35 WKS

OH MY BABY FIVE!
(*Finally Publicly Announced*)

If you can't tell we are all getting pretty excited to have a lot more blue in the house!

It really does seem like countdown time...

I literally have been pushing off baby prep for... forever!

Partly because I know it makes me crazy anxious and also we have still been busy busy. 

The kids are constantly rubbing my belly and wanting to feel baby kick. Everyone has felt him except Con because he is so impatient and Piper who touches my belly and jumps back every time saying something like "he heard me, he kicked me, he has the hiccups, oh he's sleeping". 

And each child has commented on the size of this growing belly.

"Mom your belly is huge!"

"Baby Dean is getting BIG!"

"How much bigger can your belly get?"

And my favorite...

Sydney: "Mom ya know I think you look really cute like that with your belly big and when you don't have a belly your still a little cute." 

It is hard to believe that we are going to be adding another to this crew in about a month!

And we are all too excited!

31st Birthday

Another birthday. 

Chocolate cheesecake and candles. 

Chinese and fortunes. 

A big purple bow and a rocker recliner, for baby and me.

Cards and little loves. 

A clean house and foot rubs.

Feeling grateful and loved. 

Happy Birthday to me!

Ya only get better with age right?!

HERSHEY PARK

We celebrated school being out and summer officially starting and my birthday; with a getaway trip to PA to enjoy the hotel pool, a movie night, and Hersheypark! It was a blast!

The hotel pool was perfect for our family, not too deep not too big. We stayed in York, PA at a Home2 Suites (212 Pauline Dr... just in case we want to stay there again). It was a great deal, and even though it was still a 45 min drive to the park, it worked great.
The pool may have have been the favorite part of the trip! The kids don't remember ever staying in a hotel, so apparently it has been awhile.
Piper thought it was our new house and was worried where we were going to fit Baby Dean when he came, and she wasn't too pleased with the one shower and no tub situation. So when it came time although she loved it, she was happy to hear we weren't staying forever.
We had a perfect stay at the hotel.

Captain America movie night...
the only thing that was on. But perfect all the same. 

Everyone was STOKED to head to Hersheypark after our hotel breakfast the next morning, and I had made a dedicated plan for our day. 

First Measuring Up

(Which I had already done at home so we were prepared!)

Almost a Reeses!

We did a couple little rides on the way but we decided to try and walk to the other end of the park first, so we wouldn't have to make the trek back when we were exhausted at the end. Which was a great idea and worked for the most part although we probably went on a few too many rides and didn't get over there as quickly as we wanted. 

The only Family Ride we had was the Ferris Wheel!

Syd had been talking about the ferris wheel for quite some time, although I don't think it was everything she imagined... 

Then while Daddy and Connor went to ride some coasters the girls rode a few rides on repeat. Which Syd and Piper LOVED! Bella got bored eventually and was ready to ride the big rides too!

So finally she got her chance... 

Bella's squished in the middle.

...and they rode a few while Syd and Piper happily kept repeating the little rides. 

Next we made sure Connor and Daddy got in on some, with the girls.

And we kinda followed that pattern for the trip.

FAVORITE RIDE! 

COAL CRACKER

Everyone got to go on it together!

(Except mom...)

And it had splashing WATER!

They rode this at least 3 times!

Finally I threw caution to the wind and rode the teacups with Syd and Piper while we waited for the big kids. 

It's decided the first and last ride must ALWAYS be the carousel!

(Partly because Syd missed it and I don't want that to happen again...)

My expectations were a little high for our Hershey Park adventure. It was our first attempt at an amusement park with all the kids so of course it was equipped with a puking end scene. Which totally made me feel like the worst Mom ever!

But the Hershey weather was gorgeous. I still can't believe we got so lucky at the end of June! And I was just SO grateful for that the entire time that I think I got a little overzealous.

I was convinced we could do everything and pushed everyone a little hard, with probably not enough food and drink (even though we grabbed the all day drink deal and lunch at subway). Future reference bring water bottles, so we can fill them up continually. OR ask for free water cups. And we probably should try and bring snacks if Hershey will let us, I thought you weren't allowed but they didn't check my bag so I regretted not bringing something for my little ones. I was so concentrated on me being almost 35 weeks pregnant I was trying so hard not to push myself, and yet not ruin it for anyone else I pushed my littles too much. Connor and Bella were great and could have even gone longer. Piper was a trooper and fell asleep on the stroller ride to the car but was absolutely amazing the whole time. Sydney was the one who struggled. I think her stomach is just not made for amusement parks, to the extent the others are. And Mom constantly telling her to go, go, go was probably too much. She loved the rides but got whiny and then clingy and then sick and then slept and then on the drive to grab dinner... totally lost it. I felt horrible that I hadn't recognized and listened to her cues a little more and we probably should have just exited the park then. Poor thing was so excited for the carousel but was too sick when we were finally ready for it at the end. I ended up holding her on the drive home and we all wished we had another night at the hotel instead. 

Since we did pretty much EVERYTHING, except the water/boardwalk section, next time we can go through and eliminate waiting in lines for the not so great rides. Which will definitely save some time. And next year everyone will be a little taller and Syd can join the big kids more and hopefully Mom can go on some rides too, although watching wasn't too bad!

It was a jam packed day, filled with ups and downs, but we all made it out alive! 

All in all for our first Hershey vacation I think we not only learned a lot we also had a lot of fun and can't wait to go again next year! 

