I'm In Love!!!

My brother-in-law brought it to my attention this weekend that I might be a little too outwardly expressive about the fact that I think my baby boy is the cutest thing. I can't help it. I am totally in love with this kid. When he's asleep at night, I want to wake him up just to see him smile. I don't know if it's the fact that he's my only little boy or if he's my first singleton, but I admit it, we have a special connection. I love him to pieces and I apologize for my outward expressions, but I can't help it! (This picture is pretty outdated, it's from Feb. He's changed a lot, now he has a lot more teeth)

Lagoon Trip

We had a blast this weekend at Lagoon for our Neider Family Reunion. We started off the weekend at the park on Friday going on all the rides. The girls started a little timid but by the end of the 2 days they were going on all the huge rollercoasters. We were shocked at how brave they were. We did the Lagoon A Beach on Saturday and they loved the waterslides and just enjoying the sun. Both days they stayed at the park until super late with their cousins and Dad. DJ and I were always in the first group to go back to the hotel. I forgot how tired it can be walking around a lot when your 5 months pregnant. I did pretty good! I was a little sad to not be able to go on any of the rides. DJ and I did get to enjoy the lazy river! I took a lot of video, but hardly any pictures. I think it was too hot and I was too tired to think about taking lots of picturs. Donevan raced the Dragster Cars and had a blast! We had a wonderful weekend. It was really fun for the kids to hang out with their cousins. Thanks Margo and Kenny for planning such a great time!

Just a little update since I haven't been that great with my blogging lately. I sure find time to read everyone elses though. I love reading blogs....I wish all my friends and family had one...no pressure!

Today I had my big 20 week ultrasound. It went great and it's still a girl. I saw her cute little profile and she stretched her legs and hands out for me to see. What an amazing thing. Everything else looked great on the ultrasound and I am feeling really good. I'm only nauseous in the morning. I can handle that! It looks like little Emma will arrive around Halloween time. That sounds so far away, but so far this summer is flying by!

So we are off to a little family reunion in the morning. We are going to Lagoon (an amusement park) for the weekend with Donevan's family. I am excited for the kids to play with their cousins and to just get away for a few days. I'm sure I will have fun pictures and stories to share when we return.

We are really looking forward to next week...the 4th or July. It is our favorite time of year! We love the 4th in Idaho Falls. It's so small town, but with some great fireworks. The girls are thrilled that they are going to be in the parade this year for cheer! BTW, I put them in cheer this summer and they LOVE it!

My most exciting news to share is that I got DJ off his bottle. I was nervous about this because I am such a softy with my little boy and I can't handle when he's upset. It only took 2 days and now he loves his sippy cup. Hopefully when Emma comes he will have totally forgotten about his bottle.

Hope everyone is doing well and have a great weekend!

30!

Yesterday was a super day! Happy 30th to me! I am embracing this new decade. We had a fun party last night with lots of friends. Thanks to everyone for coming and for each of your friendships! I sure love ya! I did miss being with extended family yesterday, but I was happy to get lots of voice mails, emails and phone calls. I think I can handle this 30 thing...it's the 5 kids that is making me feel old.

A Post From Donevan

Happy birthday to my sweet wife! I can’t believe she is 30 and is getting old on me. Here is a list of things I love the most about my Wife.

C – Charismatic. She has a fun and captivating personality that is fun to be around. There is something about Christine that draws people to her and they love to be around her.

H - Hottie! Enough said.

R – Real. What you see is what you get with my wife. She is very genuine and true.

I – Interesting. I love coming home and spending time with Christine. There is never a dull moment with her in my life.

S – Service. She is one of the most service oriented people I know. That is very difficult for a mother of four who is prego, but she always is doing all she can for others.

T – Thoughtful. Christine is so thoughtful of others and reminds me daily to be the same.

I – In love. She always makes me feel loved and I have never questioned how much she cares about me.

N - Neat. Christine loves a clean and kept house.

E – Eternal. It is her and I for eternity. There isn’t anyone I would rather be with.


Happy birthday and I love you.

Donevan

It's A Girl!

It's official. We had an ultrasound and it looks like we're having a GIRL. We are really excited and surprised. I really thought it was going to be a boy, but it didn't take long for me to start thinking pink! We already have a name picked out. She is going to be our baby EMMA.

