still feeling very second-trimester. I sleep quite well, eat and digest food comfortably, I can get around with no problem, and still fit into plenty of my regular clothes and all of maternity clothes.  I know this will all change soon enough. And that's okay.

*****

Leah, Adam and Emma have all felt the baby brother kicking around.  At some point they decided it is outstandingly hilarious to sniff my belly button and say, "Ewww... the baby is peeing!" Or, in Emma's abbreviated case, "Eww!  Baby poo stinky!"

*****

28 weeks- I had my glucose screening test today- no gestational diabetes here.  Hooray!  But I do have a low blood count, which means I need to up my iron intake.  I had to smile but resist patting on the head the cute little fellow that was my doctor today when he said, quite seriously, "You know, when you deliver, you are going to lose a lot of blood."

"No kidding," I wanted to reply.  "You should tell that to my husband.  He was on clean up duty last time around."  I'm still thanking Jason for taking care of that delightful job, and all he says is, "Let's just be sure to get to the hospital this time around."  But instead I just commit to taking an iron supplement.  Who knows?  Maybe it will help boost my energy levels.  I don't think I should feel this tired at this stage in the pregnancy.

I've only gained one pound in the last four weeks.  Given my average 6 pound per month of pregnancy weight gain in the past, I'm a little surprised.  Pleasantly.  But I'm also no dummy.  We've still got a long way to go.

Leah randomly offered to rub my feet and paint my toenails one day.  I certainly did not resist!

*****

29 weeks- I've received my first knock-the-wind-out-of-me and let-me-get-out-of-your-way kicks this week.  I explained to the kids today that the baby brother has all of his body parts, now all he has to do is grow bigger and bigger before he can come out.

Adam is thrilled that we won't have to buy a new car before the baby brother comes.  He's got it all worked out- there is an extra seat next to him in the back, and the baby can sit back there right next to him.  I haven't got the heart to tell him yet that Emma will be sitting back there, but there is no way I could squeeze an infant car seat carrier into the very back.  Although I'm happy to put it off a little longer, a minivan is definitely in our future.

*****

30 weeks- several times a day Adam runs up to me at full speed, crashes into my belly and wraps his arms around me.  He squeezes me tight, then pulls back and says, "Mommy, I love you.  Did I give some love to the baby brother, too?"  He sure does love his little brother already.

I can hardly believe I've only got 10 weeks to go before there will be a newborn baby in our family.  I feel like this pregnancy has flown by, and I hate to think it might be my last.  But I'm feeling quite a bit older than I did the first time around nearly 7 years ago.  I hit a point every day- around 3 PM- when I just have to stop and rest.  I found my first ever varicose veins popping out of my shins the other day, and I am starting to embrace the fact that I just can't keep going all. day. long.  Yep, I've been here before, but in some amazing way, Mother Nature (or Heavenly Father) has a tricky way of making you forget all that you have to go through before you are willing to deliver a baby into the world.  But I've done it before, and I can do it again.  Final trimester- bring it on!

*****

32 weeks- I took the kids to a fabric store today, and the lady who was helping me spent the entire time commenting on the size of my belly, the fact that the baby surely must have already dropped, and how busy I would be with another one coming.  I think she said "You sure are going to have your hands full" four times in the 7 minutes she was helping me. I never really know how to respond to people like this.

33 weeks- I've hit the point at which I think I should stop growing.  I'm plenty big and awkward.  Pictures confirm that.  The baby weighs around 4 pounds.  But wait!  We still have 7 weeks to go.  Judging from past experience, I can say with confidence that it is an ugly downhill ride from here.  I'm giving up on a full night of restful sleep in exchange for leg cramps and exchanging cute maternity clothes for whatever feels comfortable.  Whatever I was asking the third trimester to bring on a few weeks ago, I think it's safe to say it's here.  Still, I can't help but feel so SO excited when I think about meeting this little fellow that has been on my mind and heart for so long now.  He's getting stronger every day (occasionally kicking my arms off of my own belly) and will really be here before I know it.  I realize I need to be doing more to "train" for labor and delivery, and I am really looking forward to that amazing time in the hospital when I realize that I'm not pregnant anymore- the journey is over and another one just beginning all at once.

