Now It's Summer...

It seems like it's always "officially" Summer when you can go swimming. We are members of the Y, and for some ridiculous reason they seem to like keeping all their pools indoors. (I know I know, you can use it year-round...but we wanna swim outside in the sun!) There is one outdoor YMCA pool we can use, but it's 30 minutes away near my parents' house. By the time I lotion up 3 kids and get out there it's already been a long day. So since we knew we would be out that way yesterday, we planned to swim at their neighbors' pool.

Neither one of the 3 amigos know how to swim...a problem I am hoping to remedy this Summer. (I mean, cuz having a 4th baby isn't enough to do in one Summer, right?) But they still love to go to the pool. I would feel a lot better if they knew how to stay afloat, though. (If anyone has any pointers on what you did to teach your kiddos to swim, besides hundreds of dollars in swim lessons, feel free to pass it on! Right now, my kids are experts at the floatie-death-grip...but that's about the only swim stroke they've mastered.) They may not be Michael Phelps quite yet, but I am looking forward to lots more fun in the sun with these wild animals this Summer.

Surprise Showers

We always have our community group meeting on Wednesday evenings. Last night, as is common recently, Billy was working and was going to have to meet me there. It was 'bring your own dinner' night...which I love because it's my excuse to eat Chipotle...and me and the kids had a crazy time trying to get dinner in the downpour (shower number 1) and crazy traffic/roadwork I didn't see coming. We finally made it though...and were surprised after dinner by surprise shower number 2:

Our thoughtful community group gave us gift cards and some other baby items for Lady A...and we couldn't be more grateful. With the 4th baby, you usually have all the "essentials" so showers don't really need to happen. But at the same time stuff does start to wear out, and it's awesome to have a little "Lady A fund" to get her some things of her own, and people in our life who are thoughtful to celebrate her new little life with us. (Plus who doesn't love picking out some new teeny tiny baby outfits? I cannot wait.) We are so very thankful for this group of people, and for this new kiddo...and are counting down the days until we all get to finally see her sweet face.

No Place Like Home...school

This past weekend Billy and I had the opportunity to go to the homeschool conference here in Virginia. Last year I had gone for the first time, and was so overwhelmed. There was so much good information, curriculum up to my eyeballs, and people who all do their homeschooling a little bit different than you do. For this perfectionist, it was a recipe for exhaustion and a headache. But at the same time, it was a good headache, and it helped me realize that there is no "correct" way to do it, and that as long as it's working for us, it's working. Whew.

This year was MUCH more laid back for me. I think the fact that I taught two children to read this year (ok, one kiiinda taught herself) made me feel like a homeschooling rockstar. I was terrified of trying to teach Merrick to read. Teaching both our kids myself was definitely exhausting, and a test of patience like none I'd had before, but so rewarding. I'm so glad that I live in a place where I'm able to do that. After attending the conference this weekend I'm realizing just how much homeschooling is not welcome by many governments. Hopefully our country never gets to that point, but I also realized after several sessions we attended just how important it is to advocate for homeschooling, so that freedom isn't one we ever lose.

I also realized this weekend just how awesome it is that my husband and I are "on the same team" when it comes to deciding to teach the kids at home. I know not every family agrees on stuff like this, (and there are plenty of things we don't agree on trust me) so it's a weight off my shoulders that we do. Billy is almost more committed to doing this for the long haul than I am. I know you hear people saying there is nothing more sexy than seeing your husband wash dishes, or take care of a baby...well, try seeing him browsing curriculum and signing up for emails on homeschool advocacy. (Did I just use the word sexy and homeschooling in the same sentence? Is that even allowed?)

