Stages

My in-laws have a time share that they use about every 2 years.  This year they were put on a couple of different waiting lists and got a call about a month ago that one was open in Depot Bay this week.  Knowing that I would be 39+ weeks pregnant, I knew I would be staying home.

Trever and the boys left on Saturday for the coast, and are on their way home right now. 

About a week and a half ago, I made a very dumb decision to run a few steps to get to one of my children and could barely walk after that for several days.  The ligament pain I had was out of control.  Crying while walking out of control.  It slowly got better, or at least to the point where I could walk and not support myself on the couch or walls, which was nice.

Knowing that I couldn't go was a bit disappointing to me.  However, I started to think about it differently while they were gone.  I realized that I could get a lot crossed off on my "to do list before Finn comes."   

My mom and I started work right away!  Over the next several days we made three huge meals to freeze, plus 4 (large) Nancy's yogurt containers full of soup, so that we have some meals ready as needed for after the baby comes.  At home, I got working on my list.  Things like packing my hospital bag, cleaning up piles of papers, books and magazines (going through my ginormous pile), organizing diapers (so I can make sure I can get to the right size as needed) and wipes, and converted part of our dresser into a changing table to the night time changes.

I slowly started to realize that this time was really from the Lord.  Time to heal my ligaments with resting and sleeping in a bit, time to cook, time to organize and one of the last times to have quiet before we have 3 Coster's boys making noise.  I have missed my family dearly, but am very thankful to have been given this time to do some resting.

We are looking forward to Finn's arrival, and I think we are ready for when he decides to join us.  Well, there are some people (like my doctor) that are out of town, that need to get back here, so that who needs to be there can be!

ALohA! 

Peach Picking Time!

This morning, my mom, the boys and I went peach picking!  It started to get pretty warm, but it was great to get out and smell the lovely peaches.  We had about 4 of them for lunch.  They are like candy!  So good!  

Hope you are enjoying your summer! 

AloHa!

Baby Shower

Here is the link to see the baby shower pictures! 

It was such a lovely event.  Thanks mom and others for working so hard on it!   I appreciate it! 

Little Things

Being 36 weeks pregnant, makes the little things in life a little bit harder.  Things like getting dressed, putting on shoes, leaning over to eat your food, bending over to pick things up off of the ground and of course just walking!  ;) (Just to name a few).

Last night I was trying to eat a hamburger while watching the Olympics and couldn't really do it since I can't lean forward to make sure the food will drip on the plate, instead of my stomach.  So, then I tried eating it with one hand and that didn't work out either.  Gabe came over to me, picked up my plate, and said," here Mom, I will hold it for you."  So he held my plate up over my stomach, so I could eat my burger.

I love moments like that that melt this Mama's heart.  Those moments might not happen every second of every day, but it is a great reminder of what the Lord has given us and out job to train and raise these busy bodies.

AlOha!

Shower of Blessings!

This morning was a day of blessings!  Many of my friends and family gathered at the open space by my moms house to bless me, Finn and the rest of my family!  

It was a very special time celebrating with all the lovely ladies!  I can't wait to get everything all organized!  I keep thinking about everyone who came and the amazing gifts we were given.  We are truly blessed!  The generosity is just mind boggling! 

 

Wonderful family and friends! 

Thank you everyone for coming!  Thanks Mom, for putting this together!  It was so great.  Thank you Mom, Jodie, Gina, Kristin, Alicia, Isabella, Jacqueline, Heidi, Pat and any others who helped prep food, set up and take down!  I am amazed by all the love!  I love you guys and whether we talk daily or once in a while, I am so blessed to have you in my life.  I thank God for you and your kindness.

Here are some pictures that I got emailed to me this morning.  Had to add some of the beauty to the post!

ALoha!

Offer

A dear friend, Deborah, asked a while ago if she and her family could have Carson and Gabe over for the night.  At first, I thought it would only be Carson to go and have a "camp out" in their pop tent trailer.

When it came down to the planning of it, they wanted to have both boys over.  I was a bit concerned since it would be their first time together, at a house that we aren't blood related to.  But, Deborah was sure she wanted to have them both.  So.  I stepped it up and got OK with it.  Kinda of.  :)

When I went to pick them up before nap time the next day, I was greeted with "Mom!  I don't want to go home.  I want to stay here!"  I am so happy that Carson missed me so!  :)  Everything went well, from what I have been told, and the boys had a great time!

It is so weird to keep having that feeling of "are they really old enough for this?  I am sure they are just little babies and aren't ready for this..."  I know that I will continue to have this feeling for the rest of their lives.  I wonder if it ever gets easier, or if it always feels like a little piece of my heart gets cut out with the next big step they take!?

