This and That

Over the last week we had Sarah fly in, then Jenn was here for the weekend from LA, then Ray flew in and surprised Sarah. Jenn flew home last night, Ray goes back to Dallas on Thursday, and Sarah goes back to Austin on Saturday. We aren't going to know what to do without someone visiting :o) My parents will be back out in October for the new little one.

I'm starting to think that there may be a possibility that this little baby could be a girl. Everyone says I'm carrying a basketball which means a boy, but thats what I did with Shortie up until the end and we all know that she wasn't a he. So far I've gained just under 20 pounds, but --- I can start to feel the weight in my face and for breakfast this morning I ate enough for the whole family :o) only time will tell (we are so excited to meet this little one... and to have a new baby for the fall/winter all bundled up... so exciting!)

Jon and I love having a house that we can open for family and friends, and can't wait to have everyone meet the new addition to our family....

Almost time

So although our computer is working better we can't get it to read our memory card for pictures -- hopefully we can figure this out and post some (especially since Auntie RahRah is visiting now!)

Today I had an appointment with our midwife, Peggy. My belly is measuring 33 weeks - shocking because usually my belly measures small - which means 3 weeks to go and we are clear for labor :o) Shortie was born at 34 weeks and both boys at 37 weeks --- wow - we were thinking the end of October - but we might have been wrong. We will see. (the full moon is Oct. 4th - so probably the week after that)

We have made the decision to do a home birth. Yup, we have joined that "weird" group of parents that do that sort of thing. We are really excited about this - and look forward to all the perks of a home birth. So exciting!!!!

I'll be going to the midwife every week just because of going into labor early and because of how quick my labors are. So next Thursday we'll see what the status is :o)

The kiddos are excited for a new little one - they already have nicknames picked out!

long time again

Happy to say our computer is no longer as near death as it was - Thanks Dad :o)

Which means, we can hopefully add some pictures to our blog in the next few days - yippy. (although haven't really taken any since I couldn't download them...shame on me... so for the trip my parents just had I am leaving a big *hint.hint* to them for some pictures)

Our house is finally really starting to feel like our home - all painted and changed and ready to go. The kids are getting big, as is my belly. Hard to believe soon here we will have four little ones four and under! So exciting. Just enjoying life.

Look forward to posting a lot more now that our computer works and I can add pictures!

We Made It!

So we made it to our new home up in the DC Metro area (we finally found a place and its in Manassas VA). We have been without internet for over three weeks - and its so nice to be connected to the world again.

Still amazed that we drove 1597 miles to our new place from Texas - me alone in the car with all three kids, and Jon driving that HUGE penske truck! I seriously got the easy/fun end of that stick --- that truck was no fun!

It was great to see Jon again! And to be a family :o) We look forward to having our house finished so we can really just be the Schroeder's again - (and have people over)

-also- still in shock over Jons weight loss - his wedding ring fell off (and is now lost...somewhere...never to be found by us) this is the same ring he has had since we got married!

hopefully I can upload my pictures to the computer and show everyone our new home :o)

hair cuts

Shortie and Bubba got hair cuts (Zek slept). Shortie wanted it cut off like Mulan and so she cut it all off. Bubbas hair grows so fast and is so thick - so he got it super short! They look so grown up!!!

kiddos in Cali

Wanted to post some pictures of Cali but I'll have to wait until I'm in VA with my computer - here is one of the ones I already put on my parents computer- Baby Brooke with the Schroeders kids. Not sure why all the arms are up - but it was fun :o)

Baby Names

wow - a month since the last post --- haven't been doing it much since being in Texas, but that's about to change! Counting down for heading back East!!! Jon and Jason fly in next Wednesday and then we load the big moving truck with all of our stuff and officially move to the DC metro!!! Crazy! It is with mixed emotions to head out!


My belly popped! I finally put away my favorite jeans and started wearing my favorite maternity ones - so nice when you actually like your maternity clothes.

