St. Jude's

There is a Catholic church and school right behind the Fredin's house in New Lenox. It is home to many a memory for these boys, as I am sure it was for their father (though he was a bit older and was probably having fun blowing things up rather than swinging).

blowin' bubbles

Happy Pioneer Day!

So this past Saturday the remaining Donaldsons got together to celebrate our pioneer heritage by eating hot dogs and and white trash salad. Here are some highlights:



Then the Bell kids got in on it...can you tell I couldn't pick which pictures I thought were the cutest? Here are all of them.





Then it suddenly started raining. Hard. It was coming down in those huge stinging drops. I loved it.


Ian was NOT a fan of the thunder and lightening.

This is how soaked I got running out to my car to close the windows.


They ended up postponing the fireworks so we didn't get to see them, but I think nature was giving a show all Her own.

p.s. Even cuter than the pictures themselves were the things the kids were doing while we were taking pictures.

Chickens

This is from strawberry picking a few weeks ago. Luke was sure that there couldn't be a farm that didn't have any animals. He was right and we watched these ladies fight for a little while. Luke was fascinated and Noah was terrified.

There is something about the shape of Luke's head that reminds me of Charlie Brown. If only I could find a little zig zag shirt.

Have you seen this man?

Because we sure haven't.

Little No-No

I am really enjoying this little one lately. He has gotten so funny. This is how I find him when he is ready for his nap. He will collect his binkie and blanket, turn on his lullabies and try to climb into his bed.

He has started speaking in sentences and is expressing himself well although he turns lots of consonants into the f sound. As in frankie (blankie) and airfrane (airplane)-- Luke thinks it's hilarious and I agree. This is a stage that I would like to hold onto for a while.

Photo Shoot

Today Adelaide went to get her 3 month pictures. (We're ignoring the fact that technically today at 8:30 am she was really 4 months old.) She wouldn't take a nap AT ALL which is nothing new, but I was hoping against hope that she would sleep so she would be happy at the studio. Oh well. We stopped at Kid to Kid on the way to get her a bow and she cried the whole way there. She stopped crying as soon as we went in the store and as I was paying for the overpriced fake flower headband I heard something happening in her pants. Luckily I had anticipated this and had not dressed her in the outfit that I had so carefully iron this morning. I changed her in the parking lot of Kid to Kid. Lovely. Then she cried the whole way to get her pictures. I was NOT looking forward to this. I nursed her right there in the waiting room and she groused some more when we had to go in.
Then a miracle happened. She smiled and laughed and posed for the camera. With absolutely NO fussing. I love my baby. Here are some of the results. (The silly headband was worth it don't you think?)



This is my favorite. Can you tell why?

She's Got Something to Say...

It's really really important.

Moments

I have been listening to and reading this talk over and over again. It seems like there is one of these talks every conference that speaks to me at the stage that I am at.

Here is a concept that he addresses in his talk that has been resonating with me lately, "First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."

The other side of the shining moments are the not-so-shining moments. I am starting to see that the only way to the shining moments is through the not-so-shining ones. But, they pass quickly and I hope to remember more of the shining moments at the end of each day and at the end of each stage.

Happy Mid summer....

Here we are trying to get ready for the summer! Prior to our week at the Beach in Michigan.

Carrie & Fam....I feel like I've been out of it in regards to what's going on with you guys. Im so sad that you're leaving the Midwest but so SO happy you've found such a nice place. All you Donaldsons just seem to make every place you live in so loving, cozy, safe and magical!

Ash, Caleb & Addy....wow...she's getting so big. Can't believe that little one is already rolling over. Isn't it FUN?!

Sorry if I missed pics of Alexander....Im sure he's a cutie too.

I certainly will miss not seeing Meg & Lee & Spencer when Im out in Utah but Certainly look forward to heading to San Diego to see you all.

We've been busy going from family party to family party to vacations on the lakes....our summer could be worse!

Baby Jack is a walking talking machine. His favorite thing in the world is lights....thank goodness for electricity as he makes sure to point out the "ITE" every time we enter a new room, house, building etc. A close second is buttons anything that turns on off or warrants some sort of response...including pushing mom & dad's buttons! ha ha.

He is a happy boy giggling all the time. I love being his mom!

Well....only a week or so until Em and I set out for our short roadtrip to the redwoods. I'll have to record those memories for you all.

All our love to the Donaldson family!

Jack, Traci, Jack & Murphy

Fourth of July

It's a...

We had our 20 week ultrasound on Friday to discover more boy parts. I am getting pretty good at identifying male genitals on ultrasounds. As soon as the technician moved over I could see that another little boy is coming our way. It's a good thing we like boys over here.

The ultrasound itself amazes me. This technician was very talkative and explained what we were looking at and what measurements she was taking. It's incredible to me to see all four chambers of the heart, all those little vertebrae in the spine, little kidneys and all those little digits. I just love that glimpse at the mystery I have been carrying around. It's magical.

Luke is a little upset that it's a boy. His two best friends have a little sister and so he has had his heart set on a little girl. I have been telling him from the start that we would love a little boy just as much a little girl-- somehow he hasn't quite bought it. He was mad when I told him that it was a boy, he had told me earlier in the day that he already had one little brother and that was enough! I am confident that he'll warm up to the idea. However, when I asked him what we should name the baby (I am completely out of ideas) he told me he was just going to call him "Stinky face". So, until we come up with something better we have a sweet little stinky face coming our way.

Hurray for little boys!

What's Sweeter Than a Sleeping Baby?

Apparently nothing, because I have about fifty pictures of Addie sleeping. Here are some of the zoomed-in-eyes-closed-and-nothing-happening highlights. But they're still cute.