IKEA. UKEA. We all scream for IKEA.

Melanie and I loved these lights.

and these lights.

and this island, which will look great in my kitchen. someday.

ummm, what's with the pacifier?? really?

I think I'd like David (birthday boy) to build me some sets of these with all those awesome pine boards we've been storing since 2007. And if you'd like, he could make you a set also, very reasonably priced.

and this light...

I think this is the only picture I was in this day. (which also happened to be David's 40th actual birthday day....) which is fine, actually.

Ok, so the title is just bad. I know.

IKEA is an amazing world all it's own.

Don't go on Sunday. It's maddening to try to weave in and out of all the people by yourself, let alone with 2 small people.

A few times, we seemed to be a herd of cattle. shuffling thru the endless aisles of Swedish wares. At one point, even, we stopped in the frame section and whilst standing there, a mother's young child got up ahead of her. The mother, very loudly said to her wayward child, "So and So, watch out or the lady in the brown vest (who was in front of mouthy momma) will run you over"...and a fight ensued....ha ha. all that for housewares. hilarious. sheesh. really lady?

it was definitely a cool experience and I'd like to go back 1.) on a quiet weekday and 2.) without kids (they were bored and the littles were crazy).

I have a case of the Mondays today. It's gray, cold and I'm just plum over this blah blah weather. According to my weather bug app, it should be close to 70 and possibly sunny by Thursday. I dare not get my hopes up. I mean, really, we have sooo veery much to be thankful for. I'm sure you've seen the video footage of the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan (which is happening about 100+ miles from my blog regular, Shellee). It's just mind boggling to watch all that water overtake...and are there any sharks or scary ocean things that make it onto land, because yikes.

All that to say, overwhelmingly, thank You, Lord....for another day to live and serve You.

side note: had my 4th appointment with midwife today....good blood pressure, good heartbeat of Peanut Nameless One. Painfully normal...25+ weeks...less than 14 weeks till little dude arrives. seems hard to grasp. still no name. maybe I will set up his crib...a visual for me.

Ok, time to run to Karate....hope to be back with pix from tomorrow evening's Purity Ceremony that #1-#3 will be participating in. Until then...Happy Monday to ye!

Let's get this party started...

Hello Big Whale...

Right outside the Newport Aquarium...Molly wouldn't join them!

Me too...

Show off 40 year old guy....whew! can you believe this guy is FORTY???

Miss Shortypie

Levi's getting tall...

Mel is now officially taller than me.

Ethan is catching up to Will's height quickly...

Will was sleepy...

I know I promised to get the Cincy trip pix up on here....and not to disappoint...here are a few highlights of our Monday at the Newport Aquarium....

In other news...

David's big 40th Birthday Skating Bash will be taking place on Saturday, March 19, 2011 (a little over a week away) from 5-7 p.m. I've tried to send out a mass email and I'm sure I will miss some folks in the hubbub...so if you check this blog, and you know us and want to come skate to some mad 80's tunes at Wheels of Wonder, Indy...we'd love to see you there! Admission is covered, all you have to pay for is skate rental ($3.00)!

Seriously...gonna do a pregnancy update now...so if this isn't your thing, you can leave now....but I kinda use my blog to keep track of our lives....and since this is my last pregnancy, I need to make sure I'm doing that...

I think our fourth son is in the midst of a growth spurt. Shellee, you may be able to answer this since you are almost a mom of NINE...but man, I don't remember my other kids growing over night. YIKES! I started out with a big kid (Will, 8 lbs, 11 oz) and I have a feeling that the other side of boy sandwich is going to end big....please tell me I'm incorrect. He is all. over. the. place. literally....and I have 3 more months to go. oy vey.

choose joy. this too shall pass. and then I will miss it. (or will I?) I'm extremely thankful to the Lord above for this pregnancy. Whatever I may convey on my blog or on Facebook. I truly am. It's amazing how much we can let our circumstances affect our JOY. Forgive me. Spring or no spring...I have so very much to be praising Him for. I really do. And this little nameless boy is high up on my list!