Here's the break down on names:

So Shortie's real name is Andru Victoria. The nickname Shortie started when we first told my family we were expecting (gave them a card that said congrats, and then inside had the ultrasound with "You're going to be a Grandparent around....") So my Dad said something to the point of "thats just a short little thing" and the name Shortie came about. After she was born it was very hard to start calling her Andru or Andie, so Shortie stuck. (if she was a boy he would have been Ezekiel Timothy, or Ezekiel Dean)

Bubba's name is Elijah Timothy. We hadn't really narrowed it down to one boys name by the time Bubs arrived (we didn't know for any of them what the sex was). When he was just minutes old my Dad went to Shortie (she was only 18 months and just barely talking) and said "Can you say Bubba?" well to our surprise she said it perfectly - so once again my Dad is credited with a nickname (Bubba is my dads nickname on his side of the family). Oh and he would have been Addisen Kate if a girl

Little Zek - well, I've always loved the name Ezekiel. We had decided to use my maiden name of Kelley for the babies middle name regardless if we had a boy or girl. So he became Ezekiel Kelley. We hadn't come up with a nickname but I've always loved Zeke, however I'm not a fan of the spelling. Its a nickname and it comes from E-zek-iel so why not make it a little different and do Zek. (If he had been a girl she would have been Ireland Kelley)

Now this baby. aka Next Baby. We have two first names picked out for a girl, and a definite middle name. As far as the boys name goes - haven't narrowed it down yet, except the middle name. But I can say one of the girls names is a boys name - following the same suit as Andru :o) However I have made it a little tricky with a numbers game - here it is:

Andru = 5 + Victoria = 8 --- total being 13
Elijah = 6 + Timothy = 7 --- total being 13
Ezekiel = 7 + Kelley = 6 --- total being 13

So the new baby is going to be 8 + 5 = 13

this wasn't planned just happened, and now with the middle names we've picked for a boy or a girl are already 5 so why not continue it and make the first names 8 - which the two girl names we like already were - so it fits :o)

the numbers also work for Jons name equally 13, however I dont fit in :o( my extra "n" in Kathrynn makes me at 14 :o)

Friday I am hoping to upload some pictures - so stay tuned!

Baby

This pregnancy is going by fast!
Just shy of five months!

Shortie thinks its a girl. She has said "Gods making a girl in your belly". Last time she was right about Zek being a boy, so we'll see in a few months about this one. I would love another girl and for Shortie to have a sister, but another boy is just as great. I lately have felt like we're having a boy. Either way is a win and huge blessing! Although we only have the girls name picked as of yet.

This baby is an active little one! And man, the cravings have been out there. Lots of mustard, very sharp cheese, anything sour or spicy. Basically anything with loads of flavor. Not big on any meats (although we had cut most out before the pregnancy).

I'm sewing a new crib set and I'm super excited about it (doing the little girl one first because lately I've liked pinks for girls and that is so rare - so I'll jump while I can. Poor Shortie never had pink until recently) But I did see one that was super cute for a little boy, I love the blanket - although it would fit in really well with our basement decor regardless if we use it for a baby :o)

back from California

We had a quick little trip to Cali for Sarah's graduation from USC!!!
Congrats Sarah!

My parents and I drove out, we were up at USC all day Thursday and Friday celebrating. Then Friday night/Saturday morning at 1:00 am Jons flight got in and we were going going going. His flight took off Monday afternoon and we headed back for the long drive home right after.

It was great to go to Cali and visit with dear friends. We spent lots of time with the Macleod family whom we love so much! Had a fun night with Mike Kaess. Enjoyed dessert with the newly engaged Nate (congrats!). Caught up with Justin after his move from DC. Had a 75th b-day party for my Grandma Tommye. Took sometime to catch our breath while at my Uncle Marks and Aunt Julies. Ate great Mexican food, and freshly picked delicious strawberries. Some Rubios with Jons family. Got sunburned. Played in the sand at the beach. Experienced an earthquake, again. Lots of driving and running around. Sat with some 40,000 people for the big USC graduation while Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke. Then enjoyed a more private graduation of the Theater department where Joe Mantegna spoke (from Criminal Minds one of our favorite shows...). Walked all over USC campus with the kiddos watching the girls from Sarah's sorority take pictures. Spent time in our old neighborhood, and chatted with the Bentley family. We learned that Bubba is an even bigger flirt than once thought (too many sorority girls to choose from). Talked with J Bowling about coming out to DC for a visit.... how did we fit so many things in such a short time, and yet still feel like there was more to do...

Had a great trip --- but every time we go, we are so thankful to not live there! We are very thankful to have moved, and are even more so every time we visit --- although we miss our friends - its a great reason to vacation and see each other!

Pictures to come hopefully soon :o)

Easter

Easter Time!!!

The kiddos (and grown-ups) had fun dying tons of Easter eggs some with Star Wars

All ready to go and find the eggs

Spider-Man

Shortie playing with the spider-man costume (a special gift all the way from Australia -- thanks Laura!!!)

