Some of My Favorite Things...

Making popcorn with friendsLaying on warm beaches with friends
Cooler temperatures
My computer (of course!)
Pre-paid & pre-packaged school supplies
Renting movies with my hubby



My new pillow covers made by my mom

Cold cereal for breakfast...any day of the week


Dragging out the suitcases for holidays!

We're off for our last 'hurrah' of the summer. Won't be back online until next week. I hope you all enjoy your last 'long weekend' of the summer!

Yeast Feast

Well, another day off and another day of kitchen fun. Since it was nice and cool again today I decide to give another new recipe a try. These pizza buns are VERY yummy and only take an hour from start to finish. They will definitely be made again.

I have chili simmering in the crock pot and the house smells really good. I feel very domestic today!

I Recommend...

Getting Kicked

I'm back from another doctor appointment. They still get my heartrate and blood pressure up but I am not dreading them like I used to. By the time I am completely comfortable going to the doctor's this baby will be born and I'll be avoiding that place again like the plague!

Today I saw Dr Shaw. She is the doctor that delivered Nathan. She is amazing and anyone who's seen her will tell you that! The boys and Keith came along with me today so it was a very full examining room! She was so good with the boys and offered to show them the baby on the ultrasound. They were very keen and interested as she showed them the baby's heart and face and 'boy parts'. Actually the baby had his hand over his privates so he was being very modest! He is head down with his back to my back. Posterier. According to the doctor, the most uncomfortable way to carry a baby. Nice...this child will have some explaining to do when he's born! It does explain the intense movements I am feeling out front and the alien-like ripples across my belly all the blessed day long! Other than that everything is looking great.

Afterwards the boys and I went to get a few groceries. While I was at Superstore I decided to bite the bullet and get some basics for this baby! I bought newborn diapers, wipes, Ivory Snow detergent and baby soap. Wow.....that sure was a dose of reality!

Since it's a nice cool day I am attempting a new recipe. Sour Cream Orange Buns. If they turn out I'll have to post a picture. I am hopeful!

Taking One for the Team

Keith redeemed this coupon today.....

(this is what Keith found on his desk last weekend after his vacation)

I drove Keith into Langley for his appointment this morning. After going to the mall really quickly the boys and I went to the office to wait for Keith. After he was done he came out to the waiting room and Nathan asked in a very loud clear voice: 'So, Dad...how was it?' I've not laughed so hard in a long time!!!

Anyhow....it's probably the hottest day of the year and Keith must be enjoying his ice-pack!

Just the Three of Us

Keith's parents have taken the boys camping for the week. We are childless....sort of!

Baby is making his presence known though. Tons of kicking and pushing up on my tummy to create the most burning heartburn known to woman!

Keith and I haven't been doing too much exciting with our free time. Last night we had sushi for supper which was divine. If you haven't eaten at Bento Express in Ellwood Plaza please do try it. A late night walk was a nice treat.

We have been watching tons of Olympic games. It's the only time I will watch sports and I quite enjoy it. The TV is pretty much on whenever we are home and tuned to CBC. I think I have memorized and grown to hate all their commercials too!

Well.....this is a nothing post. Just waiting for Keith to come home from work and then we'll throw a pizza on the BBQ.

Tomorrow we are going out for supper...yippee!

Momentos

Little memories of one's trip like this are nice....

This is not.....

I suppose we're getting a new windshield now. Poop.

A Day Away

Keith and I took the boys down to Everett today. When we were in Seattle back in June we stayed in a hotel across the street from the Boeing Plant. We decided that we would come back and do the tour with the kids this summer as a special treat. And we did.

The tour was really interesting! After seeing how very safely these planes are built I hope I can be a more confident flyer, but I have my doubts.

Did you know?

-there are 19 restaurants in the plant for the workers to eat at

-they have their own mini-hospital

-they have their own dry cleaners

-there are 15 plus Tully's coffee shops. Starbucks lost the bid because they wanted their name up on the sign outside with Boeing!

-workers get around on bikes and if they go over 7 mph they get a ticket! These tickets can be fought in their own on site traffic court.

I wish we could have brought cameras along but they were VERY strict about no pictures.....I mean I think they would have taken you down with a pistol if you would have whipped one out. There were no purses, cell phones, camera, electronic devices, etc allowed whatsoever. They made it VERY clear. They also made it VERY clear that there were NO bathrooms on the 90 minute tour at all. This completely stressed me out. I know I can hold it that long but when you are told there is no chance of using a bathroom when you are 8 months pregnant then of course your bladder plays tricks on you. I had a panic attack over it in the beginning of the tour and then I slowly started to relax. I told myself that I needed to pee, I'd just pee my pants! HAH! Well that worked....mind games. Yes, next stop the local psych ward for me.

We also did a little bit of shopping while we were in the States (of course). But didn't really find many incredible deals. C'est la vie.

