We went to a pumpkin stand last night to pick out our pumpkin. All the kids wanted was a small pumpkin---like the ones they are holding. So, we bought 3 small ones and a big one.
I love that Hailey isn't looking at the camera, instead she is staring at the pumpkin in Rachel's hand. Funny.

It is so fun to pass down traditions to my own kids. I know it is just Charlie Brown, but I still remember doing this as a kid. My mom would get us in our pjs, make some brownies or some other treat. My brother and I would curl up on the floor to watch Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.
It just proves that small things make big memories with kids. I hope I am doing the same for my kids.

Aw....my boy is growing!

I can remember when Ryan's teeth came in. I would let him suck on a cold wash cloth. We would give him teething tablets. I would want to cry right along with him because I couldn't take the pain away.

Now, those teeth are falling out. Well, not really falling. I bet he wishes they would just *fall* out instead of having to pull! Two teeth in one weekend.

When I look back over the last six years of having this little man in our lives, I am amazed. He is such a joy and such a handful. He either amazes me or frustrates me...sometimes at the same time! The last six years seem to have gone by so fast or so slow. I can't decide which and I think that is funny.

Somebody once told me that the days drag but the years fly. I really think that is true.

Introducing........the Gymnastics Gold Medalist for the 2020 Olympics......Rachel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had her first day of Gymnastics today and loved it. If you've seen her lately, you know that her feet are usually OFF the ground.










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Cousins--Hailey & Collin
Only 2 weeks apart









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Here is a picture of Ryan on his first day of Kindergarten. As you can see, he was very excited. He loves school. He is trying to adjust to the classroom structure. Say a prayer for his teacher! LOL!















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Trick or Treat!

We took the kids out trick-or-treating last night for the first time ever! Halloween has always been spent at some church function. The kids had a blast--what kid wouldn't?

Ryan was Annakin Skywalker, a Star Wars character, of course.

Rachel was Sleeping Beauty, or Sleeping Booty as she calls it.

6 wks 3 days pregnant today. I feel fine for the most part as long as I don't let myself get hungry. I am anticipating the yucky days anytime now.

Last week I wasn't feeling quite right, not bad, just not right. I decided to buy a pregnancy test because I know my body and history has told me that when I don't feel right, it usually means that there is a baby involved. I knew it would turn positive. But, when it actually turned positive on the first and the second one, I was shocked! They both turned + in about 3 seconds, no kidding.

Mat and I have always talked about having a third. I know a lot of people *know* how many kids they want and when the reach that number, the feel complete. We are very happy with the two we have and decided that if there were never anymore kids, we were complete. However, we never set a number and we often wondered how people knew when they were done.
Needlesstosay, this one is a complete surprise and I may be starting to understand what done feels like.

Ryan and Rachel were very planned. I am a planner and an organizer by nature. Mat has taught me over the last 16 years that planning is not always necessary or fun. I have learned to let go sometimes and just go with the flow. I wonder if that was all in preparation for this moment. :)

So, here we are about to become a family of 5. I have given away or sold ALL my baby items. Smart, huh?

I went to the doctor yesterday because I have been having some really bad cramps. After an ultrasound, it was determined that I have a cyst. I will be going back today to see what that really means for me and the baby. I also got to see the tiny little gestational sac that baby will call home for the next 8 months. Oh, and on a very interesting note, there might be two sacs and we all know what that means! They really think the other sac is a fluid sac and not a gestational sac. It was a little exciting & scary to look at the screen and see two black dots. Only time will tell.

#3 due June 23, 2008
(will be earlier due to having a repeat c-section)

Watch out MLB!
Ryan is taking t-ball this fall. So far, he has had 2 practices and his first game will be on Saturday. His team is the Rattlers. The hats have a big W on them and none of us could figure out why, but we have learned that it is the same hat as the Wisconsin Rattlers. I had no idea that Wisconsin even had Rattlesnakes!

Last weekend, we took Nana, Papa and the kids out to Elgin for their pumpkin farm. It wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but the kids always find a way to have fun. We stopped and had lunch at the Southside Market and then went to the farm.

Beautiful Beach Babies!
This photo was taken during our family trip to South Padre Island.