She's got it!

We tried a few months after she turned 5, but she wasn't ready.

With apartment living, homes with no space, and busy schedules, 

not much thought or effort was put into it, until now.

Within days of turning 8, another attempt was well overdue.

There is a long alley close to our house. 

Perfect for achieving the right speed to maintain balance.

With the other two girls, Mike's running shoes, and my camera in hand,

we headed out to document the monumental event.

He steadied her but for a few seconds as he ran next to her,

and within moments of reaching enough speed

she had it!

"That was way too easy!" I yelled while clicking from behind.

There are few moments from my childhood that are vividly fixed in my repertoire of memories,

and learning to ride a bike is one of them.

I don't recall exactly how old I was, but everything else about it is still so clear.

We were at a parking lot of a large supermarket. My dad steadying while running by my side. 

The exhilaration that rushed through me as I looked back towards his hand

only to realize he was no longer there and I had been riding solo for who knows how long.



 I saw those same emotions on Raquel's face as she rode back towards me, "I'm doing it, Mom!"

The next 3 pictures were taken in sequence:

Skills, I tell you.  He's got them.

And so it begins.

Way to go my little Raquel!

Labor Day

There is a wonder and excitement that we lose somewhere

on the road of childhood to adulthood.



It's too bad, really.  

One of my favorite things about having kids is being able to get a glimpse

of that energy and relive those moments through their eyes.

There was a little fair down the street from our house this past weekend.

We told the girls on Labor Day that we would go once it got dark.

We learned that Raquel is afraid of heights.



And did you notice Mike's super short cut?

He's come to terms with the fact that his lush, thick, mass of follicular glory, of days past,
is not coming back, and is slowly stepping into the sexy bald-man category.  I like it.

The whole night was particularly magical for Gracie.

Here she is waiting in anticipation for her first ride to start.

I wasn't allowed to get on any of the rides. 
I guess there is no hiding my current state of pregnancy.
And this fair was unusually restrictive.

Not even the Carousel could I ride.

Regardless, the girls had a wonderful time.  And I got a brief peek into the joyfulness of childhood.

Studying Hard

At some point it was decided that going through a rigorous training program and obtaining a degree is not sufficient proof to show you are qualified to engage within certain fields. So these professions, such as lawyers, nurses, and doctors, decided that in order for individuals to obtain their license they needed to pass comprehensive exams.  Unfortunately the PA profession joined in on this idea.

This month Mike has been studying for the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Exam). 

It's a 5 hour test where pretty much ANY medical related subject is fair game.  If that just sounded overwhelming, that's because, it is. If Mike doesn't pass, he doesn't get his license, he can't start the residency program, and us moving was for not.  No pressure.

He was having some anxiety with regards to the whole thing but

 that has gotten better since he's honed in on the books.

We currently spend our evenings going over practice questions.

It's very romantic.

He's making good progress despite the obvious interruptions
and the "freezing cold" temperatures induced by my pregnant state.
(Apparently we don't see eye to eye over the two numbers that appear on the thermostat.)



Yes. That would be the girls' princess blanket covering Mike's legs.

Moved in and preparing for baby

Well, for the most part, it's done. We did it.  Our 8th move. And I don't want to do it again for a while. 

I was happy with the house before moving in, but in the 2+ weeks here I'm really really loving it.

The kitchen has a breakfast bar, so prior to moving in I went on the hunt for bar stools.  I came across a counter-high dinner set on craigslist.  Super sturdy, solid wood, with 8 counter-high chairs, and only $175 for the whole thing!  We had a really small table at our other home due to lack of space, so I figured I'd put 3 of the chairs at the counter in the kitchen and use the rest of the set for our dinning area.  I emailed the guy with little hope of getting it.  I was thrilled when he got back to me the next day and was on the road in lighting speed to get it before it got snatched.

I love it! Even Mike-the-king-of-good-deals was impressed with my find.

The girls are enjoying the backyard.  We have a lot more trees, which means a lot more shade. 

We've had this swing set for a while, but since it's not under direct heat anymore, it's gotten a lot more use.

I love the covered patio. As do the girls.

We feel blessed to have found a home that will work so well for us.

We had our first visitors last weekend. Mike's sister, Raquel, and her husband

spent a couple of days with us.  We went to New Port Beach on one of the days.