Carson and Gabe ready to head to the Quast's house.  7.26.12

 

Thank you Quast family for having the boys over!  It is greatly appreciated!  Love you all. 

AlohA!

GirlsWeekend

Last night Jodie, Gina, Tracy, Arica, and I got home from being gone on a weekend girls trip.  We had many laughs and saw just lovely sights!  The weather could not have been any better, it was amazing!  Such a blessing!   

Hoh Rain Forest, Port Angeles, and 1st Beach WA.

Hoh Rain Forest, WA, and the Carver Cafe, OR.

The Hoh Rain Forest is amazing!  The water was clear as glass.  It was so beautiful!  We had a great walk looking at all of the moss covered trees, clovers, and ferns.

Thanks for the laughs ladies!

Aloha!  

Lately

 Hope you have been enjoying your summer!  It was pretty hot here last week so we enjoyed the pool as much as we could!  The boys are getting so much better in the water!  Here is what has been going on with us... 

Carson and Gabe playing Lego's on the front porch.  7.10.12

We caught two grasshoppers in one day!  Here, the boys are checking out their friend, Hopper.

  7.11.12

Pool time!  Gabe asks all of the time if we can go in the "cool."  They are jumping from the ladder and ducking under the water a bunch now.  7.11.12

Carson pulled out his top tooth!  7.14.12

Trever is the white spot spying on the Coyote that visits.  He is behind the far right bush, in the shade.  7.15.12

The Coyote walking from one bush towards the creek.

Carson and Gabe on their new bunk beds!  7.16.12

After the first night in the bunk beds, we are all tired!  Gabe was up several times to have his nose blown and needing a little comfort.  Carson was up, b/c Gabe was up.  Trev and I were up b/c Gabe was up.  Needless to say, we survived the first night and are looking forward to more sleep!  :)

I am about 7 weeks away from being able to meet the baby!  And we are so excited!  These last 33 weeks have gone by fast (looking back)!  I am happy we are able to be outside enjoying play time and pool time!  And this cooler weather this week is great!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

AlohA.

4th of July!

This was in our local paper this morning.  Just thought I would share.  

Veterans wanted for Ashland Fourth of July parade

Woman organizes parade entry to include past and present soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines so the town can thank them

June 28, 2012

By Paul Fattig

Mail Tribune

ASHLAND — Simone Coster is looking for men and women who have worn a military uniform or are still serving in the armed forces to march in Ashland's Independence Day parade.

Coster decided to obtain a parade entry for the 2012 annual Fourth of July parade after watching last year's entries and noticing there was little in it to honor veterans or those still in uniform.

"After last year's parade my mom and I started talking about the parade and why we celebrate the Fourth of July," Coster said.

"I grew up in Ashland," she added. "For the majority of my life, I've gone to every Fourth of July parade here. The parade has gotten very political."

Coster, 32, hopes her entry will simply remind parade watchers of the role veterans and those still serving play in American independence, she said.

"I thought it would be something unusual, honoring men and women in uniform," she said. "I also think it would be great if the town could thank them."

Many local residents want to show their appreciation for those who have served, said Coster who described herself as a homemaker and mother of two who is pregnant with her third child.

She has contacted the Oregon Army National Guard at the Ashland armory which is expected to provide several vehicles and 15 citizen soldiers for her entry.

Coster, whose grandfather served during World War II, hopes to have at least 40 participants for the event.

"I'm looking for any veterans (or service men and women) to walk in the parade or to ride in military vehicles," she said. "My goal is to just give the 'thank-you' they deserve for what they've done for all of us."

Any veteran or local person still in the military who wants to participate in her parade entry can reach her at 541-292-9020.

She doesn't plan to walk or ride in the entry.

"I want the focus to be on them and what they have done for us," she said.

Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.

A Family Day

At the last night of AWANA, a leader had gotten some grab bags from the Crater Rock Museum in Central Point.  She gave us a flier and told us that the second Saturday of every month, it's kids day. 

We found out that kids day includes making a shark tooth necklace, a little slide show about Dinosaurs and then you get to check out the museum.  We had never been there before, and I had never heard of it! 

We went this morning, made the necklaces and checked out the rest of the museum.  And the boys picked out their grab bags which are only $1! 

 

After the Rock Museum we went to lunch at Sonic.  We did the drive up and enjoyed their yummy food, an ice cream cone and a sundae.  Carson and Gabe enjoyed getting their bites of Trev's sundae.  

Next months kid's day has a little more activity planned, it sounds.  We might check that day out too! 

Our car is getting worked on, so we borrowed Mimi and Grandpa's car, which has a radio!  Gabe enjoyed having the music...

Hope you are enjoying your weekend! 

AlohA!