It's a girl.....

We had our ultra-sound today. After months of speculation, and all our family and friends guessing whether the baby was a boy or a girl. She is a girl!

Ryan and I are excited! The kids are split, half happy, half bummed. But the only way to have made all the kids happy was to have twins, one boy and one girl, then Mom wouldn't have been happy. So, it is what it is and we are excited. We just wanted a healthy baby, and so far everything looks great!

Okay... I'm trying to lose the 'tude

My last post was a little negative... I 'm sorry, I am trying to feel better about things.

On a VERY positive note, we heard the baby's heart beat Thursday. It was thrilling and a big reality check all at the same time. First, I was so happy to hear it, I can't explain the feeling and then, my next reaction was, " Oh my gosh, we are really having a baby!" But, it is a very good sign that all is well.

Well, this is a first! (Well, ... practically)

I am out of work for the 2nd time in 21 years of working as an adult.
Today was my second day officially out of work, and I must say, staying home will take some getting used to. I spent over an hour filling out applications for financial assistance (with the baby on the way and all.) After a 20+ page application, I spent 33 minutes on hold, then another 40 minutes talking to a guy with marbles in his mouth, about why we make too much money to get assistance. (Are you kidding me?) 8 people in our house, plus one on the way (that they count) and two adults on unemployment make too much money? SERIOUSLY?
The only other time I was ever laid off, Sadie was not quite 3 months old, and I would have made more money on unemployment, because I wouldn't have the expense of daycare. At that time, I felt it was unfortunate that I got a job in a couple of weeks.
This time, I really don't know how I feel. If getting a job would make my income too high to qualify for financial aid, that would almost be a detriment, but if I got a job that had insurance to cover pre-existing conditions, it would be a blessing. Who knows?
I guess I'll have to trust that the only one who knows, will take care of things!

Expecting

Just wanted to see who checks our blog. We are going to have a Baby in April. We are excited and old!

Back to School... and REALITY

Here are our First Day of School, walking out the door pictures...












School started over a week ago, the craziness of life with 6 kids has resumed.

Only 5 of the 6 are in school currently. But, we are still plenty busy!

Chloe graduated from high school this year and is workling and saving up to get back into college next semester.

Grant is in 9th Grade and Hayley is in 8th Grade at the middle school. Darby is in 7th Grade at the intermediate school. Zack is in 5th Grade and Sadie is in 4th Grade at the elementary school.

Besides school, we have Dance, Musicals, Scouts, Young Women's, Activity Days, etc. etc. etc.

It begins again...

Today I got my first call of the 2011-2012 school year.
The kids aren't in school yet, but I missed something on Darby's registration, and sure enough the ID on my phone pops up, "Fossil Ridge." It seems that almost daily, well at least weekly, one of the kids' schools' pops up on caller ID for forgotten assignments, forgotten lunches, sick little ones, injured little ones, the list goes on and on.
I'm not sure I'm ready for the new school year, busy schedules, dance, scouts, etc. but it's coming anyway.
August 15th, 6:00 a.m. here we go again!

Weekend...

This past weekend was GREAT! We did not go anywhere, we did not do anything spectacular, but it was nonetheless fabulous! I think Ryan and I spent almost every hour together sans the Relief Society/Priesthood block of church meetings.
The few weeks we get every summer to be 'newlyweds' are so much fun, and so needed.
Most couples starting out have time alone together, to get to know each other, adjust to each others idiosyncrasies, and get to know their children one-by-one, etc. But, as a newly married couple with 6 kids, there wasn't time for any of that. Subsequently, I enjoy any time to have Ryan all to myself. As much as I love the kiddos, I treasure time with Ryan alone.
Weekends like this past one help me remember why we signed up for all the craziness.

And you thought I had died...

I had been toying with the idea of bagging the blog thing altogether, but I was kindly reminded that people really liked to keep up with out little 'Brady Bunch' family and see pictures, etc.

So, here are a couple of pictures and a little narrative of the past weekend.
We had the first ever Silas & Nellie Party this past weekend, it was a HUGE SUCCESS!

It was great to see Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and all the little ones and not-so little ones.

These are the Grand children and spouses,











and, these are the Great-Grand-kids and Great-Great-Grand-Kids That were there Saturday after dinner.














It was SUCH a good time! The kids all had fun together.
Overall it really couldn't have been much better!