Leah (my child who is most vocally opposed to adding more siblings to our family) was musing at the dinner table tonight about having another baby sister that she would name Chrysanthemum.  I am just not sure that any more children will be joining our family, and I was honest in telling her as much.  But I am trying to put that decision on the back burner as I gear up for (with complete elation) the arrival of the baby brother.

Goings On

As much as I want to give each of the recent events their own special post, what I really want is to be caught up on the blog before our new baby brother gets here!  So here are some of the highlights of all that has been keeping us busy- and away from the computer- lately.

Starting with adult time- Jason and I have been squeezing in alone time lately wherever we can in the name of major upcoming events that will prevent us from much more than dates at home for a while.  We went to the Train concert at the Iowa State Fair- it was so fun!  It was Jason's first concert, and it was a good one.  Except for the drunk Michael Bolton look-alike that grabbed my belly with both hands and said, "Congratulations to both of you!!!" Ick.

 The next weekend Jason and I took our traditional babymoon- this time just a quick overnighter to Minneapolis to attend the temple, sleep in at a fancy hotel and eat amazing food.

Check,

check,

and check.

I suppose somewhere in here I should acknowledge the fact that Jason has lost 60 pounds since we moved here... but I'll let him write that post himself.  He sure does look handsome eating his bowl of wild rice Mahnomin porridge!

It was a fantastic trip, and I'm always grateful for the times that we dedicate to our relationship- it's always so nice to be Melanie and Jason instead of Mommy and Daddy for a while.  It makes us much better at being Mommy and Daddy when we get back, too!

We spent the second day checking out the Mall of America, stocking up at Ikea, and trying in vain to get home at the time we told our baby-sitter we'd be there.   But no babymoon of ours comes without hiccups, (the first time around we got stuck in the Denver airport and, being 8 and a half months pregnant, I ended up curling up to sleep on the floor of the airport.  Babymoon #2 was a fairly smooth one, but I spent a lot of time crying over the fact that we were moving from very familiar Utah to Indiana.  And how I miss Indiana now!  Babymoon #3 was when we unintentionally added a day to our trip and missed our flight home, resulting in a very expensive second purchase of two return plane tickets) and this was no exception.  Traffic there and back made the trip much longer than we anticipated, but at least we got to check out this awesome truck in the middle of Minnesota.

Yikes.

Family Time

We had heard fantastic things about the Iowa State Fair, so it was a must on our summer bucket list.  I'm not sure where we went wrong, but that was a first and last for our little family.

Yes, we had fun checking out the animals, eating fried food on a stick and people-watching, but I'm confident we will not be spending that kind of money to tell our kids "No" to every carnival booth, fair ride, exotic animal exhibit and junk food stand in sight again.

We quickly forgot about that adventure in the name of bigger and better ones, though.  On Labor Day weekend we traveled to South Dakota to meet my family at Mt. Rushmore!  We took two days to get there, and of course, the hotel was a complete hit.

 And I'm pretty sure there is a law that says you can't drive through South Dakota without stopping at the Corn Palace.

 It was a great place to stretch our legs, anyway.

We also had to check out Dinosaur Park, where the kids had a blast climbing on the life-sized dinosaurs and enjoying the views.

 But, as the saying goes, it's all fun and games until someone uses a giant mud puddle as a slip-n-slide... or something like that.

And, in true compassionate parenting form, Jason and I just laughed and laughed at him.  He was a total mess!

The real fun started once we met up with our family.  We had a big house in the Black Hills that we all shared, and had a wonderful time visiting, eating good food, and relaxing.

 We went mining in the Black Hills and panned for gold (which Jason took waaay to seriously),

then headed over to Mt. Rushmore, which was incredible.

We obviously had a whole lot of fun because I have exactly zero pictures of our whole group together- which was my whole family except for my brother, his wife and their two kids, who just moved to Seattle.  One of the best parts of the trip was gathering everyone together and listening to my parents tell their grandkids stories about their grandparents.

We're not quite sure when we'll see everyone in my family again, so this was a delightful chance to enjoy being (almost) all together one more time this year.