Bayshore Fountains

Last week for playgroup we went to cool off at the fountains at Bayshore Mall.  Bridget was her usual self, avoiding the water, but Marshall had a fantastic time.  

These next two pictures make me laugh.  Great picture of Marshall, Benson looks worried.

Fantastic picture of Benson; Marshall is pulling his usual smile, no eyes.

Wonderful Milwaukee friends. 

The future Mr. and Mrs. Max Hassell; a match made in heaven.

Terrified

Monday and Tuesday were long days for me where I asked myself multiple times how in the world I was going to throw a third child into our mix.  By the time Richard came home at 5:30 last night I was already into the bedtime routine.  :)  I was tired of breaking up fights and meeting a demand every three minutes.  I wanted my kids in bed so I could collapse on the couch and be in bed myself by 10:00 pm.  

Thankfully dinner and bedtime went relatively smoothly and by 8:00 I had my feet up enjoying "We Bought A Zoo".  We were in bed early and just as I found myself drifting into dreamland Bridget started crying.  Richard went into help her and quickly discovered that she was soaking wet as were her blankets and sheets.  Her fresh diaper had leaked as it had earlier that day during her nap!  GRRRRRR!!!  

This led to Richard having to change everything in her crib and I had to change her.  Bridget was irate and screamed and screamed.  This led to Marshall waking up.  At 11:30 pm last night all four of us were awake, two of us were crying, and I was on the verge of tears myself.  It reminded me of our first night home alone with Bridget.

During all of this I kept asking myself how we were going to do all of this with a newborn in the house.  I don't know.  

Finally by about midnight Bridget was cleaned up and asleep in her crib.  Marshall was asleep on our floor.  I then had the thought, how am I going to handle three little kids ALONE at night when Richard is working at the hospital overnight.  Again, I don't know.  

My first day completely alone after we have the baby Richard works a 24 hour shift.  If you don't see or hear from me after August 22, you'll know why.  My kids got the better of me at night.

Today at Marshall's school I met a mom who has four kids, ages 4-13.  Her youngest will be starting 4K with Marshall in the fall.  When she told me she has four kids the first thought that went through my mind was she is still alive and so there is hope for me. 

A Day Of Good-Byes

Today has been a bit of an emotional day for this pregnant lady as I've said farewell to two dear friends.  One I've known for six years and know that I will still see on visits to Utah.  The other I've known for just a year, so short, but it seems that I've known her much longer.  It is possible our paths may cross again and I would be delighted if they did.  One year just blocks away from each other was not enough.  

To Katie and Janine, I love you and your darling families.  So grateful for your friendship.  We have been blessed with wonderful friends during this Milwaukee experience. 

Father's Day

We had a pretty low-key Father's Day here.  The highlight of the weekend though was Richard took Thursday and Friday off of work so it really was grand to have him around for four straight days.  We all got a lot done, had a lot of fun, and even got substantial relaxing time in.  

Marshall filled out another funny little paper about Richard in primary.  Richard and I got a kick out of it.  Here it is...

He is 22 years old.  Just off by a decade.  :)

His hair is black and his eyes are blue.

He likes to wear blue.  

He is smart because he knows how to play Mario Kart.

He works hard at taking pictures of people's bones.

He always tells me to do chores to fill up the chore chart.

It makes him happy when I sing him a lullaby.

If he could go on a trip he would go to Disneyland and he would take his clothes.

I really love it when he goes to the airport.

If I could give him anything I would give him new BYU clothes.  At the young age of four Marshall knows the way right to Richard's heart.  :)

My favorite thing about him is when he gives me a Transformer.

Oh Marshall, thanks for making us laugh!

And Richard, we love you dearly, so glad we have you!

   

Conversation with Bridget

Bridget's vocabulary is coming along.  I do love her sweet little voice and her short two and three word sentences she is putting together.  For the grandparents, enjoy.  :)

Memorable Memories

I am just a bit nostalgic these days.  With baby number three on the way and two good friends (both for me and Marshall) moving next week; I just may be a bit emotional.  Here's just a smattering of pictures that always make me smile and help me remember things I never, ever want to forget.

Fun summer evenings outside.

Story time at Yo-Mama with hilarious glasses.

Looking way too grown up, but also incredibly darling.

Dinner out with dear friends and no children!

 

 

A rainy evening at the zoo.

Fun watching the jaguar cubs.

Evening zoo outings.

Marshall looks so old, coming up on five.  :(

Hiking in a beautiful nature preserve in the middle of the Milwaukee ghetto.

Waving good-bye to Daddy every morning.

Water fun with friends.

Bridget getting her seasons a little confused. 

A summer evening spent at a lake with some of the greatest people I know.

 Okay, I have to stop, I might start crying.

Bye Bye Binky

Bridget is growing up, or at least she's being forced to grow up.  :)  Last Friday we got rid of her binkies once and for all.  Since the middle of March we have just been letting her sleep with her binkies for her nap and at night.  The first day of that was AWFUL!!!  Thankfully though she adjusted quickly and life moved on.  

I wanted to get rid of her binky for good some time in June to give her a few weeks without it before the baby.  For weeks I was stumped as to how to go about this.  We mailed Marshall's binkies to Cosmo because Marshall adored Cosmo, but Richard and I couldn't think of anything/anyone Bridget loved that much!  That was until Marshall discovered Jake and the Neverland Pirates and now Bridget adores them.  She asks to watch "Pitates" multiple times a day, she has books about them now, and our good friends have their ship and toy figures and the moment we walk in their door she runs to the basement to play with the pirate ship as long as we're there.  

The "pitates" were the perfect solution.  :)

Thank you Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Skully!

We talked this whole thing up for a few days and Bridget was so excited to mail her binkies to the pirates.  Last Friday morning she decorated the envelope, plopped her binkies in, and took it to the mailbox.  

All sealed up and ready to go.

Just before plopping it in the mailbox.

Bridget was completely fine until her nap on Friday afternoon.  She screamed for an hour and a half crying out for her binky and mommy.  It was heartbreaking and she never fell asleep.  Friday night I let her cry for 20 minutes before I went in.  We rocked, same some songs, and she willingly laid down.  Just before I put her blanket on she asked for her binkies and when I reminded her again that they were gone her chin quivered, but she didn't cry, and just went to sleep.  Again, it broke my heart and I had to stop myself from running to grab them out of my top drawer!  She woke up twice during the night asking for them, but she quickly went back to bed both times.  

She has gotten better and better each day.  Sunday night was her first night sleeping through the night without them, so it really didn't take too long to adjust.  She will still ask about her binkies, but then quickly explains to herself and all of us that she mailed them to the pirates and they are happy to have them.  :)