Outnumbered

The girls are now officially outnumbered!!
Baby Boy Sowby arrived Monday, March 30th at 8:03pm. He weighed in at 7lbs 13oz and 19" long.

The Sowby Boys
Luke, Joshua, Daddy and Baby

I promised Megan and Luke he would have a name by the time they get home from school.

We'll keep you posted!

Flip-Flops = Family Time

Megan decided to be crafty on Friday night. Well, being crafty is nothing new to my kids, but inviting Ellie to participate with her was. Megan and Ellie began decorating their flip flops with material.


I went into monitor the "mess situation." (There are a few things I am very uptight about.)

Before I knew it, I had become the designated cut-and-rip the fabric-and-tie them-onto-Ellie's flip-flops-person.

Before long, Mike came in, laid on the floor close by and observed the situation. Being careful to avoid any requests for help with the ongoing project.

Luke soon joined the crowd, and quietly read a book. Then decided he wanted to be part of a "shoe project." Luke decided to make "flip flops" out of his K-Nex.

Ellie having found someone else (me!) to finish her project, made "cake" for us with the close-by toy kitchen.

All in all, it was a very pleasant evening-helped by the fact Joshua was in bed, fast asleep by 7:15pm.


Megan's comment was, "This is really fun being together as a family like this. I bet lots of families wouldn't do something like this."

It is evenings like this that I don't feel so bad, when my children join with the other voices in Primary on Sundays and sing an old Primary favorite,

"And so you see, we are a happy family."

Because, SOMETIMES, we are!

Waiting

Don't you hate those last few days of pregnancy when you feel like you're just waiting?

Waiting for a contraction.

Waiting for a baby to make it's appearance.

I'm in that stage.

I am ornery (ok-what's new?).
I am uncomfortable.
I am constantly hungry.

BUT, I am trying to enjoy these last few days of pregnancy, as we are planning on this being the last.

To lighten the mood-enjoy these. I'm not typically an internet shopper-but I may have to make a purchase on Etsy. These made me LAUGH.

So true...
And yes, I have a kid(s) that shall remain nameless that could honestly wear this one:

Irony.

Last night Mike had a fancy awards banquet to go to. It included an expensive meal, wearing a suit and tie, and an open bar. (Ok-so he didn't benefit from that part.)

While he was enjoying his night on the town with some of the State's best construction/landscape contractors, I had a sandwich and Cheetos at the 'Fire Station Park' with my four children.

After all the kids were in bed (well, all but one), Mike arrived home and excitedly told me that he was asked to go up to the front and accept the award on behalf of his company.

The award was for . . .

(click to enlarge)

Safety in 2008!?!?!

Did nobody hear about MY summer last year???????

Shouldn't I have received an award for SOMETHING??

Elite Members of Society or Plain and Simple Rednecks?

This picture was taken at 8:15am on a Saturday morning. The kids (Ellie, Jacob, Luke and Joshua) were dressed, ready to begin their "hunting for deer" outside "in the mountains."

Now, my issue with all of this isn't the early hour, or even the imaginary activity of shooting animals. I don't even have a problem that Jacob and Ellie are wearing their pajamas under the overalls. You want to know what my issue is?

The fact that of all the redneck clothing you see in the picture, FOUR pair of overalls (3 camouflage), 3 camouflage hats, a raccoon hat, cowboy boots, camouflage shirt, camouflage backpack... I DON'T BELIEVE I PURCHASED ANY OF THOSE ITEMS!!

See the cute princess pajama top under the overalls, or the cute pink toed socks-now those I will take credit for.

But let me tell you my real issue.

My father.

He is frequently telling me that in England, hunting is considered a very upper-class sport, typically reserved for the wealthy and more elite members of society-especially Royalty.

Now does he say this to make me feel better about what my son is turning my family into, or does he say it to justify the fact that he and my mother purchased several of the items in the above photo?! And really, no matter how he tries to sugar coat it, "hunters" here in our society, are not usually considered the "elite members of society" now are they?

And yes, this is my sweet little 23 month old dressed completely in camouflage, shooting a cap gun and making the appropriate sound effects. (Note the size 5T coat, insisted upon by big brother, because one "couldn't play" without full camouflage clothing.)


I'll have you know, Joshua's big brother, my dear Luke, was not even allowed to play with toy guns at that age, let alone own anything resembling redneck clothing!

What have the last few years turned my family into?

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig!

I really think I should start sending each child away for 6 days on a regular basis. Megan returned last night from Washington DC, and immediately the kids were all so kind to each other, both in word and deed. And still this morning, Luke was running around helping Megan get ready for school??????

I know it won't last too long, so I really need to hurry and find a place for one of my other children to go for six days.

Really though, kneeling together for family prayer last night, I truly was thankful we were together again as a family. And I know it is the mother in me, that slept better last night than the previous six nights, simply because we were all home together, safe and sound.


In Megan's own words, the synopsis of her trip is,

"I really think I am much smarter for having gone."