I will see midwife next Monday at 10 a.m. I pray she tells me I'm measuring big so will have this dude in EARLY June. yah baby.

Ok, on that note...I hope to be back tomorrow or the next day to post the rest of our trip pix! Hope that this Wednesday finds you happy, healthy and thankful. good night...

Huntington Beach CA

CHiPs...remember that show about the California Highway Patrol? We saw Ponch and John.

wavejumpers

water was chilly but Levi loved the surf.

Molly always loves a good seagull chase...

SoCal has a lot of beaches (as if)...and we visited Huntington Beach (Hi Velvet...we didn't figure out till it was too late that that is where you are at....we were so bummed)

The Pacific Ocean is beautiful, powerful and kinda scary. We were glad to see it and we were glad to leave it. Scary with little people...that tide is a strong force and it was so awesome for the kids to get to see the Power of God in His oceans. Very salty. very salty indeed.

This was the last adventure of our Cali trip before heading out on October 23 for Indy. I love you, Palm Trees.

Hollywood is skeery...

City of Angels

E's hands are almost as large as Clint's.

for a tip, you can have your pic taken with whatever character you see walking outside of the theatre...no shame. David was really excited about finding this Stormtrooper.

Apparently, the Roosevelt is haunted by Marilyn Monroe.

Jimmy Kimmel's Cousin Sal (the guy in the black button down and jeans, by the easel), taping a segment from that evening's late night show. We didn't get to watch it because my slacker brother failed to get a converter box. and he's never home, so it works for him.

We ate at this open air thingy...and our view was the Jimmy Kimmel pic above. pretty cool. Charlie was NOT impressed.

When Marilyn isn't haunting at the Roosevelt, she's working it with Michael J. This guy was eerily similar.

And when the King of Pop isn't haunting with MM, he's getting coffee at this swanky little coffee shop in the uber expensive but super neat-o mall with US! (Levi's expression is like "Umm, thought this guy was dead")

the yellow vest on this fella was a wee bit teeny...

Char, you are a poser.

I was really hoping we'd see Tom and Katie. but alas, not on this trip.

There's that Chinese Theatre again...

I mean, it IS cool there....just so many people, and it's sooooo grubby. Money, apparently, can't cover grubby. or creepy. or weird. or odd.

Levi, looking on in complete awe!

Infamous Hollywood Boulevard...

ahhh, got it. didn't think I would, but when it appeared thru the trees, I swear little angels sang and the sun DID shine even just a bit brighter (than it already WAS, OMGosh, it was never cloudy there)

grid-lock...this is another of those "parts" ya don't see on TV.

Final Destination: California USA

we weren't allowed in but we could still get cool pix in front of this neat-o Chinese pavillion thingy.

Melanie has a hole in her lip, apparently. Charlie is amused!

Hanging with Ghandi

E and a cool Chinese dragon guarding this neat Pagoda

Palm trees are cool

touring the city of Riverside, CA...the Mission Hotel, which was a really old building...and so cool.

Uncle Andy tried the entire time we were there to get Molly to give him the time of day...she gave in the LAST day we were there.

Andy and his boys..

Palm trees and the people I love.

not sure why Dunc keeps making this face in the pix...I gather that he isn't fond of getting his pic taken.

I was in love with all the palm trees.

two big babies

Molly looks strangely psychotic in this picture...her big boy cousins really did like her.

If you can find a Starbucks, you can find home...and we did. many times. (thanks again to Juan for letting us use his GPS, which we affectionately named Kim)

We got in to Corona, CA on a Monday evening....We spent the next day recuperating because the trip from AZ to CA was challenging and the Mohave Desert was hot, windy and eerie. Andy took us in to Riverside the next night...and we enjoyed a walk thru the nearly abandoned downtown...

These are the pix from that evening...more to come later.

School is done for the day...Gotta go get ready to hit the outlet malls with Mom, Beck, Molly and Pipes. Woo hoo. Bring on the Christmas season. Have a splendid weekend!