Feed The Chipmunks!

Since baby girl is taking  her time, I am going to slowly start making our way through our summer traveling pictures and depending how long she takes, will depend on the number of posts so.... here we go!

First, we LOVED our drive/move from Indiana to Oregon. We went out of the way to see friends and family and special places. Even though it probably added on 15 hours or so, we enjoyed 95% of the driving and that is pretty monumental for Bryce and I....as we. hate. driving.

But our country is SO beautiful, I literally stared out the window in awe the entire time. It also helped that our boys did unbelievably amazing on the trip. We sure lucked out!

After visiting my aunt in Montana (yes, sorry. I'm not going in chronological order here), she insisted that we take the path through Bear Tooth Mountain. It wasn't on the initial agenda but we are SO glad we did. And this is why.... we took nearly 2 weeks for our journey, I wanted to be able to be flexible and enjoy it!  She also told us to bring sunflower seeds for the chipmunks. We weren't sure what she meant but Brycen quickly fell in love.

At the very top of the gorgeous drive up, there is a perfect pit stop. That so happens to be inhabited by a TON of chipmunks.

Who knew just what to do!

Crazy, right??

The boys giggled and loved every minute (almost an hour and a half! We have some awesome videos of it). Going back into the van was a struggle after such an experience.

Oh, how I loved the scenery!

Cian went through a stage of being really into pictures or REALLY not.

Afterwards, Brycen declared that feeding the chipmunks is his favorite thing in the world! And he immediately wanted to know if Oregon had any.

After somehow managing to bribe the kids to get back in the van since we did have a reservation that night, we started driving down the other side of the mountain---and found a piece of Ireland. Or so Bryce says.

I've never been (to Ireland) but if it is anything like this, I sure want to one day! It was such a treat for the both of us to see and drive through.

Not a day goes by that Brycen asks to go back and feed the chipmunks. He has actually become obsessed with feeding any animals. He loves to give our cat treats (as long as she is willing to eat it out of his hand), and he has a whole bag of acorns collected for the day that he can hand feed some squirrels--since we have had not much luck finding too many any chipmunks.

So when I went to Back to School Night last week and saw this:

I couldn't help but laugh SO hard. And then wonder what his teacher thinks of our awesome kid :)

Welcome Home Elder Shields! Shower and waiting.

My baby brother Sr (or second to youngest brother) returned home after his 2 year mission in the Philippians! He agrees, we DO have the most comfortable guest bed.

My parents went to pick him up and on their way home, they had a 7 hour nap layover in Portland. Brycen stayed home from school and we were able to pick them up from the airport and bring them back to our house for lunch. Elder Shields was fascinated driving through "quiet and clean" Portland (compared to Filipino cities). He also couldn't get over how much Brycen and Cian have grown--2 years is huge! He was very tired but it was sure a treat to be able to see him.

So, remember my awesome neighbor across the street? Well, like 2 weeks after I moved in, she insisted that she was throwing me a baby shower. Not knowing her well, and not wanting to offend, I tried to tell her nicely that I DID NOT want a shower. Especially for my 3rd little guy and the fact that I hate being the center of attention and the whole opening presents thing........not my thing! But she did it and it happened 48 hours after we found out that we are having a girl! Having a more valid excuse, made it a bit more okay for me, but still--out of my comfort zone. Ladies from both the neighborhood and ward (lots I didn't know!) came and were so kind. Among the gifts, several pitched in to buy me the above Ergo carrier!! Isn't it adorable?? I can not wait to use it. And I still can't wrap my head around the kindness of strangers, hopefully soon, to become not so strangers.

The ducks at the library. The boys actually went on their first Father/Son campout the night this picture was taken. They did great! And I enjoyed 5 hours of kid free errands... and then a few movies while I cleaned , cooked, and wrote 'Thank You' cards. I have this terrible thing that I don't sleep when home alone.

The boys have this nice crazy habit of waking up before I would like to, in the morning.

This specific morning, they worked together to play Brycen's homework game. Isn't that awesome??

Cian loves having cousins near by. This particular cousin is only a month younger. It is SO fun to see them play. Side note: Cian's collision with the cement was worn proudly for nearly a week on that forehead of his, poor guy!

FHE to Bullwinkle's! (Kind of like Chuck E Cheese but with a few more activities). We arrived to use our free passes that our neighbor gave us since they weren't going to use them and then someone gave us their passes when we arrived--boy, did we luck out! The frog hopper was an adventure, Cian loved the up part but HATED the sudden hopping down.

But the "car racing" was a favorite!

Pregnancy Update: 38 weeks and still going strong. So strong that I dilated from 2cm down to 1! Confused yet? Me too. Baby girl is apparently not ready... I DO want her to be ready. I just hate missing all the family fun. My brother is giving his homecoming talk TODAY and my sister is getting married in 11 days. So much going on! I'm so excited for them and us, but why at the same time?

Our Family's First....

1. Tube Ride

This past weekend, we were able to visit our newest Walker cousin (we LOVE being close to family. Baby Evelyn, 10 days old--I forgot to take a picture!!) and then her crazy! wonderful parents invited us to join them on the river for one last boat ride of the season. Yes, baby Evelyn (and Mommy) came along too! It made my sister's wedding in October look like cake walk. All assuming....alot, you know...that the baby is born by then.

A boat ride? Cian. was. in. heaven.

Check out the scenery! GORGEOUS day.

And the tube quickly became Brycen's heaven.

Laughing with the girls and wanting to go "FASTER".

Our CIAN even tried it out! We took it a bit slower but man, he not only: wanted to try it but, he did and loved it.

I'm not going to lie. I was completely okay with pulling the pregnancy card on this one. The tube..... not my kind of thrill.

