Days with the Dorans

It turns out that I don't need a way to download my first video to illustrate one of our 'pull-overs'- Should have known there would be more opportunities to capture Al in her glory. Of course the worst of it is always BEFORE I pull over the car. These 'pull-overs' were because she wanted to go back to school to get the magazine she had left. I'm happy to say that she was true to her word and we only had to stop twice on the way home. Sorry for the bumpy video- I didn't want to turn around so remained facing forward and used my rear-view mirror to try to manage the video from my phone...

Jonasen was very excited to get his new aluminum bat and couldn't wait to try it out! He had been running all morning and I wanted him to rest so I told him that if he laid down for a few minutes, he could go outside and try out his new bat... Well, as you can see from the picture- his 'rest' turned into a full-blown nap. (NICE!) I only wish I could have hopped into his dreams and seen him hit the ball out of the park in his Tiger's uniform- driving in "Mags" no doubt! By the way- the bat works great- maybe too good- only wiffle balls are allowed to get hit in our yard... We'll need to take it to the fields nearby and try it out with a REAL ball!

My mom got me a present today and it wasn't even my birthday! I was complaining the other day that all of our travel mugs have had coffee in them now that Jeff is working. I can't stand it because my tea has this horrible coffee after-taste. I love that she got a ceramic travel mug that will never have that awful smell/taste that gets cemented in there- but I love even more what the mug said! We have an amazing car. If there is someone whining, yelling or crying it pulls off the road and waits for the someone (AKA Ali Jane) to stop. The record, I believe is three times in the 20 minutes it takes to get home from school. I've gotten quite good at it- no emotion- just stop the car and wait. On one of our last car stops, we sat for five minutes- and I pulled out the phone and videotaped the tail end of it... Unfortunately I didn't have my photo card in my phone and don't know how to upload videos from my phone directly to my computer. (If I figure it out, I'll be...

The nurse thought I was crazy when I made the appointment... "You're going to do both of their shots at once?" Of course I was- I do work... The bigs didn't let me down and were very brave. It was Zach that was freaking out (and he didn't even have shots!) It's official though! The bigs are all done with shots and Joey can officially go to kindergarten now! They were very excited about the bandaids they got from the FOUR shots they each received. After shots we went to drop off Joey's last forms for kindergarten, and of course they picked where we did lunch... McDonalds! (surprise, surprise) They were great- ate their food before playing on the playground and I got many compliments on how wonderful and polite my children are. (Love that they're sooo good... in public...) Here are Joe and Al talking about their shots. Again- my apologies for the lower grade video and pics- I was too lazy to grab the camera, but of course my phone was right there...

What a great Saturday we had! The girls went shopping for (much needed) clothes for me- and shoes for Al. The two of us had lunch and it was such fun! As sad as it sounds I think that it was the first time just Ali Jane and I had lunch at a restaurant together... (Other than McDonald's of course) It seems like the boys are always around so we really enjoyed our day! The boys went shopping too! And Jeff got his (he would say) much needed new guitar! He's playing more at church now and has even led some services so we justified the purchase of a nice guitar for him. (Happy Father's Day, Birthday, Christmas... for a few YEARS!) It is a nice guitar and he did make me smell it quite a bit- as if that softens the fact that we spent so much money on an instrument. He can't wait to plug it into the real amps. When we got home we went to the park near our home. Jeff took the kids and I got some much needed exercise walking there. It's only about a mile, but it felt great ...

I wasn't able to make this year's Trike-a-Thon at the kids' school, but thankfully I sent Nana and Papa with the camera. We assume that this is the summer that the training wheels will come off the bikes for the bigs. They are really great at riding their bikes and this could have been the last 'hurrah' with the extra wheels (but we'll see.) Although it was a blast, we did talk about why they were riding their bikes. They know that they were riding their bikes to help kids who are sick. So my kids being who they are- rode for the kids who are sick but also prayed for the kids who are sick. All in all it was a fun day and we are counting our many blessings. I'm so proud of them!! Papa came to watch Zach (it wasn't a school day for him) so that Nana could take some pics for me. Zach saw his buds though (out for a pre-lunch stroll to watch the bigs flying on their bikes) and ditched Papa for his peers! What a cool stoller eh? Wonder if the Octomom got hook...

So I'm not one to put pics of me on this blog on purpose- and certainly not unflattering ones of me getting ready for bed- but this blog definitely needed a visual... I'm pregnant again- Baby F is due to be delivered on October 16 th . I did not make a big announcement about my pregnancy- rather people figured it out as my waistline began growing and growing and growing- (Having had 4 full-term babies growing in my uterus killed any muscle that may have been left...) The one group that didn't seem so know my 'secret' were my third grade students. Well, today they found out... This sweet little girl in my class came up to me and whispered, "Mrs. Doran , I hope that you don't take this the wrong way, but my mom thinks that there may be a baby in your belly..." It was the cutest thing I had ever heard- (much cuter than the little boy who asked me AFTER I returned from delivering the boys, "Are you sure they got all the babies out of you?") W...

Joey and Ali Jane couldn't wait for Auntie Steph to get home from the hospital so they could meet their newest cousin. They fell in love with her instantly and sang soft songs to her so tenderly- it was one of the sweetest things I've seen (and I think there may be a video out there- so stay tuned...) I didn't bring Zach to the initial meeting because he had been sick... But after a few days of him being healthy again, Nana took him to meet his new cousin and boy was he excited about the new BAYBEE! I love this pic of his face looking at my mom and poor Maddy probably wondering- what the heck is this kid doing around here... Well apparently he liked her and took to her quite easily! Zach is a ladies man everywhere we go and meeting this new little lady was no different- clearly he wanted to sweep her off her feet and into his little arms! Hmmm... maybe when she gets a little more head control my silly little goose! Looking forward to seeing all the cousins together soon.....