update

Man, time just flies. Christmas will be here next week. How did that happen? And how did I get so behind here??? So, now I'm playing catch up.

Camilla: Still as busy as ever. She is into coloring these days, and can spend hours doing so. She loves to learn new things, and she is such a little perfectionist! Just like her momma.  Although she drives me crazy at times, the more I think about it, the more I realize she's just like me! She is still my big helper, and I love her to pieces. I can't even imagine what it'll be like next year when she goes to school all day. We'll find out soon enough :) She turned 5 in October and is reading step 1 and step 2 books. Amazing!

Logan: That little stinker! He is my little prankster. Always laughing, always trying to be funny. I love it! Never a dull moment when he's awake! At the same time, unlike his sister, he plays really well by himself! Cars, trains, tools, and any sort of weapon are a HUGE hit around here. That little boy tries my patience day after day... having said that, he is the sweetest little man.  He will most likely go to preschool next fall... as long as we get him potty trained! (Hint hint, Santa, please? That is what I REALLY want for Christmas!)

Sabrina: My little baby will be 4 months old next week. GASP. How did THAT happen? She was just born! And she is teething, to top it off. She is the happiest, most talkative girl around! I love it! And she still prefers momma over anyone. She eats well, and sleeps well once you get her to sleep!  She is a cutie pie. We all love her so much!

Me: You know when people ask you how you are doing and you immediately say, "we're good"? Yeah, that's me. I always say that. But, if I were to think about it and give a true answer, perhaps it would go like this: I am ok.  Life with three is BUSY. I very rarely get time to myself, and even then, it is a rushed time since I am trying to get things done. Sometimes, if I really think about it, it can get depressing. But I've done depression, and it is not fun. So I stay away from the path of feeling like "wo is me." Instead, I find myself helping others, watching friends' kiddos, reading to my children and cleaning my house. The truth be told, sometimes I do not have it all together (who does?), but if there is one thing that I've learned over the last 5 years, is that children grow up quickly. The day will come when Sabrina is 5 years old, and I'll miss this busy time. So how am I doing? I'm doing great. I have 3 beautiful, crazy, always on the go kinda children, and they bring so much happiness (and screaming) to my house. And although at times I want to get away, I know that I'd be itching to get back rather quickly.

So there you have it... an update :) Enjoy the pics!

Sabrina, my little easter bunny for Halloween

Belle, yet again :)

Can't wait for that coffee cake to come out!

Best friends forever :)

Hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  He REALLY wanted to eat asap :)

Kids fight momma

Sabrina's baby blessing on Dec 9.

Us and our youngest!

Family pictures thanks to a friend!

Logan, 2 1/2 years old

Sabrina, 3 months old

Camilla, 5 years old

9 years of marriage this April... CRAZY!

Sabrina Jane Young

Oh boy, am I behind here!  Let's sum up our Summer by saying that it was great.  We had several family outings, and the kids loved it (so did we).

Sabrina, yes, our newest addition. Sabrina was born on August 27th at 10.31 p.m.  I was induced that afternoon, and by being born on the 27th she shares her birthday with my dad, and also, on one August 27th several years ago, her great-grandma Gruwell passed away.  Great-Grandma Young's middle name was Jane as well.  We thought Jane would be a good reminder of such a date.

The delivery went great.  The doctor, quite literally, came to catch the baby.  I think I may have had pushed (very softly) once, and my little girl was out.  This was by far my shortest labor (started at 3 p.m), and she is my smallest baby (weighed in at 6 lbs 13 oz, 19 inches long).

We were sure hopping though!  Sabrina was born on a Monday; we were both discharged the next day, and the day following that (Wednesday) my sweet Camilla started Kindergarten.  I was able to walk her to her classroom and meet her teacher, having delivered a baby less than 36 hours before! I should also mention that Grandma Young was able to come and help out for a few days.  She was so helpful, and the kids loved being spoiled :)  Thank you Janelle! I feel very blessed for the fact I was able to walk my sweet girl to her classroom; things just worked out the way we wanted them :)

And so our life being a family of 5 starts.  Now is on to juggle pick up and drop off for Camilla, park days for Logan, and feedings for Sabrina.  And although at times it freaks me out to know that come this very Tuesday it'll be just me and the kids (Hunter has been with us for the last week), I know we'll be o.k.  I look at this tiny, tiny baby and know that soon enough she'll be smiling, and rolling, and eating cheerios... and it makes me cherish my time with her (even in the middle of the night).

And so there you have it.  The kids have adjusted well to having Sabrina with us. Camilla is such a little mom to her, and Logan can be gentle when he wants to.  But he's getting better. The fact that he is in the middle of the terrible two's does not help his case. But he is still a sweet momma's boy, and that's o.k. Camilla has always been a daddy's girl, and believe it or not, Sabrina seems to like Hunter better already.  And that's o.k. with me.

Here are some pictures. At some point I'll have to blog about our amazing Summer, but for now, this is it :)

Right after she was born.

Proud Daddy and sibblings.

Camilla's first day at Sequoia Elementary.

Sabrina, almost one week old.

First day of Summer!

It's official. Summer is here!  Of course, it feels like our Summer started a few weeks back, as soon as Camilla finished school. Before school ended, I came up a list of activities that I wanted to do with the children this summer. Last summer we did some things, but this time it's in writing :) And if you know me, you know how important lists are... Anyhow, we're having a wonderful time spending time together, and with amazing friends. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful girl friends with whom we swap kids, and we go on little adventures. It makes the days go by fast.. and it makes everything better :)

Frequent visit to our adopted Grandpa, just down the street.

At the Oakland Zoo. What a fun day!

Camilla pretending to be a bat. She's pretty good!

Not the best pic, but those are the great friends we with!

Logan petting the goats.

Camilla brushing the goats' hair.

Weeks before our zoo outing, Camilla colored this picture and insisted the elephants wanted to see it. Se we took it with us and showed it to them. It was great :)

We have been to our close-by kiddie pool plenty times already. Camilla already has a "swimmer's" tan :)

Egg carton boats: Check!

Visit to the California Academy of Sciences (daddy came too!): Free to get in thanks to our local library. SWEET!

And we've fed the ducks and geese in a close-by pond a few times already.

Last but not least, heart shaped watermelon... Thanks Pinterest. I love your great ideas :)

It doesn't look like she's happy about it, but trust me, she was thrilled!

And today, to kick off summer, we went to the park in the morning, and are having fruit and yogurt popsicles with some friends this afternoon. Fun times!

Oh yeah, I'm still pregnant... I'll be 30 weeks along next week. This little Miss will be here before we know it. Time just keeps flying by!

The latest

Camilla finished Preschool a couple of weeks ago.  She graduated! :)  I'm so glad she had such a wonderful school experience.  Now she can't stop talking about Kindergarten!  I hope she always loves learning as much as she does now.

With her teachers, Miss Melissa and Miss Gina.

 In-N-Out opened in our area! And after 30 minutes of waiting in line, we got it!!!

We've playing at the park a lot lately :)

And to make things more fun, we got bean bags! The kiddos love them!

Popsicles!!!  Camilla was in heaven!

Need I say more?

June 1st was national donut day :) Our local Krispy Kreme gave away free donuts that away, so we quickly took advantage of that!

Saying "donut" just as I snapped this pic!

Last weekend we took the children to Tilden Park in Berkeley; we had a blast!  Logan was fascinated with the cows.

 And of course, the steam train ride was a hit!

Saying "choo-choo"

And although it looks like all fun and games, Logan did have hand, foot, and mouth disease for a week (yuck), followed by falling in the bathtub and getting one of his front teeth chipped.  But he's all better now.  I'm loving playing with the kiddos.  In a way, I don't want September to come.  What am I going to do with Camilla gone every day??  Thankfully, it's only half day for kindergarteners, so I think we'll manage :)  And September does mean I'll have a baby outside of me and not inside of me!  So that's something to look forward to!  We have our ups and downs, but in the end, life is pretty good :)  That's it for now!

Let Summer Begin

Camilla graduates from Preschool tomorrow. Yes, there will be a ceremony and brunch for the families.  And she even gets to perform a little dance with all of her friends. I can't believe she'll start Kindergarten this Fall.  I am happy for her though.  She LOVES learning new things, and we think she'll be one of those kids that just like school (or so we hope).  I just can't believe she's done with preschool.  It breaks my heart to know that she is growing up and that she's not that little anymore. I guess that's just how parenting goes.  BIG sigh.  Anyhow...

We're doing well.  I haven't posted here since forever, but most of you read my Facebook stuff, so you must know we're having a baby girl come the end of August.  We're thrilled about it.  And so is Camilla.  Logan doesn't quite know what's happening, but at least he's not freaking out when I hold other babies. So that's improvement :)  And he is not as attached to me as he once was.  He still likes me the best :) but I can now drop him off at a friend's house and know he will not be crying about me leaving.  He's growing up too.

I'm 24 weeks along and  feeling great. Sure, there are some pregnancy discomforts already, but for the most part, this pregnancy has been my easiest so far. Let's hope it stays that way.  Baby moves a lost during the day, so that's good.  And my weight keeps going up at a steady rate so I can't complain.

Logan, 2 years old

Wall of Chocolate - PF Chang's 8th year wedding anniversary dessert!

Camilla was such a big helper at the Mormon Helping Hands this year

Logan, showing off his Krispy Kreme donut: We now have one in town! Yay!

Fun in the Sun

Hunter is doing well, keeping busy with work and church stuff.  Or mowing the lawn, or chopping down our orange tree (the poor thing only has a few branches left...). But he's doing great.

So so far, so good. Life is great.  My kiddos keep me busy, but it's a good busy.  I wouldn't change it for the world!