Carving 2008

Sarah and I carved our pumpkins last night. We took our inspirations from Martha Stewart. 

In pregnancy news - I have started the dreaded waddle. In the past two days - there is a new sensation - I'll call pain - that allows for only a waddle. I'm hoping this was caused by too much yoga and will fade soon.  

Til then, Jon has gotten used to pulling me out of cars and pushing me out of bed. 

The Color Drive 2008

This was my 7th annual Color Drive. The 3rd weekend of every October is reserved for the rest of my life. The title was coined by Pike County in 1988.  To them it is a county wide craft festival, antique show, garage sale.  To the women in Jon's family - it is so much more. We started our tradition in 2001. I was blessed to join in 2002. Rhonda, Sarah (Jon's sister), and I always attend and meet up with Connie (Jon's aunt) and Nanny (Jon's Grandma). Amanda (my closest comrade) and Katie (Sarah's closest comrade) have each made the trip 3 or 4 times as well and have a standing lifetime invitation.  

It's not possible to put the weekend into words.  It's always the same - and always completely different.

We stay at Nanny's in Pittsfield, Illinois.  Both Rhonda and St

eve - Jon's parents - grew up in this town of under 5,000.  The weekend is spent in Connie's suburban making our trek across Pike County.  Pike County is just over the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois. 

The weekend in statements and photos (see the title link for more pics):

• We visit the family tree at their burial sites and bring them annual gifts.                         This year - mini muffins from our yummy brunch at The Eagle's Nest in Louisiana
• Non-failingly, we visit Wilhelmina Ringling Pappenfort. She is buried with her husband - Otto, and family at the crest of a hill overlooking the mighty Mississippi. Unfortunately, she is faced the opposite way. Fortunately, her view really doesn't count. And we get a beautiful view as we visit.  We haven't met Wilhemina, but her name captured us in 2002 and we've said hello ever since. One day we believe she'll become a character in a children's book. 
• Fried snickers, funnel cakes, corn dogs, (sloppy joe if your prego), fries with sugar, the BEST root beer you've ever tasted, breakfast around Nanny's table each morning - always biscuits and gravy and of course Nesquik.
• BITTERSWEET. I was introduced to my love in 2001 and look forward to scavenging each year. It is a vine and the females produce an amazing orange cluster of berries. It's perfect for wreaths or decorations. We find it for sale at antique / craft shops - usually at the cost of $7 - $10 for a small bundle. If we sold what we found - we'd make some serious cash. But we're not in it for the money. Of course it's nice to know we bring a mint home in our trunk each year. 

I'll let the photos take it from here.  The weekend is less about the Colors (which have been so beautiful in the past) and more about the Drive. Being together in one space for a solid 48 hours has knitted us together. I am in love with these women and so honored to have them as family. 

Dr. Quinn

I am growing out my hair - which includes my bangs.  When my hair stylist does my hair - she can make my bangs stay out of my face.  I wish she were there when I woke up each morning. Instead, bobby pins have become a cherished friend. This morning I glanced in the mirror after my pinning work - and this is who I saw:

Dr. Quinn - not Sully. Sully's was the hair style I had pre-pinning. 

War

Davis and I are in the middle of a little war.  He is pushing with his feet and knees against my stomach. I started pushing back and he's

kicking - HARD.  Is it bad that this is cracking me up?

30 ish weeks

Yesterday we had our 2nd ultrasound. 

An email from me to the Jenkins' clan:

We're having........a boy - still :)  much to Neal's dismay. ultrasound showed a healthy boy who didn't want his picture taken. 

Response from Neal:

I believe my comments are being misconstrued!  I was merely stating that sometimes those initial ultrasounds can be misleading.  I'm very pumped for either gender!  He must get his shyness from.......?

Davis is head down...and I mean way down. He didn't want to turn his head for a photo opp. He's curled up in a ball so that his feet are kicking me on my left lower belly.  I've been wondering how in the world he has been positioned. I'd read that by now he should be head down but with kicks on my left, I was so confused.  

He weighed in at 3 lbs 13 oz. Which is just crazy!

Some friends just had twins at 29 1/2 weeks. Here is a pic of Luke

with his Daddy. Luke weighs 2 lbs, 13 oz in this photo.  I can hardly wrap my mind around

Davis' current size. 

Whirlwind Wedding Weekend

First I must brag. Amanda and I packed for a 4 day, 3 night trip - in our very own CARRY-ONs. This is huge - for both of us. I was spurred by a bet from Jon.  I can understand why he didn't think I could actually do it, since the previous weekend I headed to Topeka for a 1 night excursion and had a Honda FULL (trunk included).  Packing is not a strength of mine. 

So - the real posting reason - CHRISSY'S WEDDING! ALL of the girls (with one exception of Lindsey Arellano who is due with baby Cruz in November) flew out to Sacramento to 

celebrate Chrissy's wedding together. We each had the honor of playing a role in the Filipino 

traditional wedding ceremony. 

Here we are in a very non posed 

    picture having oh so much fun.

(I did wear the black strappies that disappeared into my feet by the end of the day. And I did bring back up flats.)

The feel of the weekend can be summed up into a few words. 

Minivan. 9 girls. Wedding details. No sl

eep. 20 minutes to get ready. 

However - the feel of the actual wedding can be summed up in one word - AMAZING. 

This butler was ultra creepy - but the idea of a true butler fits so well with the reception mansion that I decided to include the picture (and yes, I am hidi

ng a basketball under my dress).

Chrissy and Caleb were whisked away in their limo as sparkler smoke lingered behind. I'm so excited for them and this new adventure in their life (cumulative now). 

Here are a few more random pictures of Sacramento spottings that made me smile that weekend.

The University of California Davis was in Sacramento. However, I read this as a sentence to the world announcing my babies' name.

The dog in the fence was captured in the SkyMall magazine as our favorite find.  Every dog wants to see on the other side of the fence. This would solve so many neighborhood barking annoyances. Genious!