Xbox Party and Super Bee

 I realize this might cause some confusion.  After all, didn't we already have a Gabe birthday post?  Yes we did, but every other year I do a birthday party for the kids and since Gabe has his birthday in the summer I thought it would be better to wait till the school year started.  He was a trooper and I think he enjoyed the fact he got to celebrate twice.  Gabe likes to feel important and feel like he is in charge.  I was so happy when he wanted a small Xbox party at home.  It was such an easy party.  Probably the easiest one I have every done.  Since it was small and at home we ordered pizza for everyone.  Gabber loves his pizza especially his sausage.

I looked online how to make an Xbox cake, and although there were millions of ideas I knew I wouldn't do it justice.  I looked on our local Craigslist and found a lady who did cakes.  After what I said he wanted (shape of an Xbox controller with marble cake and Bavarian cream filling) I got the total.  I was shocked that it would cost 50 bucks but I went for it to just see how well it would turn out.  Can I say I was very impressed.  The cake was so cool and the best part was it tasted as good as it looked.  This cake was a monster and there is only about 2 pieces left and usually I have to throw cake away after about a week.

 

 

 Can you sense his excitement here? 

 

Corey has a huge TV (72 inches) and so he also brought up our 42" and borrowed an Xbox.  I don't know the specifics but you can sync the two together to play more than four.  This was a big hit.  They played the whole time and I didn't have to do anything except referee on occasion.

I got a call last night from Lexie's teacher telling me she was chosen for the Super Bee award at school.  This award is for good behavior and listening.  I was so proud of her.  She was so proud of herself and I was just so happy that I stay at home so I could go and be there for her.  I think there is nothing better than being there for your kids for everything that they do.  It makes them feel special and that it really was a big accomplishment.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of the gym teacher in tights and a bee costume.  It was pretty scary and funny at the same time.  He rode a 3 wheel bike around the gym and juggled at the same time.  Very interesting.

Isn't she just the cutest bee ever?

Basement Update

 

I know you are thinking this first picture is not the basement and didn't the last post just contain a picture of my pregnant self?  Well I couldn't really see my belly that well in the shirt I was wearing and plus I know my Mom likes to live through pictures.  So I am just trying to make everyone happy.  This shirt is tighter so I think my baby bump looks more defined.  And after Corey searched the Internet last night for about two hours he found only one name that he liked....yes he can be difficult.  I found Tempest cute but he didn't want any of that.  But he said he really liked Danni and I have a thing for naming girls boyish names so I liked it right away.  Middle name we wanted to do family name and Corey's Mom's middle name is Renee.  So we are going to name her Danni Renee Esquibel.  I think it sounds so cute when you say it together which can be hard with middle names.  I guess when she kicks me and starts giving me a hard time I can now say Danni instead of her.

Corey has been working nonstop on our basement since his dad left in July.  All his friends here work shift work so it is hard to get time with someone to help him.  He has done basically all the sheet rock himself along with some help from me.  I have learned that I am not real great with a drill and in fact have a hard time even getting the screw in.  Imagine me trying to get this screw in the wall while Corey is holding this huge heavy piece of sheet rock on his head.  I was freaking out because I didn't want him to hurt himself.  So of course I get frustrated and keep dropping the screw.  I was not meant for construction I know that for sure.  But with all these man hours we finally got the rooms done.  We are waiting to mud, tape and carpet next year when we get our tax returns back.  But it works for now and the kids are loving it.  Lexie is down there all the time reorganizing because she doesn't have Hailey messing it up all day long.  We are on next to the living room which will be great too because then the kids will have a place to go with friends to hang out.  Already with the two rooms I have noticed a world of difference in space. 

 Boys room from the entrance.

 Boys room from closet under the stairs.

 Lexie's room from entrance.

 Lexie's room from closet.

Lexie's walk-in closet.

 

This picture doesn't do this closet justice.  We needed storage space so bad and the best thing to do was put in a huge closet in her room.  It follows the whole width of the room and there is plenty of room for Lexie's stuff and for me to stash my stuff in the back.  I wish our closet upstairs was even half that big.

 

Hopefully in the next month we will have even more done, and once Corey gets the toilet installed that will save on all the trips up to use the bathroom.

20 Week Post

 

Technically I won't be 20 weeks till the beginning of next week, but since my appointment was today and my Dr. appointment is tomorrow I thought I might as well give myself a week advancement.  Things are going pretty good at this half way point.  I am still running 3 times a week and doing crossfit 3 times as well.  I feel great and don't have any complaints.  I am still in the horrible in between stage of clothes.  I tried my maternity pants again and I spend half the day pulling them up and it get annoying.  So I squeeze into my regular jeans and just leave them unbuttoned.  At least they stay where they are supposed to.  I have gained about 6 pounds at this point (see mom I can gain weight just fine).  I think my body is trying to make up for the fact I threw up so much at the start.

The ultrasound appointment went well.  It was such a great thing to see the baby moving around even though I haven't really felt much yet.  I was starting to get worried but there was plenty of wiggling going on. 

 Look at those cute feet.

 Cute profile picture.

 

 

And of course for the reveal.  She asked right off if I wanted to know.  So she actually looked right away to keep the suspense from killing me.  Drum roll please........it is a girl.  Now I was pretty surprised because I had convinced myself that it was a boy.  So I hadn't even thought about a single girl's name.  I had gotten so used to it that I find it hard even now to switch my mind set to girl.  Logan and Lexie were pretty disappointed.  But Gabe shouted for joy and was so excited.  He loves loves his Hailey.  Those two are always together and he takes such great care of her.  I think he wants another little sister to guard and protect.  And there is no doubt, you can see all clear in the shot.