I wasn't always passionate about homeschooling, and Billy was public-schooled and really didn't even know anything about homeschoolers until he married one. In fact, growing up I swore I wouldn't teach my kids at home. It sounds so...nerdy. (Am I right?) But now that I'm older, I'm thrilled that I have the chance. (This didn't start out as a blog plug for homeschooling...but really, I do love it. And it's also not meant to sounds snobby for those who school in other ways...it's definitely a very personal decision and one that's not going to be right for every family for a variety of reasons.) And after a long, but good, year of teaching it was refreshing to go and be taught myself. I know there are days I don't, and won't, love it. But looking back on this past year, our first "official" year, I wouldn't change a thing. Except maybe how long it took Merrick to understand place value. ;)

32 Years and 33 Weeks

I was thinking about my last 8 birthdays...the ones since Billy and I were married. (Our 9 year anniversary is coming up in a week, on June 11th.) I realize I've been pregnant for half of them. That's kinda crazy. I'm at that point in pregnancy where you begin to believe you will be pregnant for the rest of your life...can you tell? I do try not to be a whiner, cuz whining is annoying, so I will only say this once (I hope): Everythinghurts. Ok. Carry on.

Thankfully I had one of said birthdays yesterday (the big 32!)...so it was nice to be distracted from the usual routine of dealing with 3 hooligans, and growing hooligan the 4th. Speaking of hooligans (this is kind of off the birthday subject) while at my checkup yesterday, my doctor says while listening to Amaryllis on the doppler, "Well...this baby is WILD. It's no wonder you are having so many contractions. It's like having sand in your eye...everything is all irritated." Those really weren't the most comforting words she could have said to me, but I'm glad that Lady A is apparently a very energetic and healthy girl.

We didn't do too much for my birthday. Billy has had an insane schedule this week. (A good problem, but one that makes me feel like a single parent a lot of the time.) So he was gone before we were even awake and didn't come back until dinner, which is earlier than he usually gets home. He left me a yummy breakfast in the fridge and a card. I had gotten my birthday present early (see last post) but the kids were still a little concerned that I wasn't opening presents. They did help me blow out my candles in my coffee cake, though. Then we went to the gym, had a good run, went to gymnastics, and then had dinner and ice cream with my family.

I was grateful and blessed to be surrounded by my kiddos all day on my birthday. I know the day will come when they may be all over the country, or even the world, and I won't get to kiss their dirty sticky faces whenever I want. Or snuggle with their just-woken-up warmth first thing in the morning. Or listen to their little voices singing "happy birthday dear mommy". So I think, as far as birthdays go, even though I am gigantic and grumpy, it'll be one I never forget and always remember as one of the best. 

Newest Member of the Family

No...not that one. ;) I'm referring to my birthday present. (My birthday isn't until tomorrow, the 3rd, but we have a history of doing birthday gifting early around here and this birthday was no different.) I am thinking this little guy will fit in nicely around here. We have lots of stunts that can use capturing with a camera that I'm not worried the kids will break. Billy has always talked about how awesome GoPro's are...but I was finally convinced recently, and so a little fairy brought me one for my birthday. (Although I see it being confiscated by husbands and children as well, as you can see.)

We haven't gotten to do too much playing around with it yet, but so far it's been a lot of fun. It's got a waterproof case, so I can imagine you'll see lots of crazy pool stunts this summer too. You've been warned. (And knowing my eldest child, it won't be for the faint of heart or people who get dizzy easily.) Here is his first video. He recorded himself doing a flip on the trampoline...but hit the stop button mid-flip, so you miss the ending. But I'm sure it'll happen again. We also want to get some more gadgets for it, so that it can be more hands free.

My birthday is one of my favorite days of the year. Yes, I'm a 5 year old when it comes to birthdays. I like to make a huge deal of out of the kiddos birthdays, too. And when it comes to birthday gifts, I'm a big sucker for gadgets. (I mean, I love jewelry and pretty things like any girl, but if you give me a choice between something sparkly and something electronic...I'm probably going to choose the gadget any day.)

I'm pretty excited about all the fun new ways we can use this to continue to overshare to all my friends on social media, and I apologize in advance for things like this: