On the fifth day before child birth...

Here is what I was up to.
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Most people are wise enough to do this when they are 30 - 34 weeks along so that they are glowing and not as big as a whale. But not me, I want to remember how huge I really was while bringing these adorable children into this world.
Actually between my photographer being a world traveler, end of the summer vacations and the school year beginning, the few days before I give birth is the only time we could get together.

Thanks Denise! You're a magician behind a camera.

Are we done?

Yesterday as I was getting ready, Garrett came in to talk to me. He was quite concerned because he had heard me on the phone say this was my last baby. (I don't know if this is my last baby, but right now I can't imagine ever being this miserable again.) So with this in his head, here's a little conversation that we had in my bedroom.

"Mom, is this really that last baby that you are going to have come out of your body?"
"I don't' know, Buddy! We'll see."
"If it is, I'm really sad, because I want a baby brother to play with."
Insert my heart breaking for him.
"Oh, buddy, even if I have another baby doesn't mean it will be a boy baby"
A moments pause.....
"Mom, to bad they don't make a machine that can look into our body and pick out the boy babys for next time you get pregnant."
"Yep, to bad it doesn't work that way. We take and love what Heavenly Father sends us."
"I love my sisters, Mom. They just aren't very good at the Wii"

Jackpot!

Let me first say, that my first Jackpot was marrying Keith!

Now on with the story, back in March for my birthday, all I wanted was a play set to occupy the kids. So the hunt began for Keith. He started watching them on Craigslist, Costco, Sams, and anywhere else they sell play set. He researched how much time and energy it really takes to put one together. And we watched the kids play on set to see what kids really like on a play set.

We both settled on the one at Sams Club, but being the money minded man that Keith is, he realized that come September or October these wholesale places will need to clearance out the sets to make way for the Christmas trees. Wise man! So for the past three weeks, he has been calling, and checking by to see if they were marked down yet.
Wednesday, Keith called to check on them, here's the Jackpot! They clearance them from $1600.00 to $999.00! Raise your hands in the air and yell, "Jackpot!"

So he zoomed over there after work to find them all sold out...... expect the floor model! Here comes the next Jackpot. Keith negotiated down the floor model to $900.00 which was actually what he wanted in the first place, so that he didn't have to put the stinking thing together. Come on, say it louder, "Jackpot!"

Next he called me to see who had a truck we could use to move it in eight or nine sections. The first person I thought of was Dave Dzaran, Mrs. Handyman himself. Do you feel a Jackpot coming on? Yep, Dave owns a big ole flatbed! They moved the whole thing in one trip. Jackpot!

The arrive of this play set, I will never forget.

Let me set the scene for ya....

Early Saturday morning as Garrett and Kendall sat on the sofa playing Wii, Garrett noticed, Santa Claus (Dave Dzaran) and his sleigh pull into our neighborhood. They started to run from window to window to get the best view of the flatbed carrying the best present EVER! They could not control the excitement.


Luckily Santa's elf were big and strong enough to safely unload the precious cargo. Little did they know the day's work that lie ahead.
Kevin, Keith friend staying with us for the weekend, would be the next Jackpot. Kevin, we owe you a day's labor on our house. I'm quite sure you didn't come all the way out to DC to put a playground set together all day. Your hard work has endeared you to my children, as "Dad's best buddy that put together our play set". Thanks!

Ahh! The finished product! The kids love it! I don't know whether to call it a belated birthday present, early Christmas present, or the best pregnancy present ever! We love you Dad! You rock!

Kendall loves the glider. She'll do it for hours. Garrett loves the crow's nest and monkey bars.

Taryn loves the little fort and bench on the bottom.

Lesson on life

This morning Garrett woke up with a blood nose. He gets them a lot, particular during allergy season. I was worried sending him off to school that it would be a problem, but by lunch when I didn't hear from him, I figured they had gone away. Wrong!

As I was waiting for him to walk off the bus this afternoon, I could see the bus driver waving for me to come to the bus. As Garrett started down the stairs, I saw the big tears in his eyes. He ran to me, and said, "I don't want to ever ride the bus again." Okay slow down, little guy.

Garrett explained that it was hot on the bus, so his nose started to bleed and he couldn't get to his tissues in his backpack or pocket. He's two "friends" that were sitting by him, started to make fun of him, and moved to another seat leaving him alone. They then encouraged others to say things to him like, "You're gross!" "You're sick!" and "Nobody wants to be around a bloody boy!" I know that six and seven year old boys are immature and even silly sometimes, meaning to hurt, but it still hurts when your the same age and on the other end. The two little neighbor boys that did this are never been my favorite. In fact, we don't associate with then other then riding on the bus with them for ten minutes both ways. Fortunately they are in First and Second grade, and make up good excuses for not being able to play with them. Also thank heavens started in October, their mother goes back to work and they'll be staying at the after school program. I know I'm mean but I don't like em and would LOVE to eliminate them from Garrett's life.

After calming him down and myself down. Getting his blood nose to stop. Talking a little about the situation, I decided to distract him until we both could claim down, and have Keith the voice of reason chime in. Garrett wanted to watch Scoobie Doo and I made soup. As I was stewing over Garrett's situation, I realized that he needs to have these experiences so build confidence, self esteem and understanding about how to treat other. Having a blood nose is not a bad thing and you know how to handle them when they happen, even it Mom, Dad, your teacher or any other adult it there to help you. You are a great boy no matter what other say to or about you. You need to stand up for yourself. So tomorrow you need to tell, (your friends) that what they did hurt your feelings and explain why, when and how you handle blood noses when they happen. But most importantly, I want Garrett to learn to have compassion for others with everyone else is laughing at them, whatever the reason.

Things I love right now

I love that it is finally FALL

I love it when Garrett comes home and eats bananas on the counter like a monkey.

I love it when Kendall play make believe. She's great at pretending to move make believe objects around the house.

I love that Taryn still love to play with my hair, even though it is a little painful.

I love that we have a new baby coming to our house.

36 weeks and 50 lbs

Decided that I needed to have a memory of how gigantic I am when pregnant, so that when my girls are pregnant, 25 years from now, I'll remember the discomfort of this blessing.

Garrett's first day of school.

Garrett has been so excited to get back to school.

While I have spent the summer trying to decided what grade to put him. We started Garrett in Kindergarten at our local public school last year but pulled him out because we felt like he was too young to thrive in such a big and crazy classroom. Last year Signal Hill Elementary was taking in extra children from another school in our distract that add a high population of ESL learners, and a large classroom. I know we made the right choice, because Garrett did GREAT at Manassas Christian Academy, and ended the year with Mrs. Fowler recommending him to progress to the First Grade, but I still wasn't convinced.

I realize now that he just needed one more year of preschool or Pre-K to learn how school works. And private Christan school was just what he needed and I needed to not worry about my little guy being prepared to public school. Manassas Christian wasn't really a strong academic school but they were big into manors, rules, structure and independence. All the things that build a confident student. They made Garrett a good student, who feels good about himself.

So with that base, and after talking with multiple educators and parents that we respect, I decided to have Garrett go to Kindergarten this year at Signal Hill Elementary. And after one week at school, he thinks he's superman. Mrs. Surber loves him and lets him help the other kids since he's such a "smart boy"

This a Garrett with his buddies Julia and Anthony at the bus stop. Yes, they are 7 and 8 years old and Garrett just turned 6! Those Jones' genes are amazing!

Note: Garrett is starting the year off in size 2 shoes, 7-8 pants and shirt. Let's all take bets on what he'll be at the end of the year.