Goings On

You all know those awesome bloggers right? The ones with the adorable photos, the clever stories, the entertaining yet still thought-provoking life lessons? We all know at least one person who has an adorable blog, who journals daily (insert Bronwynn/loser sneeze)...those ones who make the rest of us look lame and boring? You know these bloggers right? Well, I am not one of them. I realize it's been forever since I last posted. I'm sure I could conjure up a good excuse if I wanted to expend that kind of energy...wait for it...keep waiting...nope, never mind, I've got nothing.

It's been a busy summer. I can't remember half of what has happened thus far, but here are a few highlights:

1. Gavin turned EIGHT! I can't even tell you how awesomely surreal it is to have an eight-year-old. He's so grown up and so independent, he might as well be twenty. Along with turning eight came two big events. First, he was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What an amazing event. There really are no words. It was such a beautiful day. :) Secondly, he is now in cub scouts. He was able to attend a week of "twilight camp" and he LOVED it! He even earned his first patch. :)

2. Suzy turned FIVE! Today is actually her fifth birthday. I just can't believe it. I am taking a few minutes off from cleaning up in preparation for her "Tangled" birthday party. For those who are familiar with this movie, you understand the desire to have it be the theme for a birthday party (no matter what age you might be). For those who have not seen it, turn off the computer, drive to the video store immediately and rent it. Cutest movie! Our whole family loves it. We are excited to decorate paper lanterns and enjoy some yummy treats. In true "Tangled" fashion, "I had a dream once"...I dreamt of making this fantastic, praise-worthy tower cake. It was beyond fabulous. Truly. Princess Suzy, however, had other plans. She wants pink cupcakes. Well...it is her birthday after all and who am I to crush a little girl's dreams? I am not even the slightest bit relieved to be making plain pink cupcakes instead of a hugely involved tower cake when I'm 8 months pregnant...nope, not one bit. Okay fine, maybe a LITTLE relieved.

3. I am in the home stretch. About 4 weeks to go. I will most likely be scheduling an induction tomorrow so it might even be a little closer to 3 weeks. We shall see. Either way, Little Red Ramsey #5 will be joining us soon!

Now, since I know you are all wanting pictures (yes, even I have a soul), here are a few from this month. :)

30 Down...

10 more to go!!! We are getting there!! :)

Oh Dear

Mother epiphany #7,724,892---my kids remember things.

I had a bittersweet experience today. We were driving along in the van and just chitter chattering. The kids got on the subject of China, which was funny. But I digress...at one point in the conversation Suzy asked if I remembered the night that we went to the Mexico restaurant and we spoke Spanish and the man made her a blue balloon dog.
Yes, I did remember. I think what struck me though, is that SHE remembered. We went there probably over a year ago. She would have been three or maybe barely four-years-old. Why is this bittersweet you ask?
Well, I started thinking about how crabby I've been with this pregnancy and how I have placated myself in this situation by telling myself that my kids are little and they won't remember it. But if my four-year-old remembers ONE dinner and ONE balloon that she had ONE night, a year ago, what are the odds that she won't remember mom snapping at her or refusing to cuddle with her?
Guilt does crazy things. I took the kids to Moe's for dinner, Sweet Frog for dessert and then off to Target to pick out a little toy...yes, I really did feel THAT badly. Motherhood is not always easy and kids are kids. They get loud and they get demanding and they get attitude-ish...but honestly, is that much different than adults? The difference? They are imitating, we are inspiring.
So I guess that was my motherhood revelation of the moment...I need to make my children's memories amazing because they WILL remember.

A Little Bit Ironic...

I love baskets. Let me emphasize this properly...I really, really, REALLY love baskets! I collect baskets. I buy them at yard sales. I buy them at the Goodwill. I buy them on clearance. I probably have about six baskets in any given room of my house. My mom and grandma had a thing for baskets too...I inherited many baskets.
I like to give baby shower and birthday gifts in baskets rather than bags...who wouldn't rather get a gift in a basket?
So I find it a little bit ironic that on Easter, the one holiday that is categorically a "basket" holiday...I don't use baskets. Our Easter Bunny delivers his goodies in Easter BAGS! The reasoning? Easter baskets are not like normal baskets. Kids these days don't appreciate a good basket so they are drawn to the plastic, tacky baskets. Now don't get me wrong...I am not respector of baskets...but I have to draw the line somewhere. This is to say nothing of the $ involved in purchasing Easter baskets. You can easily spend $10-$15 on a single basket...and children (at least my children) might get a little disappointed if you put nothing in the basket. So since I know that our Easter baskets are not going to last, we do $.99 paper bags.
I hang my head in shame ever so slightly that I dismiss the basket on it's special day...but alas, Easter bags are where it's at in the Ramsey home!!!

