Update Time

Finding time to Blog has become impossible since we added child number 3. I feel like I'm always running a million different directions. I've decided I'm once again way overdue on updating everyone on what our family has been up to, plus I'm procrastinating packing for our trip so here we go:

McKinley
Mckinley started back up at private school in September. We'd planned on switching her to public school this year but couldn't. She's made such great progress at the montessori she's going to that we hated pulling her out. She's loving being able to read and write, and she's always making me cards or writing/illustrating stories for me. McKinley is doing ballet again and is very excited about performing in the Nutcracker. She's also taking piano lessons and will be having her first recital next month. Poor kid has been super busy with school and her extra activities. Whenever she's got down time she likes to play with her sister. Her and Annabelle have become such cute little buddies... I love it!


Annabelle

Annabelle also started school in September. We hadn't planned on starting her so young but she was struggling having her sister gone all day. Our neighbor does a little preschool for a couple hours a week and was willing to include Annabelle. Its been a great way for her to get out of the house and socialize with other kids during the week. Annabelle also has been taking gymnastics and is doing really well. She's the youngest kid in her class but picks up on things so quickly. I'm always blown away at how much natural talent Annabelle has, she is good at whatever she tries... Lucky Kid!



Gavin
Gavin is still the cutest little boy ever. At 5 months he started scooting around and was into everything. He realized that the wood floors were slick and learned how to slither across them very quickly, but then would crawl when he was in the carpeted rooms. Now he crawls everywhere and is starting to pull himself up on things...freaks me out. He also had his first 2 teeth come in at 5 months, but since then the teething has been unproductive. He likes to play with his sisters most of the time. Annabelle seems to be his best frenemy, either she's making him laugh or she's making him cry. Last week we had Gav in the hospital with croup, poor little guy has been really sick for the past few weeks. He's finally starting to get healthy and we're excited to take him to Disney World for the first time.
Brett has been really busy at work and is looking forward to a vacation, and we're looking forward to having some fun time with our daddy. I've been really busy juggling 3 kids, school, dance, gymnastics, and everything else we've got our kids involved in. It will be nice to get away from school/work/home for a little while and just enjoy being together as a family. And of course the best place to do that is Disney World, by the time we've spent 2 weeks there I'm sure we'll all be ready to get back to our crazy, busy lives.

Family Pics

We're way past due on updating our blog and even more past due on family pictures. My friend at the turquoise frame took some really cute pics for us and here are some of our favorites.

Summer Rundown

I can't believe summer is half over. We wait all year for this nice weather and then I feel like we're running so fast in so many different directions that its over before we realize it started. So here's a rundown on whats been keeping us so busy this summer.
McKinley
We started the summer with her ballet recital. She was so excited to perform on stage, and she did awesome!
Next we moved on to t-ball. It was her first year playing and she did really good.

Once T-ball was over we started riding lessons. Kinley is just as nuts about riding horses as her dad and she has been looking forward to this all year. I can't believe how well she is doing, and she loves every minute of it.

McKinley also ended the school year by losing her first tooth. When annabelle saw that she got money from the tooth fairy for losing her tooth she started wiggling her own:)

Annabelle
Annabelles main job has been cheering for her sister because she's still to little to be involved in most of the summer sports. Bella was completely potty trained for 2 weeks until she got a stomach bug. Its now on hold again until we have the time and patience to re-address the subject. Annabelle was able to start riding lessons with Kinley and is soooo excited.


Gavin
We're still discovering his little personality. He's a super happy baby who loves to be carried aroun and given ALL of your attention. We recently took him in for his 4 month check-up and besides being healthy he's grown almost 6 inches since he was born. He's 95% for height and 30% for weight, which also makes him our chunkiest baby.
Gavin is also taking riding lessons, when we can get his sister out of his horse.


In the past month gavin has discovered his feet, and has them in his mouth whenever possible. He's also figuring out how to grab things and play with toys, which has made his saucer a big hit.

due to all the growling and chewing he's doing right now you'd think i'd given birth to a puppy, but the poor kid is trying hard to get his first teeth.


This year we purchased a season pass to bear world and have been atleast once a week since we got it. Annabelle calls it "Bear Disney World" and would go every day if I'd take her.



We also had an enjoyable 4th of July. Of course we went to the parade and then had a BBQ with family, and spent the evening at the Rexburg rodeo. Unfortunately we hadn't registered Kinley for mutten busten ahead of time so instead we let her ride the mechanical bull that was there...What a Cowgirl!


Besides our regular trips to Bear World, we also are regulars at the Zoo (Hogle and Tauphus Park). We've taken a couple trips to Utah to visit family, visited Yellowstone Park, and had lots of fun with our friends and family. I thought that summer was when you get your R&R, but I'm realizing that isn't how it goes. OH Well! We're having a busy, fun summer, and when school starts we'll probably all be ready for the break :)

Baby Update

Almost 2 months ago we were blessed with the most perfect little boy. I've done a terrible job updating everyone on our new addition, but a lot has happened in our family. Gavin and I both had some complications during the delivery but we recovered quickly and were able to go home after a few days. Within 48 hours of being home I became really sick and was re-admitted to the hospital. I had an infection in my uterus and they had to take me back in for another operation. I was in the hospital for about a week and a half. Then I went home with an IV in and was on antibiotics and other medications for another 2 weeks. Its been a long slow recovery, and every time I felt like I was getting better I would start getting sick again. I'm finally starting to feel a lot better and I'm on, what I hope is, my last round of antibiotics...knock on wood!
In spite of all of the problems we are loving having our little GavMan, and we're just so grateful that at least he is healthy. He is such a sweet and patient little baby, which is nice because we constantly find little Annabelle laying on top of him. His sisters are both crazy about their new brother, but Annabelle is definitely the most hands on ;0)
We finally got some pictures of our little guy and his 2 cute sisters, so enjoy the photo album that follows.









I'm sorry about all the sideways pictures, apparently I'm still not quite smart enough to use our computer...GRRRR!