Beach!

 Kylie had to write a paper in school on what she wanted to do this summer.  This is what she wrote:

"This summer I really hope my aunt comes.  Her name is Pamela.  Oh and I hope I can go to the beach.  Also, I can go to Grandma Astorga's house.  I really, really want to do all of them.  That is what I wish."

3 simple things, right?  Well, Aunt Pam is not coming and we are having a baby, so no trip to Colorado.  The only thing we could make happen was going the beach.  On the way home, she said, "Thank you, Mommy, for planning this beach trip.  Or should I say thank you to myself?"  (Since it was her idea.  Funny girl.)

Truth be told, we are not huge beach people even moving from (and living my entire live in) Florida.  Though in Florida, it's no big deal to make a quick trip to the beach for our "fill".  The closest beach from Raleigh is 2 hours away, so we knew that we were going to have make it worth the trip and stay for most of the day.

 I was a little nervous since all the natives said that the beach here is INSANE during the summer.  Seeing that it was also going to be Father's Day weekend, we were going to have to plan to arrive early and stay longer.  Apart from the actual walk to and from the beach, it was absolutely FABULOUS!  The weather was perfect (low humidity and temperature in the low 70s).  The kids had tons of fun.  We came prepared with umbrellas, food and toys.  We made sand castles.  We didn't come home burnt to a crisp.  It wasn't too crowded.  It went so well, I would definitely make the trip again.  Although I would try to find closer parking.

Picking out all the chocolate chips from her granola bar to eat separately.

 One guess as to what this girl is doing:).  Hey, it's nature.

 Had to find some way to get the back of my legs.

Many people witnessed this 9-month pregnant lady booking it back to the car to put more money in the meter.  You can pay by credit card over the phone, but you have to know your plate number in order to do so.  Really?  Could they have posted that somewhere?  WHO knows their plate number?  Well, I do now because it's in my phone.

Fire Station

Nothing too exciting about the fire station to post.  Sure, the fire truck had to leave right in the middle of their spiel and Spencer knocked someone across the head with the yellow hose that's hanging down, but that's just normal stuff.  Spencer had been asking me to visit the fire station, so I arranged a little playgroup for all the kids in our ward.  I told the firefighters that we would probably only have 10 max.  Well, I lied.  But goodie for us, they were well prepared for a much larger crowd.

Improvements made by my kiddos from all the other previous visits to fire stations included actually sitting in the fire truck, not crying when the firefighter suited up, going up to and touching the firefighter and wearing the fun fire hats.  Hey, we focus on the small things.

Kylie was thrilled.  I think she is getting a little too old for stuff like this, but she is great sport about it and helps out a ton.  

On a side note - she can literally spend the entire time we are reading or watching television holding her hand on  my belly to feel the baby move.  She can hardly wait to hold this baby.  It is so cute and fun to watch her excitement!

Memorial Day Weekend

 Happy, smiling children staring at the sun in 80 degree weather at the top of Pilot Mountain, NC.  You know how we take pride in our skills of getting the children to look at the camera, right?

 Being 34 weeks pregnant, we figured this would the last time for a while that we could go camping.  It was so beautiful and besides being just a little hot (but not humid), no complaints.  We stayed 2 nights which left us just enough grouchy and tired. 

 Uh, yeah, just a little too over the edge in my opinion, but we survived.

 Affectionately known as "The Knob" of Pilot Mountain.

 These riders followed the trail through the water, we opted to go around the water.  Snakes, unknown depths and small children were not a good match for us to venture through the water. 

Cleaning up camp.  We were literally on the side of a mountain camping.  Gratefully the pad was flat, but everything else was uneven.  Needless to say, I was super happy to get back to level ground.  We had wonderful company, beautiful weather and only a few mishaps.  I sure hope the people who were camping childless enjoyed the occasionally screaming and crying from our campsite.  It is family camping after all, right?  We just wanted to make sure they didn't forget that.

