Park Picnic

Last weekend we joined the Brashers for a hot Saturday afternoon at the park for play and a picnic - it was perfect weather to feel like we are starting off our summer just right! It's the end of another academic year for Ryan and Jim, and there are a lot of changes coming up for both our families in the coming months as we plan to move on from our times at IU. (But trying not to think too much yet about saying good-byes.)

 Melanie and I were especially feeling the heat on this day - both pregnant! (Together again! This time Melanie is a few weeks ahead of me. Their 2nd son is a few weeks younger than Gemma.)

Thomas was a bit shy with Jim and the camera at first

And Elijah was all smiles!

A sure-fire way to get BIG grins out of Gemma: get her running!

The boys spent a long time happily bouncing up and down on the see-saw.

Here's our picnic supper in the shade of the shelter. (Phew.) Awesome bread, hummus, veggies, cheese, meat, chutney, cookies and apricot danishes. Then the adults could sit and talk a bit more while the three kiddos ran around on the grass and decorated (at Thomas's initiative) a little fir tree with clovers and grass stalks. Yes, we all slept well that night!

Little helper

Shucking corn and watering the plants - Gemma loves to get involved with whatever is happening out on our little patio. (If only she was tall enough to hang her own diapers on the line to dry, too.)

Gemma was emphasizing here..."Shuck! Corn. Hairs."

Date Night celebrations

A date night - woa!! Out to dinner & a walk around campus & dessert to celebrate:

•  the end of the academic year - and the wonderful beginning of a quiet B-town summer as masses of students pack up & leave town
  
• Jim's acceptance of an article for publication in a professional journal 
• reaching 14 weeks and the start of Jul's 2nd trimester
• Gemma's happy disposition with our sweet babysitter, Kailee, and how easily she takes to a new friend putting her to bed (peace of mind for mom)

In front of IU's Sample Gates (there was a strong breeze...)

our favorite HUGE gingko tree on campus (hard to capture)

In front of the Memorial Union student center - Yes, it was a night of self-portraits

Our favorite HUGE oak tree on campus

 

Top Ten Signs

1. Every night (and every afternoon nap) I dream of a variety of situations that I find myself in when I have to go to the bathroom - and then I wake up, realizing I really DO have to go to the bathroom.

2. What was once gloriously comforting in the mornings -a steaming mug of coffee to start the day - I can no longer bear to smell (or be near while husband is drinking it).

3. I open the microwave or freezer or cupboard door and think, "Wait, what am I doing in here?"

4. Forgetfulness continues in a harsher way:

A few weeks ago Jim asked me, "Why isn't the umbrella stroller in the back of the car anymore?" 

I replied, totally baffled, "What?!" 

And then the light dawned. 

Three days (3 days!) earlier I had parked on the street downtown to take Gemma to the library, as usual, and after leaving the library and returning to the car, we packed up and came home. Leaving the stroller on the sidewalk. 

5. "Food...food...food...What food is next on my list to consume?" (the refrain echoing through my head every two hours.) Common answers: Cereal. Tea. Muffin. Cereal. Granola bar. Okay, I'll try a piece of fruit now.

6. 8 PM rolls around and I stumble downstairs, flop on the couch, and groan to Jim, "Is it bedtime yet?"

7. I can smell the fake, nauseating 'charcoal' burgers from Burger King a mile away in our neighborhood, depending on the day's breeze.

8. Hmm...to button or not to button these jeans, that is the problem.

9. Jim and I find ourselves once again ruminating on the family tree and the names of all our grandparents and great-greats.

10. "Ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum": 160 beats per minute!

Any Pregnant Woman Would Be Happy -  with date night dessert of frozen yogurt and bag of selected favorites from Campus Candy

Do these sound vaguely familiar to 2 years ago? 

Gemma, working with fridge magnets, creates the following

Praise God with us! Jul is just entering the second trimester. We are VERY excited!!!!

Due date: November 1st

(okay, okay, so Gemma had some major help constructing that phrase...)