Baby name and our trip to Florida

I promised that when we decided on a name we'd let everyone know...so here it is: Dawson Travis. So, there you go!

About our trip...everything was perfect and amazing, except for the weather. Ironically, the majority of the reason I wanted to go to Orlando was because the average temp there this time of year is in the 70's...so when we showed up and it was freezing at night and never got above 60 until the day we left, I was pretty disappointed. In fact, on Saturday, the day we spent at Epcot, it was 40 and raining all day. I was wearing all 5 shirts I had brought and my rain jacket. Although and because the weather was miserable, we had the park to ourselves....a huge perk. And really my disappointment lasted all of 5 minutes and I was immediately so thankful that I was getting to do my favorite thing (going on a vacation with just Lee) at one of my favorite places (Disney). The first night, we drove to Tampa to see a traveling Broadway production of Wicked...my 2nd time and Lee's first. It was even better this time for me because I noticed more, and because Lee really enjoyed it!

The next day was day 1 of 2 at Disney World.

In front of Spaceship Earth...aka the Epcot ball

posing with Daisy

view of France in the World Showcase, and of the brief period we thought the clouds were breaking...no such luck; it was raining again 20 minutes later.

These character topiaries were everywhere...the details were amazing! Only at Disney!

Sunday we went to the Animal Kingdom, which is sort of like a really big zoo that also has rides and all the characters. It was also a lot of fun, and I was not at all disappointed that I didn't get to do certain things due to my delicate condition. I was happy to watch Lee do the rides. And who knows, maybe we'll get to go again someday and I can do them too. And next time we'll take the kids!

Standing in front of the 200-ft Tree of Life

After it closed at 5, we didn't want to be finished exploring...and we were getting hungry. So we went to Downtown Disney, which is not exactly a Disney park, in that it's mostly restaurants and shops and you don't have to pay to park or have a ticket to get in. We found a really cool (and delicious!) seafood restaurant that was a ship docked on a small lake...and I ate my first whole lobster....to die for! Then we headed to Ghiradelli's for dessert...my mouth waters right now as I think about that brownie sundae!

We have walls.....and snow! And a trip to Florida!

Lee and Alan have been working so hard on the bathroom...and now we have walls up and are ready to tile!! Hopefully it won't be long before we will have a 2nd toilet again!

We have another delay on the progress coming up though...and as frustrating as it is that it means our project will take even longer because of it, I'm even MORE excited to get away with Lee this weekend! We're taking an early anniversary trip to Florida! We're flying to Orlando on Friday, and when we get there we're driving straight to Tampa to see the traveling Broadway performance of Wicked...it will be my 2nd time to see it, and I can't wait to see it again and for Lee to see it. Then Saturday and Sunday we'll be back in Orlando for Disney World! I know, 2 days is not nearly long enough...I've been there. However, being 6-1/2 months pregnant, I think that's all I can handle. We're hoping to take the kids there soon, so this is also a sort of "scouting" trip...we're going to their new park called "Animal Kingdom" and also Epcot. We know they love the Magic Kingdom, and maybe we can make time for Universal Studios next time. Then we're flying home on Monday. The kids are so excited that they get to stay with cousin Joe while we're gone!!

In other news, it snowed pretty good here yesterday...and it was the GOOD snow, you know, sticky! So we got our gear on and built the biggest snowman we had the energy for (when I say we, I mean me). I know it's a little lopsided and the head is too big, but I'm pretty proud of my first snowman I've built as a mom! The kids had fun helping and playing in the snow.

Then we went inside, stripped off the wet clothes, and the girls warmed up in front of the fire.

bathroom update #1

I know it doesn't look like much has changed....but there are a few good reasons: 1. Lee has been out of town for work, eliminating several days of work. 2. There have already been a handful of setbacks, which I am learning are very common with home improvement projects. 3. Most of the work done so far has been plumbing and electrical updates, as well as some new concrete to even out the floor in some areas. You can see that we have a new bathtub, and there have been some other updates/replacements in that department. Also, some electrical outlets have been added, as well as a new light and exhaust fan over the tub/toilet area. And the most recent work done was the installation of the pocket door.

Lee smoothing out the concrete
Annalee and Addie love to watch Alan work!

demo day!

Now that we have a 4th child and 2nd boy on the way, Lee and I decided it is time to make our hall bathroom more functional for our growing family. It has always been just right for us, but now that we have both boys and girls, it is time to make a couple of improvements: add a 2nd sink, and build a pocket door to allow the toilet/shower area to be blocked off. This way, more than one person can use this bathroom at a time. Unfortunately, doing these types of renovations means tearing out a lot; and we decided to just gut the whole room. I'll admit I was very happy to say good-bye to the whole 1950's look.

Before pictures:
(Just imagine: the original look had a turquoise tub/toilet/sink, and the wall paper had bright pink & turquoise seashells)

Yesterday was demo day. I knew what to expect, what it would look like, but to see it in person was something else. I left with the kids in the morning and was gone for about 12 hours. This is what we came home to:

I really wasn't expecting to see the back side of my fireplace!

I'm pretty sure the ceiling, tub, and window are the only things that remain from the day before. So, we will be a 1-bathroom family for a little while, but I am really excited to see what the finished product will like. We've already chosen all the new materials & tile...we're going with neutral, earth tones. I'll update with progress pictures as we go.

not much to report...

Things have been fairly uneventful around here, with the exception of a nasty stomach virus that has been plaguing us for 2 weeks. I think we're all finally over it, but it's taken everything in me just to stay above water around here. Needless to say, I haven't picked up the camera in that time, but I do have a few things to share from the last couple of days, see below.

