Here is Dane riding his bike without training wheels for one of the first times.

I’m trying to work on catching up with video today. Here is Ryan’s B-day. I didn’t think about the fact that he was in his underwear for cake time. OOPS That should be good blackmail in a few years.

Phew, what a day! Picture day at school so I had to get the boys all dressed in their best and actually comb their hair. I got them off to school, then got home and got Dane ready to go to his friend Carter’s house. Matt dropped him off on the way to the car dealer as his check engine light was on AGAIN.

Then I got ready and was off to my Dr. appt. only when I went to start my car it woudn’t start…. Of course Matt was gone and so I called him and we determined it was a dead battery (not sure how it could go dead in an hour when we didn’t leave anything on.. but anyway… Luckily he has a charger thing you plug into the wall to charge car batteries. Of course I had no idea how to use it, but he walked me through and I was about 20 min. late. Made up a bit of time on the country roads and called on the way to let them know I was late.

I got there and everything worked out fine. I was 2 centimeters dialated (FINALLY) and she was able to strip my membranes. Last time I had that done with Dane I was in labor that night and he was born the next day – so here’s hoping! If anything happens, I will try to update on Twitter – see the right hand column on the blog. We’re planning on bringing the laptop to the hospital. I don’t think she was as aggressive as my midwife was with Dane in the procedure, but we’ll see. If nothing happens, I have another appointment next Monday and then she’ll induce Tue. or Wed. of next week. So the 14th or 15th. So I guess she’ll be here within 9 days… I’m trying to be patient and am still very thankfull I didnt’ have a c-section. I would much rather go natural than use pitocin, so you can pray something happens on its own – soon!

Alright, I have to figure out what to make for dinner and get ready for football.
C-

It was a great day! The women’s event was pretty good. Ryan had a great football game (even though they lost again) apparently he had a couple really good plays! Then when I got home from the women’s event Dane had something to show me… He could ride his bike all by himself without training wheels! Daddy told him he could get a new bike if he would learn and apparently that was motivation enough. So he and daddy picked this out: http://tinyurl.com/4lm5×5 and it should be here Wed.

Then I had a nice nap.

Then Matt built a campfire and we roasted hot dogs and made smores (with really stale marshmallows – but the kids didn’t seem to mind…) It was a great family time.

Then Matt went over to the church as the custodian was over there and she is REALLY good at what she does… and he hired her to come to our house for 2 hours a week on Saturdays to clean. I am soooo excited! That will be so nice especially with the new baby and will take a lot of stress off of us on Sundy afternoons when we are trying to clean before Bible Study or Youth Group that is at our house each week.

Now I’m tucking the boys in their sleeping bags on the living room floor so they can have a “camp out”. So cute! I guess I better get them tucked in so they can eventually fall asleep. Just wanted to update you on a great day.

C-

Dane had a great birthday! He is so excited about being 4 now! I can relax and have this baby now… Matt wanted her to be born on Dane’s b-day, but I didn’t… I like them each to have their own special day! They can share Christmas.

We have 9 days until our due date, at which point the Dr. says she will induce – that is Oct. 13th… HMMM not sure how I feel about that date, not my favorite number – especially in Oct. but I’m sure whatever day she comes will be perfect! We had another ultrasound yesterday and she was still head down and measuring approx. 7lb. 14 oz. She’s going to be nice and big just like her brothers.

Ryan is going through a stage where we are wrong and he is right – no matter what… I’m guessing this stage starts now and goes until he’s 24. Oh well. He has also been very helpful around here lately, so that counteracts his attitude. Christian is doing good, he is so goofy sometimes! He is still struggling a bit with reading, but it is coming slowly but surely.

Not too much on the calendar this week. Monday is school pictures and I have a Dr. appt. It is the last week of football practice – YEA! Matt talked the boys out of basketball and to focus on Cub Scouts instead – I am sooo glad! I’m pretty tired of running to practices all week and games every Sat. We’re always busy Sunday’s so it basically doesn’t give us any day off as a family – we need our Saturdays! The boys don’t have school Friday or the following Monday so it is a four day weekend coming up.

We have a big women’s event at our church today, so Matt took the boys to football and I am heading over to that. I guess I better go do my hair and head over – people are starting to show up – although it doesn’t officially start for another 45 min.

Have a great weekend!

Dear Dane,

I can’t believe you are already four today! Where did the time go? It goes by too fast. Happy Birthday little one – you are such an amazing little boy! You have been my baby for four years and now you are going to be the most incredible big brother ever!

You are such a great and smart little boy – everyone says how well behaved you are. You love going to preschool this year – I love watching you as you make new friends and explore the world for the first time away from mommy and daddy for a few hours each week. You were ready for that adventure and did not have a hard time at all adjusting. You are also great at playing on your own when your brothers are at school and mommy and daddy are busy working. You quietly sit right next to us and keep yourself entertained when needed.

You still love the color yellow! It’s a perfect fit for your happy disposition.

You are energetic and exploratory. From the time you could crawl you have been busy climbing and exploring. Unfortunatly, that has led you to have more injuries than your brothers, but you have always been such a trooper when you get hurt!

You are clean and organized. I love how you are the youngest of your brothers, but you are the only one who remembers to put your clothes in the hamper each night. You love helping mommy with cleaning and laundry too! You are also organized, always remembering to grab your drink on the way out the door for football or to bring that special toy in the car that you had talked about hours ago.

You make us laugh – there isn’t a day that goes by, I don’t think, where you don’t do or say something that just makes us laugh. I love that about you – you have a great sense of humor!

I am so proud of the person you are becoming and I am so happy God choose me to be your mommy!
Love,
Mom