More pictures...

We are (always) having problems with our camera, so I am trying to take a ton of pictures before I take it in for repair (I'm just sure it'll be in the shop forever and I'll miss Miles whole infancy, so I'm tolerating less than ideal pictures for the time.)

This is one of Bennett's favorite games called "where Miles go?"

Here is the big guy with his first scratch. We are not really sure if it was self inflicted or if he had help durring a particually rough game of "where Miles go".

Maya has been such a great helper. She loves holding him and can get him to sleep pretty well.

Who would have though such a cute little boy could be so onery.

Happy family sweating their butts off in Palmayra

Once an artist always an artist

"What's supposed to be so fun about this place?"

Kickin it at the BEACH!

'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy', so the clan decided to take a break from the headaches of moving and unpacking, and head for the beach.

We even brought baby Miles along and he was a sweaty little angel

Porter couldn't get enough of running in the huge waves (we went the day of a hurricane, so the waves were big and the tide was high)

Bennett was really weirded out by the water and screamed bloody murder anytime anyone tried to get him to play in it, but he LOVED the sand (leave it to an almost 2 year old to enjoy massive amounts of sand in all over)

And Maya just loved it all.

They all had lots of fun, but the beach excursion left me wondering "What was God thinking when he decided to mix SAND, SURF, AND SUN (AKA SWEAT)?"

Baby Elmer #4

So here we are, at the hospital on day number 2 with the new baby. He was born yesterday at 5:58pm the 2nd of August and he weighed 8lbs 13oz and measured in at 22 inches. Amanda did amazingly well, she only pushed once and it was over. We couldn't believe it. Baby Elmer was not by any means small, but not huge like Bennett either. So now we are having a dilemma with naming this poor child. We both have preferences, but we can't agree on either, it may come down to thumb wrestling. I am posting pictures of the new baby and i'd like to hear your comments on our names, and hurry, we only have till tomorrow till we leave the hospital! 

Amanda's name:  Miles Jeffrey Elmer

Casey's (and Maya's) name: Elliot Niels Elmer

Home Alone

I woke up at 3:30 this morning and got my family ready to go to the airport. The kids were real troopers (so excited to go to the Elmer Family Reunion that they didn't even complain about the absurd hour at which they were being awaken).

Casey said the flight with went well (how many dads would take 3 kids on a long flight alone? Or even if they are willing to do that, how many dads would assume full responsibility for those 3 kids for a whole week? I know HE'S AMAZING)

So now I'm wondering what I should do with myself for the next week. It's so weird having only Fraidy as company. I've never been without my children, and it's surprisingly lonely. Don't get me wrong, the are some absolutely wonderful things about it like

• When I set something down I know it'll be there till I move it
• Getting myself ready for church was a snap (I woke up late and still got there on time)
• When I'm doing the dishes from a meal it's super quick
• As I'm working in one room there is no fear of what is happening in the next room
• The project possibilities are endless...

But as always, along with the good comes the bad

• There was no one to greet me, with coloring pages and hugs, when I left my young women's classroom today
• The house is so quiet it's creeping me out
• The cat is kind of driving me nuts
• I haven't heard little Benny say "momma, grampy, truck" in over 12 hours
• Casey wasn't here to tell me how great I look as I got ready for church
• There is no Porter to jingle around the Lego's in the Lego bucket (IT'S JUST TOO QUIET)
• I haven't been able to catch Maya sucking her thumb
• I guess most of all I just miss seeing those cute guys...

But for now I'll just be sitting here with my legs crossed, trying to hold this baby in until daddy gets home.

Now that's one BRAVE girl!

Notice anything different about this little cutie?

Look closely...

It's something small and pink...

She got her ears pierced, and boy does she feel fancy!!!!!!

Maya's cousin Addie has been wanting her ears pierced for a while now, but Maya always said she didn't want hers done "cause it'll hurt, right mommy". I would have been happy for her to be earring free for the rest of her life, but my Aunt Rhonda came to visit this week with her 7 year old daughter, Jenna. Jenna explained the whole ear piercing process to Maya (Jenna just got hers done a few weeks ago) and it really excited Maya. So Maya has continued to ask to have hers done since Jenna left. Yesterday at 4:30 she says "Mom I really want to get my ears pierced today and surprise daddy." So off we rushed to Wal-Mart, where we were told there was only one jeweler who could do piercings so they would have to do one ear, then the other. I had visions of loud screaming, and leaving the store frustrated, with a little girl with only one earring. The jeweler did tell me that if we wait till Tuesday there would be two jewelers and they could do both at once. Maya wouldn't have any of that. After assuring me she would be brave she hopped up onto the chair, hugged her elephant and proceeded to be pierced. They pierced the first ear and she just sat the with a little smirk on her face. I was AMAZED!!! Only 5 years old and not even even a whimper. They they did the next ear, and she hasn't stopped smiling since. I keep catching her touching the ear rings and smiling this really self satisfied smile (oh and she brags about it to everyone she sees).

