We're Pregnant with Baby #5! {Try New Adventures Thursday}

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Well, if you hadn't noticed my little tweek on my Little Hearts page, I am officially announcing it now!  We are expecting baby #5 in February!!!  squeeeeeeal   I thought Alicia's way of announcing her second pregnancy via Try New Adventures Thursday was so cute...so I'm being a copy cat  ;) 

I found out 2 days before Father's Day and since it was soooo close to dads day, I thought I'd surprise him with {what I thought} was the most fabulous Father's Day present ever!!!  I wrote on Nam's onesie, "Happy Father's Day!  I'm going to be a big brother!" and dressed him for bed the night before.  We had to get up eeearly (as in 5:30am early) for Minh's Triathlon.  I asked my hubby to get Nam and said, "oh, we've  never recorded him waking up,"and followed him in with the camera.  He looked, was a little confused, and then whispered, "you're pregnant??"  haha

Take a peek at the video below!  We then sent  a picture via cell phone to my dad who was on vacation with my mom. What a great Father's Day surprise for everyone!!!  :o)

We planned this pregnancy perfectly.  In case I get sick again with Hyperemesis (basically extreme morning sickness where you lose 10% or more of your body weight...I was getting sick 10-14 times a day.  seriously.  It was bad, really bad.) my parents are both off work until mid-August and can help out a lot! 

We are soooooo excited and my first OB appointment is next week!  If you would have told me I would be a mother of 5 at 29 years old, I would have said, "you're CRAZY!"  But now, I can't imagine life any other way!!!  Will I have 4 boys, and 1 princess?  Or 3 boys and 2 girls?  Time will tell!!!

Our 1st FPEA Homeschool Convention {Try New Adventures Thursday!}

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Three weeks ago, the Gaylord Palms hosted the FPEA {Florida Parent Education Association} Homeschool Convention and we signed up {over 3 months ago} to attend!  We are currently learning about homeschooling to see if it would be the right fit for our growing family, so we decided to attend the largest Conference in Florida!  Well, I was soooo excited and had our entire day scheduled with various lectures, information sessions, and time to walk the Exhibit Hall.  Our children stayed home with my parents and in-laws {and I think everyone knows just how hard it is to escape for 24 hours!  ha}, and we headed to Orlando for an exciting day and night out on the town at the Gaylord (we got a discounted rate for being members, too!).

The night before, I started to not feel well.  Sweats, chills, sore throat, cough.  By the time we left at 4:45am on Saturday morning, it was as if I had been hit by a train!  Every muscle ached, my head was spinning, I was nauseous.  It seriously was the worst cold/flu I have EVER had.  By the time we arrived, I could barely walk in.  My husband helped me shuffle indoors, we grabbed our badges and packets, and slowly made it to our first lecture.  We sat in the corner attempting not to infect and entire homeschool population.  By the time the second lecture started, I was done. I just could not do it.  It was horrible.

So we started the trek to the front desk...and if any of you have ever been to Gaylord, you know exactly how ginormous this place is! *ugh*  Despite my begging, they refused to check us in early, until...I started having the urge to vomit in the main lobby.  All of a sudden a room became available *ummm hmmm* and they took us up.  It was a horrible 4 hours of throwing up, aches, all the flu symptoms you could imagine.  Finally, around 5, I started feeling much better so we decided to just wander through the Exhibit Hall which was full of curriculum's, manipulative's, all the learning tools you could dream of!  Of course, I didn't want to touch anything so we really weren't able to be nearly as thorough as we wanted.  But we did find some items.

The excitement of the evening happened when we also got to meet "Hazel,"  from the Dolphine Tale Movie!!!  She is a young girl, and I think I scared her to death when I flipped out and started chatting her ear off {at a distance} with my raspy voice.  "Oh my gosh!  Could I have your autograph!?!?  My daughter is OBSESSED with Winter!!!  Please, please, please!?!  Seriously, this is SO cool!"  If you are not familiar with Dolphin Tale, it is a movie starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman based on the true story of Winter the Dolphin.  Winter lost her tale in a crab trap off the coast of Florida and she was rescued and rehabilitated at our local Aquarium, The Clearwater Marine Aquarium!  They created a prosthetic tale for her and my daughter is in love with Winter!!!  I truly believe she is the reason for my daughters' love of sea creatures.  It will be out in September and is sure to be my children's generations, Free Willy!!!  Can you tell how excited we are!?  haha

Well, that night we cancelled our dinner reservations :/ ordered food, and just had a very low key evening.  The next morning I felt a little better, so after my husbands morning run, we went to lay out by the pool before we headed home.  It was disappointing considering all the time, money, and planning that went into the trip.  However, I am happy that I got to experience such a large convention and see that there is a HUGE homeschooling population in Florida!  So that was VERY encouraging.  And I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who took care of me the entire time!!!

 

Once they FINALLY let us check in early, I literally collapsed on the bed.  And don't let my smirk fool you...that is a "thank you GOD!!!" smile.

*sigh*  The view from our room of just one of Gaylord's AWESOME pools!  Didn't get to enjoy any of this one :/

Finally, after 4 hours in the room, I decided to brave the HUGE Exhibit Hall {which my sweet husband ran down to comb through before hand}  The quality of this pictures is an accurate visual description of EXACTLY how I felt!  haha  I was ECSTACTIC when I saw and met "Hazel" from Dolphin Tale!