She was playing with Great Grandpa -- although his "cheese" face looks more like he was nervous/scared

Little Zek likes the spider-man outfit too

Shortie got stuck in the office chair while being spider-man

water guns

Jon bought the kiddos some water guns and they all had a blast playing in the backyard!

Blum Family

Finally at my parents house and adding photos :o)

So what feels like ages ago - Dave, Vanessa, and Hannah were down in San Antonio and drove up to hang out. We went to UT and walked around just a little and then ate Rudy's (yum!)

bittersweet

Life is full of bittersweet moments. This weekend was one of them. Seeing all of Jon's family was great, but knowing it was because of Jason's death....

Jason Murdock
Dec. 23, 1978 - April 10, 2009

He served our country in the Marine Corps from 1997 - 2001 and has served in the Army from 2001 - 2009

His life will continue on because he has touched so many hearts. Those hearts will continue to write his story.

Our hearts go out to Jon's Aunt Wendy, Uncle Dave, Jamie and Matt. As well as to all his friends, fellow men and women he served with, and the rest of the extended family. May they find peace in knowing he had faith and is with God in Heaven.

Baby #4

Shortie & Bubba teaching Zek about a new baby and being a big brother

Peace or Fight On

The kiddos getting ready to head out and rockin' the sunglasses

silly face

Jon and I love this short little clip of Zek

Zek

We've been working on teaching Zek the sign for food/eat. This is a picture of him trying to sign it.

And then a few pictures of him playing b.ball and his talented toes trying to play too.

Dishes

Usually Bubba is our kitchen man. He loves to help cook and just sit and watch as we make everything. He also loves to clean dishes. We think he will be the chef in the family. However every once in awhile Shortie likes to help with the dishes too

UT vs USC

Shortie showing support for UT and USC

Brothers

Bubba is a very good big brother, sometimes a little rough, but he is great. His favorite thing to do is go lay right in front of Zek and let Zek beat on his back and head, and do "drool bombs". Its so rewarding watching them.

Shopping

The kids love to help grocery shop. And what may surprise people is what we eat -- about 90% of our diet is vegetarian -- yup - Jon and no meat -- shocking :o) We started doing a bunch of research and slowly started changing everything - organic, no preservatives, no coloring, LOTS of veggies and fruits - now a few years later we love it and so do the kids :o)

laughs

its been a hard few weeks, and then again this morning, well, its been a morning where you feel like your being kicked while already down. So what better than baby laughs :o) this video was from a few weeks ago

nothing much

I need to update... haven't been so good at this for the last few months :( We have a dozen or so pictures to add, its just hard to sit and take the time while we are packing and trying to fit so much in to our timeline before we move - its a little crazy in the schroeder home. Hopefully later tonight while the kids are sleeping I'll add some photos :o)

Snow, lots of Snow!

So we are getting lots of snow today! Yippy - so fun! Anywhere between 6 and 10 inches!!!

Hair

Shortie and Bubba wanted to have crazy hair.

Zek and his silly faces

Zek loves making silly faces... here is his silly grin

Coconut Cake

We made a coconut cake from scratch - a real coconut cake! The kids had fun buying a coconut and then breaking it open, cooking it, doing all the fun stuff to get the pulp, milk, and water from it. Then we made the cake - SO good!!!

Here is Bubba eating it (and apples) and Shortie trying to frost it some more. Oh, and then Zek wanting to eat it!

Bubba's ouchie

So one night after we put the kids to bed we heard one of those screams... where its an initial cry out and then a long pause with a deep inhale - and you know its coming - a blood awful scream. Jon jumped up and went in the room and not even ten seconds later I followed, and Bubbas face was covered in blood. Him and Shortie were playing in the dark in their beds and she threw the flute (a plastic one) and it hit him just right and gave him a little cut on the forehead --- but man, do those head cuts bleed like crazy. Shortie was so scared and after we picked Bubba up and he knew he was okay Shortie was crying more than he was.

Here is a picture of him after we got it to stop bleeding and cleaned him up a little...

pictures....sick on the road

so I found the stuff for the camera so here are some old pictures.

This is when we were doing the road trip back to Texas from Colorado - we found an extra long way back so we could stop in more states (we hit 36 states last year) but we weren't planning on all of us getting the stomach flu.

here are the kiddos all piled up in the car after we stopped in Omaha for the night.

and here is poor little sick Zek - he had both his fingers in his ears