Spring Ballet Production: The Wizard Of Oz

The Spring Ballet Production the girls were in this year was The Wizard of Oz. It was a great show and they were butterflies in the show! They had 2 performances, Fri. and Sat. night and practices every night this week. It's been busy, but always worth it when I see them on stage.
The girls with a few of their Butterfly friends!
Sisters who are always goofing around.

But they can be serious too...when I make them.
Ashleigh and Caitley's favorite part of the show is that they get to wear makeup. After two dress rehearsals and two performances, I am tired of putting on makeup! :) They sure look beautiful though. Brittany would prefer not to wear it, so she didn't think it was fun to pose for me, therefore I didn't get any close ups of her with her makeup :(

I LOVE this picture below of Caitley!
Grandma and Grandpa are always such great supporters....the girls loved their flowers too!!!
Their B.FF. Gracie was able to come to the Saturday night show. They were so excited to have her there and I think she really enjoyed the show! She brought her stuffed dog (toto) in support. So cute!

Remember our Memorial Day Camping Trip. Here is the picture of our friends camper that had to be jacked up by a tractor. Check out the back wheels off the ground on the tractor. Crazy!

Another McLean Grad!

I just got my nieces Graduation Announcement in the mail. I was so excited to get it, but so sad that I won't be there to see her on her big day. Their ceremony is being held at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. How cool is that! I love you Brooke and I am so proud of you. It feels like just yesterday that I was graduating from McLean High. Red and Gray All The Way...Go Highlanders!!!!!!

2 Major Discoveries Yesterday!

There have been 2 things bugging me lately. But alas, I found out my answers.

1. Why has my little DJ been so clingy? Is his personality changing because he's getting older? Is my golden child not so golden anymore? Ughhh!!!

Well after weeks of losing sleep over this issue I finally figured it out yesterday. While DJ was screaming his head off I noticed something white in the way back of his mouth. It can't be. He doesn't have all his teeth in the front yet. Sure enough, it's a huge moler in the way back slowly creeping it's way through the gum. Now I can sleep better at night knowing he is still my golden boy!

2. Why are my flowers that I planted a few weeks ago in my flower bed not making it? Did I plant too early? Has the weather been too cold for them? All that money down the drian. Ughhh!!

It dawned on me yesterday that I overheard Donevan telling someone that because of all the rain that we've gotten that he hasn't had the sprinklers on in a few weeks. This never happens in Idaho. We are usually so dry that our sprinklers are going off twice a day. So yesterday, it occured to me that because the sprinklers were turned off, so were my flower bed soakers. No wonder those poor flowers are dying. They haven't been getting any water. I will slowly nurse them back to life. Here's hoping for a miracle.

I know what you're thinking. Duuuh Christine, right!!! Yeah, pretty much I agree.

This Past Week!

We had a very fun and busy week. After getting home from our Memorial Weekend Camping Trip, I did about 20 loads of laundry, cleaned dozens of dirty shoes, cleaned out the trailer, and packed again for another trip. We traveled down to Utah for my niece Megan's Graduation from H.S. Donevan wasn't able to go (someone has to work to pay for all these trips). He was very disappointed to miss Megan's big day. It was very exciting to see Megan all grown up and looking forward to her college plans. She got some wonderful gifts including luggage from both sets of grandparents, a laptop from her parents and their family is off to Cancun next week. (I am so jealous) Congratulations Megan! We are so proud of you!

I got home late Friday night from Utah. Saturday morning we had a soccer game. It was the teams first loss. Donevan took it well. He is very emotionally invested in these kids. So cute! We spent the rest of the day working in the yard. We put the waterslide up and had all the neighborhood kids over again. So fun- love it! Donevan mowed the lawn while I worked in the flower beds. I got new soil pep and freshened up my beds a little bit. It's amazing how much better they look with the dark soil. Last year at the end of summer, I brought my big geranium pots in and have watered them all winter long. They got really huge and are starting to blossom. They were looking great until I took them outside yesterday. I hope they make it. They are so big and pretty, but I think they are in total shock with the heat.

Today has been a wonderful Sunday. We have had a relaxing morning and the girls watched D.J. so that I could sleep in. We'll go to church this afternoon and come home and BBQ dinner. This week is a super busy one for us. The girls have their big ballet productions Fri. and Sat. evenings. The have dress rehearsals and tech rehearsals every other evening this week. They are also looking forward to their new cheerleading/gymnastics class they start on Tuesday. I'm off for now, I hope everyone has a wonderful week.