Trying to Stay Cool...Literally!

So apparently just because it is summer doesn't mean that I have included time to blog...oops. You would think that I would have all the time in the world now that I didn't have to wake up every day and go to school. WRONG! 

Our days have consisted of not busy work, but just time being with each other. The time that I was at work before has now been replaced with playing with my babies, cleaning the house, doing laundry/dishes, and just enjoying not having to "work". 

Here are some of the things that we have been up to lately:

*Nic has been gone most of the summer to different trainings and will be done this week...THANK THE LORD! He has been to Tennessee and then to Fort Wayne. We have missed him at home...big time! This week he has been in Merit (spelling?) Training for the department. NEXT WEEK HE IS HOME ALL WEEK! Not so sure he knows what he is in for. My list has grown to new lengths! Hopefully one of those "to do" things will include painting the boys' room. :)

*Sarah was able to go to Wisconsin to do some more tests on her leg and hopefully find some answers. Now, I am NO doctor, so I am not going to even try to pretend to write out what I think they found. I do know that they are looking at another surgery. After the first test and consult, they decided to do another test because the doctor felt like she still has an anatomical entrapment farther up than the functional entrapment was. They are afraid she might have a similar problem in the other leg. They had a major test last night but won't know anything until later today or Monday. My heart breaks for my baby sister. We all know that God has a plan through this and is guiding Sarah through this, but I also know it is hard to not know what is wrong and if it could ever be fixed. It is easy for me to tell her to keep trusting God and keep leaning on Him for strength and comfort. Please keep her in her prayers. And also pray that God will just give the doctors wisdom and clarity. We aren't sure what the next step is going to be. 

*We have been filling our days with lots of outside fun. Because of the heat that we are having, we are making sure to stay cool by playing in water:) The kids have fallen in love with their new sand table as well. 

Time at the spray park...again:)

 Gotta get the ice cream in there somewhere...

 Keeping Momma's feet cool...

 At the campground...

 Loving the sand this year...

 Went to Silver Beach with Gamma and Poppy...

 Even kept cool in the hot tub...with "gwape water"

 Went to The Stray Dog and then to the beach in New Buffalo...

Phew that's a lot of pictures! I am finding that the later in the pregnancy I am getting, the lazier I am becoming with my words:) Pictures say so much more!

Update on Little Easton

Yes, I realize this will make 3 posts in one day, but I figure I might as well keep going while I am by myself and all is quiet in the house:)
I haven't really recorded much on Easton and I realize it may be because I have been busy chasing 2 CRAZY kids. But, I want to remember this pregnancy, because after all, it will probably be my last pregnancy. That is hard to type out. It is hard to see typed out. But it is the truth.
This pregnancy has been different than the others by a mile. It has been going fast. I have loved almost every second of this pregnancy (I could have done without the whole sickness the first 12 weeks). I am now about 31 weeks, so I am in my 3rd trimester. Can you believe it? I know, it's crazy. Easton moves constantly. There is not a moment that I sit down to rest that I don't feel the little guy boxing my insides. Sometimes I wonder if this is how Bella felt when she was pregnant:) Ha. Just kidding. I do NOT have a vampire inside of me that wants me to drink blood. But still, that is how strong I feel my baby is. BUT I love it. I thank God for the life inside of me and that I was chosen to be Easton's mom. All my doctor appointments have been great. Everything is going the way it is supposed to. While I am on track with my weight gain from my other pregnancies, I still feel like Shamu...and I feel like the weight is all in my butt and thighs...yikes. I know, I know, it will come off and it is all worth it. But STILL! I have felt great and am very blessed. My back pain hasn't been as bad as it was awhile ago, which I am thankful for. Although I still get very tired, I feel that God gives me the energy that I need to go from day to day, taking care of my of the kids and still being their mommy that plays with them. Somedays I don't know how I get through the day with barely any sleep, but I am thankful for it.
While I have enjoyed being pregnant and I will miss this feeling terribly, I will not miss the hormones that go with it. I got to tell ya, I am tired of the tears...especially the ones that are for no reason at all. My daughter can look at me the wrong way and I fall apart. I am pretty sure my co-workers thought I was about as crazy as they come. I am pretty sure they are right. For heaven's sake I started crying because I couldn't get both of my kids on my lap at the same time. I cried because my husband didn't kiss me before going to work (and I was asleep!). I cry almost every single night just because I dread trying to sleep without success due to my restless legs. I am telling you, I am a complete mess. This isn't me! I HATE crying. So I am pretty sure this is the hardest part of the pregnancy.
Ok, enough of that.
So, we are in single digits for the week countdown. I am so completely excited to meet this little guy moving and grooving inside of me. I can't wait to hold him and kiss him and just stare at him. According to my cool little app, Easton is about the size of an small melon and about 3 pounds. He now opens and closes his eyes. His brain is now more fully developed, with speech and language centers in the process of development.
I can already tell you that he is going to be a precious baby. He is going to be one loved baby boy...he already is.

Colt's Hair Cut

Ok, so I was just looking through my blog and realized I wrote this post on Friday, but never posted it...oops!! So pretend it is last Friday, June 15th!

Today was quite a day. It started off with my husband waking up with the kids so this tired momma could get some sleep. It was quite wonderful, if I may say so myself. I woke up to the kids all bathed, fed, and clothed.
After I got my lazy booty out of bed and dressed, the kids and I took a little walk to our creek while Nic mowed the lawn. This place turned into one of my favorite places last summer. It is just a little place to sit and think. The kids like to sit on the little ledge and throw rocks and sticks into the water. This keeps them entertained for quite a while.
What happened next, I never thought I would hear. Nic suggested taking Colt to get his hair cut. WHAT?! I have been begging to cut the kid's hair for over a year! I had cut it awhile ago, but just a little trim. Nothing big. So I just assumed he meant a trim. Nic is quite fond of his little boy's hair. So, we walked in and handed him over to a nice lady. When all was said and done, we had a little man instead of a baby boy looking at us. He was quite something to watch as she cut it. He kept smiling at himself in the mirror and sat perfectly still. He was such a little stud. I do have to admit I teared up a couple times watching the inches of hair falling to the ground.

We ended with a trip to McDonald's and eat ice cream!