35ish weeks (and no make-up)

I have not gained as much with the others this far, but I started heavier (due to muscle - thank you BodyPump:) - but smaller clothes).  I am hoping it's because I have been able to exercise throughout, I've eaten well and have gotten 8+ hours a night of sleep.  But, whatever, it is what it is.  Besides the new spider veins (which are getting zapped ASAP), I really cannot complain.  It's been much easier being pregnant with older kids instead of chasing toddlers around the house.  It will be quite different this time.  When Spencer was born, I had 3 kids under 3...yikes!  Whenever we watch little kids, Kylie and Ashlyn are so eager to help; we are hoping that carries on.  I am still teaching 9+ classes a week.  Some classes I am taking more low impact options and I have decreased my squat/lunge weight in BodyPump.  I plan on teaching all the classes through June and then backing off of at least Attack in July.  Besides wanting to rest, I want to spend some time with my kiddos doing extra fun stuff before the baby arrives.  I feel like this has gone by fast, but I am kind of impatient and have been counting down days/months.  It seems like time as flown as I look in the past, but not in the future.  For example, my last regular posting was 5 weeks ago which seems like not too long in the past, but in 5 weeks from now, I hopefully will be holding a sweet, healthy baby boy and it seems like an eternity.  We don't' have a name picked out, no car seat nor bassinet.  I just started thinking about the actual labor especially since I will be delivering in the hospital this time.  No epidural was hard in the birthing center, but even if I decide to have an epidural in the hospital, I think it will be more difficult.  I don't like silly rules and mean nurses.  Hoping and praying the experience will be positive. 

We're going to the Fair

 Just me and the kids (David had to make a quick visit to our home in Jacksonville).  I couldn't have asked for better weather or better kids.  Everyone had a great time!  Spencer went on his first roller coaster ride without me, since I am big and pregnant.  He rode with Kylie and did awesome!  We arrived right when it opened and left when all the big crowds were coming, so we had zero wait time for everything.  Again, awesome!  (Remember when you view the photos - my children are opposed to actually looking at the camera.  I can't ever get them to look and it drives me bananas!).

 Most of the rides Spencer wanted to ride solo.  Such a funny kid.  In fact, I discovered (or solidified what I already knew) even more about their personalities during this trip.  Ashlyn cannot be convinced to do anything she doesn't want to do.  Kylie took on her role as the oldest and took Spencer or Ashlyn under her wing when they were scared on the ride (remember, I couldn't ride anything).  Spencer loves a thrill.

 I wish I could say we indulged on these, but I couldn't even bear the thought.

 This photo is for my dad (even though I am pretty sure he never reads my blog).  It's funny that other children are so amazed by tractors.  My kids hardly bat an eye because both of their grandfathers own one and let them ride it whenever they visit.

Kylie climbed to the top of this all by herself and then went down.  Both a BIG feat.  She didn't chicken out at all.  I was getting nervous as she climbed it, because you can't see them climb the stairs inside the tube and it was taking her forever to emerge.  

Fairs are so funny to me.  I never was allowed to go as a child because my parents said they were unsafe and run by convicts (maybe one day I'll share my "funny" story about getting caught at the fair by my dad - I think the only time I really was in trouble for something).  So, I am always on edge when I go.  I think my parents were right.  The most amusing people run the rides.  And after the roller coaster that Spencer and Kylie rode, the man in charge of the ride hammered one of the wood blocks back into place that was slipping from under the ride...nice.  And the ride above, the worker was drilling a loose screw back in after Kylie got off.  At least they were on top of fixing things, right?

Tucking in Daddy

A Day at the Farm

 Every year N.C. State has a Farm Day where kids can hold and pet a variety of animals.  We went on the second day and it was super busy, but we got to do everything we set out to do.  AND there was free homemade ice cream at the end....perfecto!  I felt bad for these animals with so many little hands holding and grabbing them.  I was super impressed with the staff though, they never seemed bothered at all and we so sweet to the kids.

(PS - Seriously, how do you guys out there get your kids to look at the camera?  I have to bribe them and they still don't do it.)

This poor little chicky...it almost lost its life multiple times.  Spencer manhandled it and then almost dropped it on the floor.  I'm sure the lady helping out was thinking, 'Lady, could you stop trying to take pictures and help your child not kill the baby chick'.