I haven't posted in a while...

because I haven't taken any pictures in a while. I know that is a pathetic excuse, but its true. I hate posting with out pictures. Some people are interesting enough to get away with this, but not me. In order to get some info out there with out writing a novel I'm just going to make a list of some of the events we've had in the last little while.

• I had my ultrasound and despite my measuring big, the baby is only weighing in at 6lbs 6oz. So no luck with my dreams of a super early induction. He did say he'd be willing to induce me the first week of Aug. so at least I will not go over this time:)
• We got our first zucchini out of our garden (Yummy. I love those guys)
• My mom and grandma, and aunt (plus her two girls) came up for a short visit. Although they were here for less than 24 hours we had a blast. We took the kids to a water park called Buccaneer bay and they all loved it. (here's where I really wish I had pictures)
• One of Casey's co-workers gave us an Amish Friendship Bread starter, and now we're all addicted (I don't think its from very health conscious Amish people)
• We finally got our car situation worked out with the shop that faultily repaired Casey's car (remember the burning bronco?). We were absolutely under compensated, but it's done and I'm relived.
• Porter and Maya finished their two weeks of swim lessons. They always love swimming lessons, but sometimes I wonder how those teachers do it. Maya can be quite the little stinker.
• Bennett has started saying Awesome (where did he learn that word?) along with tons of other words. His vocab. amazes me. Some of his most repeated phrases are "truck grampy backyard", "Asher hair" (his little friend Asher pulled his hair like two weeks ago, and he is unable to forgive and forget) "Stev-o truck" (yes he loves talking about trucks, and luckily he can pronounce it fairly well)
• I got all my freezer jam made. I bought 40 lbs. of strawberry's last week and between me, my sister, and my neighbor we got it all made into jam (in only two days). I amaze myself sometimes.
• Last but not least I drank two mason jars full of strawberry milkshake in one setting (I didn't intend on doing this, but I made two milkshakes, one for me and one for Casey, and when I finished mine and noticed Casey wasn't eating his (I think because I snuck a little banana in it) and I just couldn't let it go to waste). I DO NOT RECOMMEND ATTEMPTING THIS. I was miserably full after this episode of gluttony.

I'm sure now that you have seen how jam packed with excitement our summer has been you will be able to understand why I've been unable to post more frequently (OK, so I'm just lazy).

Incase you forgot...

I'm pregnant right now. All through the later part of this pregnancy the doctors have been telling me "It's going to be another huge baby" (Bennett was 10'5). Even with this constant warning I wasn't think this was too big of a deal (Bennett's birth was way easy), but I went to the doctor yesterday and they measured my belly and said the baby is measuring 39 weeks! (I should only be measuring between 33 and 34 weeks along right now. 40 weeks is when a baby is full grown) So lucky me I get to have another ultrasound. It's always exciting to get a chance to peek in on your baby, but since we are not finding out the gender of baby #4 it's also torture to know all you have to do is ask and the mystery could be solved. Don't worry I'll stay strong.

*the good news is this may mean I'll be induced early! Although I can't be induced too early or Casey will miss it (due to the Elmer family reunion that I can't attend, no i'm not too bitter)

Take me out to the ball game!

T-ball season is upon us, and Porter is our little star. The kids are so cute, and they all do the funniest things. I've never had so much fun watching a baseball game!

Porter is playing T-ball this summer, and seems to really be liking it. He has a difficult time keeping his head in the game, but that could be because his favorite things to do are touch his hat, and fill his glove with dirt.

Look at the power behind that swing!

Here are the little cheerleaders, watching and wishing they could be playing also.

Maya's 5th Birthday Party

We finally got Maya to choose something other than a pony party and what does she choose?Princess? Fairy's? Strawberry Shortcake? NOPE!

It's a SCOOBY DOO theme!

