I have a secret.....

Aren't the kids cute in their big brother, big sister and little sister shirts! I love them and we get compliments everytime we wear them. There will soon be another LITTLE sister or brother added to our family!

SURPRISE!!! We are expecting baby #4, due January 7, 2010. We don't know if it is a he or she yet. I think, maybe this time, I can wait and have it be a surprise (I say this everytime!!) Barry and Jacob both want to know right now!

We hadn't told the kids yet and I went for the 1st ultrasound. We showed Jacob the pictures and he just looked and looked at them. Barry asked if he knew what it was? You could tell he knew he'd seen it before, just couldn't remember. I said it is something that is in here and pointed to my stomach. He grabbed the pictures out of Barry's hands and just yelled, You have a baby in your tummy!! Then Madelyn turned and looked at me and just whispered, There is a baby in your tummy? It was so cute to see their reactions and how excited they are. Jacob has already asked to be at the hospital when the baby is born. Uh, NO!!

I have been feeling rather yucky. Lots of nausea (thankfully no vomiting) I keep hoping that it is going to end soon. I am over 16 weeks now, but some days are OK and some are BAD! The kids have been great with a lazy mom who doesn't feel like doing too much. Barry's been even better entertaining the kids especially on his days off.

We are excited to start our 2010 off with such a wonderful blessing!

Our Trip to Maine

Portland Head Lighthouse

We survived the 4 plane rides, the 6 different hotels we stayed at, the 1500 miles we drove - we did it and we had FUN!

The kids loved the beach, seeing grammy and grampy again, the harbors and boats we saw, meeting new family, the beach, learning how to fish, lots of playing in the rain, a little shopping, the beach, lots of good seafood eating and lots of other adventures.
The beach - wow! I love the beach!!! So did the kids. Ella even says beach and she gets this big smile on her face. It is so cute. We got buckets and shovels and dug and piled and ran in the water (it was COLD).

Scrappy, the crab that Jacob found in the ocean. Washed right up by his toes. Luckily didn't grab on!!

We did stop to smell the flowers along the way. The kids have a great way of reminding you of that!

We went to another beach inside of Acadia National Park and there were big rocks on the beach. Jacob, Madelyn, Barry and I climbed all over those rocks and dug and picked around them hoping to find some great treasures. (we didn't, but it was FUN!)

That is Barry way out there in the blue shirt/tan shorts. Those are the rocks we spent so much time exploring.

Got grampy's best side! ha ha!!

I can't remember the name of this place (inside Acadia). The water comes barreling into that little narrow way and makes a huge whoosh and splash.

We spent a day in Bar Harbor, even ate at the same restaurant we ate at 7 years ago when we went there on our way to our wedding reception. Oh the memories and three kids later.......

Way up north, we got to stay at a beautiful home right on the St. John's river. See across the river there - that is CANADA! The house is for sale, so anyone looking for a house in very northern Maine - this is the one for you. (thanks for everything Bob & Diane!!)

Jacob and Madelyn got to fish with Dad, Grampy and Uncle Bob. They thought it was the best thing ever, especially Jacob. He stayed one time to help Uncle Bob clean the fish to get ready to cook them for supper. When I saw him later I asked him how it was (wondering about the blood and guts) and he said, AWESOME. So I said, did you actually see/help Unlce Bob clean them out? Was it bloody or gross? He said, Yeah I watched him and it was AWESOME. What a boy!!! I love it! We've got to find us a fishing hole here in Texas. We had a wonderful time seeing family again. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality and kindness. We were well loved, well fed and well visited! We miss you already and hope to come back again sooner than 7 years!!

These tractors were in someone's front yard. He moved them around, had the years on them. We thought is was quite neat.

Had to get a picture of a potato field for my dad! They've had LOTS of rain so I am sure they are NOT as far along as they would like them to be.

We had a great time surprising Memere for her 80th Birthday! She knew we were all there, she just didn't know we were all there for HER!!

Memere and her kids.

Memere and US!

All the grandkids and great-grandkids.
The great-grandchildren.
Jacob and his new best cousin, Josh. They are both 5 and love Thomas (and all things boy). They were sure happy to have eachother to play with. Everyone kept giving Madelyn their balloons at the party. This is what we ended up taking home! The kids were so sad in the morning.....

Chillin' at the last hotel before we head home.
And this shot explains it all......fast asleep with a cookie in her mouth! I got the cookie out (didn't want her to choke) and she was soooo mad. Think she might have been saving it!

Great memories and great fun! Can't wait to do it all over again!!

Do you SEE this girl???

Do you see this little Ella Bella?? She went to nursery class today at church for the first time! Since when has 18 months been so little still??? She did great, stayed in there the whole 2 hours, no fuss or muss. She has big sister Madelyn to watch, protect and play with her. I almost didn't know what to do with myself for that long alone!! (She has pigtails in this picture, you can barely see)