I am just so grateful that everything looked great.  Now if anyone has girl name suggestions that would be great.  I guess I will have to do some research.

Friday...oh Friday

I realized as I was surfing the Internet that I have not been that great at posting.  I keep checking my page to see if anyone else updates and I get bumbed when no one has.  But I never point that finger at myself (go figure).  But from the comments I am pretty sure just a select few read my blog anyways.  It seems blogging has gone downhill for many and the one thing I love the most about blogging is being able to go back a couple of years and see what was going on in our lives at that time. 

Today is like any other day for me.  I have my daily cleaning routine after which it is usually close to lunch.  Then after lunch I do whatever I want.  Now I do have a huge list of things in my brain that I want to do or have been needing to do but I lack the motivation to get going.  Not sure if I can blame the pregnancy for that or just sheer idleness.  I have been doing lots of crosswords lately which seems really lame when I am typing this.  And this does not include the toilet so that makes it even more pathetic.  But what can you do in a small town?  Not much.  I really really want to get started on the babies room.  I have been itching to paint and organize probably for a good solid couple of months.  But that will depend on the ultrasound next week.  If it is a boy (which I am pulling for) I am going to do turquoise walls and do accent colors in red and orange.  I have found some great things and I have it all laid out in my head.  Now girls is another story.  I still want to do turquoise walls but probably include pink and brown in there.  Thursday can not come soon enough.

This is the longest I have stuck with my workout routine being pregnant out of the 5 pregnancies.  Usually I just relax and think I will worry about it later.  For some reason I have a hard time accepting that mentality this time.  I still run about 6 miles 3 times a week and then do crossfit and the Firm on the other 3 days.  I am past the sickness stage thank goodness.  Now I am at the ravenous feel like I need to eat everything stage.  I am pretty sure I have gained about 5 pounds this past month and I know this will make my mama very happy as she worries way too much.  Not craving much sweets, but man have I been a potato chip fiend.  I normally don't even like chips.  But I can't seem to get enough of them now.  Must be the salt I am losing from all the sweat.  Not much to report until next week as far as that is concerned.

The kids loves school and their teachers.  Hailey loves being home and bossing mom around.  And I am trying really hard to keep the kids busy.  Logan tried out for the school choir and he will hopefully hear today.  I want him to make it just because he was so excited about it.  Gabe is doing soccer starting next week and somehow I got sucked into being the coach.  I have been doing A LOT of studying about soccer drills and I hope if anything the kids will learn something new from me.  Lexie is doing ballet this year.  She loves to dance and she missed registration when we moved here so she is also really excited for that.  Boys are going to do basket ball in November and I am pretty sure we are going to be pulling our hair out by the end of the year.

And I just have to comment on the fly infestation we have here.  Is this just a Wyoming thing or have they taken over the world?  I swear I kill about 50 a day and they keep reappearing.  They keep landing on me and it drives me nuts.  They buzz around our heads at dinner.  I find myself wishing for snow if only to kill the stinkin flies.

And on the 22nd Gabe is having his belated birthday party.  We decided to wait until school started so he could invite kids from school.  He is having a Xbox party and I have even hired a gal here to make a cake that looks like an Xbox controller.  It better be good for how much she is charging.  He just can't stop talking about it.

Sorry no pictures for this post.  I guess I could take a picture of me cross wording or sitting on the couch but I am pretty sure your mental picture is as good as anything I could put on here.  Hopefully this weekend I will whip it out and find some better things to photograph.

First Day of School 2012

 

Aww the first day of school...after a long summer of trying to keep the kids entertained I am always ready for them to go back.  I think they are too, even if they don't admit it.  This summer was really hard for me and them.  I was so sick most of the time and just laying on the couch and so we didn't get out and do a lot of stuff like we  normally would.  I am feeling really old as my oldest is entering 5th grade.  I can still remember my 5th grade year and I keep thinking it won't be long before he is going to High School.  So I need to just love every moment I have with them. 

 

 

Gabe is usually my hardest child to get to school each year.  Usually around the 3rd day he will claim sickness and want to stay home.  He has always been my homebody.  He has attempted a couple of sleepovers and always needs to come home.  But this year he said it was great, I think his teacher is to compliment for that.  He really likes her.  Always hamming it up for the camera too.

Lexie has been excited for weeks to go back.  At school shopping she had to have this particular outfit she is wearing.  She tried it on multiple times with different shoes to see what looked the best.  I kept thinking she is only going into 2nd grade but man she is acting like teenager already.  She did look dang cute though.

Logan was indifferent to school.  He goes because he has to and he does just enough to say it was done.  He does like the social aspect of it and even tried out for choir this year.  I had no idea that he had to come up with his own song.  The permission form said nothing about it so he said he heard a bunch of other kids say they were going to sing twinkle twinkle little star...so he said he would sing the same thing.  I couldn't help but laugh and then I asked him why he didn't sing Old McDonald instead.  I hope he makes it just so he can be involved in something that he tried out for.  And just for a side note Logan is a horrible picture taker.  He can not do a natural smile to save his life.  After I saw this picture I keep giggling because it looks like he is taking a poop.  I sure hope he grows out of this.  He really does have a great smile but you would never know from the pictures.

I still can't believe how fast time has flown.  I really have been blessed with great kids.  They mind really well and when we go out they are for the most part well behaved.  I feel truly blessed to have them in my life.