My uncle came to visit!!!

So, my uncle just came in town to see everyone again! My uncle Mickey, hosted us all at his house and had a wonderful dinner for us all. It was so wonderful to have so much of our family in one place and to get to catch up with them.

Here are a few pictures.

My dad and my uncle Gary.

My uncle Gary, uncle Tommy, and my aunt Lynn.

My cousin Steven (he's an amazing photographer and videographer.) and me.

My uncle Tommy and cousin Hailey.

Lots of 2nd cousins!!!

It's been a month....

Somehow that seems pathetic to me...

Updates:

1. San Francisco Trip was AWESOME! I love visiting that city. I will have lots of pictures to post in a bit, but let's just sum it up to say there are some cities that are just wonderful to visit and San Fran is definitely one of them!

2. Kids are growing and doing well! We started baseball, soccer, softball and the long course swim season... Phew! I'm worn out just listing all of that! The first few soccer games have gone ok, Jonas still has a lot to learn about the game, but he's trying! First long course swim meet, Annie improved on her times, which is good. Baseball practice and softball practice started off rocky for Jonas and Annie, Geoff (of course) is doing fine with his softball team...go figure! :)

3. Homebirth: Well, due to some changes happening between my midwives and (finally) having the full understanding of the financial implications, we will not be having a homebirth afterall. I am so incredibly bummed... We will be delivering at St.Francis in Bartlett...I will fully expect my friends to make a total nusance of themselves! Flowers and those crazy door wreaths are all welcome! (The more the better!)

4. School: Geoff is set to graduate in DECEMBER !!!!! Yeah! Very excited about that!!! After I interview, I should be officially accepted to the EdD program in Instruction, Curriculum and Leadership for the fall!

5. Maternity pics round 2 will be taken this coming sunday :) so those will go on the blog once they're available...

6. Baby Shower!!! So excited that I have the most awesomest friends in the world and Jennifer is hosting the shower!!! Orignially, she and our good friend Amber were hosting together, but Amber's dad recently suffered a trauma and she is returning to California to be with him. I am sad that she's gone.

7. Home News: Well, Geoff has gotten ALL the stumps out of the beds where the giant bushes were...I'll post pics in a bit...and his dad is working on moving to Memphis! Big Changes! Can't wait to get on the garden!!! Next year should be interesting and the year after, hopefully, we'll have some decent crops.

Only 27 days of school left after today...not that I'm counting down or anything....

More later!
 

So much has happened!!!

First, I should probably apologize for having been MIA for so long!

Here's the news...

1. Baby: all is good! She and I are trying to bond...She really seems to be happy with kicking away!

2. Fun things: My baby shower invitations arrived!!! (This is the one thing that I really wanted to be OCD about. And I figured if you're gonna be OCD, well why not just handle it completely...)

Thanks to Kathryn, one of my teacher friends and a WSHS grad, I found the cutest invitation here. Thanks!!

3. School things... well, I'm approved to teach for year #2...but we still don't know where...

4. Science teacher things.. I just got back from San Francisco!!! It was AMAZING!

A few picks are below, but it was absolutely incredible! I got to go to the California Academy of Science, the Exploratorium, Fort Mason, Hyde Park, Union Square Park, the Presario, the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Beach and Park, walk through the largest Chinatown in the country, walk through Little Italy, Ghirardelli Square, eat at AMAZING restaurants; Burger Bar, Capurro's, Crab House, In-N-Out Burger, Honey,Honey and a few others!

Lombard Street...not the "crookedest" street in the country, but it certainly is winding...

Forget "I'm on a Boat" check-ins on foursquare...I got to do an "I'm on a Cable Car!"

The living roof at California Academy of Science, waay cool!

Do I need to explain above or below??

So sweet!

4. Now, for the best news all week....

My cousin and her husband have safely returned from service in Afghanistan!!!!

I am so grateful to the men and women who serve our country, however, I am most grateful for the safe return of these two wonderful people!!

It's been over a week!?!?!?!?!

Oh my goodness! I can't believe I let a whole week go by without posting!

Ok, first we'll start with baby news, I had a check up with the midwives... I have reached the point in my pregnancy where I no longer want to know what my weight is. Amy informed me that my weight was fine, I've only gained 2 pounds in the last month and she's fine with that, which is fine with me. Jonas, of course, was only concerned with one thing...hearing Melissa Jane's heartbeat.