Here are the cupcakes, I think she really liked decorating them herself (with some help from her brother and cousins), and they turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

Here are some of the party guest waiting patiently to get a chance to clobber the pinata.

Here's the birthday girl getting vicious on the pinata, and receiving a birthday smooch from her favorite party guest.

Even though you wouldn't guess it from her party theme's this little girl is pretty darn girly.

Overall it was a real great party. We had a scooby doo mystery for the kids to solve. Someone (Casey dressed up in a transformers mask and poncho) had stolen all the party supplies, and the kids had to get clues to figure out where the supplies were dropped and eventually catch the culprit (who cursed those meddling kids).

It's hard for me to believe my little girl is 5 years old and will be starting kindergarten. I sure love having her around. She is a kid that is full of love, and is not afraid to show it. She's always the first to help someone who is feeling sad, and is quick to notice when someone is having a difficult time. The other day Bennett threw his sippy cup full of red juice on the floor and the lid busted off and juice spilled everywhere. Casey and I both were frustrated with him and Maya just quietly reminded us "Guys, Bennett is just a baby and he doesn't know any better." I sure love that little girl.

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire

A few months ago we decided Casey really needed a work car, so (being the Nazi that I am) I laid down the law and said it had to be less than $1000. (For those of you who know Casey, you know he needs guidelines like this). Well (I think to spite me) he found the worst car in all of central Indiana and claimed it as his own. This car had no radio, the windows were cracked, there was rust on it, the interior was horrible, the doors didn't lock, the seats didn't stay upright, and there was a whole side panel that was a different color blue than the rest of the car. There was NOTHING nice about this car, but it seemed to be doing the job, until a few weeks ago. It just suddenly stoped running. Casey and my Brother-in-law Stev-o tried to do what they could but couldn't fix it so we took it to the shop. They said there were two problems and the repairs were going to cost almost $500. We paid the shop and I rejoiced that I would finally have a car to drive again. The next morning I get a call from Casey that went something like this

Me: "Hey, what are you doing?"

Casey:"I'm sitting in the back of a Police cruiser watching the bronco BURN!"

Yep, the car was completely engulfed in flames. The police and the fire department were there trying to subdue the flames. Casey had called 911 and as soon as he said his car was on fire the lady said "Oh is it the one on McCormic? We've already gotten a few calls about you." Luckily Casey wasn't hurt, and it seems like the repair shop is going to work with us to make it right, but only time will tell.

*this is not our actual car, Casey took pictures on his cell phone, but I don't know how to get those on my computer.

Camping at Jellystone Park

We've been trying to squeeze a camping trip in for a while now, and we were finally able to go last weekend. It was so great. The kids had a blast and we all enjoyed getting away for a bit. We went to Jellystone Park (Yogie bear was there) in Kentucky and it was so great. It was near Mammoth caves so Casey got to go do a tour of the caves one day, and the campground provided all these great crafts and activities for the kids. The theme for the week was Pirates so we got to make an eyepatch, pirates gold, and go on a treasure hunt.

We rented a golf cart for one of the days we were there and Bennett fell in love with it. He is still asking me to "drive car".

They did a little journal keeping about the experience. I think it is so cute when they concentrate on something educational. It's like I'm tricking them!

Bennett decided the Fire Pit (don't worry it wasn't hot) was a great place to play (of course, it's the one place where he could make the biggest mess in the shortest amount of time).

Porter was having a blast (it's hard to tell with his mister serious face on). It was difficult to get shots of him because he was so busy playing with his cousin Landon.

He did slow down when he heard we were going to have marshmallows. He couldn't wait for the fire to get ready so he dug in and had a few un-roasted.

Maya was a little more patient and had her side kick do the dirty work while she sat and waited.

Sometimes even the most patient campers have to endure difficulties. Lucklie Dad roasted her some good marshmallows and she would just keep hers in the fire untill they melted off the stick and sizzled on the fire logs.

Mr. ON THE GO. Sorry for the blur.

These aren't camping pictures, but Bennett loves playing in the kitty's house, and here they are cuddling together. If only I had as much patience as that cat.

Summer Fun

It's so great being able to have all the kids home during the day. More people to keep the this little 'terror' entertained.

More people to help with the chores. Why is it that once your kids get to a point where they are actually helpful you send them off to school?

More people to enjoy all the aspects of summer with. You can't tell but she was actually spraying over the car and soaking her big brother who was not so happy about the whole thing.

More people to cause mischief and exhaust their poor momma!