After the tour we were all starving. All we had for lunch was two caramel apples split between us and a granola bar. We took the boys down to Mukilteo and to Ivar's restaurant for supper. We got a window seat this time and had a wonderful view of the ferry dropping off and picking up passengers. The kids were really happy with their food and the restaurant. Nathan was especially impressed (I think the basket of warm sourdough bread did it) and told me he wished that Canada had an Ivar's. Keith and I both had a cup of their delicious clam chowder (only my second time having it....I LOVE it!) and shared a plate of fish and chips. This time we upgraded to halibut and it was worth every dollar. Delicious fish!

So now we are home. The kids are sawing logs and dreaming about Boeing 747s and seafood :)

Birthday

Last Saturday we spent the evening at Keith's brother's place celebrating his birthday. Here are a few photos from the event. I don't often have photos of his family so I thought I should most definitely post these!

The only people missing from the family picture are Suzanne and her boyfriend Tyler.

Boob Talk

I want to nurse our new baby. Nursing was quite a struggle with Nathan and Chad. I had a very low milk supply and endless frustration with hungry crying babies and supplementing. I eventually gave up at around 10 weeks for Nate and 8 weeks with Chad.

To my female readers....any of you had struggles with nursing?

Kristin recommended this tea to me and I have high hopes it will help me out!

Any comments, suggestions or advice in regards to successful nursing would be great.

Not All Rosy

I do strive to keep my blog upbeat and positive but I have to admit there are days when I just want to throw in the towel! Not in regards to my blogging but just life in general. Just crawl into a nice safe cocoon and take a mental and physical break from everyone and everything.

I have been having one of those weeks. It's a bit reminiscent of that old evil PMS actually.

I am restless, I am cranky, I don't know what I want, I am being harsh with my family.

It certainly didn't set me off in the right direction this morning when Keith went to work and did not put out the garbage.

My floors are filthy and my laundry is piling up quickly. I am uninsprired about making dinners. My sleep is really uncomfortable and not at all giving me the rest I need.

Wow...what a pity party. I suppose in my next post I need to list all my blessings (because I know there are so many) but just for today can I be a crank-pot?

Lazy B.C. Day

Chad got a haircut at Keith's Barber Shop

Nathan and I went to buy blueberries

I made us a lovely blueberry platz

And we enjoyed a piece on the deck!

Good to be Home

The washer is spinning, the dryer is humming, the kids are playing with their toys like it's Christmas and Keith is putting away the camping equipment and I am blogging....ahhhh...so GOOD to be home again.
We had a very good time camping with Roger and Kori. The weather was a tad disappointing as we had everything from hot sun, cold breezes and thunder to a torrential rain storm. Definitely not a repeat of last years perfect weather. We managed to snag a double campsite which was really great as the entire site only has three of them. We were conveniently close to the bathrooms and our neighbors weren't rowdy. In fact, I bet they thought we were a bit on the noisy side! The sleeping on the air mattress wasn't so good for me. I didn't get more than four or five hours the first two nights but then managed longer stretches on the last two nights but those nights were very cold. My sleep was always broken and I am in need of a deep long sleep in my own bed. I pat myself on the back for camping in this late stage of pregnancy and am glad it shall not be repeated! Do you hear me? IT SHALL NOT BE REPEATED! There.
Enjoy some highlights......

Day One....little did we know it was the best beach day we would have on our four day trip.

Beach babes!

The kids patiently waiting for their dinner. Pizza pie irons for the first night.

The view from our site was beautiful. I meant the scenery...not the men :)

My aunt Chris, cousins Matt & Sarah and their son Rees came for a surprise visit on Tuesday. They live in Kamloops so they decided to take a trip out to see us! Rees is simply the sweetest child I've ever met!!!

Keith! Put down that Blackberry and step away slowly....you are on VACATION!

Karli really showed us her crazy side...she seems to be a born entertainer. Here she is showing off her dance moves. Chad was her little shadow.

Kori the pyro. We decided we girls were the best fire makers because our parents both made us keep the woodstoves burning during our growing up years.

No camping trip is complete without s'mores.

This is us all huddled up under our shelter trying to escape the horrible rainstorm that started one night. Good thing for Yahtzee or we would have all had to go to bed at 9 pm!

The boys had a great time throwing rocks, making forts, harrassing the marmots, fishing and getting filthy! Not sure why Nathan was in so few pictures...he WAS there.

The dreaded hair dilemma. Both Kori and I required flat irons or at least blow dryers to have presentable hair. I got her to give me a lovely 1980's french braid after my shower so my hair would be wavy the next day. It was wavy alright and very HUGE. Sigh.....there goes the vanity.

Be sure to check out Kori's blog for her pictures and trip write-up. I'm sure she'll post soon...right Kor?