She is definitely my girl...she couldn't decide how she wanted to lay! Amy and I couldn't decide if she was head up or down...but once we found her heartbeat, she sounds great!

I had an insane to do list for this weekend. Most is done.
1. I have cleared our dining room table of years worth of paper. I should have taken a picture! No joke, this was at least 6-7 BIG boxes of paper all mixed up! Now everything is organized and either thrown out, waiting to be shredded, or put away!
2. I got 3 more boxes of random things put away from in front of a bookcase in the family room.
3. All my clothes are put away (and not on the end of my bed.)
4. (My mother would be shocked) I have now gone a whole month of making my bed in the morning!!!!
5. I got 2 CD organizers and put all the CDs in the organizers (and got rid of the cases...my what space that saves!)
6. We have emptied half of the kitchen so Geoff really will be able to start the kitchen remodel!!! YEAH!!!
7. All that's left now is the errands...

Ok, new post coming later...with pictures!!!

I've got to tell yall about baby stuff and go girl art!!

I've been a slacker!

Okay, here's the quick dish...

Memphis Tiger Swimming was awesome at Districts!
Annie swam great! She went best times in 6 of her individual events and her relay swam strong both days! She did a great job staying awake on the way to Nashville, but alas she conked out on the way home...Thank goodness for cell phones!
We had a great time getting to see Gigi and meet Chuck. A bunch of us went and got lunch/dinner together on Saturday after the meet. Then, after we got back to the hotel, Annie and some friends went and swam in the hotel pool, followed by playtime in our room.
Sunday was spent with more swimming and passing out the Championship Tshirts and Coach Cheryl's birthday!!! We got lunch at Panera's on the way home with Abby and her dad.
All-in-all it was a wonderful weekend...though we missed Daddy and Jonas a lot!!!
Here's a few shots of Annie and her friends:

In home news,

more of Melissa Jane's dresses have come! And my wonderful friend Shelley snagged some awesome things for me at a huge consignment sale today, while I was stuck in a training...

Geoff has cleared almost everything from our Den so the next major thing to happen is the GIANT goodwill donation tomorrow!

Annie and Jonas' beds are now in Jonas' room, dorm room style. They love it and Melissa Jane will be getting a room and a crib! Here's her crib bedding we I registered for: 

Isn't it super cute?!?!?

I really wanted to make something, but I have no confidence that I could actually get it done in time...

In baby shower news, I now have 2 hostesses! I feel so blessed to have so many friends who are all helping us prepare for Melissa Jane! I can't wait for her to get here and meet all these wonderful people!

School is progressing along nicely for me at U of M and work-wise. I finally figured out how to access my students scores, and come to find out, they're mostly improving overall!

My belly is officially sticking out noticeably and there is no longer a question of fat or pregnant...

I know there's more I should be sharing, but I just can't remember everything anymore and my our her bowl of cereal has just arrived...

30 Day Photo Challenge Days 5 - 9...

Day 5: A photo that makes you laugh

This is what happens when you take your kids shopping and leave your purse in the basket and pay more attention to everything except their attempt at self-portraits! LOL!!

Day 6: A photo of someone you love

Ok, so this is 3 someones that I love. But, over the years, Geoff and I have worked really hard to get to where we are today, so I am very grateful to have my family!!!

Day 7: A photo of something you stand for

Clearly, this is not a picture of a logo or some statement of political affirmation, etc. And honestly given our current political state in Memphis, there is lots to say that you do or do not stand for...but what I think is incredibly important is this, Family Vacation. Families do a lot together, but being able to break away from everything else and have a time to "chill and relax" as a family is INCREDIBLY important! Even if it's just a weekend, whatever the amount of time is very important!

Day 8: A photo of something you enjoy doing

I love my job! AND I love supporting my kids!!!

Alrighty...more tomorrow and I'll update on the swim meet and everything else!

Baby Belly Bump Pictures!!!!

Finally!!! I have received my belly bump pictures!!! These are my favs...my friend's husband has been thinking about doing some maternity shots, so when I was begging around for someone to take some pictures, he was up for the challenge of photographing me...

Obviously, I've got some 'tude...but the pictures are....

AMAZING!!!

I can't wait to do the next set!!! He did such a great job! And don't worry, if he says he's up for the challenge...his name and number will be up on this blog faster than he'll know what to do!

UPDATE: If anyone is in need of an awesome photographer for their growing belly bumps: Robert Bear ROCKS!!! Message me here and I'll get you his contact information. He's awesomeness!