Spring Break 2012

My parents bought a new house last December for spring break we went to check it out. To say that house is AWESOME would be a major understatement! We had so much fun. Some of the cool things about the house/yard. The former owner was a professional baseball player and he put a batting cage in the back yard. So my parents bought a ton of gloves, balls, and bats for all the grandsons (7) to play with. They brought the tether ball pole from the old house and bought a new ball. And they have a HUGE swimming pool which they heated for us. Their backyard is also ginormous. So the kids had a ton of fun running around. Their house also is right next to some orange groves so as soon as we walked in we could smell the blossoms, IT WAS HEAVENLY! I really miss that smell. One of the perks of the new house was each family had their own bedroom and bathroom. We were downstairs. My mom also bought a ton of pirate dress up clothes and huge bouncy balls. So here are some of the pictures and hi-lights of our trip. (there are tons) I also got to see two of my really good friends from high school. I met Jenn at a park and after 10 min. my kids were asking to go back to grandma's it was more fun than the park. I also saw Kristin. We went to see my parents old home, which should be closing soon and Kristin was at her parents house across the street. I love those girls although I forgot to get pictures with them.

Ethan as a pirate

 I couldn't find the kids one morning after looking around all the grand kids were in Grandma and Grandpa's bed watching a show.

 Ryan going down the slide

 Andrew floating on his back

 Starla swimming

 David (aka Moses) in his basket on the kitchen table.

 Ryan, Star, Dave, and Andrew. We actually have a picture with each of the kids holding David.

 Grandma reading books to Jake

 Great Grandma Hales with Dave (the Hales' were staying with my parents from Christmas to Easter. It was fun to see them again.)

 Andrew, Ryan, Star sharing an air mattress in the basement.

 Mark rode and completed a 70 mile bike ride, the tour of Mesa. Way to go Mark. You did amazing!

 We blessed Baby Davey in my parents home on Saturday April 14.

 We love you David!

Kellie stopped by on her way back up to Wenatchee. Gunnar and Andrew playing in our back yard. They got along so well.

One month and some extra

Baby Davey turned one month! Wow. Here he is on his one month birthday. I have to say he is dream to have around. I adore him. It has been a crazy first month and he's proven to be a real champ. At his two week appointment after the pku test the nurse accidentally wrapped his right foot too tight with coban. He happened to be wearing the only pair of baby sock I own that don't fall off. So I didn't notice his foot until the next morning. He was unusually fussy that day and I kept trying to think of all the things I had eaten. Well Tuesday morning when I took the sock off his foot was all white and swollen about 4 times its normal size. So after going to the doctor everyday for a week his foot is looking much better. I am still wrapping it up but I think I will only be doing that for two more days. It is looking almost completely healed.

 After I took David's picture Ryan and Andrew wanted their picture taken too.

 This morning Ryan wanted to take pictures with my camera. I normally don't let me kids touch my camera because I have been through about 3 cameras in the last year thanks to them but I have had a change of heart and here are a few pictures that I found.

More baby pictures!

My Dad's parents came to visit me and our new baby. My Grandma was a redhead and when she saw David she said she thought there was a little bit of red in his hair. My grandpa who had brown hair was super excited for me. IF you can't tell from the pictures there really isn't any red on that head :)

 My mom was here for a week. She took Ryan and Andrew everyday somewhere fun. And she would pick the boys up from school and then make dinner. I loved having quiet time at home with just me and David. I also loved all the sleep I got! On the last day she was here she let me run a couple of errands and she vacuumed my entire house. I realized that I didn't get one picture of her with David. So here she is after cleaning. Thanks again for all your help mom!

 Mark hates naked pictures of babies. And I am no professional but I really wanted some since I think they are so cute. So here is my attempt.

 First bath

 Andrew loves David! I am so happy, I was really worried about him. He is constantly looking at him.

We got out yesterday! It was chilly but sunny so we headed to the park about an hour before school got out. Then after we picked up Ethan and Jake and got home, I fed David and then I ventured out for the first time with my herd. We rode bikes/walked to the park down the street. I met a friend there. I don't think we would have all made it home without Renee's help. It was so nice to be outside and enjoy the sun.

We had a baby, Shout Hooray!

Introducing

David Francis Hemingway 

February 20, 2012

5:58 AM

7 lbs. 2 oz

19 in.

 Yes that is brown hair you see (I finally got my brunette!)