Small portion of the exhibit hall!

To document our first FPEA Homeschool Convention!



Richard Petty Driving Experience {Try New Adventures Thursday}!

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For Christmas, my mother {who is the QUEEN of creative gifts!  Seriously...she's awesome!} gave me a gift certificate to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Orlando!  She is so frugal, too.  She scored it from a sweet Groupon deal!  It sounded really cool, but to be honest, I had no idea what to expect or if I'd ever have the time to use it.  I was still nursing Nam and lets face it, it certainly is not easy commuting to an adult event with 4 kids!  In March, we decided to go to the Disney Marketplace for our daughters 4th birthday, and my mother scheduled in my Driving Experience for that morning. It worked out beautifully and my sweet parents even got there early to make sure I had a spot! 

Our caravan arrived with our 4 children, grandmother, and Aunt who was visiting from Alaska.  And oh my gracious, it was LOUD!  So much so, that our then 2 year old son had a really hard time at first.  He sat in the stroller with a panicked look.  I got shuffled through the doors, asked to change into the uniform, was quickly briefed on the rules, and then directed out to the track.

It was CRAZY watching the cars race past at light speed!  I could barely hear anything as they put my helmet on.  They lead me to the car, buckled me in, and we were offffffffffffff...

The first lap around the track I could not even move.  It reminded me of the StarShip Enterprise warping to light speed (yes, yes...I am a Treky).  It was as though all the air was getting sucked out of me as we reached 165mph!!!!  By lap 2, I really started enjoying it and could look around.  And by lap 3, my final lap, I was yelling "faster!  FASTER!"  It was an AMAZING experience and I am so thankful my mother gave this as a gift!  She also created shirts for the boys that read, "Junior {insert our last name} Pit Crew!  Sooooo cute.

Getting suited up!

Woohoo!!!  Ready to go!

Striking a pose.  I think the person who designed these uniforms had a wicked sense of humor :p

Posing with the birthday girl!

With my oldest!

There's no door...I had to climb in through the window!

I had SIX buckles.  I was cracking up as the dudes reached over to buckle me..."Do.  I.  Know.  You!?!?!" 

Ready to go!

"Try not to vomit in your helmet."

And we're off!

WOOHOO!!!

I turned into Ice from Top Gun by the time I got out!

"I HAVE A NEED!  A NEED FOR SPEEEEEED!"

I was a dancin' fool!

Family photo!

My boys in their new shirts!

So adorable!



The NEW Trampoline!!! {Try New Adventures Thursday!}

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Last month, Thao turned 3 and for his BIG birthday present, my parents wanted to get him a trampoline!  What a great new adventure for the kids!!! We attend Open Gym and all the kids love jumping on the trampolines!  We all searched for:

1.  A SAFE Trampoline:  When it comes to tramps, I go ALL out with safety.  My Mom used to be a trampoline coach and I will never forget her story of her friend who got double bounced off, broke her neck, was paralyzed, and passed away a few short years later.  Safety Recommendations are there for a reason and I abide by every single one of them.  I refuse to be that mom, with that child who is now broken in ER simply because I took the easy way out and cut corners when it came to their safety.  Sorry...can you tell I am passionate about safety!?  :o)  Ours has the nets on the side, too so we don't need spotters on the sides.

2:  A small trampoline that we could fit on the back patio.  I wanted one that I could be inside prepping food, feeding the baby or doing learning time with 1 kiddo but still be able to have full view of the trampoline. 

3.  Something affordable!

My parents found the perfect trampoline at Sam's Club!!!  My dad snuck in in through the back the night before and he and my husband put it together. 

The Trampoline Rules are:

1.  You must ask Mommy if you can get on.

2.  ONE person at a time.

3.  No toys are allowed.

4.  You must be completely dry (since it's on the patio near the pool).

5.  If someone is waiting in line, you must be gracious and limit your bouncing.

6.  HAVE FUN!!!

My mom created a scavenger hunt for Thao!  He had to wear his special "Spiderman Sunglasses" in order to see the Trampoline!  My mom is so crafty!

 The trampoline!!!

 "It's like Open Gym!!!"

 Everyone taking their turns while the Paparazzi snap away!  haha

 The view from our kitchen and table of the corner of the patio.  It also blocks the neighbors who are 6 feet away.  ;o)



Montessori Self Help Video of Kyan {Try New Adventures Thursdays}

Lets face it.  I am outnumbered.  And most days are totally manageable, but some I have a very challenging time getting everyone put together to get out the door.  Lately, Kyan (2 yo) has been requesting "I do it by MYSELF!" when getting dressed, so I decided to ride with it and searched some Montessori self help ideas for the kiddos.  Below is a video of him putting on his jacket (and yes, that IS a skeleton on the counter!  haha  Dad is teaching them anatomy).  I wordlessly demonstrated how to put on my own jacket while he watched and then told him it was his turn.  This is his VERY first attempt and he was sooo proud of himself!  I plan to continue teaching these self help techniques, and hopefully within the next few weeks all the children will be able to dress themselves and load into the van without assistance.  :o)

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