And then back at home, I spent days washing all the baby clothes and pulling out the goodies.

And the nursery got set up and I was feeling really good last night, about how ready we were!

 I then woke up this morning and took these cute boys to their Aunt's house to play.

While Bryce was fortunate enough to be able to leave work and come with me to my 37 week appointment and ultrasound (I am SO glad he did). Apparently, switching doctors at 36 weeks and having such different previous deliveries gave my doctor a reason to schedule one for me and I was not going to complain! An opportunity to see baby? Yes please. As well as you know, double check that gender thing.

2: Sister!

Our 80% chance of another boy (based solely on one ultrasound technician that "thought" he saw something), turned out to be a baby GIRL the whole time!!

Brycen's: reaction: "How does a boy become a girl?"
Excellent question...
But he is so excited. As is Cian (even though I'm not sure he fully comprehends or has all along) and as is ....Dad. Dad is already scouting out the nearest gun stores to polish up and have on hand for her dating years. And Mommy is totally excited that Bucky is no longer in the running for a name. I asked Brycen if we should still call her "Bucky" (Brycen and Cian's choice for baby brother's name that they told....everyone) and he replied, "NO WAY!"

Excellent answer. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Bucky is a great name. Just not for me...and our kids' fascination with "Jake and the Neverland Pirates".

Can you believe it???? I still can't. I love boys but I really am beyond excited that I get to have the opportunity to have a baby girl!!

And that Bryce can no longer call me crazy for collecting a few girl items over the years.

AHHH!! Pinch me now.

Other details: She is healthy. Crazy active. Is bigger than most babies at this gestational age but not huge like Biggest Brother. Thank goodness! Has an adorable nose and pair of lips. And gets the hiccups 12 times a day. 

As for me:  I'm 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. And crazy uncomfortable.

Basically, she could come any day or she couldn't The joy and mystery of pregnancy....and I am loving it.

Finding Hidden Treasures

With Brycen now in Kindergarten, I'm trying to enjoy this month I have with just my Cian boy. Yesterday, we had playgroup at a local splash park. I know splash parks are becoming quite common in a lot of states but for some reason, not in Indiana. I think they are rather brilliant really. Cian bounced between the water, the sand box, and the playground--he loved it all.

 

Now this picture is huge because normally Cian is not the splashing kind of guy. But he is surprising us everyday, we really have no idea what he will and will not do anymore. Like climb to the top of the spiderweb that is ON the merry-go-round (who thinks of these things??) and then barely hang on and say, "Faster faster Mommy!" Which makes me wonder if I'm cut out with a heart to be a mother of all boys...

 

We are moving up in Oregon and got our very own library card. Not only is the library huge (they sell donuts IN it!) and the kids love their play area and watching the crazy automated system they have to check books in and out, and Mommy loving reserving the free local attractions pass for our visitors next week--there is a gorgeous pond behind it. Brycen can not believe that I didn't have bread on hand to feed the ducks. After all, the Mommy bag is kinda like the Mary Poppins bag, right?

Well 36 weeks is here and I am loving the fact that A) my ankles haven't swollen...yet...and B) I can still paint my toe nails. Not comfortably or nicely, might I add (just a little goal I have to see how long I can). And then I woke up this morning and Brycen exclaimed, "Mommy, your belly is so big, your shirts can't cover it anymore!" Yup, I am outgrowing my pregnancy clothes. I feel like with pregnancy, you need like 3 sets of sizes--one for each trimester or something. Some are just too big for an earlier on belly and some are just too small for a later on belly...and I am apparently in need of that 3rd set. Regardless, that is one awesome way to wake up in the morning.

Our Thursday

Well, Brycen officially started school! He has been asking for Kindergarten to start since May and has been so excited. He is our social butterfly and I'm the one finding it hard to let go! Even though I didn't cry...I like to thank preschool on preparing me for that one as well as the fact that it is only half day kindergarten.

We agreed that Brycen can take the bus to school since it's mid day and he is riding with maybe, 5 other kindergartners. And the plan was for me to bring him home (it is a perfect 15 minute walk). I was personally, never a huge fan of the yellow limo growing up and now the idea that my 5 year old could  ride it home with 6th graders, just gives me nightmares. But when I picked him up yesterday, he said "I want to take the bus home, Mom. I'll just try it. If I don't like it, you can pick me up".

The plan is that he can "try it" on Monday.....

After school, we took the metro (called the Max) into Portland to see the circus! I think the boys look like total brothers in the above picture--which is not a comment they get a whole lot.

They did fabulous! Bus and "train" rides have always been their fascination. Speaking of which, Cian completely bawled his eyes out when he couldn't get on with Brycen to go to school yesterday.

Sadly, my phone was dying and this is the only picture I got! The boys loved the show and the talent was really, quite something. I have never seen Cian sit so well and Brycen laugh so hard. The perks of working for Intel just keep coming!

On the Max home, Cian fell asleep in my arms for the entire hour until we got home. I sure love holding my baby (ies, in this case). And as the busy metro was emptying out with each stop, Brycen and I finally found seats and he turned to dad and said, "Dad, I can sit on your lap so you can sit!". Isn't he awesome??

Speaking of not so awesome, the DMV. In order to register vehicles, get Oregon driver's licenses, and maintain our motorcycle endorsements to drive our 150cc scooter, we have spent more time and money at the DMV these past two weeks than I care to document! We are speaking more than $800 and 6 hours and 3 hits to our pride failed knowledge tests later (when you take a motorcycle test and don't exactly drive a motorcycle nor have you ever, it gets a bit more exciting...). But we have passed and don't have to go back for like 2 years. Hallelujah!