October Flashback

In the spirit of the season, here's a flash back to the kids Halloweens. Enjoy!

Another couple of milestones...

So the last couple of weeks I have somehow managed to function on not much sleep. The days are sort of blurred together by screaming kids, cleaning up messes, doing homework with kids, doing laundry and...well I would say making dinner but honestly I didn't really start cooking again until the last few days. I have found enjoyment walking the kids to school in the morning with Leah in the stroller and Joey in the sling wrap. It gives me a good hour of crisp morning air and exercize that probably keeps me sane for the rest of the day.

I hit a few milestones this last week, first I turned 29.2 ( that's 31 for those that didn't hear that I wasn't having anymore "real" birthdays)

Here I am as a baby and a 3 yr old and as a 5 yr old. (I posted these so Mom and Dad can have a sentimental moment when they see it... the rest of you can get a good chuckle)

Also this week, Zack and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. We got to go out for a nice dinner at our favorite Chinese food restraunt...mmmm walnut shrimp! But our real anniversary outing is in a couple weeks, we are going to see one of our favorite bands in concert ( Great Big Sea)

Gee, it doesn't seem like that long ago:

The girls have made it through their first month of school. I think they are doing well, I can already see an improvement in Bekah's reading, and Sarah is doing much better with her letters as well. They all like their teachers. Sarah says her teacher is just mad at her all the time, but I think Sarah just doesn't understand you can't play tag with your friends during class time yet.

Leah has been my biggest trial lately. It takes constant, diligent watching to keep her out of trouble these days. I'm wearing myself out averting little disasters, but even then she still gets away long enough now and then to color the couch, or herself with marker, or put neosporin ointment all over the TV set, or drink enough of Joey's Mylicon (anti gas drops) to give her a good case of diarrhea. Her favorite exploit lately has been to sneak into Bekah's room and paint her finger and toe nails with her nail polish (at least it's not the real stuff, its part of her play make up... yet still messy) Ug! I'm using up my patience by the bucket load.

Emma had a check-up last week with Joey's 2 week appointment. Of course, the biggest hang-up I had with naming Joseph came true that day when the nurse came out and asked for "Joseph and Emma" and I got a few strange looks... only in Utah LOL. Oh well, I still like the name :) Joey weighed in at 9lb 4oz at 2 weeks and I'm guessing he is over 10 now, he's gaining weight like a champ!

Well that's it for this update. Thanks again everyone for the kind cards and gifts, our family is getting spoiled this month :)

One week old, my baby is growing up (sniff sniff)

It has been a great first week home with Joey. He has been sleeping well so far, though I think most of that is typical newborn sleepiness. We'll see how he does in the coming weeks. We have appreciated the meals from friends and neighbors and the many very cute baby gifts. I have been feeling good considering all my body has been through. The last few weeks of pregnancy were quite miserable so I'm glad to have that part done.

Joey's trip home from the hospital. ( He did great! no fussing! Even though he was in the car seat for about 3 hours between a stop for lunch and picking up his siblings)

Joey's first sponge bath at home



Here's a picture of Joey this morning after a "blow-out" landed him in a new cute outfit.

Emma is 9!

With all of the excitement of having a new baby in the house, Emma celebrated her 9th birthday. In pure Emma-like fashion she was excited to have the perfect party. Uncle Nick and Aunt Natalee were glad to have everyone over to their house on her birthday. They have a beautiful new home to show. So we celebrated there with an ice-cream cake of Emma's choice.

Emma is lucky to be surrounded by so many people that love her. Every day she has loved to check the mail for birthday cards, and has loved every thoughtful gift, thank-you everyone.

Welcome to the world little one

Yesterday we welcomed the newest member of our family, Joseph Zachary Nilson! He came quickly into the world at 5:41 PM weighing 8 pounds even and 20 in long. He is adorable and his sisters just love him to death.


The girls come to see their new little brother, bearing gifts.


little Joey




Dad and his son (he really was grinning when they said "it's a boy!")


Fresh from the "hopper".

All is well with Mom and baby and we should be coming home from the hospital on Friday morning.

The first day of school!!

The first day of school for the girls has finally come! The girls didn't sleep much the night before, they were so excited. Zack informed me that he thinks it's ODD of our girls to be excited for school. That was one thing he never looked forward to I guess... even when he was young. All the way to school Emma had the biggest grin ever on her face.




Here the are all dressed for school. Bekah's class has a "pirate" theme so she was told to wear a bandana on the frst day of school. Sarah's first day of "real" kindergarten isn't actually until Sept 2nd. So she was still home with me and Leah all week. She is excited to get to go with the girls to school next week though.

The End Is In Sight!

So the end of Summer Vacation has finally arrived. WoopEE!!! Emma and Bekah have had their entire outfits down to the socks and underwear for the first day for school. They are so excited to get back. Over all I think we had a pretty good summer. We tried to stick to our schedule, though homework time in the morning went out the window when swimming lessons started and we never got back to it. The last 2 weeks have been more of an endurance just trying to get through. With my enlarging belly, has come an enlarging loss of patience.
Also an end to the pregnancy is in sight. WAHOO! See my last belly shot.... 38 weeks preggo...My doctor has agreed to induce me on Sept. 3rd if I have not had him already. I still have high hopes for an August birthday, so we are trying all we can do to get him to come before then; including painting the baby room. My absolutely WONDERFUL sister Charlene came this week and helped me to get it painted. I am so appreciative because the edges along the baseboard would have done me in if I had tried to do it on my own (her poor back). Here's some pictures for your viewing pleasure.


Before:



After:




It's nice to have that project done, I just need to fill the drawers with his clothes and we are all set in there. It's a large room, so hopefully he will enjoy all the extra play space on the floor.

Edited**

Some people said they wanted to see the Curious George stuff better so here's some close-ups