It's a good thing people come visit us, because we don't make it out there enough on our own.

Craig got little Raquel to boogie board.

And a boogie board is now on her wish-list.

Speaking of wish-lists.  I went to my OB appointment this week and he did another ultrasound.

There was a certain appendage that was not visible on the first ultrasound. 

So obvious that I don't know how it was previously missed.

That's right.  There is a little man coming into the picture.

Lucky kid he'll be indeed.  We are very excited,

but when we first found out there were definitely mixed emotions. 

We had mentally prepared ourselves for 4 girls.

4 girls would have been less complicated in so many ways. 

And if we never had a boy, I was really Ok with it. 

Though I would have always wondered what it might have been like

to have a little guy in the mix.  I now get to find out.

July Happenings

This month is flying by and Summer will be over in no time.

We only have a few weeks left before school gets going again.

This month has been spent looking for a place closer to the hospital. 

We finally found a nice house that will work and we'll be moving the first week in August. 

I'm not looking forward to moving, but it'll be worth Mike's mile-long commute.

Early in the month we celebrated the 4th of July at our ward's breakfast and primary water activity.

The girls had a great time.

I put this picture of Raquel chasing a boy because yesterday she asked me if it was ok for a 7 year old to have a crush on a boy.  I told her that Heavenly Father made it so that we liked boys so that we'd want to marry them someday.  It was ok to have a crush.  She just couldn't hold their hand, kiss them, or date them until she is way way way way older. 

After I got done explaining this I asked,

So who do you have a crush on?  

She made me promise not to tell so I won't tell you,

but after she told me who it was I responded,

Isn't that the boy that talks funny?

Last night when I told Mike the story he replied,

That kid? He's a goob.

Poor Raquel, she's going to have problems when she gets older.

We planted a couple of tomato plants a few months back

and we've been enjoying ripe tomatoes almost daily this month.

The girls have really enjoyed the whole process.

We had Mike's brother Daniel and his new fiancee Caroline visit last week.

She is from Brazil.  The girls loved having them here. 

We are very happy and excited for them.

As for me, this month has been a lot better.  I had been somewhat absent from homemaking duties the last couple of months, but the nausea is finally gone and I have a lot more energy.

My family is getting more home-cooked meals and the girls are getting more of my regular mothering.

Which they may or may not be grateful for.

Almost There

Mike often mentions how nice it will be to have finally arrived.

We have been on a journey since getting married.

(I'm not talking about THE everyday journey

that parents raising kids are on.)

This journey has led to 7 moves in 8 years.

It has taken us to Eugene, Portland, Provo, Chino, and Pomona.

He often mentions how nice it will be to have a home.  A home that is ours.

A home where we can make permanent changes...if we so wish.

A home where we can "let the grass grow under our feet",

where we can settle and let our kids make uninterrupted memories.
A place where our someday grown children can return to,

to reminisce and rest from their own hectic future lives.

We are closer than we have ever been.

Mike has 5 weeks left of rotations.

Yet it doesn't look like we will be arriving...

at least not yet...not in the next year.

Mike has interviewed and been accepted to the

Orthopaedic Surgery PA Residency Program at ARMC.

He starts in the fall. 

Keeping true with our nomadic record

we will be moving closer to the hospital,

making this our 8th move in 9 years of marriage.

And though this means postponing our end destination
for one. more. year.

we couldn't be happier.

 It is going to be rigorous and intense,
but the experience obtained will be invaluable.

So here goes to "almost there".



*Pictures taken last month during his urgent care rotation at the facility where I work.


 

Beating the Odds

Did you know that in the U.S. the odds of having a boy

are higher than those of having a girl?

Roughly 105 boys are born for every 100 girls.

So when it comes to having kids in a row of the same gender,

A streak of girls are rarer than those of boys.

The odds of having 4 girls in a row is

1 in 17.56--to be exact.

And so it looks that come November...

we will beat the odds

when baby GIRL #4 makes her debut.

Speaking of birth-days, we celebrated this man's birthday this month.

Lucky ladies we are indeed to have him in our lives.

And before you start feeling sorry for him

because he will soon be the only male in a sea of females,

these girls (myself included) adore him,

and will always take care of him.

Plus having another girl appeals to his sense of thriftiness. ;)