Fun Beach Pics

I Do Not Know This Man

And now my husband will demonstrate how to dress at the beach after getting a sunburn...

A Big Hat and SPF 50...

Do you see him??

And not sure what this is all about...

Disney World

We went to Disney World on Mariah's 6th birthday (March 18), and it was such a wonderful day! It truly was one of the best days we have spent as a family and the expressions on the girls' faces were priceless. Everything about the day was so magical and I can definitely see why Disney has gotten the stereotype of one of the happiest places on earth. We arrived at the park at 10:00am and didn't leave until after the night parade and fireworks at 10:30pm. The girls did so well the entire day and Ambria even got a little nap during the afternoon parade. We were able to do everything we wanted to do and the memories that were made will last a lifetime.

Baby Belly---22 weeks

Tea Party Birthday Party

We decided to let Mariah have a birthday party this year for her 6th birthday. Her and Ambria always seem to have tea parties so I thought, what better than to have a tea party birthday party! The girls absolutely loved it and sat at the "tea party" for over a half hour talking, eating, and drinking tea and hot chocolate. (I wasn't sure how long the actual tea party would hold their attention, but it worked!) It was pretty cute to see them all dressed up and enjoying themselves. Each girl wore a fancy dress and enjoyed finger foods at the party.

Here is the invitation (Mariah helped to put glitter on them)

Each guest received a porcelain tea set as a prize for playing the games

(drop the clothes pin in a tea pot and toss tea bags into bowls)

I wanted to attempt to make a tea pot cake. See here: I bought two cake mixes just in case it didn't turn out. Mariah wanted chocolate cake with purple frosting.

The finished product.

As a last minute thought, I used some left over cake to make tea cups. They didn't turn out as well, but that is ok.

Mariah enjoying her moment...

More Snow In North Carolina

We actually got snow today that stayed on the ground rather than melting right away. That means we could play in it and it was good packing snow, so we could build a snowman!

More than a few inches of snow means that everything shuts down. Jerry's boss even offered to put him up in a hotel for the night and pay for his dinner so he didn't have to drive home! The snow wasn't sticking to the streets or the sidewalks so driving wasn't too difficult (at least by our house). The girls were even able to ride their bikes in our driveway, which seems a little weird to me (riding bikes with a clear driveway with snow pants and hats and mittens on).

We are starting to get used to all the freaking out when it snows and we are taking it in stride.

Revolt

At 21 weeks pregnant with baby number three, I am very grateful, but my body is saying otherwise.

We found out over a week ago that we are expecting our third girl, which is very exciting but we are nervous as well. Three girls will bring a whole new set of joys and challenges. I guess I would be nervous if we were having a boy as well because I don't know what to do with a boy. I have had six years of practice with girls.

So, this pregnancy hasn't been the best. I feel like I am nine months pregnant already and the aches and pains haven't even started yet. It started off with a gallbladder attack before Christmas only to find out that I have gallstones. Not pleasant. From there, contractions started very early (they did with my second pregnancy as well but not THIS early). From about week 12 or so, contractions were coming between 5 and 15 minutes apart pretty much around the clock. I am pretty sure they are Braxton Hicks contractions that aren't doing anything but being a nuisance, but my doc wants to be sure. I am on moderate rest, not bed rest, but I have to take it easy. I have been on multiple antibiotics to fight any infections that aren't coming up on tests, but to no avail, the contractions are still present. Now I am trying some herbal stuff, but I have a feeling my body is just going to keep contracting.

At the ultrasound the baby looked great and very healthy. Praise the Lord! She was hiding her face but we didn't get a peek at her tiny nose. And then, the ultrasound tech found a piece of tissue that shouldn't be there, so who knows what that means and how that is going to get resolved. I have yet to talk to my doc about this to see what she thinks.

