So much for keeping up

It has once again been a while since I last posted. This one is very picture heavy. We have had a great September. The weather has been so warm and Joe took a nine day vacation. It was nice to have him home and not on call, no phone calls, no pager, no text messages. We had a busy month and here are some pictures.

Please remember to check Maddy's blog as well. She is planning on updating soon and would love a comment or two. :)


Joe took this one. Lately we have had to force Madeline to go outside. If she had her way she would sit on the couch and read ALL day long. So we made her go outside and she sat on the swing and read instead. LOL.

She walked all the way into the house from the swing set while reading.

We went to OMSI again. The kids love it and I hope we can get a family pass soon. Madeline and Daddy spent over an hour in the chemistry lab together.

Michael loves this huge crane.

Marah and Daddy.

Marah again, this time in the ball room.

We went hiking at Lucia Falls which is north of Battle Ground. It was a nice short little loop hike and the kids enjoyed it. It was a no water access park though and the kids were a bit bummed they could not go and play in the water. We talked a bit about salmon and how the water is protected.

Hiking.

Looking at the waterfall.

The baby is growing. I am showing so much right now, much sooner than any of the other kids. I also have not lost as much weight as with Michael and Marah. I am at only 10lbs this time compared to the 30lbs I lost last time.

I made Madeline a cape. Hers was the prototype and is a bit big. It is reversible to a yellow fabric (see below). Michael also has one in flames and pirate fabric.

The other side.

I made a diaper. It turned out really well for my first diaper. It is a fitted diaper that would need a cover over it. The inside is a pink fleece and I used an old towel for the inner absorbent material. Unfortunately it is a bit too small for Marah and the velcro won't hold. Maybe the new babe can wear it.

Marah is getting so big, I had to post this pic.

Madeline is almost 7!!!!

Snack time. Michael's favorite snack is popcorn. We make our own in an air popper and the kids love it.

Marah must think Maddy's is better.

The kids have been having a campout in the play tent in their room. There is no room to move in there but they are on night 4 of sleeping in there.

Marah's new face. Its so silly and she does it on purpose now cause she knows we will all laugh.

Yesterday Michael caught a preying mantis. We did some research and found out it was a male. Later that evening while Joe and Michael were looking for bugs to feed it they found another. That one was a female. Well they mated for almost 12 hours starting last night at 11pm and ending sometime around noon today. Then she proceeded to eat him. All that is left is his wings. The kids are excited about the possibility of babies later.

Here she is.

Jumpy and Woky (the backyard squirrels) have gotten to our sunflowers. We were planning to dry them for the birds this winter.

Completely bare.

So instead we cut them down and they played sword fight.

Madeline is holding the one she grew in her own garden.

We went to Great Grandma Evelyn's a few weeks back to visit. My Aunt and Uncle were there with their little girl. She would be the kids second cousin. Here is a video of her playing with Michael.