Which belly is biggest?

I'm not big on posting "belly" pictures when I am pregnant. I guess partially because most of the time when I am pregnant I just feel flabby. I have however taken a picture just before I leave for the hospital with each baby. The doc tells me this is going to be my smallest baby....I can't tell...my belly feels like it's just as big as with Rett and Ellie.

What do you think?

Rett (July 20th,2007)
Birth weight: 9 pounds

Ellie (July 14th 2009)
Birth weight: 8 pounds 8 ounces


*updated*
Ben (July 8th 2011)
Birth Weight: 8 pounds 12 ounces

4th of July at the Lake

We made it to 4th of July at the lake this year. Many didn't believe we would be there because everyone was SURE I'd have the baby early this time...before the 4th of July. But, just like my other two pregnancies...this kiddo wants to stay nice and cozy as long as possible.
The lake is really low so this year we mostly played in the baby pool, did the slip n slide, jumped in the bounce house and played indoor games because it's beastly hot. Oh, and there was also alot of drinking and fireworks involved....but I didn't really partake in either of those activities. Rett was scared of the fireworks this year. :( I did however, eat and eat and eat....there's nothing like good, home-cooked food at the lake.
I have a million pictures to share.....peruse them if you'd like. :)

Finding ways to entertain ourselves:



An Oreo in the baby pool=big mess!!!


Ellie meeting Gage...she was simply smitten with the new baby!

One of Marmie's many surprises:






The roses Troy surprised me with for our anniversary. (July 2nd)

Scrabble

Racecars and Rainbows

This past weekend we hosted Rett and Ellie's birthday party at The Little Gym...one of their favorite places. The party was a little early (about 3 weeks before their real birthdays) because we are only a week away from having another baby and the thought of hosting their birthday party just after having a baby was too overwhelming.
The theme was Racecars and Rainbows. I brainstormed many different themes that would suit a joint party for a boy and a girl: Ladybugs and Lizards, Pirates and Princesses...but Racecars and Rainbows seemed to suit their personalities/interests best.

I am a sucker for themed parties...here's what I did:
The invitation: *a sweet lady on Etsy designed it for me.*

Boys party favor:

Girls Party Favor (a rainbow hairclip that matched the ones in Ellie's pigtails)

The table setting: a blend of racecar check and rainbow snacks

In an effort to feed the kids non-messy food I served a rainbow fruit kabob, rainbow goldfish, and a M&M cookie. The fruit was the biggest hit with the kids!


Before we left for the party; where I knew it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get a good picture of the two of them!



And, Rett asked me to take this one:

The staff was so entertaining and the kids all had alot of fun. Here are a few pictures to commemorate the event:

At the party:










It's still so hard to believe that they are going to turn FOUR and TWO in a few weeks! Where has the time gone?

a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet?

I love roses! I always have. I think I get it from my mother and grandmother who also love roses. My grandmother has the most beautiful roses at her house. She has since passed away and my mom and I are keeping up the grooming of her roses. My mom and I both agree that this year they are the most beautiful they have ever been. Last time we were over there Ellie was smelling all the blooms and my mom picked one and gave it to Ellie to take home. It's in a vase on our windowsill. Maybe Ellie will love roses when she grows up too?

One of my grandmother's GORGEOUS rose bushes!

The bloom I get to look at everytime I go into my kitchen:

Giddy Up!

Okay, only have a few mins to post this....but I wanted to share how cute Rett looked this morning when I got him ready for Rodeo Days at his preschool.

Arboreteum

A few pics from the Arboreteum today. It was "tiny tots" Tuesdays so they had lots of activites geared towards preschoolers. Rett got his face painted shortly after we arrived so it kinda ruined my chances of any good springtime pictures of the kids...but there was NO LINE for face painting...so how could we pass that up?

Double Batman's-Collin and Rett



Throwing our pennies in the fountain and making a wish!

Play Ball!!!

Rett had his first T-ball game today and he did AMAZING considering he is only three years old and is playing on a team with four and five year olds. He hit the ball way into the outfield everytime he was up to bat and sprinted around the bases! He also played catcher today and did a pretty good job at that too. :) Baseball really is HIS sport. He loves watching it, playing it, and talking about it. He can tell a whopper of a story where he "hits a home run and slides into home". Which he also did today (slide into home)....just wish I had been able to get a picture of it.
Short video:


Ellie, just before we left for the game



Rett's very first up-to-bat

A BIG HIT

Running Home:

The catcher


Ellie watching Rett

The two Ellie's watching their big brothers

Good game, good game