Last week in a nute shell..... a large nut shell! :)

I tried to post picks but blogger was acting up so those will come soon!


Our life is crazy right now.... but we are loving it! This summer is coming to and end and we just finished an amazing trip! The Senior High group goes to the mountains every year during the summer. We went hiking, tubing, and white water rafting (I slept on the bus during the rafting trip), then on our way home we went to six flags.

I made it through a 5 mile hike in the mountains..... WOW! It was crazy but I made it up and over all the hills (hills are an understatement) down to the water fall and back. Did I mention it was a hike? That mean in the middle of the woods with no bathrooms...... pregnant lady needs her bathroom often and this hike was so hard it took about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. I was a little sore the next day but it was so worth the feeling of accomplishment!


The next day we went tubing...... or should I say we went white water rafting on our own personal tube! It had rained the night before and the water was up at least a foot and a half and the trip down river should have taken at least and hour and a half but we made it in 45 minutes! So yes, the water was MOVING! It was like going down a class one white water rapid and a little $2.00 inter tube from wally-world..... the first time down (yes we were crazy enough to do it more than once....) we had a few bumps and scratches but we wanted to go again...... like once down a rushing river with 55 degree water wasn't enough. The second go around wasn't as smooth. One teens tube popped adn he went down one of the rapids holding his tube, one teen ended up with stitches, and everyone (except Eric) ended up with a bruise or several scratches. I was one of the lucky ones that never actually feel out of my tube but I was pushed into some huge boulders and was forced to get out of my tube and crawl across the rocks through parts of the river that were really fast with my tube in hand..... I stepped down between two rocks and that how my leg got all scratched up..... but we finally made it down river and past all the rapids. It was really fun... even the teen that has 11 stitches had fun.


I wasn't able to go white water rafting with the group so I napped all afternoon on the bus.... the group had a blast! The pictures are so funny.....


Six flags isn't any fun when you can't really ride the rides.... but my hubby walked around with me so it was a good day. We didn't stay all day because we had had a long week and we had a long drive home a head of us!


We had a lazy day on Saturday and today we are preparing to leave again. We will be leaving tomorrow for Lake Martin. I have looked forward to this trip since we drove away last year. It's the Youth Minister's Family Retreat and its sucha great way to end a crazy summer. We get to hang out with other families like us (youth ministers and their wives). We have a whole week to talk to others about the year we have had and struggles we have faced. We are able to bounce ideas off each other and learn from each other. It's nice to know that when we all come together we understand each other..... :) I can't wait! Then when we get back on Friday we leave for a weekend youth rally! BUSY BUSY BUSY! Im so glad that my husband has been able to provide a way for me to be a stay at home wife and soon a stay at home mother. It was really hard when I had to work all the time and do all these things with the teens it never left time for us... and these past few months we have been able to spend so much time together!


HOUSE UPDATE!!!!! GOVERNMENT= SLOW!!!!!!

It should only take a week or so to close on a house....... unless you involve the government! We are crossing our fingers for next week but nothing is for sure. I know your thinking a month to close on a house..... its a special program that we qualified for because our house is in a specific location (outside the city limits pretty much) and its gonna save us lots of money (that's how we were able to get bigger house, 2,000 sq ft, with a huge back yard).... so it's worth it but I'm not fond of being homeless.....

BABY UPDATE:

ITS A GIRL!

We know of a name but have not picked out a middle name for sure yet so we're not telling anyone yet.... sorry. My mom bought her first outfits the week before last and I cant wait to decorate a nursery! Over the last few days I have started to feel her "flutters" in my tummy. I wish Eric could feel them to. He puts his hand on my tummy and tries so hard to feel them. :) He is really excited over a little girl! It took a little while to sink in but last week we were talking (I dont even think it was about the baby) and he stopped and looked at me and said, " I dont think I have told you but Im excited about our little girl."

Baby Center update:
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.