Baby # 4...

Yikes!

It has been too long

since making a post

for our

family journal!

So,

despite what our 3yr. old daughter says,

we are indeed expecting
this new babe

and not a volcano,
in late June!

Photo Contest - I Heart Faces

I Heart Faces is having their weekly photo contest.

Can you guess what the theme is? Excited!

I think this photo captures it perfectly!

Lydia loves that darn Elmo swimsuit. It certainly is not my favorite. I literally bought it now 2 summers ago as it was the only one left at the store in her size at the time! Turns out this summer it fit her AGAIN and it is her favorite one! We do not even watch Sesame Street/Elmo - my kids have no interest and I find them incredibly annoying...my appologies to any fans.

Anywhoo, check out I Heart Faces for some more fab photos!
And if anyone out there can tell me why when I post my pictures, they are NOT NEARLY as sharp as when I see them just from my computer! Is it something blogger does?

Halloween Spirits

Meet our pirate friend... Our hand-made, milk jug, Ghost Pirate! Also to greet you near our front door...

Our 3 'lil ghosts!

You too could also have your very own skeleton this halloween. Just save your milk jugs - I saved a ton because I was not sure if I would "mess up"... and I did, but mostly I just improvised when I did - cutting the plastic got a bit old!

As for the ghosts, well my sweet husband makes those!

Happy Birthday Evan

Hard to believe this little guy

is now this kiddo!

Happy 5th Birthday Evan!
WE LOVE YOU!

Dirty Feet & Apple Jack Days!

Why...Why? Where does this kid walk?

We recently went to Apple Jack Days in Nebraska city. I was not camera happy that day - but now I am bummed I did not get much for photos.

We did enjoy fresh apple cider - although this is cherry cider.

More Cherry cider in Lied Lodge. Why did I not snap them drinking apple cider...since this was Apple Jack Days and all...

Do you know what holiday J. Sterling Morton started?

Why yes, Arbor Day, which is actually in April! But hey fall is also tree planting time. I actually ordered some trees from the Arbor Day Foundation here. The trees I think come fairly small, but you cannot beat the price and you get 10 FREE trees with a $10 membership. I know the free trees will be, well sticks, but I am going to try to nurse them into treehood!!!

I love ebay - I hate ebay!

I have a love/hate attitude with ebay. Of course I am thankful for ebay as my dear husband provides for our family through ebay! He is a full-fledged coin dealer - a bit odd we know! I am proud to say he is one of the most reputable and honest sellers and goes out of his way (sometimes I think too much) to make his customers happy. Needless to say we are blessed with his hard, honest work ethic and with ebay's "help".

On the flip side ebay drives me crazy! It blows my mind what some people pay for certain things. Like say a little girls witch costume. I have been on the hunt. Our Lydia has a heart for princesses but is currently quite intrigued with being a witch!


Anyway, I have been annoyed with "used" witch costume prices! Why would you pay for a "used" costume more then what the store sold it for last Halloween? But people keep bidding it up! I guess I do not "hate" ebay. More, it boggles my mind what the "general public" does! And have you ever seen what some people try and sell? Oh my, oh my - that could be an entirely different subject!

Well, for now, our little princess is happy to be spinning in her Dorothy dress - She has NO idea that that is what it is. Although we do have a Wizard of Oz short storybook, she has never made the connection. She just loves it as her "Princess" dress!

And as you can see

Spinning

is required
to be

a princess!

Slip N Slide

Despite some unseasonably cooler temps

(for August)

some of us do not mind

&

are still diving into summer fun!

Splashing

Is most definately

One of
This kiddo's

Favorite Favorite things!

Park Days

This was at the beginning of the summer. Someday a neighborhood park will not be exciting. But for now - it is still a thrill!
It is hitting me this is our last year of being home with all three. Next year Evan is off to kindergarten. He is excited for another year of preschool though!

And this little man, well I get to have him around for awhile!