Three Princes... and a Pauper

When Joel doesn't feel well, and the boys get into my craft supplies... they have fun. :)

 And the fourth... well, since they didn't share the scissors or tape, he created his own fun :/

And for Daddy, Liam created this card, complete with his newly learned origami skills (courtesy of a classmate's demonstration presentation on Tuesday).

January Recap

Well, I thought I was going to be back with a bang. I guess it was more of a fizzle. Though everyone seems to be super excited about the upcoming arrival of our little one... still months away. Life is super busy, so I haven't taken too many pictures, but here are a few snapshots of things that have happened in our lives the past month

Creation Museum... we ditched the co-op at the beginning of the year to spend time with Joel's family in Cincinnati. Stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge (the boys now think all hotels should be that cool with bunks and water parks), and then we all went to the Creation Museum (except Tim, Beth and the three youngest Virkler boys). Of course the boys loved the dinosaurs and bugs the best.

Actually, Callum's favorite part was probably the interactive Noah. He would "ask" Noah a question using the touch screen, and Noah would answer him. He loved it and was probably there for at least 15 minutes.

Playing Ticket to Ride: First Journey (a Christmas gift to Aiden from Uncle Paul and Aunt Miranda) back at the hotel. Why wasn't Bowen disrupting the game?

Because he was trying to convince someone to take him to the water park...

 After a full day at the water park, sometimes it's nice to just chill and watch tv with Daddy.

 And if you get bored, there is always the subliminal message that you want to go BACK to the water park.

 Even the morning we were leaving, he continued to try to convince us that we could stop by for a quick visit... poor kid. It didn't work.

 We did however stop for a quick run through of the Ark Encounter. The boys loved it and want to go back. This was one of their favorite exhibits. An example of how amphibians could have survived on the ark (it was a moth and frog exhibit). 

 Callum and I found the big door. He tried to open it. It didn't work. :)

 Bowen's first haircut. I've been hesitant to have it cut, because I didn't want his curls to disappear like Liam's did after his first hair cut. But his hair was about 5inches long, so Joel chopped off a couple of inches. The curls reappear in the humidity-- or when greased up with yogurt ;)

 Unlike the other children, he didn't scream when he got his hair cut. He just sat there, looking around and exploring... and brushing his teeth.

 What happens when my children learn about World War I in school? They create their own Risk game for that time period, complete with furniture continents, and Lego armies of the Central and Allied powers. When Callum picked Germany, the boys informed him that he was Wilhelm II. They didn't bother to inform him that it meant that he would meet an untimely end as the central power. My poor nursery child was at a bit of a disadvantage. ;)

 Family fun night/ worship time. I love these evenings. They usually consist of hot cocoa or popcorn, devotions, songs and sometimes a game. Notice anything out of the ordinary?!

 When not helping Joel play the guitar, one of us likes to hide in the case :)

Back with a Bang!

I've neglected this poor blog. Sorry. Life happens, and it doesn't stop. I don't like to sit in front of the computer when my kids are up, and when they are asleep... well, I'm either sleeping, trying to catch up from the day, doing my devotions or prepping for tomorrow's academic and social mayhem. :) Such is life for a mom of four boys, I've discovered.

Let's catch up!

There has been CC and school, outdoor play and indoor play, messes and more messes. And still more messes. We've traveled to Florida with my family. We've traveled to Ohio with his family. We've tried our best to open our home to whoever wants to come by. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in November. He became a partner, and we are currently trying to survive as a family until after he has his final case review for his boards in a couple weeks. And then life will slow down and get easy... right?! ;)

Oh, and in the early fall, I started despising chocolate. And pumpkin. And we knew something was up. So after long periods of denial, while my food aversions and nausea grew worse, we took a test. And it was positive.

After reality hit that I truly was pregnant- the boys denied it for quite a bit until Aiden noticed one day, "Mom, I think you might be pregnant, because you are getting a belly." ... well, after the reality hit, they were pretty much adamant we are going to have another boy. The four of them would march around chanting, "I don't want a sister. I don't want to kiss her!" , with Bowen giggling and following behind talking in his own dialect. Joel definitely wanted a girl to be "his little princess". And me, well, I have enough drama for our family and the practical side of me likes the simplicity of not doing hair and having hand me downs every two years for my boys. People asked if we were continuing to try for a girl. Nope, God just wanted to bless us with another child. We've had mixed reviews of whether people were gunning for a girl or a boy.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Until today. Because at 19wks, I finally found myself an OB (but we may switch already... another story). And they wanted measurements. And wanted them asap. So they scheduled me an ultrasound for this morning. And Joel said we may as well find out now, because "it's the same surprise at 20 weeks as at 40". True. We had the ultrasound tech write it down and put it in an envelope, so that the boys wouldn't hear (and maybe gab) before Joel heard. I wanted to have a reveal party in Phoenix in March... so my sister could make a cake. But Joel decided tonight he couldn't wait.

Katie, you better still make me a cake. At least it doesn't have to be colored now. You know which one I want. Either brush up on your caramel skills or make sure Mike is around. ;)

So for the few loyal followers who have chosen to keep track of this blog, you shall find out first what we are having.

** I have received multiple comments from hopeful viewers, and apparently the video isn't working on most apple devices and cell phones. I guess I was somehow unknowingly involved in some nefarious scheme to make you get off of your mobile devices and use the good ole fashioned computer ;) Sorry (not sorry) for the inconvenience!