Elephant in the Room

There is an

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

I hate to bring it up, but I just can't seem to shake it. He is following me everywhere I go these days!

I almost can't even say it out loud, so I will whisper it.

ready?

We are almost, pretty sure, that we kinda most definitely are going to probably want a #4 baby sometime in the future.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, ok. I said it.

Now the problem is WHEN?

When exactly am I going to want to commit myself (and my ENTIRE family) to 16 weeks of brutal punishment?

When will it be the best time for Troy to take over all meal cooking, grocery shopping, bedtimes, sports practices, while I am hunched over the toilet bowl barfing my brains out?

How on earth will Sammy be cared for? He is still a baby, but I want to do this sooner rather than later. No use putting off the inevitable.

When am I going to want to have these "Mrs. Doubtfire" legs back? Summer? NO!

When do I want to wear compression stockings in the latter half of pregnancy? Summer? NO!

When do I want to sign up for more of these awesome things:

(They are really not THAT bad. They are actually WORSE in person! Poor me, poor me, poor me. HA!)

Is it best to have a new baby in the summer when everyone is home and wanting to be entertained, or in the spring or winter when kids are at school?

So many questions. It is definitely time to hit my knees in prayer and figure this all out. I am going to need divine intervention to get me through another pregnancy, that is for sure!

So, there you have it. This pesky ELEPHANT is exposed. Now what?

Baking Party for Lu Lu

Lucy is officially FOUR!

To bring in her 4th with a bang, we had a

BAKING PARTY

with her group of preschool friends.
(100% inspired by One Charming Party)


There were going to be a couple more invitees, but a few days before the party Jack sheepishly mentioned that he wanted to be more than just the "big helper" at the party. He wanted to wear the frilly apron and bakers hat too. It was so cute to hear him ask. Of course he wanted in on all the fun, even at the price of wearing a ruffly apron.


At the start of the party, the girls (and Jack) played with playdough at the table. Then a few at a time would go and make the giant flower for their hat, using coffee filters and cupcake wrappers. I loved the color combinations they all chose. Each one was totally unique.

Then the kids made fruit skewers. I had soooooo much fruit and the girls gobbled up every last piece!

My mom read them a story while Lisa and I set up the cakes for decorating. Each child got their own triple layer cake to embellish with piped frosting and M&M's. I saw a lot of finger-licking going on! I think that's a good sign.

It was quite literally a SWEET party for a SWEET little girl
(who happens to look sooooo old in all these pictures!)

**note** my camera's ISO was set to shady for part of the party, so some of the photos were way too warm (yellow). I salvaged what I could.

The Whole Group

(bella, nora, ella, jack, LUCY, annie, grace, paisley)

Flower Making Station w/ Grammy Gwen

Fancy Nancy Storytime

Even though this boy was wearing ruffles and flowers, he still had to be the one in charge of the fire. He lit Lucy's birthday candles like a big boy. You can see that Lucy looks a little unsure about her brother with a lighter in hand.

This is my favorite picture of the whole party. I love how Sammy is peeking up over the table's edge!

I LOVE this girl and I am so proud to be her mom.

Take Home Favors
Playdough and Rolling Pin

A HUGE thank you to my mom and our adopted Aunt Lisa who came to help. There would not be ONE single picture of the party without them! I would have been running around like a crazy lady.

Instagram-o-rama

Twelve in 2/12 for Jack and Lucy.

1. 100th day of school

2. pizza night (notice pizza "man" drawing)

3. bike rides

4. winter POLAR swims

5. kisses through the window

6. playdate with 3 Jacks

7. lucy sending Jack off to school

8. bathtime (Jack is the lifeguard for Sam, he thinks)

9. He requested this picture with his works of art

10. Class mascot tied around his waist for a bikeride

11. Picking "honeysuckers" from the yard

12. Valentines class party

1. Making Valentines garland for the mantle.

2. pink tassel bike ride

3. Night time hot tub swim

4. Carousel at the Mall (I accidentally bought 20 dollars in tokens)

5. A new hairdo

6. stripped down immediately after church

7. Lucy LOVES reading

8. Our friends sent us hair-bows and Lucy thought it a good idea to wear them ALL at once.

9. ballet preparations

10. These two stood for 30 minutes ZONED in at the tv....NAKED

11. Mid-day nap, then pee on the carpet

12. Making gumball necklaces for 6 sweet valentines