We also got to keep our nephew, Joe, last weekend, which was a lot of fun for everyone...although he probably only associates me with Lysol disinfecting spray, since I followed everyone around the whole time trying to minimize his exposure to our plague. Lee and I also got a taste of what it will be like to have 4 kids...and I'm happy to say it wasn't that different from 3, actually!

The most exciting thing we've been doing is going through the application and interview process at MCA...and we now officially have a kindergartner! It's a little surreal to me, but I can't be more thrilled...and I know Annalee will love it!

So here are the few moments I've been able to capture since my last post:

I love watching Brady read to himself, because he always sits in this chair and uses his foot as a pedestal.

Playing a game with Daddy.
Addie reading to Brady

Sonogram results

Lee and I got to find out today that the baby is a BOY! (So I guess we are now advocates for the Intelligender test, as it also told us at 12 weeks that it's a boy.) The sonogram technology is so much better, even since I was pregnant with Brady, that we were able to see and learn more about the baby and its anatomy today. To sum it up, I feel so blessed to say that the baby is perfectly healthy and is measuring just right for where we are in the pregnancy.

No we don't have a name yet, but we do have a list of 5 names we are considering. We hope to decide soon and will share it with everyone when we do.

We also got to schedule my c-section...it will be Friday, May 21st.

Needless to say, Lee and I are extremely excited to have another baby, and for Brady to have a brother so close in age (20 mo), just as the girls are so close (15 mo). God has truly been gracious to us. That's all the baby news for now. :)

my favorite decade

When I realized this morning that today was December 31st, at first I blew it off. "New Year's Eve. Big deal. I haven't stayed up to celebrate in years, and I won't this year. It's just another day."

But then I really started pondering, and continued throughout today, all the amazing and incredible experiences I've had this year as well as the previous 9; thus the title of this entry: "my favorite decade". My life before the year 2000 was full of tons of wonderful experiences and blessings too, for which I'm grateful...most importantly the day I became a Christian (January 10, 1997). But now I really want to share with you some of my favorite things I've gotten to do over the past 10 years:

-2000: I graduated from Texas Tech. I got to work a 3rd summer at Camp Travis, a Christian sports camp on Lake Travis (and where I met Lee). I got my first "real" job as a teacher/coach at Brenham Junior High. Lee proposed on December 6th.
-2001: I got to marry the love of my life! Lee and I bought our first house, our first dog, and I began working at MCA. I started the MCA Cross Country program.
-2002: We met some of our dearest friends, Cameron and Christin, who had just moved back to the states after a year-long Campus Crusade for Christ stint in Estonia. We were chaperons for David's senior trip to Arizona. We got to be a part of Travis and Megan's wedding that summer. I completed my second (and last) full marathon in San Antonio.
-2003: Travis and Megan moved across the street from us. Two big trips with Lee's family....to Greece and Rome in May, then Christmas in California...visiting Dennis & Jan, Yosemite, Big Trees, and Disneyland.
-2004: We were the chaperons Becky's senior trip to Arkansas and Missouri.
-2005: I had my first baby! We got to see Luke & Lindsy get married in Idaho.
-2006: My friends threw a surprise party for my 30th birthday party. We got to go to Seattle and Canada (first time for both of us). The Dunn sisters went on our first annual Sisters' Weekend. I had Addie! Less than 2 weeks later, both my boys and girls Cross Country teams won the State Meet...the only year to do so, also the only year I didn't attend State. We went to Vail for Christmas.
-2007: Lindsy had Josiah, our first nephew!! Lee and I went to New York for our anniversary. The girls got to go to their first annual Nana Camp.
-2008: Annalee placed her faith in Jesus! We traveled with Lee's family and a few friends from church to Israel. I had Brady! Mary Kathryn and Tim got married.
-2009: We got to take the girls to Sea World and Disneyland. Wally & Micah got married. God blessed us with a 4th baby (gender to be determined by sonogram in 4 days). Becky & Keith got engaged.

We have truly enjoyed sharing our lives with all of you. We look forward to what God has in store for us, as well as you, in the next 10 years. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Christmas program

Annalee's Pre-school Christmas program was on Tuesday, and it was so cute! She was an angel, and below you will see a picture of her with her friends Lane (dressed as Mary) and Skyler (the Christmas star). It is really neat watching her start to develop friendships at such a young age. She has actually known Lane since birth, as her parents are some of Lee's and my best friends and we also live across the street from each other. Skyler is a friend she met last year in Pre-school, and will hopefully continue to be a friend as she grows up; she also plans to attend MCA starting next year. Can you believe Annalee will start Kindergarten in just 9 months?!?

Annalee is the 2nd angel

Annalee, Lane, Skyler

Addie's class also celebrated Jesus' birthday on Tuesday, and the kids were allowed to ice their own cupcakes. As you can see, she clearly takes after me in that she licked off all the icing, took a couple of bites, then threw away the cupcake!

SNOW!

Last Friday it snowed here in Midland for the first time in 2 years, and for all intents and purposes (that was for you, Tim W.) it was the first time ever for the girls; since they don't remember when it snowed 2 years ago. Of course, Annalee and Addie LOVED it! Brady, not so much. But once he realized he could eat it, he was content.After playing for an hour or so, we went back inside for some monkey bread and hot chocolate, breakfast of champions!

a few pics

Our 4th annual group photo with the Smiths and Voskamps...trying to get a decent picture with all our kids was like herding cats!

The girls got their faces painted at the Midland Bible Church Fall Festival.

What Brady does under Uncle Luke's supervision:

My little reindeer: