It's another girl!

We had our first ultrasound today for Baby #4. We've really been hoping and praying for a boy. Girl & Boy Shepherd, and then Girl & Boy Faubus. Sounds like the perfect little family, right? Well, obviously, not in the stars for us. We are a little disappointed, but really can you be bummed about a healthy little baby - boy or girl?! Not for a second. We are very blessed.

Now the name game will begins. Do we go back to the last list - and pick something from there that we didn't use? Do we start a new list? I don't think the name we have picked out, "Henry David" will work. I'm not a fan of Henrietta.

And the question we are asked, "Will you try again?" I think we'll need to see how we handle/juggle/manage 4 kids before we start thinking about the next. Part of me says, "Sure, why not?" The other part of me says, "Heck no!" Especially when the odds for #5 are just the same. Then poor Jack will really be outnumbered.

Pictures from the Fabulous Grill & Chill

Your Hosts: Deanna & Billy

Yummo! That chocolate pudding dessert needs to be licked clean!

Where all the goodies are at!

Billy getting the yardbirds ready for tastin'

2nd Annual Fabulous Grill & Chill

The 2nd Annual Fabulous Grill & Chill was a great success! Nearly 100 people - over 30 being children - showed up to see Billy smoke the hens. The yardbirds turned out great - and nearly all of them were picked down to the bone. And I think we went thru 3 jars of his barbeque sauce too.

Our "Voted Best" contest was another success - with folks bringing in some real ringers! For Best Side dish, the winner was Suzanne Gauley, a friend of mine from high school with a Mac 'n Cheese dish with bacon. Yeah, pleasing 30 kids isn't hard, is it? The runner up was Brandie Ubben with some yummy, buttery garlic mushrooms. The Best Dessert was a warm Peach Cobbler by Dawn Ploeger, who is a friend of ours from church. I believe there was a tie for 2nd with a couple of chocolate desserts. Thanks everyone for getting your cook on! I can't wait for next year!

Speaking of which, mark your calendar for Saturday, Sept 12th, 2009 - which is the Saturday after Labor Day - for the 3rd Annual Fabulous Grill & Chill. This next year we are going to be working on perfecting the baked beans!

Another good Jack story

Since Ellie started Kindergarten, Jack is finding some independence. And I think he's enjoying it. He's out-growing naps, and on most days he spends his afternoon playing on his own or with me. One of my favorites is eating lunch with him on Tuesday and Thursday. Amelia is fed at daycare, so when we get home, I put her to bed and he and I have lunch. He gets to pick what he wants for lunch (which is usually peanut butter & jelly - which Ellie doesn't like) and then we sit down together.

He's in a major "jabber-jabber" stage and it takes him nearly a half hour to eat his meal because he's constantly telling stories or concerned about what we are going to do next. I just sit and listen, and coax him to continue to take bites of food.

This week, I asked, "Jack, who is your favorite superhero?" Immediately, he answered, "Batman!" But after a moments hesitation, he added, "Actually...Flash. Yeah, Flash." I thought it was interesting how even at 3-years old he was able to use the word "actually" in a sentence well. I'm sure most parents feel that way - just blown away by their kids' vocabulary use. It really makes you stop and put some thought into the words you are using.

For instance, "dumb" and "stupid" are 2 words that Ellie and Jack yell at us for using. And not that we say them to them, but I might be telling Billy a story, or he to me - and across the room we here, "Billy, don't say stupid!" or "Mama, did you say dumb?"

It's shocking to me that some parents think kids at this age don't know what is being said - or what it means. Whatever! They hear EVERYTHING - and they figure out what it means. We need to protect our kids from filthy language, hateful remarks, and the like. They'll get enough of it in school - and out in public when we can't guard their ears. Being sure that good, positive language is used in our home is a huge goal so they know what is valued and expected. I like this saying better, "Do as I say, and as I do."

Mr. Potato Head

Jack is 3 - and certainly not a master artist. He isn't really into coloring or things of that nature. (Neither is Ellie for that matter - must not be in the genes). On occasion, though, I can get him to sit down and do some coloring. The other day I found a Toy Story Color Wonder book and markers and got him to sit in my office with me for a bit.

He plowed thru the pages, making only small, brief, colorings on each sheet. The Mr. Potato Head (above) was without a face and it was his task to add a face. So he made a mouth, eyes and then a nose. I thought he did a pretty good job putting them on the face in the correct spot. A moment or so later, he says, "Mom, he needs a pee-pee." And so he drew a pee-pee. Sorry to put an X-rated photo on the blog - but Jack did not draw pants.

Pigtails

Ellie likes it when she and Amelia can match. So she picked a striped dress and wanted her hair done the same as Amelia too. Here is a cute photo of them reading books together.

Labor Day Weekend

All the kids enjoying a spinning tire swing.

No big plans this weekend. Just a lot of cleaning up around the house and getting ready for our big party this coming weekend. Most of you received an invite - our Annual Fabulous Grill & Chill!

We took the kids to Big Creek Saturday afternoon for a short bit. And then Sunday, Monday Ellie & Jack were with Tony as our usual schedule dictates. That gave us some extra "free time" to finish up our list. Here are some pictures of what Amelia did today to help. Dancing and spraying the driveway .

Huxley Prairie Festival

Billy cutting ribs - his homemade smoker behind him.

Lyle Martin - a local - using his revamped, gas grill to try a hand at it.

Smokin' Caboose - Ron & Rhonda Smith - our winners.

Every year, Huxley has a small town celebration called Prairie Festival. It's the "prairiest festival around." Earlier in the year, Billy was asked to do a barbeque contest - which he was excited to start a new annual event doing something that he loved. We worked hard to get big prizes and hoped for a big turnout of backyard barbequers.

Unfortunately, one 1 person from town signed up. So we had to revamp the contest... but we still sold all of our People's Choice Award voting cards - and had a greatly received event. Billy and one of our judges also participated - and our judge, who also runs a BBQ catering business and goes to lots of contests smoked us in all categories. But we had a great time and Billy learned a lot from them to help him improve his smoking abilities! The Huxley Prairie Festival Smoke Out was a success - and we look forward a bigger event next year.

We also participated in the parade - the little kids and I walked with our friend, Hollie Allen who just started a Kindermusik program here in town. It was a long walk - but they had fun.

Billy & I are active members of HERO community group here in town. So we also worked the beer tent both evenings. I also participated in Ballard Idol Karaocke contest. I placed 2nd - but received no prize. The big $250 prize was given to just the 1st place winners (male & female). Luckily, my mom was able to stay Friday night and then we had another friend, Nicole, stay on Saturday night to watch kids all weekend.