April Fools Hall of Fame

In celebration of April Fool's I was reflecting on last year, when I was definitely fooled severely. So here is the breakdown of the scenario: Key players: -Jen -Bronwynn -Mike -Ryan Settings: Jen and Bronwynn are at Bronwynn's house. Mike is working and Ryan is at the dental clinic working with patients. Important back story: Jen is slated to be Ryan's dental board's patient in about 10 days. For those not familiar with dental school processes, this is a HUGE deal. It takes thousands of dollars for the students to take their boards, the patient must have very specific kinds of cavities, and if their patient doesn't show up...well, they lose their money and have to take it again later. Need less to say, finding a perfect patient who is reliable=majorly big deal. Part 1: Jen and Bronwynn decide it would be funny to prank Ryan and tell him that Jen can't be his boards patient because she's pregnant (she is not pregnant at this time). Knowing that neither of them can lie, they enlist the help of Mike. So they call Mike and ask him to call Ryan and tell Ryan the pregnancy story. Part 2: Jen talks to Mike about an hour later and their conversation goes something like this: Jen- "How did Ryan react to the pregnancy story?" Mike- "Oh you know Ryan, he was super nice about it. He just said it was awesome and congratulations and not to worry about boards, etc." Jen- "What did he say when you told him it was April fools?" Mike- "I didn't tell him." Jen- "What?" Mike- "He seemed so relaxed about it that I figured I'd let it ride for a little while." Jen- Freaks out, yells a little in a panicked way and expresses the importance of Mike telling Ryan it was a joke so that Ryan doesn't start looking for another patient. Mike agrees and says he will call Ryan. Bronwynn and Jen call Ryan...no answer. Mike calls Ryan...no answer but Mike leaves a message. Part 3: Jen goes home. Meanwhile, Ryan comes home and has the following conversation with Bronwynn: Bronwynn- "So did you get your phone call from Mike?" Ryan- "Oh yeah, about the baby?" Bronwynn- "No, the second one." Ryan- ..... Bronwynn- "It was an April fool's joke, Jen isn't pregnant." Ryan- "What?!?! She isn't pregnant? I didn't get a second phone call. I just paid someone $150 to take Jen's place!" Ryan continues to yell about how mad he is. Part 4: Bronwynn calls Jen and they have the following conversation: Bronwynn- "Jen, this is not an April fool's joke. Ryan didn't get Mike's message and he paid someone to take your place and he is super mad." Jen- "Why are you whispering?" Bronwynn- "I'm in the bathroom. Jen I have NEVER seen Ryan so upset. He's really ticked off at Mike for not telling him." Jen starts crying while Bronwynn continues to freak out in the bathroom. Then comes a knock on the bathroom door. Bronwynn opens and it's Ryan. Ryan: "APRIL FOOLS!!!!" The breakdown: Mike decided not to prank Ryan...he decided to turn the prank on us. So he and Ryan orchestrated the whole thing and Bronwynn and I ended up with 7 new grey hairs and 2 fewer years in our life expectancy.

No Pictures?

I get many requests for updated pictures on my blog and many inquisitions as to why they are not there in the first place. Let me answer the second complaint (and temporarily ignore the first). Why do I not have many pictures? Let me tell you. Reason #1- I don't have one of those fancy phones that uploads your pictures straight to the web so I can just click and paste. Yes, I know, my husband works for Ntelos. I should have a fancy phone right? Alas, even for an employee's wife, the phone costs money. Even should I desire, why pay for a phone that we all know would outsmart me daily? I could take pictures with my camera and then remove the sim card and upload the photos to the computer and then upload them to the blog, but honestly, who has that kind of energy? Everyone in the blogging world you say? Well darn. Guess I'm just plain old lazy! Reason #2- As I am constantly reminding my children, I have two hands and four children. You do the math. Until I learn to take pictures with my mouth or they invent a camera that floats along behind you, I'm afraid you will have to settle for a few less pictures. I am usually holding a baby, a hand, a bag, a cup, a snack, a diaper, a booger...and thus find myself incapable of taking pictures. Am I just making excuses? Probably. But seriously, you go to a soccer game and try to cheer on the player, keep a two year old from getting run over by a car, give one child a snack, take the other one behind the bushes to pee and somewhere in there find time to take awe-inspiring pictures. So don't hate me. Just remember what my husband looks like and then you will have a clear and lasting picture of each one of my children. :)

Half Way!!

We are now half-way with the pregnancy and so far, so good! It's so exciting to get to this point. For one thing, it's a pregnancy milestone for any woman, half way done is half way done after all. For me, it's also a special milestone. The first baby that we lost was at 20 weeks, so I feel like once I pass that point I start to relax (a little bit). :)
I'm so thankful to be pregnant and to have things be going so smoothly. I'm enjoying every day that I get to carry our sweet little boy.