Summer Finale

Summer is over, and I, for one, could not be happier about fall's arrival!

Ever since we moved, I've been fussy and hot and sweaty and whiny- none of which make for a pleasant me!  The temp has finally gone down a bit, and the air conditioning has been replaced with open windows, and my mood is a bit- well- cooler!

Here are some pictures downloaded from my phone.  This is what we have been doing:

Fantasy football draft at my parents' house

Seth and Carlee brought lobsters from Maine

Max, Lucy and I have spent many afternoons at our community pool

And I lounge poolside, looking like this,

and they learned to do this-

 

Strange, Max and Lucy have more homework than Joe.  Hmmmmm.....

Max and Noa, playing in the sand at the lake

A reminder that I really ought to wake up in the morning before Lucy leaves for school.  Her outfits often need approval.

Me and Seth, comparing bellies

Date night!  Our first night out alone since our move! Dinner and a movie- "The Way Way Back"- loved it!

A birthday party at the pumpkin patch- Max on Rhodie

Lucy on Dakota

I love these babies....

And speaking of babies....
We have learned that this little, adorable profile belongs to.....

our baby BOY!
I was not surprised to learn that the baby is a boy- my intuition was right this time!
The kids were all excited, even Lucy, who quickly confirmed that she will not have to share her room!
And Max, delighted, exclaimed, "I knew there was a wiener in there!"
Baby boy, who we loving call "Falcon" as Max suggests (but, seriously, I'm not naming him Falcon),
is growing well and is still due on January 6.
Can't wait to meet him!

And I see that Joe is absent from these pictures, but he hasn't not been absent at home.  He has been busy with school and baseball and he even works a few hours here and there at the Sleep Shop.  He is doing well and loves being a California boy!

34 15 43 (and 8)

No, 34 15 43 is not a locker combination. We've celebrated some birthdays since we've moved to California!

My 34th birthday landed on our moving day.  The day before, we loaded the moving truck and left Washington, landing at Molly and Aaron's place around 10pm.  Much to my surprise, my mom and Molly had planned a birthday dinner with a beautiful cake... I only wish we had arrived earlier and that I'd been in a better mood!

The next morning, I snapped a picture with my sis before we hit the road, and the rest of the day was spent behind the wheel. My mom was kind enough to read me my birthday text messages and Facebook messages, but otherwise, the big move trumped the birthday, and at 34 years old, that didn't bother me one bit.

I look tired!

My birthday passengers

When we arrived at our new rental home that evening, we were met by Seth and Carlee, who had brought pizza for dinner, and a crew of men from my parents' church who helped us unload the moving van and put the boxes and furniture in the right rooms.  These guys were so helpful, and they made it possible for all of us to sleep in our own beds in our own rooms on our first night.  I'll consider that a birthday gift!

 

Joe's birthday was the 24th of August, and though I offered several options for how he could spend his special day, he really didn't want to do anything. So, Devon, Max, Lucy and I all went about our day, leaving Joe home alone with some donuts for breakfast, and I think he was happy to have the peace and quiet! After work, my parents joined all of us at Leatherby's for a special birthday dinner and ice cream dessert.  Joe was a happy birthday boy, and I just can't believe that he is 15!

 

 

Devon enjoyed a day-off on his birthday!  Being so close to Labor Day, he is usually hard at work, selling beds, on September 3rd.  But this year, he got to golf with my dad, workout in our garage, and we took his mom to look at an apartment nearby, we enjoyed lunch at Wings, played with the kids, and hosted a big family dinner.  Seth catered, and at Devon's request, he made tri-tip beef, Greek salad, garlic roasted potatoes, and corn on the cob.  My parents brought a cake.  It was his "best birthday ever"!

 

Joe and Devon received these awesome "Alaskans" shirts from our family up north :)

 

 

The bonus number is 8-

 

On August 12th Devon and I celebrated 8 years of marriage!  Seth and Carlee hung out with our kiddos while we dined at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with my parents who were celebrating 35 years of marriage.