 I've been really worried about Andrew and the new baby so far he loves him

 Kind of Crazy thinking my family is this big

 Hospital visitors Grandma and Grandpa Hemingway

 Eyes open, what a cutie!

More visitors, Mathew, Emily and Max

The birth story (if you want to know the details)

I went to bed Sunday night having contractions about 10 min. apart that were not painful, I slept through them. I woke up at 1:30 still having contractions about 5 min. apart, still not too painful. At 2:30 they were starting to hurt but not too bad. By this time Mark was awake and timing them. He wanted to leave for the hospital right then. I told him we still had time. I really wanted to wait until 3:30. Well at 3:15 I had a really hard contraction and decided it was time to call my Aunt. She came right over. We got to the hospital. I am always nervous they are going to send me home. Well as I was checking in I started throwing up. The nurse asked if this was common. Mark said yes and then she delivers in about 10 min. Well she checked me 5+ and then got me in the labor/delivery room. She called my Doctor around 5. He said he was going to come and break my water. Around 5:30 I was feeling a ton of pressure and ready to get this baby out. The nurse checked me again. I was at an 8 1/2.  She told me the only thing keeping the baby in was my water. The Dr. got there around 5:45 broke my water and out came little David.

Mark said his favorite comment from me during labor this time around was when I was pushing and after 2 pushes I said, "Why is that baby not out yet?" I know I am a little crazy but I do have my babies unmedicated. I feel like the recovery is so much quicker and I need a quick recovery with all these crazy boys running around. And as you can tell my labor is pretty quick so it is manageable. Its just the last half hour when I question my sanity.

Just an FYI

Little David was born on his Grandpa Hemingway's birthday. We gave him the same middle name.

I feel so blessed to have another healthy little boy. We love him so much and we are so grateful he is part of our family.

V-Day

For Valentine's Day we keep things pretty low key around here. We bought our kids a card and a little chocolate marmallow treat. We turn their plates upside down and put them under them. Its something my dad did for me. (I'm not sure if he only did it a few times or every year, I really can't remember, but I loved it so we do it for our kids) This year I made pizza, and we had pink pop, and valentine cups. I thought about making the pizza heart shaped but I realized I would be the only one who noticed or cared so I didn't. Mark had a huge deadline due Wednesday morning so as soon as we got the kids in bed he started working again. I think he was up until 3. Luckily for me he took the 15th off.

My kids were so fun after school going through all their Valentines. I think Ethan read every single one. They were so nice to share their candy with Ryan and Andrew.

On the day after Valentine's Mark usually goes and gets me flowers. As you can see I get a TON! He usually gets me one dozen for every boy :) He also buys his chocolates which I tell him are from me.

So here are our annual pictures.

As you can see we aren't super romantic. I think it all goes back to our first Valentine's day married. I left Mark. He won't ever let me forget it either. We were living in Rexburg and one of my closest cousins was getting married on the 15 so I drove down to Utah on the 14 and went to the Olympics with my family and then the next day went to the wedding. Mark got to Utah in time for the reception. So now every year when I ask Mark what he wants to do for Valentine's Day he says, "I don't know, you could just leave me if you want." I haven't left him since.

Bike time

My mom bought Andrew this bike for his birthday last August. He was a little timid and so Ryan took right over. I don't think my mom has ever seen my kids ride the bike. Just recently Andrew has been wanting to ride. My only complaint about the bike is the seat has to be adjusted with a wrench so its kids of a pain to keep moving it up and down for Ryan and Andrew. Other than that, we LOVE the strider bike. I think we are actually ready to get Ryan a little two wheeler.

Here is Andrew

Here is Ryan

Party

My Dad comes to Utah every year towards the end of January and beginning of February. He has 5 brothers and they come and stay with their parents and go skiing. Since my dad's birthday is Jan. 29 we try and have a birthday party for him. This year we did a superman theme.

We started off with homemade pizzas. Then we played some games. The first one was pin the "S" on Superman Grandpa!(in case you can't tell Mark photo shopped my dad's face onto Superman. We were bummed we don't have a color printer) I think my dad is the only one who played without cheating. We then played don't eat pete.

My dad surprised us with some silly string. Here is the video of all the excitement.

The video used up all my memory space on my camera and unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the delicious cheesecake Emily made or a picture of my kids blowing out all the candles. We sure love visits from Grandpa.