(But maybe for 2 shorter days instead of 1 long day! And maybe that would mean double the hotel/pool time!)

Hersheypark was my all-time favorite place as a kid; and seeing the joy on my kids faces as they experience that same thrill, I had as a kid, was the absolute best birthday present ever. I told Shea with only a few years left on this side of the states, I want to make it a priority to go once a year, so they can have those same memories as I did as a kid. And I am sure our amusement park love won't stop once we head westward. 

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

To celebrate the last day of school we had ice cream at...

BRUSTERS! 

Our favorite ice cream place in town.

It is crazy to think that the school year is over and when we start again in the fall we will not only have a new stanger baby but a ...

KINDERGARTENER 

2ND GRADER

&

4TH GRADER!

I mean WHAAAA!

Mindblown!

.............................................................................................

I will say being pregnant and just in terms of bad planning and timing I didn't get to do quite as much with the kids this year. I missed out on field day, and a field trip with Con (I try to go on at least 1, but chaperones weren't as needed this year except to the Science Center in Baltimore and I wasn't able to make the trek being 8 Months pregnant). I was able to attend Connor's writing workshop mid year, and Bella's last field trip and her first grade ice cream social. I also went to lunch with both of them right before school ended. Bella's all about having Mom there, a little shy about it but LOVES it and hates when I leave. Connor is in the 

Mom-you-have-to-come-to-everything-but-when-you-do-I-am-way-too-cool-to-notice-you're-there stage

So he wasn't too heartbroken when I missed out on a few things.

Bella's Ice Cream Social

The highlight of the year for both kids was when Daddy came to be the WATCHDOG!

A special program they do at the school to promote positive male role models, any father figure can come and sign up to be a watchdog for the day and they help with announcements and lunch and recess and in classrooms and the kids of the Dad get to tag along for a lot of it. So it is a really special thing the kids have been talking about since they started at TUES. Unfortunately the spots fill up pretty fast and it is pretty hard to figure out what the work schedule will be for Dad. But this year Shea made it happen and they both couldn't have been more thrilled!

Both kids worked hard on projects throughout the year. Art masterpieces and clay pots, and storybooks, etc.

Bella in particular got really into her HABITAT project and was so proud to present it to her class. She did the tiger habitat and was very inventive as she constructed her project, I felt like I did only what I was told to help speed the process and she was even upset I helped that much. She made it clear it was HER project not mine. And she was right it was ALL HERS! And it turned out great, so proud of my little overachiever. 

Connor worked really hard on a poem, he was stressed about it for weeks. Maybe it is just my love for english and words, but it was by far my favorite of his projects. I am sure his teacher had a hand in it, as she had a hand in a lot this year. (Considering she seems on the too helpful side of teaching.) But I like to think that the heart of this poem was Connor and he proudly presented it to us multiple times. 

We also went to a few TUES events this year and hope to do even more next year. They are always fun and the kids love spotting friends. And I hope to attend as many field trips and school activities as possible as well. I know they mean the world to Bella and I probably should take advantage of the chance I have to go embarrass Connor while he'll still let me. 

It was a great year, but they are both excited for the break!

Father's Day 2019

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY! 

We are truly lucky to have such a loving Daddy in our home. He loves affection and never wants our children to feel the lack thereof. He is always thinking of ways he can be better at providing and at being a Daddy to each individual child. One thing especially special about this Daddy of ours in this era is that he loves and wants BABIES! Ha! It sounds silly but from talking to friends; I am always shocked and relieved and so overcome with love for this guy, because it seems most other men hate the baby stage or the wife is the one pushing for another child. I love that he loves babies and that he wants more. It hasn't always been easy and this past year especially was a rough one, but it makes us all the more excited for this one on the way. And Daddy can barely stop talking about how excited he is, and all the things he can do to help out and all the things baby will do. His pure joy gives me such inspiration and love for the journey of parenthood. I couldn't imagine doing it alone or with anyone else in the world. 

We both have our moments where we are just struggling but it is amazing seeing these little children teach us as they grow, even if it is just major lessons in patience. But one thing I am constantly learning from Shea as a Daddy is to be proud. Don't get me wrong, I love this growing family of ours overwhelmingly so, but in the face of the crazy public east coast vibe it is the hugest sense of relief to look over and see Shea so wrapped up in bliss as he: swings Piper in the air, or laughs at one of Sydney's jokes, or teases Connor, or compliments Bella's new outfit, he is my center. And I'll forever be grateful for that. Because this is us. And it is amazing!

...........................................................................

We had way too much fun celebrating this guy! We picked out some of his favorite treats and drinks and made sure Piper gave him "KISSES". And I finally got him a rice cooker which he has been talking about since we first got married so ... ✔
The absolute BEST part was reading the little questionnaires I gave all the kids about Daddy. They had us cracking up so hard! Piper was especially proud of hers, and by far hers was the funniest! 

Each child made a card as well and they loved showing them off to DADDY!

Sydney made a tie for Daddy at church and she was beyond proud and adamant that he wear it not just today but to work the next day. She also made sure he knew that he probably shouldn't wash it because it was like paper. 

Of course we also made sure Daddy got a fun game to play...

DON'T WAKE DADDY!

this was a childhood favorite of mine and probably more for the kids then Daddy really but it was a fun surprise and we all had fun playing it on repeat the next few days.