Our Little Guy

We found out we're having a boy! He's due February 25th and the ultrasound showed everything looking healthy.

I'll admit I am not as thrilled about a boy nursery, wardrobe, or accessories, but thinking about having a miniature John around gets me so excited. This baseball tee was what did it for me.

 I've received a few requests/complaints about bump pictures. I haven't put any up because there is no bump yet. I've gained almost 10 pounds, but he's not really showing. This was taken last week, around 17 1/2 weeks along.

It made it more real to see him and hear his little heartbeat. I can't believe we're almost half way there already!

Back in the Siding Saddle

 Day three of our siding adventure was much like day one. We ripped off the old stuff.

 Then Alan came to help and relieved me to go out with Karen.

When we came back, the whole place was covered in new plywood. Good work, men!

Our fourth Saturday on this beast John and I finished it up.

John put up tar paper then we sawed and nailed until the walls matched each other.

 Now our house is half brown, half blue. 

As long as the rain holds a few more weekends we should be able to remedy the color discrepancy. Then just add trim and we'll be done! So close!

Sunday

I love these kids. Collaborating on a puzzle.

Comforting a tantrumer.

 Melting snowmen during singing time.

 And sitting quietly during reading time.

 John has early morning meetings on Sundays, so it's the only day he naps.

 This was a three-stage one.

 Finally a comfortable position.

Meanwhile Amanda came over to entertain me. In return I made her banana Nutella toast.

 Then John's family came over for dinner. Katie and Ryan were stuck in traffic while we drooled over tomato mozzarella panini, butternut squash soup,  salad, and squash. 

Once they came, there was no time for taking pictures because I was too busy eating. Especially the homemade cream puffs Karen and Alan brought.

Then Lucas discovered the Bop-It game, which made him giggle every single time. It was a nice, relaxing day.

Nursery

When John was a baby, his parents were on a very tight budget. So tight that John slept in a cardboard box the first six months of his life.

 To make sure their grandbabies don't suffer the same fate, Karen and Alan buy their children cribs to use for their babies.

John and I had so much fun assembling ours.

 This is what we have so far in the nursery. The picture was a Christmas present and bookshelf was from my own nursery, I just painted it.

We can't wait til February/March to put this room to use!

Cake Cookies and Pesto Pizza

This recipe is being posted at the request of my sister. It is perfect for lazy people. Like the kind who eat cereal for 2+ meals per day when her husband is out of town.

 Pick a cake mix, add 1/3 cup vegetable oil and 2 eggs. That's it! Just scoop and bake like regular cookies. I think mine take 14 minutes at 350 degrees.

John likes the devil's food mix. They taste brownie-like. To be honest? I don't love these cookies.

But with enough cream cheese frosting on top, I don't really care what I'm eating.

(Half batch of frosting: 1/2 stick cream cheese, 1/2 stick butter, 

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla)

To prove I'm not lazy when John doesn't desert me for Idaho, I made these pesto chicken pizzas for dinner. Just add pesto, cheese, and cooked chicken to English muffins. Come to think of it, they're really easy to make, too. So maybe I'm just as lazy when he's in town as not.

Cruise

The rest of our trip revolved solely around food.

 A galley tour showed how they prepare 14,000 meals per day.

 Mmm creamy mashed potatoes. 

 We definitely received some food inspiration on the cruise.

 Dressed up for dinner

 Cesar and Melroy were the best. Our water was always filled, they let us try all the rolls we could want, recommended great starters and entrees, and we somehow always ended up with more desserts than we ordered. 

It's no wonder we all came home heavier than when we left. The sign of a successful vacation.

Curacao

While Karen and Alan went diving today, John and I went on an aquaboat adventure.

 We stopped at at a beach and around tugboat wreckage to snorkel. We saw some cool fish that I named and John later identified for me. Bee fish (??), rainbow mustache fish (Parrot Fish), toothpick nose fish (Trumpet Fish). . . 

 After lunch we went to see the cute town and cross the floating bridge. 

We were sad it was our last stop, but they sure didn't disappoint.

Aruba

Today was girl's day. The boys went SCUBA diving and we explored the island. Our bus didn't look as cool as the kukoo kunuku, but it was air conditioned. 

 Our first stop was the butterfly farm.

 We learned all about butterflies and saw hundreds of them flying around.

 Next was an aloe plant. After this demonstration we went in to see the factory part. Surprisingly, most of the work is still done by hand.

 The last stop was a natural bridge. There used to be eight bridges, but they've been collapsing and only one is still standing.

 After reuniting and eating on the boat we ventured out to the beach.

It was amazing. Not much to see snorkeling, but the ocean was warm and beautiful. 

My feet enjoyed the soft, non-burny sand.

St. Kitts

Alan signed us up for a strenuous mountain biking adventure then conveniently became too ill to accompany us. So while he rested in our air conditioned room, we rode bikes about 14 miles through the heat, humidity, and hills. 

(For someone who only rides her bike to 7-Eleven, it was hard)

At the top of the highest hill you can see the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. (And John in the middle)

 Karen wanted to take this little guy home with us. There are supposedly thousands on the small island, but they don't come out of the shade in the heat. Smart monkeys. 

When we returned to the ship, we showered, rested and ate guilt-free the rest of the night.

Charlotte Amalie

 Our first stop on the cruise was in St. Thomas. We went snorkeling at Turtle Cove, where we saw turtles, fish and coral. It was my first time snorkeling and I loved it.

 On our boat ride back. It was hot, but I kept my towel on to avoid a sunburn.

 John at the front of the boat, daring the sun to burn his white skin. 

 John's pirate face showing off his awesome tattoo from the trip.

The sun won. 

Luckily the ship sold aloe vera.