I went to the surgeon this week for my gallbladder, and although there isn't anything that can be done now (which I knew) they want to do surgery about six weeks after the baby is born. At the same time, the surgeon found an umbilical hernia. In other words, I have a hole in my belly button. He said he can patch that up when he removes the gallbladder. Humph.

All that to say, my body is REVOLTING against this pregnancy and I am only half way.

I am so excited to meet this new little addition and I can only imagine taking pictures of all three girls. I have bought bedding and I can't stop looking at it and imagining the nursery all put together and having a new little bundle sleeping in it. We are blessed.

This REVOLT will go down in the books. Thanks body.

A Great Day for a Beach Party

Another snowy day calls for an indoor beach party!! Our party was complete with swim suits, a beach umbrella, towels, music, and a picnic lunch. All that was missing was the sand, but I can do without that mess! (Oh, and the sun and the warm weather was absent too).

Boredom Busters

With Snow Day #9 today and Snow Day #10 tomorrow (they already cancelled school today at 3:00pm for tomorrow), we have been getting creative around the house.

Big empty boxes have become spaceships and submarines in the living room
Old felt pieces have entertained for hours
Playdoh (some of which is mashed in clothing)
Couches have become boats
Brooms have become horses
Skype on the computer with cousins and grandparents
Water balloons in the bathtub (this is my favorite idea)

We will see what tomorrow brings...

Chatting on the Phone

Mariah Cut Her Hair!

Mariah wanted me to put her hair up tonight so I told her to go and get me a comb, after a few minutes when she didn't come back, we went looking for her and found her with scissors and hair ALL over the bathroom. Ugh! Mariah said she wanted to look like one of her classmates with a short bob hair style. She wouldn't let us take any good pictures of her hair, but she cut the front top to about an ince or two long so it stands straight up like a rooster. She also cut the sides but that blends in ok for now. The growing out process will be interesting.

We Got Real Snow in North Carolina

After a "no-snow" Snow Day and school was cancelled earlier this week (see pics below), we actually got some snow last night. The girls were very excited and were ready to go outside and play by 8:00am

Pillow Fight!!

If this is as rough as it gets with two little girls, we might be in trouble if our next baby is a boy! I don't know what to do with boys.

A Snow Day in North Carolina

School was cancelled today.

This is for real...

Not a Typical Thursday

As I looked out the kitchen window today, I saw an unusual sight. One goat was all by itself while the other goats were nowhere to be found. This never happens, as all 14 goats stay together in a herd. So, as I peered out the window to take a closer look, I noticed TWO BABY GOATS! I was just like a little kid and got all giddy and couldn't wait to walk out to see them. They were just born this morning, they still had the cord attached, could barely walk, and had the cutest high pitched little voices. This was definitely a highlight to my day and something that I normally don't see and didn't get the chance to see back in Michigan. I feel like a little farm girl.

Smoothies

Jerry made us all smoothies and even put a blackberry on top of each one. A toast to the New Year! Yummy!

Christmas 2009

So, despite being in the ER all day on the 16th with GALLSTONES, we decided to make the trek to Michigan on the 17th. We also avoided the blizzard that hit North Carolina the following day that dumped 14 inches of snow. We stayed with my parents for three days and had a great time with the whole family and then headed to Jerry's parent's for a week. We also had a great time surprising everyone with the news of BABY #3 on the way, due middle of July. We got an ice storm on Christmas Eve so we couldn't attend church, and then ended the vacation with me and the girls getting the flu. All in all, no complaints except for the flu. Here are a few pics in random order...

Beach steps at Jerry's parent's house

Christmas morning

Stockings


Mariah looking at the Christmas tree

Ambria opening a present

The DePoy grandkids

Me and Jerry overlooking Lake Michigan

Christmas Tree

Perez Christmas

Grandma and Papi and the grandkids

Another Pic from a Christmas Parade...

Well, we got all bundled up for yet another Christmas parade, but...

I guess we didn't get the memo that there was no Christmas parade today at 10:00am.

So, we have no pics to share.

Christmas Parade